IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,381,096
Granted Patent B2
US 12,381,096 · App. 18/451,826 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Etching method and etching apparatus

Inventors: Yoshiki Igarashi (Nirasaki, JP); Satoru Kikushima (Hsin-chu, TW); Takayuki Suga (Nirasaki, JP); Jun Lin (Nirasaki, JP); Chengya Chu (Hsin-chu, TW)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
H01L21/67069H01L21/31116
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 12,381,096
App. No.
18/451,826
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An etching method for selectively etching a material containing Si and O is provided. The etching method includes providing a substrate containing the material containing Si and O in a chamber, repeating a first period for supplying a basic gas, which is started first, and a second period for supplying a fluorine-containing gas, which is started next, with at least a part of the second period not overlapping with the first period, and heating and removing a reaction product generated by the supply of the basic gas and the supply of the fluorine-containing gas.

Claims (20)

1. An etching apparatus for selectively etching an etching target material of SiO 2 with respect to a non-etching material of SiN, comprising:

a chamber accommodating a substrate containing the etching target material of SiO 2 and the non-etching material of SiN;

a substrate support on which the substrate is placed in the chamber;

a gas supply mechanism configured to supply a basic gas and a fluorine-containing gas into the chamber;

an exhaust mechanism configured to exhaust the chamber;

a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the substrate on the substrate support; and

a control unit,

wherein the control unit controls the gas supply mechanism, the exhaust mechanism, and the temperature controller to repeat a first period for supplying the basic gas, which is started first, and a second period for supplying the fluorine-containing gas, which is started next, with at least a part of the second period not overlapping with the first period, and to heat and remove a reaction product generated by the supply of the basic gas and the supply of the fluorine-containing gas.

2. The etching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluorine-containing gas is at least one selected from a group of HF gas, F 2 gas, ClF 3 gas, and NF 3 gas, and the basic gas is at least one selected from a group of NH 3 gas and amine gas.

3. The etching apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fluorine-containing gas is the HF gas, the basic gas is the NH 3 gas, and the reaction product is (NH 4 ) 2 SiF 6 .

4. The etching apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the control unit controls a temperature of the substrate to 80° C. or lower using the temperature controller.

5. The etching apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control unit controls the temperature of the substrate to be within a range from 60° C. to 80° C. using the temperature controller.

6. An etching apparatus for selectively etching an etching target material of SiO 2 with respect to a non-etching material of SiOCN, comprising:

a chamber accommodating a substrate containing the etching target material of SiO 2 and the non-etching material of SiOCN;

a substrate support on which the substrate is placed in the chamber;

a gas supply mechanism configured to supply a basic gas and a fluorine-containing gas into the chamber;

an exhaust mechanism configured to exhaust the chamber;

a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the substrate on the substrate support; and

a control unit,

wherein the control unit controls the gas supply mechanism, the exhaust mechanism, and the temperature controller to repeat a first period for supplying the basic gas, which is started first, and a second period for supplying the fluorine-containing gas, which is started next, with at least a part of the second period not overlapping with the first period, and to heat and remove a reaction product generated by the supply of the basic gas and the supply of the fluorine-containing gas.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: IGARASHI, YOSHIKI; KIKUSHIMA, SATORU; SUGA, TAKAYUKI; CHU, CHENGYA
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064639/0486 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-085747 · May 15, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 17319514 · May 13, 2021
Related Publication 20230395400A1 · Dec 7, 2023
References Cited (19)
US 11715641B2 · Suzuki et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20050269294A1 · Igarashi et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20080124936A1 · Nishimura · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080142483A1 · Hua et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20130130499A1 · Ugajin · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20150187593A1 · Narushima et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170243753A1 · Imai et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170294319A1 · Ogiwara · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190221440A1 · Asada · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190378724A1 · Toda et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210375634A1 · Suzuki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005039185A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008160000A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020150076099A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020170099778A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190088009A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190139770A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020054476A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
United States Office Action, U.S. Appl. No. 17/319,514, Nov. 29, 2022, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]