IP Library Granted Patent US 11,524,321
Granted Patent B2
US 11,524,321 · App. 16/919,714 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Cleaning method and plasma processing apparatus

Inventor: Masahiro Yamazaki (Miyagi, JP)
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
B08B7/0057B08B5/00B08B9/08H01J37/3244H01J37/32862H01L21/67069H01J2237/335
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 11,524,321
App. No.
16/919,714
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning method is provided. In the cleaning method, residues of elements of a group for a common semiconductor material in a chamber are removed with plasma of a halogen-containing gas. Residues of metal elements of groups 12 and 13 and groups 14 and 15 in the chamber are removed with plasma of a hydrocarbon-containing gas. A C-containing material in the chamber is removed with plasma of an O-containing gas. Further, the removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas, the removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas, and the removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order or the removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas, the removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas, and the removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas are performed in that order X times where X≥1.

Claims (22)

1. A cleaning method comprising:

removing a first residue in a chamber with a plasma of a halogen-containing gas, wherein the first residue comprises one or more elements from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, boron, phosphorus, arsenic, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium;

removing residues of metal elements of groups 12 and 13 and residues of metal elements of groups 14 and 15 in the chamber with a plasma of a hydrocarbon-containing gas; and

removing a C-containing material in the chamber with a plasma of an O-containing gas,

wherein said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas, said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas, and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order X times, where X is a natural number greater than or equal to 1, or said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas, said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas, and said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas are performed in that order X times.

2. The cleaning method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing residues of the metal elements of the groups 14 and 15 with a plasma of an H-containing gas after said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas.

3. The cleaning method of claim 2 further comprising:

removing H, and at least one of F, Cl, Br, and I in the chamber with a plasma of an inert gas after said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas or said removing with the plasma of the H-containing gas.

4. The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order Y times, wherein Y is a natural number greater than or equal to 1,

such that said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas and the Y performances of said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order X times, or

the Y performances of said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas, and said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas are performed in that order X times.

5. The cleaning method of claim 2 , wherein said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order Y times, where Y is a natural number greater than or equal to 1,

such that said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas, said removing with the plasma of the H-containing gas, and said Y performances of said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order X times, or

the Y performances of said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas, said removing with the plasma of the halogen-containing gas, and said removing with the plasma of the H-containing gas are performed in that order X times.

6. A cleaning method comprising:

removing residues of metal elements of groups 12 and 13 and residues of metal elements of groups 14 and 15 in a chamber with a plasma of a hydrocarbon-containing gas, wherein each of the residues is a residue on a surface of a component of the chamber, and wherein the chamber is a chamber configured for plasma-processing substrates that can be selectively moved into and out of the chamber; and

removing a C-containing material in the chamber with a plasma of an O-containing gas,

wherein said removing with the plasma of the hydrocarbon-containing gas and said removing with the plasma of the O-containing gas are performed in that order X times, where X is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

7. The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas is at least one of CH 4 , C 3 H 8 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 2 , and C 2 H 6 .

8. The cleaning method of claim 6 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing gas is at least one of CH 4 , C 3 H 8 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 2 , and C 2 H 6 .

9. The cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the halogen-containing gas is at least one of NF 3 , SF 6 , CF 4 , Cl 2 , BCl 3 , HBr and HI.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: YAMAZAKI, MASAHIRO
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053110/0852 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-126423 · Jul 5, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210001383A1 · Jan 7, 2021