IP Library Granted Patent US 7,138,364
Granted Patent B2
US 7,138,364 · App. 10/480,285 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Cleaning gas and etching gas

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,138,364
App. No.
10/480,285
Granted
Nov 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chamber-cleaning gas and an etching gas used for a silicon-containing film according to the present invention comprise a perfluoro cyclic ether having 2 to 4 carbon atoms which are ether-linked with carbon atoms. The chamber-cleaning gas and the etching gas hardly generate a harmful waste gas, such as CF 4 , which is one of the causes for global warming so that they are good for environment. Further, they are a non-toxic gas or a volatile liquid, and are easy to use and are excellent in treatment of waste gas. Additionally, the chamber-cleaning gas of the present invention has an excellent cleaning rate.

Claims (26)

1. A chamber-cleaning gas comprising a perfluoro cyclic ether having 2 to 4 oxygen atoms which are ether-linked with carbon atoms, O 2 and optionally another gas,

wherein a molar ratio of the perfluoro cyclic ether to O 2 (perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ) satisfies the formula:

0.1≦perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ≦9.

2. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is represented by the following formula (1):

in which m is an integer of 0 to 2 and n is an integer of 0 to 3, provided that m and n are not simultaneously zero, they are not simultaneously m=0 and n=1, they are not simultaneously m=1 and n=0, and they are not simultaneously m=2 and n=3.

3. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is a cyclic ether having a five- to eight-membered ring.

4. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the total amount of the perfluoro cyclic ether and O 2 is 10 to 100 mol % based on 100 mol % of the total gas amount.

5. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the total amount of the perfluoro cyclic ether and O 2 is 70 to 100 mol % based on 100 mol % of the total gas amount.

6. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the perfluoro cyclic ether to O 2 (perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ) satisfies the formula:

0.10≦perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ≦6.

7. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of perfluoro-1,3-dioxolane (c-C 3 F 6 O 2 ), perfluoro-1,4-dioxane (c-C 4 F 8 O 2 ) and perfluoro-1,3,5-trioxane (c-C 3 F 6 O 3 ).

8. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the other gas comprises at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of N 2 , He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe and Rn.

9. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , which is used for cleaning a chamber of a CVD apparatus.

10. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 1 , which is used for removing a silicon-containing deposit.

11. The chamber-cleaning gas as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the silicon-containing deposit comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

(1) silicon;

(2) a compound comprising silicon and at least one element of oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine and carbon; and

(3) a compound comprising a metal silicide with high melting point.

12. An etching gas used for a silicon-containing film comprising a perfluoro cyclic ether having 2 to 4 oxygen atoms which are ether-linked with carbon atoms, O 2 and optionally another gas,

wherein a molar ratio of the perfluoro cyclic ether to O 2 (perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ) satisfies the formula:

0.1≦perfluoro cyclic ether/O 2 ≦9.

13. The etching gas used for a silicon-containing film as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is represented by the formula (1):

in which m is an integer of 0 to 2 and n is an integer of 0 to 3, provided that m and n are not simultaneously zero, they are not simultaneously m=0 and n=1, they are not simultaneously m=1 and n=0, and they are not simultaneously m=2 and n=3.

14. The etching gas used for a silicon-containing film as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is a cyclic ether having a five- to eight-membered ring.

15. The etching gas used for a silicon-containing film as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the total amount of the perfluoro cyclic ether and O 2 is 10 to 100 mol % based on 100 mol % of the total gas amount.

16. The etching gas used for a silicon-containing film as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the perfluoro cyclic ether is at least one compound selected from group consisting of perfluoro-1,3-dioxolane (c-C 3 F 6 O 2 ), perfluoro-1,4-dioxane (c-C 4 F 8 O 2 ) and perfluoro-1,3,5-trioxane (c-C 3 F 6 O 3 ).

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 18, 2020
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052184/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
To: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050000/0483 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 7, 2018
From: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
To: AGC INC.
Reel/Frame 046730/0786 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CORPORATE ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Jan 24, 2017
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041470/0082 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.; NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033698/0648 →