Patent ID: 7709397

Claim:
A method for etching a high-k dielectric layer on a substrate atop a substrate holder in a plasma processing system comprising: disposing a substrate on a substrate holder in a plasma processing system, wherein said substrate comprises a high-k dielectric layer and wherein said substrate further comprises SiO 2 or silicon or both; electrically biasing said substrate at a radio frequency (RF) voltage via the coupling of RF power to said substrate holder; elevating the substrate temperature above 200° C.; introducing a process gas to said plasma processing system, said process gas comprising one or more halogen-containing gases selected from the group consisting of HBr and Br 2 , and one or more reduction gases selected from the group consisting of C 2 H 4 , CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 4 , C 3 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , C 4 H 6 , C 4 H 8 , C 4 H 10 , C 5 H 8 , C 5 H 10 , C 6 H 6 , C 6 H 10 , and C 6 H 12 ; igniting a plasma from said process gas; and exposing said substrate to said plasma for a period of time sufficient to etch said high-k dielectric layer, wherein said high-k dielectric layer comprises HfO 2 and the exposing of said substrate etches said high-k dielectric layer at a rate greater than SiO 2 or silicon.