Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Hsiang-Lun Kao

Tien-Lu Lin

Yung-Chih Wang

Yu-Chieh Liao

Tai-I Yang

Hsiang-Wei Liu

Jian-Hua Chen

Cheng-Chi Chuang

Chung-Te Lin

Chien-Hua Huang

Chen-Chiu Huang

An exemplary method includes forming a multilayer interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer having a metal-containing dielectric layer (e.g., an aluminum oxide layer) between a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer and forming a bottom electrode via in the multilayer ILD layer. The method further includes forming a bottom electrode layer over the bottom electrode via, magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layers over the bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer over the MTJ layers. The bottom electrode layer, the MTJ layers, and the top electrode layer are etched to form a bottom electrode, an MTJ element, and a top electrode, respectively, of a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM). The etching, such as an ion beam etch, forms a recess in the multilayer ILD layer that extends to the metal-containing dielectric layer of the multilayer ILD layer. In some embodiments, the etching extends the recess into and/or through the metal-containing dielectric layer.

Magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) structure for improving process control and method of fabricating thereof

A method comprises forming a first conductive line and a second conductive line in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, each having a planar top surface, applying an etch-back process to the first dielectric layer until a dielectric portion between the first conductive line and the second conductive line has been removed, and the first conductive line and the second conductive line have respective cross sectional shapes including a rounded surface and two rounded corners and depositing a second dielectric layer over the substrate, while leaving a first air gap between the first conductive line and the second conductive line.

Metal line structure and method

A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. A conductive feature over a substrate is provided. A first dielectric layer is deposited over the conductive feature and the substrate. A via-forming-trench (VFT) is formed in the first dielectric layer to expose the conductive feature and the substrate around the conductive feature. The VFT is filled in by a sacrificial layer. A via-opening is formed in the sacrificial layer to expose the conductive feature. A metal plug is formed in the via-opening to connect to the conductive feature. The sacrificial layer is removed to form a surrounding-vacancy around metal plug and the conductive feature. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the substrate to seal a portion of the surrounding-vacancy to form an enclosure-air-gap all around the metal plug and the conductive feature.

Method of semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication

A metal first, via first process for forming interconnects within a metallization layer of a semiconductor device is provided. In an embodiment a conductive material is deposited and the conductive material is patterned into a conductive line and a via. A dielectric material is deposited over the conductive line and the via, and the dielectric material and the via are planarized.

Semiconductor device and process

A device comprises a first rounded metal line in a metallization layer over a substrate, a second rounded metal line in the metallization layer, a first air gap between sidewalls of the first rounded metal line and the second metal line, a first metal line in the metallization layer, wherein a top surface of the first metal line is higher than a top surface of the second rounded metal line and a bottom surface of the first metal line is substantially level with a bottom surface of the second rounded metal line and a second air gap between sidewalls of the second rounded metal line and the first metal line.

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Taoyuan, Taiwan

Hsiang-Lun Kao