Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device

1. An ashing process for removing a photoresist in a process chamber, comprising:

patterning an upper conductor or electrode with a photoresist on the upper conductor or electrode layer;

removing a substantial portion of the photoresist by flowing a first reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more oxygen and nitrogen source gases into a process chamber under first predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions;

removing a surface polymer by flowing a second reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more water source gases and a fluorocarbon gas into the process chamber under second predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions; and

flowing a third reaction gas consisting essentially of an oxygen source gas into the process chamber under third predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions, thereby removing the photoresist.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon in the mixture is present in an amount of about 5-15% by weight, volume, or flow rate of the amount of the one or more water source gases.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third predetermined pressure conditions are the same.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon gas comprises CF 4 .

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more oxygen and nitrogen source gases comprise a mixture of O 2 and N 2 .

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen source gas comprises O 2 .

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ashing process further comprises sequentially flowing O 2 and O 3 gases into the process chamber under fourth predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fourth predetermined conditions are carried out for a fourth predetermined process time to further remove remaining photoresist.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more water source gases comprises H 2 O.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the fluorocarbon gas comprises CF 4 .

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined conditions are carried out for a first predetermined process time to remove a substantial portion of the photoresist.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second predetermined conditions are carried out for a second predetermined process time.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second predetermined time is about 30-50% of the first predetermined time.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the third predetermined conditions are carried out for a third predetermined process time to remove a remaining photoresist.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the third predetermined time is about 40-60% of the first predetermined process time.

16. An ashing process for removing a photoresist in a process chamber, comprising:

flowing a first reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more oxygen and nitrogen source gases into the process chamber under first predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions, wherein the first predetermined conditions are carried out for a first predetermined process time to remove a substantial portion of the photoresist;

flowing a second reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more water source gases and a fluorocarbon gas into the process chamber under second predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions, wherein the second predetermined conditions are carried out for a second predetermined process time to remove a surface polymer from a previous etching process; and

flowing a third reaction gas consisting essentially of an oxygen source gas into the process chamber under third predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions, thereby removing the photoresist.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising patterning an upper conductor or electrode with a photoresist on the upper conductor or electrode layer prior to flowing the one or more oxygen and nitrogen source gases.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising patterning an upper electrode in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor.

19. A method of forming an upper electrode in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, comprising:

patterning a photoresist over an upper electrode layer and an insulator layer;

etching the upper electrode layer and the insulator layer;

removing a substantial portion of the patterned photoresist by flowing a first reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more oxygen and nitrogen source gases into the process chamber under first predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions;

removing a surface polymer by flowing a second reaction gas consisting essentially of a mixture of one or more water source gases and a fluorocarbon gas into the process chamber under second predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions; and

flowing a third reaction gas consisting essentially of an oxygen source gas into the process chamber under third predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions, thereby removing the patterned photoresist.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the fluorocarbon gas comprises CF 4 , the one or more water source gases comprises H 2 O, and CF 4 is present in an amount of about 5-15% by weight, volume, or flow rate of the amount of H 2 O;

the first, second, and third predetermined pressure conditions are the same;

the first predetermined conditions are carried out for a predetermined time;

the second predetermined conditions are carried out for a time of about 30-50% of the first predetermined time;

the third predetermined conditions are carried out for a time of about 40-60% of the first predetermined time; and

the ashing process further comprises removing a remaining photoresist for a second predetermined time by sequentially flowing O 2 and O 3 gases into the process chamber at fourth predetermined pressure, power, and temperature conditions.