Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Spansion Llc.

Globalfoundries Inc.

Monterey Research, LLC

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

Connie Pin-Chin Wang

Paul Raymond Besser

Jinsong Yin

Christy Mei-Chu Woo

Suzette Keefe Pangrle

Wen Yu

Minh Van Ngo

Zoran Krivokapic

Amit P Marathe

Keizaburo Yoshie

Fei Wang

Shenqing Fang

Lu You

Paul L King

Hieu T Pham

Sergey D Lopatin

Matthew S Buynoski

Jeffrey Allan Shields

Ning Cheng

Darrell M Erb

Minh Quoc Tran

Shankar Sinha

Jeff P Erhardt

Robert J Chiu

Steve Avanzino

Russell Rosaire Austin Callahan

Jeremy Chi-Hung Chou

At integrated circuit memory device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate having a plurality of bit lines. A first and second inter-level dielectric layer are successively disposed on the substrate. Each of a plurality of source lines and staggered bit line contacts extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer. Each of a plurality of source line vias and a plurality of staggered bit line vias extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer to each respective one of the plurality of source lines and the plurality of staggered bit line contacts. The source lines and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer are formed together by a first set of fabrication processes. The source line vias and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer are also formed together by a second set of fabrication processes.

Memory device interconnects and method of manufacture

An integrated circuit memory device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate having a plurality of bit lines. A first and second inter-level dielectric layer are successively disposed on the substrate. Each of a plurality of source lines and staggered bit line contacts extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer. Each of a plurality of source line vias and a plurality of staggered bit line vias extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer to each respective one of the plurality of source lines and the plurality of staggered bit line contacts. The source lines and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the first inter-level dielectric layer are formed together by a first set of fabrication processes. The source line vias and staggered bit line contacts that extend through the second inter-level dielectric layer are also formed together by a second set of fabrication processes.

A semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor component that are suitable for use with low temperature processing. A semiconductor substrate is provided and an optional layer of silicon nitride is formed on the semiconductor substrate using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). A layer of dielectric material is formed on the silicon nitride layer using Sub-Atmospheric Chemical Vapor Deposition (SACVD) at a temperature below about 450&#xb0; C. When the optional layer of silicon nitride is not present, the SACVD dielectric material is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A contact hole having sidewalls is formed through the SACVD dielectric layer, through the silicon nitride layer, and exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A layer of tungsten nitride is formed on the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate and along the sidewalls of the contact hole. Tungsten is formed on the layer of tungsten nitride.

Method for manufacturing a contact for a semiconductor component and related structure

A method of forming a contact in a semiconductor device provides a titanium contact layer in a contact hole and a MOCVD-TiN barrier metal layer on the titanium contact layer. Impurities are removed from the MOCVD-TiN barrier metal layer by a plasma treatment in a nitrogen-hydrogen plasma. The time period for plasma treating the titanium nitride layer is controlled so that penetration of nitrogen into the underlying titanium contact layer is substantially prevented, preserving the titanium contact layer for subsequently forming a titanium silicide at the bottom of the contact.

Method of forming a contact in a semiconductor device with engineered plasma treatment profile of barrier metal layer

A composite &#x3b1;-Ta/graded tantalum nitride/TaN barrier layer is formed in Cu interconnects with a controlled surface roughness for improved adhesion, electromigration resistance and reliability. Embodiments include lining a damascene opening, such as a dual damascene opening in a low-k interlayer dielectric, with an initial layer of TaN, forming a graded tantalum nitride layer on the initial TaN layer and then forming an &#x3b1;-Ta layer on the graded TaN layer, the composite barrier layer having an average surface roughness (Ra) of about 25 &#x212b; to about 50 &#x212b;. Embodiments further include controlling the surface roughness of the composite barrier layer by varying the Nflow rate and/or ratio of the thickness of the combined &#x3b1;-Ta and graded tantalum nitride layers to the thickness of the initial TaN layer.

Composite barrier layers with controlled copper interface surface roughness

A method of forming a contact through a material includes forming a via through a dielectric material and cleaning the via using a dilute hydrofluoric (DHF) acid solution. The method further includes depositing a barrier layer within the via and depositing metal adjacent the barrier layer.

Aggressive cleaning process for semiconductor device contact formation

A semiconductor component having a titanium silicide contact structure and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor component. A layer of dielectric material is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An opening having sidewalls is formed in the dielectric layer and exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. Titanium silicide is disposed on the dielectric layer, sidewalls, and the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. The titanium silicide may be formed by disposing titanium on the dielectric layer, sidewalls, and exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate and reacting the titanium with silane. Alternatively, the titanium silicide may be sputter deposited. A layer of titanium nitride is formed on the titanium silicide. A layer of tungsten is formed on the titanium nitride. The tungsten, titanium nitride, and titanium silicide are polished to form the contact structures.

Semiconductor component having a contact structure and method of manufacture

A method for manufacturing a memory device having a metal nanocrystal charge storage structure. A substrate is provided and a first layer of dielectric material is grown on the substrate. A layer of metal oxide having a first heat of formation is formed on the first layer of dielectric material. A metal layer having a second heat of formation is formed on the metal oxide layer. The second heat of formation is greater than the first heat of formation. The metal oxide layer and the metal layer are annealed which causes the metal layer to reduce the metal oxide layer to metallic form, which then agglomerates to form metal islands. The metal layer becomes oxidized thereby embedding the metal islands within an oxide layer to form a nanocrystal layer. A control oxide is formed over the nanocrystal layer and a gate electrode is formed on the control oxide.

Method for manufacturing a memory device having a nanocrystal charge storage region

A method for manufacturing a memory device having a metal nanocrystal charge storage structure. A substrate is provided and a first layer of dielectric material is grown on the substrate. An absorption layer is formed on the first layer of dielectric material. The absorption layer includes a plurality of titanium atoms bonded to the first layer of dielectric material, a nitrogen atom bonded to each titanium atom, and at least one ligand bonded to the nitrogen atom. The at least one ligand is removed from the nitrogen atoms to form nucleation centers. A metal such as tungsten is bonded to the nucleation centers to form metallic islands. A dielectric material is formed on the nucleation centers and annealed to form a nanocrystal layer. A control oxide is formed over the nanocrystal layer and a gate electrode is formed on the control oxide.

A memory device having a metal nanocrystal charge storage structure and a method for its manufacture. The memory device may be manufactured by forming a first oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, then disposing a porous dielectric layer on the oxide layer and disposing a second oxide layer on the porous dielectric layer. A layer of electrically conductive material is formed on the second layer of dielectric material. An etch mask is formed on the electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material and the underlying dielectric layers are anisotropically etched to form a dielectric structure on which a gate electrode is disposed. A metal layer is formed on the dielectric structure and the gate electrode and treated so that portions of the metal layer diffuse into the porous dielectric layer. Then the metal layer is removed.

Memory device having a nanocrystal charge storage region and method

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor component that inhibits formation of wormholes in a semiconductor substrate. A contact opening is formed in a dielectric layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The contact opening exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial layer of oxide is formed on the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate and along the sidewalls of the contact opening. Silane is reacted with tungsten hexafluoride to form a hydrofluoric acid vapor and tungsten. The hydrofluoric acid vapor etches away the sacrificial oxide layer and a thin layer of tungsten is formed on the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. After forming the thin layer of tungsten, the reactants may be changed to more quickly fill the contact opening with tungsten.

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor component that inhibits formation of wormholes

Method of forming composite barrier layers with controlled copper interface surface roughness

High reliable copper interconnects are formed with copper or a low resistivity copper alloy filling relatively narrow openings and partially filling relatively wider openings and a copper alloy having improved electromigration resistance selectively deposited in the relatively wider openings. The filled openings are recessed and a metal capping layer deposited followed by CMP. The metal capping layer prevents diffusion along the copper-capping layer interface while the copper alloy filling the relatively wider openings impedes electromigration along the grain boundaries.

Copper interconnects with metal capping layer and selective copper alloys

A method of forming a conductive structure such as a copper conductive structure, line, or via is optimized for large grain growth and distribution of alloy elements. The alloy elements can reduce electromigration problems associated with the conductive structure. The conductive structure is self-annealed or first annealed in a low temperature process over a longer period of time. Another anneal is utilized to distribute alloy elements.

Method of self-annealing conductive lines that separates grain size effects from alloy mobility

A composite &#x3b1;-Ta/ graded tantalum nitride /TaN barrier layer is formed in Cu interconnects with a structure designed for improved wafer-to-wafer uniformity, electromigration resistance and reliability, reduced contact resistance, and increased process margin. Embodiments include a dual damascene structure in a low-k interlayer dielectric comprising Cu and a composite barrier layer comprising an initial layer of TaN on the low-k material, a graded layer of tantalum nitride on the initial TaN layer and a continuous &#x3b1;-Ta layer on the graded tantalum nitride layer. Embodiments include forming the initial TaN layer at a thickness sufficient to ensure deposition of &#x3b1;-Ta, e.g., as at a thickness of bout 50 &#x212b; to about 100 &#x212b;. Embodiments include composite barrier layers having a thickness ratio of &#x3b1;-Ta and graded tantalum nitride: initial TaN of about 2.5:1 to about 3.5:1 for improved electromigration resistance and wafer-to-wafer uniformity.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Connie Pin-Chin Wang