Anisotropic etch method

Abstract

A method to anisotropically etch an oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure on a silicon wafer substrate in situ, that is, using a single parallel plate plasma reactor chamber and a single inert cathode, with a variable gap between cathode and anode. This method has an oxide etch step and a silicide/poly etch step. The fully etched sandwich structure has a vertical profile at or near 90° from horizontal, with no bowing or notching.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to etching methods used in the fabrication of integrated electronic circuits on a semiconductor substrate such as silicon, particularly a single-chamber/single-cathode (in situ) method of anisotropically plasma etching a sandwich structure of an oxide, tungsten silicide, and polycrystalline silicon, or equivalent structure.

An electronic circuit is chemically and physically integrated into a substrate such as a silicon wafer by patterning regions in the substrate, and by patterning layers on the substrate. These regions and layers can be conductive, for conductor and resistor fabrication, or insulative, for insulator and capacitor fabrication. They can also be of differing conductivity types, which is essential for transistor and diode fabrication. Degrees of resistance, capacitance, and conductivity are controllable, as are the physical dimensions and locations of the patterned regions and layers, making circuit integration possible. Fabrication can be quite complex and time consuming, and therefore expensive. It is thus a continuing quest of those in the semiconductor fabrication business to reduce fabrication times and costs of such devices in order to increase profits. Any simplified processing step or combination of processes at a single step becomes a competitive advantage.

2. State of the Art

A situation where a process simplification is desirable is in the anisotropic etch of a layer of oxide on a layer of silicide on a layer of poly (also called an oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure). In this disclosure, “oxide” denotes an oxide of silicon, “silicide” is short for tungsten silicide and other commonly known silicides such as tantalum silicide, molybdenum silicide, and titanium silicide, and “poly” is shoptalk for polycrystalline silicon. “Polycide” denotes a silicide-over-poly combination. Oxide is an insulator with dielectric properties. Poly is resistive in nature, but is made less resistive when doped with an element having less or more than four valence electrons, or when layered with conductive silicide.

An oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure presents a difficult etching task, particularly with an additional mask layer of photoresist (“resist”), which must be the case if patterning is desired. The difficulty is due to the distinct differences in the way oxide and polycide are etched, particularly with resist still present on top of the structure.

Both oxide and polycide can be etched using a parallel plate plasma reactor. However, an oxide is typically etched in fluorine-deficient fluorocarbon-based plasmas, whereas silicide and poly can be etched in fluorine- or chlorine-based discharges. Reactor cathode materials may also differ: for oxide etch, an erodible cathode such as graphite or silicon is often used to provide a source of carbon or silicon for etch selectivity, whereas for polycide etch, an inert cathode is preferred, especially when utilizing chlorine gas (Cl₂) for selectivity. If a single-chamber process were attempted using conventional art to etch an oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure, the erodible cathode required for oxide etch would be destroyed by the chlorine required for polycide etch. Using conventional methods, the two steps are incompatible.

Oxide etch in general is fairly well understood given a universal need for a vertical profile. This vertical profile is realized primarily by ion induced reaction with the oxide, coupled with normal incidence of the ions on the oxide surface. The amount and energy of these ions are primarily controlled by the reactor's rf power and gap. Generally, a fluorocarbon-based gas mixture is introduced at a low pressure into the etch chamber. The exact gas composition is chosen, and an erodible cathode is used to scavenge excessive fluorine radicals so that the fluorine-to-carbon ratio is near, but not beyond, the so-called polymerization point. Under these conditions, when a plasma is ignited, the fluorocarbons are dissociated and release fluorine radicals and CF_X species. Although fluorine radicals etch oxide, they do so very slowly: the primary etchant for oxide is considered to be the CF_X species. Some of these species diffuse to the oxide surface where, with the assistance of ion bombardment, they react with the oxide and release volatile byproducts SiF₄, CO, and CO₂. In addition, some of the CF_X species react with each other to form fluorocarbon polymers. Polymer that forms on horizontal surfaces is removed by vertical ion bombardment. Polymer that forms on vertical sidewalls is not significantly degraded by the bombardment, and actually serves a useful purpose by protecting the sidewalls from attack by the etchant species. This sidewall protection enables the achievement of vertical profiles, adjustable by varying the fluorine-to-carbon ratio. As the cathode is eroded, the quantity of available fluorine radicals is reduced. Therefore, a polymer-producing gas such as CHF₃ is balanced against a fluorine-producing gas such as CF₄ to provide proper selectivity, with assistance to sidewall protection.

Two methods are presently used to etch an oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure. Both methods use separate reactors: one for oxide etch and one for polycide etch. The first method involves etching the oxide in an oxide etch reactor, using an erodible cathode. After oxide etch, the resist is removed from the wafer. Silicide and poly are then etched in a poly etch reactor, using an inert cathode. Both etches are anisotropic.

The second method uses the same principles as the first, except that there are two reactors in one machine. The two reactors are configured as separate oxide and polycide reactors having a common vacuum transfer area, so that a wafer can be transferred in a vacuum from the oxide reactor to the polycide reactor, thus minimizing additional handling. The resist is generally not removed prior to polycide etch in this method. This is sometimes referred to as “in situ” since the wafers never leave the vacuum of one machine. However they are etched in two different etch chambers and are not truly in situ in the sense of this disclosure.

It would be of great advantage to etch oxide and polycide truly “in situ,” that is, in one reactor chamber, with a single cathode.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of anisotropically etching an oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure in situ. Other objects of the invention are a fast processing time, an improved process yield and cleanliness.

In summary, the inventive process is as follows. A wafer having the sandwich structure described above, coated with a mask layer of resist, is transferred into the chamber of a parallel plate plasma reactor, having an anodized aluminum cathode and a variable gap, for two steps: oxide etch and polycide etch. In the oxide etch step, oxide not protected by resist is exposed to a plasma of about 1.9 W/cm² power density at a 0.48 cm gap, in a 2.3 torr atmosphere of 50 sccm C₂F₆, 100 sccm He, 40 sccm CF₄, and 32 sccm CHF₃. Immediately after the oxide etch step, in the same chamber and using the same cathode, silicide and poly layers are etched in a plasma of about 0.57 W/cm² at a 1.0 cm gap in a 0.325 torr atmosphere of 90 sccm Cl₂ and 70 sccm He. The finished structure has a vertical profile at or near 90° from horizontal, with no bowing or notching. The entire inventive process takes about 3 minutes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectioned oxide/silicide/poly sandwich structure with a patterned resist mask layer, prior to the inventive etch.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of said structure after oxide etch.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of said structure after polycide etch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a photoresist mask layer 10 is aligned and developed on a sandwich structure of oxide 11, silicide 12, and poly 13 on gate oxide 14 of a silicon wafer substrate 15. Fabrication and damasking of this structure are done by methods well known to those skilled in semiconductor design and processing, and hence are not fully disclosed herein. The preferred embodiment of the inventive method is well suited to etch a 3,000 angstrom layer 11 of TEOS oxide (an oxide of silicon, derived from tetraethylorthosilicate) on 1,200 angstroms of tungsten silicide 12 on 3,000 angstroms of poly 13.

The wafer having the masked structure is transferred into the chamber of a Lam 790 parallel plate plasma reactor, having an anodized aluminum cathode, a variable gap, and a 13.56 MHz rf power plasma generator for an inventive process having two steps: oxide etch and polycide etch. In the oxide etch step, oxide 11 not protected by photoresist mask layer 10 is exposed to a plasma of about 1.9 W/cm² power density at a 0.48 cm gap, in a 2.3 torr atmosphere of 50 sccm C₂F₆, 100 sccm He, 40 sccm CF₄, and 32 sccm CHF₃. In this disclosure, “sccm” denotes standard cubic centimeters per minute, and “gap” refers to the distance between plasma electrodes, one of which supports the wafer. After the oxide etch step, which takes under a minute, the structure appears as shown in FIG. 2.

Immediately after the oxide etch step, in the same chamber and using the same cathode, silicide and poly layers 12 and 13 are etched in a plasma of about 0.57 W/cm² at a 1.0 cm gap in a 0.325 torr atmosphere of 90 sccm Cl₂ and 70 sccm He. This etch takes a little over 2 minutes, with the entire inventive process taking about 3 minutes. The finished structure appears as shown in FIG. 3, with a profile at or near 90° from horizontal, with no bowing or notching.

Details of the oxide etch step are now provided. Although preferred parameter values are stated above, plasma power density can range within about 0.18-4.0 W/cm², the gap can vary within about 0.3-0.6 cm, 0.38-0.52 cm being the preferred range, and the pressure can range within about 1.8-3.0 torr, although 2.2-2.4 torr is preferred. Gas quantities may vary, as long as at least about 5 sccm He is provided. Providing more CF₄ than CHF₃ makes a cleaner process, but this ratio can be varied if desired.

The inventive process uses a non-erodible anodized aluminum cathode, which increases the amount of available fluorine radicals. According to conventional thought, in order to maintain the same oxide-to-polycide selectivity as the prior art, the ratio of CF₄ to CHF₃ must be decreased to minimize fluorine radicals. It was found that this approach does not provide adequate selectivity without an excessive and quick buildup of polymer. This was solved by adding C₂F₆ to the chamber atmosphere as the predominant gas, which provides more CF_X species and relatively few fluorine radicals, resulting in acceptable selectivity without excessive polymer buildup. C₂F₆ also resolves a “micromasking” problem, in which areas of underlying polycide were not being etched. Although the cause is unclear, it is speculated that the CF_X species reacted with the tungsten silicide, forming a polymer layer which interfered with subsequent polycide etching. C₂F₆ evidently produces a polymer without this affinity for tungsten silicide, thereby eliminating micromasking.

The inventive process includes a high pressure atmosphere in order to produce a faster oxide etch rate. High pressure results in a higher fluorine radical flux on the oxide surface. When combined with high rf power, the etch rate is increased. High pressure and rf power do have drawbacks, however. Although rf induced ion bombardment assists in oxide etch, it also contributes to photoresist erosion, which is undesirable. Further, if rf power is too high, the resist will “burn” or reticulate. Higher pressure makes a thicker atmosphere, scattering ions and gas radicals in the plasma, resulting in more sidewall etching than with a low pressure system.

The oxide etch step of the inventive method includes an overetch of about 45 seconds to fully clear all residual oxide. Although the C₂F₆/CF₄/CHF₃ gas mixture etches underlying polycide during overetch, the etch continues to be anisotropic because of the sidewall passivation provided by the halocarbon-derived polymer and from the carbon introduced by eroding resist. After oxide has been cleared, the polycide-to-resist etch rate ratio is approximately 1.8:1.

Polycide etch step details are now provided. Although preferred parameter values have been stated, plasma power density can range within about 0.18-2.0 W/cm², the gap can vary within about 0.5-2.5 cm, 0.8-1.5 cm being the preferred range, and the pressure can range within about 0.200-0.550 torr, although about 0.300-0.425 torr is preferred. Quantities of the gases may vary, as long as at least about 50 sccm He is provided. It is contemplated that SiCl₄ or BCl₃ or a combination thereof might be used to provide additional Cl₂, if desired.

The lower pressure of the polycide etch allows for more ion bombardment, which, with resist erosion and the Cl₂ concentration, determines the etch rate and profile of tile silicide and poly layers 12 and 13. Cl₂ provides the necessary selectivity to the polycide, so that minimal underlying gate oxide 14 is etched. Fluorine can also be used, but Cl₂ is preferred because it provides superior selectivity. The resist used must therefore be able to reasonably withstand a chlorine-based plasma. The preferred embodiment utilizes Hunt's 6512 resist, developed with Hunt's photoresist developer 428. It is realized that other resists, developers, and mask layer compositions can be used as well.

An additional benefit of the inventive method is the ability to use carbon generated by the resist to help passivate polycide sidewalls, which means that carbon-containing gasses do not have to be added to the gas mixture during polycide etch.

There is an upper rf power limit that can be safely used before the poly-to-gate oxide selectivity is reduced to the point where the poly cannot be completely etched without removing all of the exposed gate oxide. The inventive process provides a selectivity of approximately 13:1. Variations in the chlorine flow and total pressure do not significantly change this selectivity, although an increase in rf power reduces it.

In both of the inventive steps, helium is added to improve etch uniformity. The pressure, power, and various gas quantities are balanced to produce the fastest etch rates while preserving selectivity.

Clearly, in view of the above disclosure, other embodiments of this invention will present themselves to those of ordinary skill in semiconductor processing, such as applying the invention to other kinds of masking layers, oxide, silicide, such as tungsten silicide, tantalum silicide, molybdenum silicide, and titanium silicide, and poly, and varying thickness and doping of each layer etched. Since the inventive process includes one step for polycide etch, a simple oxide/poly structure can be etched instead of an oxide/silicide/poly structure, without materially altering the process. It is also conceivable that plasma power density and gap may be varied, gas quantities adjusted, similar gases substituted, or some other inert material used for the cathode, to achieve the same or similar results. Gas quantities may also be changed while preserving essentially similar ratios of one gas to another. Another make of reactor might also be chosen. These variations and others are intended to be circumscribed by these claims.

Claims

1. An etching method in a reactor for an oxide layer on a substrate producing a profile in said layer of oxide substantially 90° from a horizontal plane passing through said layer of oxide comprising: providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and having an inert second electrode; mounting said substrate on said first electrode; providing a high pressure atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said high pressure atmosphere containing C2F6, CHF3, CF4, and He, said C2F6 being predominant in relation to said CHF3 and said CF4; establishing a plasma in said high pressure atmosphere, said plasma having a high power density; exposing said layer of oxide to said plasma having a high power density; and etching said layer of oxide to expose a subjacent layer on said substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure of approximately 2.3 torr and approximately 50 sccm C2F6, approximately 32 sccm CHF3, approximately 40 sccm CF4, and approximately 100 sccm He; said plasma high power density is approximately 1.9 W/cm2; and a gap of approximately 0.48 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: said high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure within approximately 1.8 to 3.0 torr; said plasma high power density is within approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.3 to 0.6 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein: said high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure within approximately 2.2 to 2.3 torr; said plasma high power density is within approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.38 to 0.52 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said high pressure atmosphere includes more C2F6 than CF4 and more CF4 than CHF3.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said high pressure atmosphere includes at least approximately 5 sccm He.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxide layer includes a mask layer on portions thereof, said mask layer releasing carbon in said plasma having a high power density.

8. An etching method in a parallel plate reactor for at least one layer in the group of layers consisting of a silicide layer, a poly layer, and a polycide layer located on a portion of a substrate for producing a profile in said layer of oxide of about 90° from horizontal, comprising: providing a first electrode and an inert second electrode in the parallel plate reactor; mounting said substrate on said first electrode; providing a high pressure atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said high pressure atmosphere containing C2F6, CHF3, CF4, and He; establishing a plasma in said high pressure atmosphere, aid plasma having a high power density; and exposing said layer of oxide to said plasma having a high power density.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: said high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure of approximately 2.3 torr and approximately 50 sccm C2F6, approximately 32 sccm CHF3, approximately 40 sccm CF4, and approximately 100 sccm He; said plasma power density is approximately 1.9 W/cm2; and a gap of approximately 0.48 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein: said high pressure atmosphere including a pressure within approximately 1.8 to 3.0 torr; said plasma power density is within approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.3 to 0.6 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein: said high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure within approximately 2.2 to 2.3 torr; said plasma power density is within approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.38 to 0.52 cm exists between said first electrode and said inert second electrode, said inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said high pressure atmosphere includes more C2F6 than CF4 and more CF4 than CHF3.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said high pressure atmosphere includes at least approximately 5 sccm He.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said oxide layer includes a mask layer on portions thereof, said mask layer releasing carbon in said plasma having a high power density.

15. An anisotropic etching method for at least one layer in the group of layers consisting of silicide, poly, and polycide located on a substrate in a parallel plate reactor, said anisotropic etching method producing a profile of about 90° from horizontal, said method comprising: providing a first electrode and having an inert second electrode comprised of anodized aluminum; providing a gap of approximately 1.0 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode; mounting said substrate on said first electrode; and providing a plasma atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma reactor, said plasma atmosphere including a pressure of approximately 0.325 torr, including Cl2 at a rate of approximately 90 seem, He at a rate of approximately 70 seem, and a plasma power density of approximately 0.57 W/cm2.

16. A method to anisotropically etch at least one layer in the group of layers consisting of a silicide layer, a poly layer, and polycide layer located on a substrate, said anisotropical etch producing a profile at or near 90° from horizontal with respect to said substrate in a parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and an inert second electrode comprised of anodized aluminum, said method comprising: forming between said first electrode and said inert second electrode a gap within the range of approximately 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm; mounting said substrate on said first electrode; and providing a plasma atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma reactor including Cl2 and He, a pressure within the range of approximately 0.200 to 0.550 torr, a plasma power density within the range of approximately 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2.

17. An anisotropic etch for a structure in situ to produce a profile of about 90° from horizontal with respect to said structure, said structure including a first layer of an oxide of silicon on a second layer selected from the group consisting silicide, poly, and polycide, said structure located on a substrate, said etch comprising: providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and an inert second electrode comprising anodized aluminum; placing said substrate on said first electrode; providing a first high pressure atmosphere within said parallel plate reactor, said first high pressure atmosphere including C2F6, CHF3, CF4, and He; exposing the first layer to a first plasma having a first high power density to expose at least a portion of said second layer; providing a second pressure atmosphere within said reactor including Cl2 and He; and exposing the second layer to a second plasma having a second high power density.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein: said first high pressure atmosphere includes a pressure of approximately 2.3 torr, C2F6 at the rate of approximately 50 sccm, CHF3 at the rate of approximately 32 sccm, CF4 at the rate of approximately 40 sccm, and He at a rate of approximately 100 sccm; said first plasma including a power density of approximately 1.9 W/cm2; a gap of approximately 0.48 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said first plasma power density; said second high pressure atmosphere including a pressure of approximately 0.325 torr and Cl2 at a rate of approximately 90 sccm and He at a rate of approximately 70 sccm; said second plasma including a power density of approximately 0.57 W/cm2; and a gap of approximately 1.0 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said second plasma power density.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein: said first high pressure atmosphere including a pressure within the range of approximately 1.8 torr to 0.3.0 torr; said first plasma including a power density within the range of approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; a gap within the range of approximately 0.3 to 0.6 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said first plasma power density; said second high pressure atmosphere including a pressure within the range of approximately 0.200 torr to 0.550 torr; said second plasma including a power density within the range of approximately 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.5 to 2.5 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said second plasma high density.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein: said first high pressure atmosphere including a pressure within the range of approximately 2.2 torr to 2.4 torr; said first plasma including a power density within the range of approximately 0.18 to 4.0 W/cm2; a gap within approximately 0.38 to 0.52 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said first plasma power density; said second high pressure atmosphere including a pressure within the range of approximately 0.300 torr to 0.425 torr; said second plasma including a power density within the range of approximately 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; and a gap within approximately 0.8 to 1.5 cm between said first electrode and said inert second electrode for said second plasma power density.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein: said first high pressure atmosphere includes more C2F6 than CF4 and more CF4 than CHF3; said first high pressure atmosphere includes at least approximately 5 sccm He; and said second high pressure atmosphere includes He at the rate of at least approximately 50 sccm.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the structure includes a mask layer that releases carbon when subjected to a plasma and resists chlorine.

23. A method to etch a structure including a silicide on a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, said method comprising: providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by said plasma generated in said gas in said reactor; transferring said substrate into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor upon said first electrode located therein; introducing a first atmosphere of said gas into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said first atmosphere comprising predominantly C2F6 gas; generating a first plasma using said predominantly C2F6 gas as said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; etching said silicide in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor using said first plasma of said first atmosphere comprising C2F6 as the predominant gas forming said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, thereby forming a plasma having a quantity of CFx species formed therein and having relatively few fluorine radicals formed therein as compared with the quantity of said CFx species, thereby, in turn, reducing micromasking from carbon depositing on said wafer, by achieving etching selectively without proportionally increasing polymer buildup, thereby, in turn, reducing areas of said silicide on a said layer of polycrystalline silicon which are not etched; introducing a second atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma reactor prior to removing said wafer therefrom, said second atmosphere comprising: constituents of Cl2; and  an inert carrier gas, said inert carrier gas of said second atmosphere including at least 50 sccm He therein; generating a second plasma using said second atmosphere introduced in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; and exposing said structure to said second plasma in said second atmosphere thereby causing further etching of said structure.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, said second atmosphere has a pressure of at least 0.325 torr and includes at least 90 sccm Cl2, and at least 70 sccm He as said inert carrier gas; a power density of said second plasma in said second atmosphere is at least 0.57 W/cm2; a gap of at least 1.0 cm exists between said first and second electrodes in said second atmosphere; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein: said second atmosphere has a pressure in the range of 0.200 to 0.550 torr; a power density of said second plasma in said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; a gap in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes in said second atmosphere; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein: said second atmosphere has a pressure in the range of 0.300 to 0.425 torr; a power density of said second plasma in said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; a gap in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes in said second atmosphere; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said second atmosphere includes at least approximately 50 sccm He.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said layer is masked with a mask layer that releases a carbon compound as said mask layer erodes.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said silicide comprises tungsten silicide.

30. A method to etch a structure including tungsten silicide on a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, comprising: masking said layer with a mask layer that erodes; providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by said plasma; transferring said substrate into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor upon said first electrode located therein; providing an atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said atmosphere comprising:  a gas having primary constituents of Cl2 and an inert carrier gas, said atmosphere having a pressure within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.200 to 0.550 torr; generating a plasma by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; and exposing said structure to said plasma when generated by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2, thereby etching said tungsten silicide.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein: a gap in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 cm exists between said first and second electrodes; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said atmosphere includes at least 5 sccm He as said inert carrier gas.

33. A method to etch a structure including a silicide on a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, comprising: providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by said plasma generated in said reactor; transferring said substrate formed as a wafer upon said first electrode of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor; introducing a first atmosphere of said gas into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor comprising predominantly C2F6 gas; generating a first plasma using said predominantly C2F6 gas as said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; etching said silicide in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor using said first plasma of said first atmosphere comprising C2F6 as the predominant gas forming said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, thereby providing a plasma having a quantity of CFx species formed therein and having relatively few fluorine radicals formed therein as compared with the quantity of said CFx species, thereby, in turn, reducing micromasking from carbon depositing on said wafer, by achieving etching selectively without proportionally increasing polymer buildup, thereby, in turn, reducing areas of said silicide on a said layer of polycrystalline silicon which are not etched; introducing a second atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma reactor prior to removing said wafer therefrom, said second atmosphere comprising:  constituents of Cl2 and an inert carrier gas, said inert gas carrier including at least 50 sccm He therein; generating a second plasma using said second atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; and exposing said structure to said second plasma in said second atmosphere, said second atmosphere having a pressure in the range of 0.200 to 0.550 torr, a power density of said second plasma in said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2, a gap in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in said second atmosphere introduced therein, and said non-erodible second electrode of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor comprises anodized aluminum.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein: said second atmosphere has a pressure in the range of 0.300 to 0.425 torr; a power density of said second plasma is said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; a gap in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes in said second atmosphere; and d) said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the layer is masked with a mask layer that releases a carbon compound as it erodes.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the metal silicide is tungsten silicide.

37. A method of etching a structure including a layer of silicide and a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, comprising: masking said silicide layer with a mask layer that erodes; providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by said plasma; transferring said substrate into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor upon said first electrode located therein; providing an atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said atmosphere comprising:  a gas having primary constituents of Cl2 and an inert carrier gas; generating a plasma by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor; and exposing said structure to said plasma in generated by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor thereby etching said layer of silicide.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein: a gap in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 cm exists between said first and second electrodes; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said atmosphere includes at least 5 sccm He as said inert carrier gas.

40. A method of etching a structure including a layer of silicide and a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, comprising: masking said silicide layer with a mask layer that erodes; providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said parallel plate plasma etch reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by plasma; transferring said substrate into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor upon said first electrode located therein; providing an atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor, said atmosphere comprising:  a gas having primary constituents of Cl2 and an inert carrier gas, said atmosphere having a pressure within said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.200 to 0.550 torr; generating a plasma by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2; and exposing said structure to said plasma in generated by the application of said power to said gas in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2, thereby etching said layer of silicide.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein: a gap in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 cm exists between said first and second electrodes; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said atmosphere includes at least 5 sccm He as said inert carrier gas.

43. A method of etching a structure including a silicide on a layer of polycrystalline silicon on a substrate formed as a wafer, said etch performed by a plasma generated by the application of power to a gas forming a portion of an atmosphere in a reactor, comprising: providing a parallel plate plasma etch reactor as said reactor, said reactor having a first electrode and having a second electrode that is non-erodible by said plasma generated in said reactor; transferring said substrate formed as a wafer upon said first electrode of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor; introducing a first atmosphere of said gas into said parallel plate plasma etch reactor comprising predominantly C2F6 gas; generating a first plasma using said predominantly C2F6 gas as said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; etching said silicide in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor using said first plasma of said first atmosphere comprising C2F6 as the predominant gas forming said first atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor thereby selectively etching of said substrate; introducing a second atmosphere within said parallel plate plasma reactor prior to removing said wafer therefrom, said second atmosphere comprising:  constituents of Cl2 and an inert carrier gas, said inert gas carrier including He therein; generating a second plasma using said second atmosphere in said parallel plate plasma etch reactor by the application of said power thereto; and exposing said structure to said second plasma in said second atmosphere, wherein: said second atmosphere has a pressure in the range of 0.200 to 0.550 torr, a power density of said second plasma in said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2, a gap in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor in said second atmosphere introduced therein, and said non-erodible second electrode of said parallel plate plasma etch reactor comprises anodized aluminum.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein: said second atmosphere has a pressure in the range of 0.300 to 0.425 torr; a power density of said second plasma is said second atmosphere is in the range of 0.18 to 2.0 W/cm2 a gap in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 cm exists between said first and second electrodes in said second atmosphere; and said non-erodible second electrode comprises anodized aluminum.