Micron Technology Incorporated

Micron Semiconductor, Inc.

Paul J Schuele

Pierre C Fazan

Thomas Arthur Figura

Thomas M Graettinger

Brent A McClure

Gurtej S Sandhu

Kunal R Parekh

Li Li

Wayne I Kinney

Zhiqiang (Jeff) Wu

Nanseng Jeng

Steven T Harshfield

This invention is a process for forming an effective titanium nitride barrier layer between the upper surface of a polysilicon plug formed in a thick dielectric layer and a platinum lower capacitor plate in a dynamic random access memory which is being fabricated on a silicon wafer.

Method of fabricating a contact structure having a composite barrier layer between a platinum layer and a polysilicon plug

Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are described. According to one implementation, a capacitor opening is formed over a substrate node location. Electrically conductive material is subsequently formed within the capacitor opening and makes an electrical connection with the node location. A protuberant insulative structure is formed within the capacitor opening and includes a lateral outer surface at least a portion of which is supported by and extends elevationally below adjacent conductive material. First and second capacitor plates and a dielectric layer therebetween are formed within the capacitor opening and supported by the protuberant structure. In one aspect, the conductive material is formed to occupy less than all of the capacitor opening and to leave a void therewithin, with the protuberant structure substantially, if not completely filling in the void. In another aspect, the conductive material is formed to occupy less than all of the capacitor opening and to leave a void therewithin, with the protuberant structure only partially filling in the void to provide a tubular structure.

Processing methods of forming a capacitor, and capacitor construction

Method of fabricating a contract structure having a composite barrier layer between a platinum layer and a polysilicon plug

A capacitor for high density DRAM applications comprises a high-&isin; capacitor dielectric such as BST or PZT in an arrangement which obviates the need for barrier layers during fabrication. The fabrication process allows for electrode placement by simple sputter deposition and further provides for the possibility of capacitor spacing below that of conventional lithographic techniques.

Scalable high dielectric constant capacitor

A method for forming a capacitor includes forming a substrate having a node location to which electrical connection to a capacitor is to be made; forming an inner capacitor plate over the node location, the inner capacitor plate having an exposed sidewall; forming an oxidation barrier layer over the exposed inner capacitor plate sidewall; forming a capacitor dielectric plate over the inner capacitor plate, the oxidation barrier layer restricting oxidation of the inner capacitor plate sidewall during formation of the capacitor dielectric plate; and forming an outer capacitor plate over the capacitor dielectric plate. A capacitor is further described which includes an inner capacitor plate having at least one sidewall; an oxidation barrier layer positioned in covering relation relative to the at least one sidewall; a capacitor dielectric plate positioned over the inner capacitor plate; and an outer capacitor plate positioned over the capacitor dielectric plate. In the preferred form of the invention, an insulating dielectric layer is positioned on the oxidation barrier layer, the insulating dielectric layer being of a different composition than the oxidation barrier layer.

Capacitor, and methods for forming a capacitor

A capacitor for high density DRAM applications comprises a high-.di-elect cons. capacitor dielectric such as BST or PZT in an arrangement which obviates the need for barrier layers during fabrication. The fabrication process allows for electrode placement by simple sputter deposition and further provides for the possibility of capacitor spacing below that of conventional lithographic techniques.

Processing methods of forming a capacitor

This invention is a process for forming an effective titanium nitride barrier layer between the upper surface of a polysilicon plug formed in thick dielectric layer and a platinum lower capacitor plate in a dynamic random access memory which is being fabricated on a silicon wafer. The barrier layer process begins by etching the upper surface of the polysilicon plug using a selective polysilicon etch until it is recessed at least 1000 .ANG. below the upper surface of the thick dielectric layer. Using a collimated sputter source, a titanium layer having a thickness of 100-500 .ANG. is deposited over the surface of the in-process wafer, thus covering the upper surfaces of the polysilicon plugs. A layer of amorphous titanium carbonitride having a thickness of 100-300 .ANG. is then deposited via low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. This is followed by the deposition of a reactively sputtered titanium nitride layer having a thickness of 1000-2000 .ANG.. The wafer is then planarized to remove the titanium, titanium carbonitride and titanium nitride, except that which is in the recesses on top of the silicon plugs. The wafer is then annealed in nitrogen to react the titanium layer with the silicon on the upper surfaces of the plugs to form titanium silicide. A platinum layer is then deposited and patterned to form lower capacitor electrodes which are electrically coupled to the polysilicon plugs through the titanium silicide, titanium nitride and titanium carbonitride layers.

Method of fabricating a contact structure having a composite barrier

A structure and process for forming a contact to a semiconductor substrate on a semiconductor device comprises the step of forming a patterned mask over a semiconductor substrate and over a field oxide region, then etching the semiconductor substrate and the field oxide region to form a trench. The trench comprises a bottom and a first sidewall consisting of silicon and a second sidewall comprising field oxide. The etching step removes a part of a doped region in the substrate. Next, a blanket nitride layer and a blanket oxide layer is formed over the substrate, and a spacer etch is performed on the nitride and oxide layer leaving nitride and oxide over the first and second sidewalls. The trench bottom is oxidized to form a layer of oxide over the bottom of the trench thereby insulating the trench bottom, and the oxide encroaches under the nitride and oxide on the sidewalls to join with the field oxide. The nitride and oxide is removed from the sidewalls, and a conductive layer is formed over the exposed trench sidewalls, the trench bottom being insulated from the conductive layer by the oxide layer over the bottom of the trench. The oxide on the bottom of the trench contacts the field oxide. The contact is isolated from the substrate along the trench bottom and the second sidewall, making contact with the substrate only in the area of the first sidewall.

Method for forming a semiconductor device contact structure comprising a

A method of forming a capacitor includes, a) providing a node to which electrical connection to a capacitor is to be made; b) providing an electrically conductive first layer over the node; c) providing an electrically insulative barrier second layer over the first conductive layer; d) providing a third layer over the electrically insulative barrier layer, the third layer comprising a material which is either electrically conductive and resistant to oxidation, or forms an electrically conductive material upon oxidation; e) providing an insulating inorganic metal oxide dielectric layer over the electrically conductive third layer; f) providing an electrically conductive fourth layer over the insulating inorganic metal oxide dielectric layer; and g) providing an electrically conductive interconnect to extend over the second insulative layer and electrically interconnect the first and third conductive layers. A capacitor construction having such a dielectric layer in combination with the barrier layer and electrical interconnect of a first capacitor plate is disclosed.

Method of forming a capacitor

A capacitor having a pair of conductive electrodes separated by a dielectric layer and wherein at least one of the electrodes comprise Ti.sub.x Al.sub.1-x N, and wherein the variable 'x' lies in a range of about 0.4 to about 0.8. The invention also contemplates a method for forming an electrically conductive diffusion barrier on a silicon substrate and which comprises providing a chemical vapor deposition reactor having a chamber; positioning the silicon substrate in the chemical vapor deposition reactor chamber; providing a source of gaseous titanium aluminum and nitrogen to the chemical vapor deposition reactor chamber; and providing temperature and pressure conditions in the chemical vapor deposition reactor chamber effective to deposit an electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer on the silicon substrate comprising Ti.sub.x Al.sub.1-x N, and wherein the variable 'x' is in a range of about 0.4 to about 0.8.

Capacitor, integrated circuitry, diffusion barriers, and method for

Method of forming a capacitor plate and a capacitor incorporating same

A capacitor for high density DRAM applications comprises a high-.epsilon. capacitor dielectric such as BST or PZT in an arrangement which obviates the need for barrier layers during fabrication. The fabrication process allows for electrode placement by simple sputter deposition and further provides for the possibility of capacitor spacing below that of conventional lithographic techniques.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Paul J Schuele