GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Improved apparatus and method for reducing polymer-particle contamination of semiconductor wafers being processed in a system for plasma-etching silicon dioxide. A quartz gas distribution plate (18) contains a number of gas inlet holes (32) having cross-sectional areas sufficiently small to prevent...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. Verfasser: SALFELDER, JOSEPH F
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext bestellen
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Improved apparatus and method for reducing polymer-particle contamination of semiconductor wafers being processed in a system for plasma-etching silicon dioxide. A quartz gas distribution plate (18) contains a number of gas inlet holes (32) having cross-sectional areas sufficiently small to prevent plasma from being present in the gas inlet holes (32) to inhibit formation of polymer material and flaking of contamination particles therefrom. The gas inlet holes (32) are formed on the surface of the quartz gas distribution plate (18) directly over a wafer being processed. Alternatively, the gas inlet holes are formed in the quartz plate to radially extend to the peripheral edge of the quartz plate so that contamination particles, if any, fall outside the bounds of a wafer beneath the quartz plate. The method disclosed includes the step of feeding CHF3 gas through the gas inlet holes (32) having cross-sectional areas sufficiently small to prevent formation of polymer within the holes and subsequent flaking and contamination of a wafer being processed.