Methods for selectively etching doped oxides in the manufacture of
microfeature devices are disclosed herein. An embodiment of one such
method for etching material on a microfeature workpiece includes
providing a microfeature workpiece including a doped oxide layer and a
nitride layer adjacent to the doped oxide layer. The method include
selectively etching the doped oxide layer with an etchant comprising
DI:HF and an acid to provide a pH of the etchant such that the etchant
includes (a) a selectivity of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) to nitride of
greater than 250:1, and (b) an etch rate through PSG of greater than
9,000 .ANG./minute.