A method for forming an
isolation layer of a
semiconductor device is disclosed, which comprises the steps of:
etching a
silicon substrate having a
cell region and a
peripheral circuit region, forming a first trench having a first size in the
cell region, and forming a second trench having a second size, which is larger than the first size of the first trench, in the
peripheral circuit region; forming a sidewall
oxide layer on surfaces of the first trench and the second trench; sequentially depositing a liner
nitride layer and a liner
oxide layer on a
resultant substrate inclusive of the sidewall
oxide layer; performing a
plasma pre-heating process using O2+He with respect to the
resultant substrate in an HDP CVD process chamber and selectively oxidizing a portion of the liner
nitride layer remaining on a bottom of the second trench in the
peripheral circuit region; continuously depositing an HDP oxide layer on the
resultant substrate having been subjected to the
plasma pre-heating process, thereby filling the trenches; and performing a chemical mechanical
polishing process with respect to the HDP oxide layer.