IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,374,532
Granted Patent B2
US 12,374,532 · App. 18/279,299 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Plasma processing method

Inventors: Mai Isomoto (Tokyo, JP); Hitoshi Kobayashi (Tokyo, JP); Ryota Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Satoshi Une (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
H01J37/32697H01J37/32293H01J37/32715H01J2237/3341
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,374,532
App. No.
18/279,299
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a plasma processing method for preventing generation of deposition from an underlying metal film and attaining an anisotropic shape in hard mask etching. The plasma processing method for forming a mask using a film to be etched whose underlying layer is a metal film according to the invention includes: a first step of etching, using a plasma generated by mixed gas containing O 2 gas, CHF 3 gas, NF 3 gas, Ar gas, and He gas, while supplying pulse-modulated radio frequency power to a sample stage on which a sample having the film to be etched is placed; and a second step of etching while supplying continuous wave (CW) radio frequency power to the sample stage after the first step. The film to be etched is a TEOS film and a silicon nitride film, and the continuous wave (CW) radio frequency power is smaller than a product of the pulse-modulated radio frequency power and a pulse-modulated duty ratio and is smaller than 50 W.

Claims (18)

1. A plasma processing method for forming a mask using a film to be etched whose underlying layer is a metal film, the plasma processing method comprising:

a first step of etching, using a plasma generated by mixed gas containing oxygen (O 2 ) gas, trifluoromethane (CHF 3 ) gas, nitrogen trifluoride (NF 3 ) gas, argon (Ar) gas, and helium (He) gas, the film to be etched while supplying pulse-modulated radio frequency power to a sample stage on which a sample having the film to be etched is placed; and

a second step of etching the etched film to be etched while supplying continuous wave (CW) radio frequency power to the sample stage after the first step, wherein

the film to be etched is a tetra ethyl ortho silicate (TEOS) film and a silicon nitride film, and

the continuous wave (CW) radio frequency power is smaller than a product of the pulse-modulated radio frequency power and a pulse-modulated duty ratio and is smaller than 50 W.

2. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

a flow rate of the helium (He) gas is higher than a flow rate of the argon (Ar) gas.

3. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

as etching gas in the second step, mixed gas containing sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) gas and the trifluoromethane (CHF 3 ) gas is used.

4. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the continuous wave (CW) radio frequency power is 10% or less of the product of the pulse-modulated radio frequency power and the pulse-modulated duty ratio.

5. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

radio frequency power for generating a plasma in the second step is larger than radio frequency power for generating a plasma in the first step.

6. The plasma processing method according to claim 5 , wherein

the radio frequency power for generating the plasma in the first step and the radio frequency power for generating the plasma in the second step is radio frequency power of a microwave, and

a current for forming a magnetic field in the second step is larger than a current for forming a magnetic field in the first step.

7. The plasma processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the mask for etching the film to be etched is an amorphous carbon layer (ACL) film.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2023
From: ISOMOTO, MAI; KOBAYASHI, HITOSHI; TAKAHASHI, RYOTA; UNE, SATOSHI
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065734/0586 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250079136A1 · Mar 6, 2025
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