United Microelectronics Corp.

Cheng-Yuan Tsai

Chih-Chien Liu

Ming-Sheng Yang

Neng-Hui Yang

Hsin-Chang Wu

Chin-Hsiang Lin

Juan-Yuan Wu

Tsung-Tang Hsieh

Water Lur

Wen-Yi Hsieh

Chih-An Huang

Teng-Chun Tsai

Chan-Lon Yang

Chih-Ning Wu

Gwo-Shii Yang

Anseime Chen

Yi-Fang Cheng

Yung-Tsung Wei

Wen-Hsun Lin

Chinh-Fu Lin

Yu-Wen Fang

A method of enhancing adhesion strength of a boro-silicate glass (BSG) film to a silicon nitride film is provided. A semiconductor substrate with a silicon nitride film formed thereon is provided. The silicon nitride film is then exposed to oxygen-containing plasma such as ozone plasma. A thick BSG film is then deposited onto the treated surface of the silicon nitride film. By pre-treating the silicon nitride film with ozone plasma for about 60 seconds, an increase of near 50% of Kapp of the BSG film is obtained.

Method of enhancing adhesion strength of BSG film to silicon nitride film

A method for improving the coating capability of low dielectric layer is disclosed. The method includes steps of an etching stop layer is deposited a semiconductor substrate, an adhesion promoter layer is spun-on the etching stop layer. The pre-wetting process being performed on the adhesion promoter layer to enhance the coating capability of the low-k dielectric layer, and thus improve the coating quality through the pre-wetting process of baked adhesion promoter layer before the low-k dielectric layer is applied.

Method for improving the coating capability of low-k dielectric layer

A first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate, wherein the first dielectric layer is a low-K material of an organic polymer. An adhesion promoter is then deposited on the first dielectric layer by chemical vapor deposition to form a first interlayer, wherein the first adhesion promoter is an organic material that comprises a C&mdash;H group and a siloxane (Si&mdash;O), such as methyltriacetoxysilane (MTAS). Next, an inorganic layer is formed on the first interlayer. Then the adhesion promoter mentioned previously is deposited on the inorganic layer by chemical vapor deposition to form a second interlayer. Next, a second dielectric layer is formed on the second interlayer , wherein the second interlayer is a low-K material of an organic polymer. Finally, a baking process is performed.

Method for increasing adhesion ability of dielectric material in semiconductor

A bilayer SiC-based barrier is formed over a metallic wiring layer and a first dielectric layer. The bilayer SiC-based barrier consists of a nitrogen-doped SiC bottom layer and an oxygen-doped SiC top layer. The nitrogen-doped SiC bottom layer has a minimum thickness to prevent metal atoms of the metallic wiring layer from diffusing out to a second dielectric layer and, at the same time, avoid oxygen atoms of the oxygen-doped SiC top layer from diffusing into the metallic wiring layer.

Bilayer silicon carbide based barrier

A pad oxide layer and a silicon nitride (SiN) layer are sequentially formed on a silicon substrate. An etching process is then performed to form a trench in the silicon substrate. A sub-atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (SACVD) process is performed to selectively form a first dielectric layer on exposed portions of the silicon substrate within the trench to fill portions of the trench thereafter. Finally, a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process is performed to form a second dielectric layer to fill the remaining space of the trench and cover the silicon substrate.

Method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure

A fabrication method for a low dielectric constant (k) material layer is described. A high molecular weight material layer is formed on a substrate. The high molecular weight material layer is then cured. A bonding material layer is formed on the high molecular weight material layer, wherein a major component in the bonding material layer is an organic compound, wherein the organic compound has a silicon-containing moiety and an unsaturated hydrocarbon moiety. The bonding material layer is further cured, allowing the organic silicon compound to cross-link within the high molecular weight material layer to form a high molecular weight material layer with a silicon rich surface. Moreover, the curing for the high molecular weight material layer and for the bonding material layer can conduct concurrently.

Method for fabricating a low dielectric constant material layer

A method for removing fluorine-containing etching residues during dual damascene process comprises providing a dual damascene structure having a copper conductor structure therein, a cap layer formed on the copper conductor structure and the dual damascene structure, and a low dielectric constant dielectric layer on the cap layer. The low dielectric constant dielectric layer formed by spin-on polymer method has at least an opening above the copper conductor structure. The cap layer is etched by fluorine-containing plasma to expose the copper conductor structure. The dual damascene structure is cleaned with a solvent and then the fluorine-containing etching residues are removed by plasma sputtering treatment or baking, or by a combination of both. The addition of baking and plasma sputtering treatment can prevent poor adhesion between the subsequent metal diffusion barrier layer and the low dielectric constant dielectric layer.

Method for removing etching residues

A method of coating an organic polymeric low-k dielectric layer starts by depositing a protective layer composed of silicon nitride (SiN) or silicon carbide (SiC) on a substrate. A hydrophilic surface is produced across a top surface of the protective layer by performing a fast surface treatment that subjects the surface to an oxygen-containing plasma at a pre-selected low radio frequency power. An adhesion promoter coating layer is formed over the top surface of the protective layer. The coating layer has promoter molecules, each promoter molecule having at least one hydrophobic group and one hydrophilic group. The low-k dielectric layer is spin-on coated onto the coating layer. Formation of the hydrophilic surface alters an orientation of the adhesion promoter molecules to facilitate the hydrophilic group of each of the adhesion promoter molecules facing the hydrophilic surface while the hydrophobic group of the adhesion promoter molecules faces the low-k dielectric layer.

Method of a surface treatment in improving adhesion of an organic polymeric low-k dielectric layer

The invention shows a method of a surface treatment on a fluorine silicate glass film. At first a fluorine silicate glass layer is deposited on a semiconductor wafer. Partial fluorine ions in the fluorine silicate glass layer are in-situ removed to form a silicon oxide layer of a pre-determined thickness. Then, a photoresist layer is coated on the silicon oxide layer. After an exposing process, a pre-determined latent pattern is formed in the photoresist layer. Finally, after a developing process, the pre-determined latent pattern of the photoresist is removed so as to expose corresponding portions of the silicon oxide layer underneath the latent pattern of the photoresist layer. As a result, the present invention solves a problem that fluorine ions in the fluorine silicate glass layer diffuse to a surface of the fluorine silicate glass layer to combine with water to form hydrofluoric acid, that contaminates the photoresist and leads to reliability issues.

Method of a surface treatment on a fluorinated silicate glass film

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials in a semiconductor structure. The method comprises providing the semiconductor structure and thereon spinning-on a dielectric layer. After a curing step, the dielectric layer is treated with an aqueous solution containing, for example, ammonium hydroxide. With the aqueous solution, a passivated film formed on the surface of the dielectric layer, such as a polymer layer, can protect the dielectric layer from adsorption of moisture or solvents.

Method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials

A method of manufacturing multilevel interconnects. A single or dual damascene interconnect structure is formed in a first dielectric layer. A cap layer or middle etch stop layer is formed over the interconnect structure and the first dielectric layer. The cap layer or the middle etch stop layer is treated with nitrogen plasma to convert a hydrophobic surface into a hydrophilic surface. An adhesion promoter layer is formed over the cap layer or middle etch stop layer. A low-k dielectric layer is formed over the adhesion promoter layer. A single or dual damascene structure is formed in the low-k dielectric layer, thereby forming a multilevel interconnect.

Method of manufacturing multilevel interconnects including performing a surface treatment to form a hydrophilic surface layer

A method of filling a gap is proposed. The method of the invention is applied on a substrate which has conductive structures formed thereon. A HDPCVD is performed to form a dielectric layer on the substrate. The HDPCVD process comprises multi-steps. In a first step, a gas source is added to a deposition chamber to form dielectric material over the substrate. The gas source comprises reactive gas and inert gas. Thus, the first step can simultaneously perform deposition and sputtering. In a second step, the reactive gas is driven out of the deposition chamber. Only sputtering is used to remove a part of the dielectric material at top corners of the conductive structures. In a third step, the reactive gas is again added into the deposition chamber to deposit the dielectric material until filling the gap.

Method for gap filling

A method is used to form an intermetal dielectric layer. According to the invention, an unbiased-unclamped fluorinated silicate glass layer used as a protection layer is formed by high density plasma chemical vapor deposition on a biased-clamped fluorinated silicate glass layer formed by high density plasma chemical vapor deposition to prevent the biased-clamped fluorinated silicate glass layer from being exposed in a planarization process.

Method of forming an intermetal dielectric layer

A method for improving surface wettability of inorganic low dielectric material is disclosed. The method includes an inorganic dielectric material as a low-k dielectric barrier layer is spun-on the semiconductor device. Then, inorganic dielectric material surface is treated by ultraviolet (UV) treatment that the surface characteristic of inorganic dielectric material is changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Thus, the surface wettability of inorganic dielectric material can be improved and adhesion ability between the inorganic dielectric material and organic polymer can be increased.

Method for improving surface wettability of low k material

A fabrication method for an inter-metal dielectric layer is applicable to multi-level interconnects. A substrate is provided with metal lines formed thereon. A first (fluorinated silicon glass) FSG layer with low fluorine content is then formed on the substrate, followed by forming a biased-clamped FSG layer on the first FSG layer. A second FSG layer with low fluorine content is formed on the biased-clamped layer, prior to forming an oxide cap layer on the second FSG layer. The oxide cap layer is planarized until the oxide cap layer is level with the second FSG layer.

Growing community of inventors

Yunlin Hsien, Taiwan

Cheng-Yuan Tsai