Processes for removing a mask layer (e.g., doped amorphous carbon mask layer) from a substrate with high aspect ratio structures are provided. In one example implementation, a process can include depositing a polymer layer on at least a portion of a top end of a high aspect ratio structure on a substrate. The process can further include removing at least a portion of the polymer layer and the doped amorphous carbon film form the substrate using a plasma strip process. In example embodiments, depositing a polymer layer can include plugging one or more high aspect ratio structures with the polymer layer. In example embodiments, depositing a polymer layer can include forming a polymer layer on a sidewall of one or more high aspect ratio structures.

A method for utilizing plasma processing for removing polymer residue during semiconductor manufacture is implemented in a plasma processing device. The plasma processing device includes a processing chamber and an electrostatic chuck therein. The electrostatic chuck includes a support surface and lift pin configured to be raised from a first position to a second position. Disposing the substrate on the supporting surface when the lift pin is at the first position. Generating a first plasma in the processing chamber, the first plasma formed from a first processing gas. The first processing gas includes a first mixing gas including hydrogen and nitrogen. Raising the lift pin to the second position to separate the substrate from the support surface. Generating a second plasma in the processing chamber, the second plasma formed from a second processing gas. The second processing gas includes a second mixing gas including hydrogen and nitrogen.

Methods of and apparatuses for processing substrates having carbon-containing material using atomic layer etch and selective deposition are provided. Methods involve exposing a carbon-containing material on a substrate to an oxidant and igniting a first plasma to modify a surface of the substrate and exposing the modified surface to a second plasma at a bias power to remove the modified surface. Methods also involve selectively depositing a second carbon-containing material onto the substrate using a precursor having a chemical formula of C.sub.xH.sub.y, where x and y are integers greater than or equal to 1. ALE and selective deposition may be performed without breaking vacuum.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide an apparatus and methods for processing a substrate. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a processing chamber having an enhanced processing efficiency at an edge of a substrate disposed in the processing chamber. In one embodiment, a processing chamber comprises a chamber body defining an interior processing region in a processing chamber, a showerhead assembly disposed in the processing chamber, wherein the showerhead assembly has multiple zones with an aperture density higher at an edge zone than at a center zone of the showerhead assembly, a substrate support assembly disposed in the interior processing region of the processing chamber, and a focus ring disposed on an edge of the substrate support assembly and circumscribing the substrate support assembly, wherein the focus ring has a step having a sidewall height substantially similar to a bottom width.

A method for removing a resist layer is provided. A resist layer is formed with a material comprising a metal oxide core with organic ligands. A chlorine-containing compound or a methyl group-containing compound is globally applied onto the resist layer to allow the chlorine-containing compound or the methyl group-containing compound to perform a ligand exchange process with the resist layer so as to remove the resist layer through sublimation.

A patterned photo resist layer (for example an EUV photo resist layer), which may exhibit line width roughness (LWR) and line edge roughness (LER) or scum is treated with a plasma treatment before subsequent etching processes. The plasma treatment reduces LWR, LER, and/or photo resist scum. In one exemplary embodiment, the plasma treatment may include a plasma formed using a gas having a boron and halogen compound. In one embodiment, the gas compound may be a boron and chlorine compound, for example boron trichloride (BCl.sub.3) gas. In another embodiment, the gas compound may be a boron and fluorine compound, for example B.sub.xF.sub.y gases. The plasma treatment process may modify the photoresist surface to improve LWR, LER, and scum effects by removing roughness from the photo resist surface and removing photo resist residues which may case scumming.

Provided are a cleaning method and cleaning device for cleaning with micro/nano-bubbles, with which a simple method of spraying a treatment solution containing micro/nano-bubbles onto a substrate to be processed makes it possible to efficiently and reliably peel off residual resist or remove contaminants from the substrate, while reducing an environmental load. This cleaning method is characterized in that, with respect to a substrate to be treated to which a resist film has adhered onto the substrate or a substrate to be treated to which the surface thereof has been contaminated with a metal or metal compounds, the resist film is peeled off or the metals or metal compounds are removed by spraying onto the substrate to be treated a treatment solution containing gaseous micro/nano-bubbles and having a temperature maintained at 30 C. to 90 C., the mean particle size of the micro/nano-bubbles when measured by an ice embedding method using a cryo-transmission electron microscope being 100 nm or smaller, preferably 30 nm or smaller, and also preferably the density of such bubbles being 10.sup.8 or more bubbles per 1 mL.

Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods of protecting a substrate support in a process chamber from cleaning fluid during a cleaning process. The method of cleaning the process chamber includes positioning in the process chamber a cover substrate above a substrate support and a process kit that separates a purge volume from a process volume. The method of cleaning includes flowing a purge gas in the purge volume to protect the substrate support and flowing a cleaning fluid to a process volume above the cover substrate, flowing the cleaning fluid in the process volume to an outer flow path, and to an exhaust outlet in the chamber body. The purge volume is maintained at a positive pressure with respect to the process volume to block the cleaning fluid from the purge volume.

A method for removing photoresist, an oxidation layer, or both from a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. The method includes placing a substrate in a processing chamber, the processing chamber separate from a plasma chamber for generating a non-oxidizing plasma to be used in treating the substrate; generating a first non-oxidizing plasma from a first reactant gas and a first carrier gas in the plasma chamber, wherein the first non-oxidizing plasma comprises from about 10% to about 40% of the first reactant gas, wherein the first reactant gas has a flow rate of from about 100 standard cubic centimeters per minute to about 15,000 standard cubic centimeters per minute, and wherein the first carrier gas has a flow rate of from about 500 standard cubic centimeters per minute to about 20,000 standard cubic centimeters per minute; and treating the substrate by exposing the substrate to the first non-oxidizing plasma in the processing chamber.

Processes for removing a mask layer (e.g., doped amorphous carbon mask layer) from a substrate with high aspect ratio structures are provided. In one example implementation, a process can include depositing a polymer layer on at least a portion of a top end of a high aspect ratio structure on a substrate. The process can further include removing at least a portion of the polymer layer and the doped amorphous carbon film form the substrate using a plasma strip process. In example embodiments, depositing a polymer layer can include plugging one or more high aspect ratio structures with the polymer layer. In example embodiments, depositing a polymer layer can include forming a polymer layer on a sidewall of one or more high aspect ratio structures.