Abstract
In this study, the etched trench properties including cross-sectional profile, surface roughness, and crystalline defects were investigated depending on the various silicon etching and additive gases, For the case of HBr$He-O_2SiF_4$ trench etching gas mixtures, the excellent trench profile and minimum defects in the silicon trench were achieved. Due to the residual oxide film grown by the additive oxygen gas, which acts as a protective layer during trench etching, the undercut and defects generation in the trench were suppressed. To improve the electrical characteristics of trench gate, the hydrogen annealing process after trench etching was also adopted. Through the hydrogen annealing, the trench corners might be rounded by the silicon atomic migration at the trench corners having high potential. The rounded trench corner can afford to reduce the gate electric field and grow a uniform gate oxide. As a result, dielectric strength and TDDB characteristics of the hydrogen annealed trench gate oxide were remarkably increased compared to the non-hydrogen annealed one.
