US Patent:
20140076353, Mar 20, 2014
Inventors:
Carlo Waldfried - Middleton MA, US
Shijian Luo - South Hamilton MA, US
Orlando Escorcia - Falls Church VA, US
Assignee:
Lam Research Corporation - Fremont CA
International Classification:
H01L 21/02
Abstract:
A plasma ashing process for removing photoresist, polymers and/or residues from a substrate, the process includes placing the substrate including the photoresist, polymers, and/or residues into a reaction chamber; generating a plasma from a gas mixture comprising oxygen gas (0) and/or an oxygen containing gas; suppressing and/or reducing fast diffusing species in the plasma by adding an atomic oxygen scavenging gas to the gas mixture; and exposing the substrate to the plasma to selectively remove the photoresist, polymers, and/or residues from the substrate, wherein the plasma is substantially free from fast diffusing species.