Globalfoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd (corporation)

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Xiaomei Bu

Liang Choo Hsia

Fan Zhang

Tae Jong Lee

Alex See

Jane Hui

Kho Liep Chok

Huey Ming Chong

Vladimir Bliznetsov

Luona Goh

Yee Mei Foong

Qiang Guo

Chian Yuh Sin

Cheng-Cheh Tan

Meng Luo

Yeon Kheng Lim

Ahila Krishnamoorthy

A method for forming a semiconductor device is presented. A substrate prepared with a dielectric layer formed thereon is provided. A sacrificial and a hard mask layer are formed on the dielectric layer. The dielectric, sacrificial and hard mask layers are patterned to form an interconnect opening. The interconnect opening is filled with a conductive material to form an interconnect. The conductive material is processed to produce a top surface of the conductive material that is substantially planar with a top surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed. The sacrificial layer protects the dielectric layer during processing of the conductive material.

Reliable interconnect for semiconductor device

Example embodiments of a structure and method for forming a copper interconnect having a doped region near a top surface. The doped region has implanted alloying elements that block grain boundaries and reduce stress and electro migration. In a first example embodiment, the barrier layer is left over the inter metal dielectric layer during the alloying element implant. The barrier layer is later removed with a planarization process. In a second example embodiment the barrier layer is removed before the alloying element implant and a hard mask blocks the alloying element from being implanted in the inter metal dielectric layer.

Grain boundary blocking for stress migration and electromigration improvement in CU interconnects

A method of filling gaps in dielectric layers is disclosed. A wafer is provided having a dielectric layer containing gaps to be filled with copper, some of the gaps, denoted deeper gaps, having aspect ratios so large that filling these gaps with copper using ECP could result in pinhole like voids. A blanket conformal metal barrier layer is formed and the wafer is then submerged in a solution to electroless plate a blanket conformal copper seed layer. A partial filling of deeper gaps with copper reduces the effective aspect ratios of the deeper gaps to the extent that ECP could be used to complete the copper filling of the gaps without forming pinhole like voids. ECP is then used to complete the copper filling of the gaps. The wafer is annealed and CMP performed to planarize the surface, giving rise to a structure in which the gaps are filled with copper and are separated by the dielectric layer.

Combined copper plating method to improve gap fill

A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit provides a substrate having a semiconductor device, and includes forming an intermetal dielectric layer over the substrate and the semiconductor device. A metal wire is formed above the semiconductor device and in contact therewith and a passivation layer is formed over the intermetal dielectric layer. A bond pad is formed connected to the metal wire. A protective moat, with sidewall passivation layer, is formed through the passivation layer and the intermetal dielectric layer, and is located between the metal wire and an outside edge of the integrated circuit.

Integrated circuit with protective moat

A structure and method of a semiconductor device with liner air gaps next to interconnects and dielectric layers. A dielectric layer is formed over a lower dielectric layer and a lower interconnect over a substrate. We form an interconnect opening in the dielectric layer. The opening has sidewalls of the dielectric layer. A sacrificial liner is formed over the sidewalls of the interconnect opening. An upper interconnect is formed that fills the opening. We remove the sacrificial liner/spacers to form (air) liner gaps.

Structure and method of liner air gap formation

An improved method of forming a dual damascene structure that includes an organosilicate glass (OSG) dielectric layer is described. A via first process is followed in which a via is formed in the OSG layer and preferably stops on a SiC layer. The SiC layer is removed prior to stripping a photoresist containing the via pattern. A planarizing BARC layer is formed in the via to protect the exposed substrate from damage during trench formation. The method provides higher Kelvin via and via chain yields. Damage to the OSG layer at top corners of the via and trench is avoided. Furthermore, there is no pitting in the OSG layer at the trench bottom. Vertical sidewalls are achieved in the via and trench openings and via CD is maintained. The OSG loss during etching is minimized by removing the etch stop layer at an early stage of the dual damascene sequence.

Method to form Cu/OSG dual damascene structure for high performance and reliable interconnects

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Xiaomei Bu