ETCHING METHOD

Abstract

An etching method includes the step of forming recesses by performing a plasma etching on a target layer of a target object in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The plasma etching is performed by using a mask, which is formed on the target layer and is provided with opening patterns including a dense patterned region and a sparse patterned region, such that portions of the target layer exposed through the opening pattern are etched by a plasma to form the recesses; and the plasma is exited by introducing a processing gas. A ratio of a flow rate of HBr to a flow rate of Cl2 (HBr/Cl2) is greater than or equal to about 1.2 and a ratio of a flow rate of the fluorine-containing gas to the flow rate of HBr (fluorine-containing gas/HBr) is greater than or equal to about 1.0.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a semiconductor wafer to which an etching method of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 sets forth a schematic cross sectional view of a semiconductor wafer processed by the etching method of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of a semiconductor wafer processed by a conventional etching method;

FIG. 4 offers a cross sectional view of a parallel plate type plasma etching apparatus suitable for performing the etching method of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a schematic horizontal cross sectional view of multipole ring magnets disposed around a chamber of the etching apparatus of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6A to 6C provide diagrams which demonstrate rotational motions of the segment magnets of FIG. 4 and their resulting variations in a magnetic field.

Claims

1. An etching method, comprising the steps of: forming recesses by performing a plasma etching on a target layer of a target object in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus,wherein the plasma etching is performed by using a mask, which is formed on the target layer and is provided with opening patterns including a dense patterned region having a narrower opening width and a sparse patterned region having a wider opening width, such that portions of the target layer exposed through the opening pattern are etched by a plasma to form the recesses; and the plasma is exited by introducing a processing gas including at least Cl2, HBr and a fluorine-containing gas selected from CF4, CHF3, SF6 and NF3, a ratio of a flow rate of HBr to a flow rate of Cl2 (HBr/Cl2) being greater than or equal to about 1.2 and a ratio of a flow rate of the fluorine-containing gas to the flow rate of HBr (fluorine-containing gas/HBr) being greater than or equal to about 1.0.

2. The etching method of claim 1, wherein sidewall angles of the recesses do not exceed 90°, and a difference in sidewall angles of recesses formed in the sparse patterned region and sidewall angles of recesses formed in the dense patterned region is less than or equal to about 16°.

3. The etching method of claim 1, wherein the target layer is a polysilicon layer.

4. The etching method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the opening width of the sparse patterned region to the opening width of the dense patterned region is greater than or equal to about 10.

5. A computer executable control program, which controls, when executed, the plasma processing apparatus to perform the etching method of claim 1.

6. A computer-readable storage medium for storing therein a computer executable control program, wherein, when executed, the control program controls the plasma processing apparatus to perform the etching method of claim 1.

7. A plasma processing apparatus comprising: a processing chamber for performing a plasma etching on a target object;a support for mounting thereon the target object in the plasma processing chamber;a gas exhaust unit for depressurizing the processing chamber;a gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas into the processing chamber; anda control unit for controlling the etching method of claim 1 to be carried out in the processing chamber.

8. A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device comprising the etching step of: forming recesses by performing an etching on a target object having an insulating film formed on a substrate and a polysilicon layer formed on the insulating film,wherein the etching is performed by using a mask, which is formed on the polysilicon layer and is provided with opening pattern including a dense patterned region having a narrower opening width and a sparse pattern region having a wider opening width, such that portions of the polysilicon layer exposed through the opening pattern are etched to form the recesses; and a plasma is exited by introducing a processing gas at least containing Cl2, HBr and a fluorine-containing gas selected from CF4 and CHF3, a ratio of a flow rate of HBr to a flow rate of Cl2 (HBr/Cl2) being greater than or equal to about 1.2 and a ratio of a flow rate of the fluorine-containing gas to the flow rate of HBr (fluorine-containing gas/HBr) being greater than or equal to about 1.0.

9. The manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein sidewall angles of the recesses do not exceed 90°, and a difference in sidewall angles of recesses formed in the sparse patterned region and sidewall angles of recesses formed in the dense patterned region is less than or equal to about 16°.