Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Wan-Yi Kao

Chung-Chi Ko

Chi On Chui

Yung-Cheng Lu

Che-Hao Chang

Shu Ling Liao

Hung Cheng Lin

Kuang-Yuan Hsu

Chunyao Wang

Hsiang-Wei Lin

Wei-Ken Lin

Li Chun Te

Guan-Yao Tu

Te-En Cheng

Tze-Liang Lee

Chih-Tang Peng

Yu-Cheng Shiau

Chun-Heng Chen

Szu-Ping Lee

Wei-Jin Li

Tien-I Bao

Huicheng Chang

Liang-Yin Chen

Li-Ting Wang

Chun-Feng Nieh

Chia-Cheng Chen

Yen-Chun Huang

Chia-Ling Chan

Fang-Yi Liao

Han-Sheng Weng

Semiconductor device structures having low-k features and methods of forming low-k features are described herein. Some examples relate to a surface modification layer, which may protect a low-k feature during subsequent processing. Some examples relate to gate spacers that include a low-k feature. Some examples relate to a low-k contact etch stop layer. Example methods are described for forming such features.

Low-K feature formation processes and structures formed thereby

In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin and a second fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; depositing a liner layer along a first sidewall of the first fin, a second sidewall of the second fin, and a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, the liner layer formed of silicon oxynitride having a nitrogen concentration; depositing a fill material on the liner layer, the fill material formed of silicon; annealing the liner layer and the fill material, the annealing converting the fill material to silicon oxide, the annealing decreasing the nitrogen concentration of the liner layer; and recessing the liner layer and the fill material to form an isolation region between the first fin and the second fin.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices

A method includes depositing a first dielectric layer over and along sidewalls of a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin, where the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin extend upwards from a semiconductor substrate, depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, depositing a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, where materials of the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer are different, and a material of the first dielectric layer is different from the material of the second dielectric layer and recessing the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer to expose sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin and to form a dummy fin between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin.

Dummy Fin structures and methods of forming same

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a fin protruding above a substrate; forming a liner over the fin; performing a surface treatment process to convert an upper layer of the liner distal to the fin into a conversion layer, the conversion layer comprising an oxide or a nitride of the liner; forming isolation regions on opposing sides of the fin after the surface treatment process; forming a gate dielectric over the conversion layer after forming the isolation regions; and forming a gate electrode over the fin and over the gate dielectric.

Fin field-effect transistor device with composite liner for the fin

A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench, and depositing a dielectric layer using an Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) cycle. The dielectric layer extends into the trench. The ALD cycle includes pulsing Hexachlorodisilane (HCD) to the semiconductor substrate, purging the HCD, pulsing triethylamine to the semiconductor substrate, and purging the triethylamine. An anneal process is then performed on the dielectric layer.

Methods of forming dielectric layers through deposition and anneal processes

Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing are presented in which inner spacers for nanostructures are manufactured. In embodiments a dielectric material is deposited for the inner spacer and then treated. The treatment may add material and cause an expansion in volume in order to close any seams that can interfere with subsequent processes.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacture

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a first liner is deposited to line a recess between a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin, the first liner comprising a first material. The first liner is annealed to transform the first material to a second material. A second liner is deposited to line the recess, the second liner comprising a third material. The second liner is annealed to transform the third material to a fourth material.

A method includes forming a silicon layer on a wafer, forming an oxide layer in contact with the silicon layer, and, after the oxide layer is formed, annealing the wafer in an environment comprising ammonia (NH) to form a dielectric barrier layer between, and in contact with, the silicon layer and the oxide layer. The dielectric barrier layer comprises silicon and nitrogen.

Forming nitrogen-containing layers as oxidation blocking layers

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of forming a low-k dielectric material, for example, a low-k gate spacer layer in a FinFET device. The low-k dielectric material may be formed using a precursor having a general chemical structure comprising at least one carbon atom bonded between two silicon atoms. A target k-value of the dielectric material may be achieved by controlling carbon concentration in the dielectric material.

Low-k feature formation processes and structures formed thereby

Semiconductor devices including fin-shaped isolation structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region over the semiconductor substrate adjacent the fin; and a dielectric fin structure over the STI region, the dielectric fin structure extending in a direction parallel to the fin, the dielectric fin structure including a first liner layer in contact with the STI region; and a first fill material over the first liner layer, the first fill material including a seam disposed in a lower portion of the first fill material and separated from a top surface of the first fill material, a first carbon concentration in the lower portion of the first fill material being greater than a second carbon concentration in an upper portion of the first fill material.

Semiconductor device and method

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a dielectric fin is formed in order to help isolate adjacent semiconductor fins. The dielectric fin is formed using a deposition process in which deposition times and temperatures are utilized to increase the resistance of the dielectric fin to subsequent etching processes.

Semiconductor device structures having dielectric features and methods of forming dielectric features are described herein. In some examples, the dielectric features are formed by an ALD process followed by a varying temperature anneal process. The dielectric features can have high density, low carbon concentration, and lower k-value. The dielectric features formed according to the present disclosure has improved resistance against etching chemistry, plasma damage, and physical bombardment in subsequent processes while maintaining a lower k-value for target capacitance efficiency.

Varying temperature anneal for film and structures formed thereby

An integrated circuit structure includes a bulk semiconductor region, a first semiconductor strip over and connected to the bulk semiconductor region, and a dielectric layer including silicon oxide therein. Carbon atoms are doped in the silicon oxide. The dielectric layer includes a horizontal portion over and contacting a top surface of the bulk semiconductor region, and a vertical portion connected to an end of the horizontal portion. The vertical portion contacts a sidewall of a lower portion of the first semiconductor strip. A top portion of the first semiconductor strip protrudes higher than a top surface of the vertical portion to form a semiconductor fin. The horizontal portion and the vertical portion have a same thickness. A gate stack extends on a sidewall and a top surface of the semiconductor fin.

Silicon oxide layer for oxidation resistance and method forming same

A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region of a wafer, and depositing a gate spacer layer using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) on a sidewall of the dummy gate stack. The depositing the gate spacer layer includes performing an ALD cycle to form a dielectric atomic layer. The ALD cycle includes introducing silylated methyl to the wafer, purging the silylated methyl, introducing ammonia to the wafer, and purging the ammonia.

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Baoshan, China

Wan-Yi Kao