IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,308,242
Granted Patent B2
US 12,308,242 · App. 17/595,397 · Granted May 20, 2025

Etching method and method for manufacturing semiconductor element

Inventor: Kazuma Matsui (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Resonac Corporation
H01L21/31116
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 12,308,242
App. No.
17/595,397
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an etching method capable of selectively etching an etching target containing a silicon compound including at least one of a nitrogen atom or an oxygen atom and a silicon atom with respect to a specific non-etching target without using plasma. The etching method includes an etching step in which an etching gas containing fluorine gas is brought into contact with a member to be etched including an etching target and a non-etching target in the absence of plasma to selectively etch the etching target with respect to the non-etching target. The etching target contains a silicon compound including at least one of a nitrogen atom or an oxygen atom and a silicon atom. The non-etching target includes at least one selected from tantalum, cobalt, copper, titanium nitride, nickel, and amorphous carbon. The etching step is performed under temperature conditions of from 40° C. to less than 350° C.

Claims (22)

1. An etching method comprising an etching step in which an etching gas containing fluorine gas is brought into contact with a member to be etched including an etching target being a target of etching with the etching gas and a non-etching target not being the target of the etching with the etching gas in an absence of plasma to selectively etch the etching target with respect to the non-etching target, wherein the etching target contains a silicon compound including at least one of a nitrogen atom or an oxygen atom and a silicon atom;

wherein the non-etching target includes at least one selected from tantalum, cobalt, copper, titanium nitride, nickel, and amorphous carbon;

wherein the etching step is performed under temperature conditions of from 40° C. to less than 350° C.;

wherein the etching gas consists of only fluorine gas or consists of a mixed gas consisting of fluorine gas and an inert gas.

2. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein the inert gas is at least one selected from nitrogen gas, helium, argon, neon, krypton, and xenon.

3. The etching method according to claim 2 , wherein an amount of the fluorine gas contained in the etching gas is from 0.5% by volume to 70% by volume.

4. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of the fluorine gas contained in the etching gas is from 0.5% by volume to 70% by volume.

5. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-etching target is used as a resist in the etching of the etching target with the etching gas.

6. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein an etching selectivity ratio being a ratio of an etching rate of the etching target to an etching rate of the non-etching target is 3 or more.

7. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor element, the method using the etching method according to claim 1 to manufacture the semiconductor element, wherein the member to be etched is a semiconductor substrate including the etching target and the non-etching target; and wherein the method comprises a processing step of removing at least a part of the etching target from the semiconductor substrate by the etching.

8. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein the silicon compound is at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

9. The etching method according to claim 8 , wherein the etching step is performed under pressure conditions of from 1 Pa to 100 kPa.

10. The etching method according to claim 8 , wherein the etching step is performed under temperature conditions of from 70° C. to 330° C.

11. The etching method according to claim 8 , wherein the etching gas is a gas comprising only fluorine gas or is a mixed gas containing fluorine gas and inert gas.

12. The etching method according to claim 8 , wherein an amount of the fluorine gas contained in the etching gas is from 0.5% by volume to 70% by volume.

13. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein the etching step is performed under pressure conditions of from 1 Pa to 100 kPa.

14. The etching method according to claim 13 , wherein the etching step is performed under temperature conditions of from 70° C. to 330° C.

15. The etching method according to claim 13 , wherein the etching gas is a gas comprising only fluorine gas or is a mixed gas containing fluorine gas and inert gas.

16. The etching method according to claim 13 , wherein an amount of the fluorine gas contained in the etching gas is from 0.5% by volume to 70% by volume.

17. The etching method according to claim 1 , wherein the etching step is performed under temperature conditions of from 70° C. to 330° C.

18. The etching method according to claim 17 , wherein the etching gas is a gas comprising only fluorine gas or is a mixed gas containing fluorine gas and inert gas.

19. The etching method according to claim 17 , wherein an amount of the fluorine gas contained in the etching gas is from 0.5% by volume to 70% by volume.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 9, 2024
From: RESONAC CORPORATION
To: RESONAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066547/0677 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
To: RESONAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064082/0513 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: MATSUI, KAZUMA
To: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
Reel/Frame 058125/0223 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-072316 · Apr 14, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220216063A1 · Jul 7, 2022
References Cited (20)
US 5534107A · Gray et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 10529581B2 · Hsu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20070087520A1 · Mitsuiki et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20090068844A1 · Pischtiak et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100197143A1 · Nishimura et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120164830A1 · Lee · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130017685A1 · Akae et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20180251679A1 · Takahashi et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190206696A1 · Hsu · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210233774A1 · Kato et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 1932941A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 7273088A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009533853A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013197419A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 5571770B2 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
TW 201931468A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016056300A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019245013A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT/JP2021/012618 dated Jun. 1, 2021. [cited by applicant]
Ronald Hellriegel, et al., “Feasibility Study for Usage of Diluted Fluorine for Chamber Clean Etch Applications as an Environmental Friendly Replacement of NF [cited by applicant]