Micron Technology Incorporated

Don L Yates

Li Li

Yangyang Sun

Jaspreet Singh Gandhi

Jaspreet S Ghandi

Methods of forming a Ni material on a bond pad are disclosed. The methods include forming a dielectric material over an at least one bond pad, forming an opening within the dielectric material to expose the at least one bond pad, curing the dielectric material to form a surface of the dielectric material having a steep curvilinear profile, and forming a nickel material over the at least one bond pad. The dielectric material having a steep curvilinear profile may be formed by altering at least one of a curing process of the dielectric material and a thickness of the dielectric material. The dielectric material may be used to form a relatively thick Ni material on bond pads smaller than about 50 &#x3bc;m. Semiconductor structures formed by such methods are also disclosed.

Semiconductor structures comprising a dielectric material having a curvilinear profile

A method for removing a plurality of dielectric materials from a supporting substrate by providing a substrate with a plurality of materials, contacting the substrate at a first temperature with a solution to more quickly remove a first dielectric material than a second dielectric material at the first temperature, and then contacting the substrate at a second temperature with a solution to more quickly remove the second dielectric material than the first dielectric material at the second temperature. Thus, the dielectric materials exhibit different etch rates when etched at the first and second temperatures. The solutions to which the first and second dielectric materials are exposed may contain phosphoric acid. The first dielectric material may be silicon nitride and the second dielectric material may be silicon oxide. Under these conditions, the first temperature may be about 175&#xb0; C., and the second temperature may be about 155&#xb0; C.

Methods for removing dielectric materials

Methods of forming a Ni material on a bond pad are disclosed. The methods include forming a dielectric material over a bond pad, forming an opening within the dielectric material to expose the bond pad, curing the dielectric material to form a surface of the dielectric material having a steep curvilinear profile, and forming a nickel material over the at least one bond pad. The dielectric material having a steep curvilinear profile may be formed by altering at least one of a curing process of the dielectric material and a thickness of the dielectric material. The dielectric material may be used to form a relatively thick Ni material on bond pads smaller than about 50 &#x3bc;m. Semiconductor structures formed by such methods are also disclosed.

Methods for forming a semiconductor structure

A method for removing a plurality of dielectric films from a supporting substrate by providing a substrate with a dielectric layer overlying another dielectric layer, contacting the substrate at a first temperature with an acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the first temperature, and then contacting the substrate at a second temperature with an acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the second temperature. The dielectric layers exhibit different etch rates when etched at the first and second temperatures. The first and second acid solutions may contain phosphoric acid. The first dielectric layer may be silicon nitride and the second dielectric layer may be silicon oxide. Under these conditions, the first temperature may be about 175&#xb0; C. and the second temperature may be about 155&#xb0; C.

A method for removing (e.g., etching) different dielectric materials from a semiconductor substrate includes exposing the semiconductor substrate to a solution at temperatures below and at or above a set threshold. Below the threshold temperature, the solution removes one dielectric material (e.g., silicon nitride) faster than it removes another, different dielectric material (e.g., silicon oxide). At or above the threshold temperature, the selectivity of the solution is reversed.

Material removal methods employing solutions with reversible ETCH selectivities

Etchants for selectively removing dielectric materials

An etchant for removing materials with a plurality of selectivities exhibits a first etch selectivity at a first temperature and a second etch selectivity at a second temperature. The etchant may include phosphoric acid, fluoboric acid, or sulfuric acid. The materials that the etchant is configured to remove may include dielectric materials, such as silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The first temperature may be about 175&#xb0; C. and the second temperature may be about 155&#xb0; C.

Etchants and etchant systems with plural etch selectivities

A method for removing a plurality of dielectric films from a supporting substrate by providing a substrate with a second dielectric layer overlying a first dielectric layer, contacting the substrate at a first temperature with a first acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the first temperature, and then contacting the substrate at a second temperature with a second acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the second temperature. The first and second dielectric layers exhibit different etch rates in the first and second acid solutions. The first and second acid solutions may contain phosphoric acid. The first dielectric layer may be silicon nitride and the second dielectric layer may be silicon oxide. Under these conditions, the first temperature may be about 175&deg; C. and the second temperature may be about 155&deg; C.

Method for etching dielectric films

A method for removing a plurality of dielectric films from a supporting substrate by providing a substrate with a second dielectric layer overlying a first dielectric layer, contacting the substrate at a first temperature with a first acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the first temperature, and then contacting the substrate at a second temperature with a second acid solution exhibiting a positive etch selectivity at the second temperature. The first and second dielectric layers exhibit different etch rates in the first and second acid solutions. The first and second acid solutions may contain phosphoric acid. The first dielectric layer may be silicon nitride and the second dielectric layer may be silicon oxide. Under these conditions, the first temperature may be about 175.degree. C. and the second temperature may be about 155.degree. C.

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Boise, ID, United States of America

Don L Yates