Method for forming dielectric spacer to prevent poly stringer in stacked

Abstract

A new method of avoiding the formation of a polysilicon stringer along the slope of the bit line contact hole edge is described. A gate electrode and associated source/drain regions are formed in and on the surface of a semiconductor substrate wherein the bit line contact is to be formed adjacent to the gate electrode. First spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate electrode. A first insulating layer over the gate electrode adjacent to the bit line contact has a first slope. Second spacers on the sidewalls of the first insulating layer adjacent to the bit line contact have a second slope less than the first slope. A second polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the gate electrode and patterned. A first dielectric layer and a third polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the second polysilicon layer. The third polysilicon layer is etched away where the bit line contact is to be formed. The gentler slope of the second spacers allows the third polysilicon layer to be etched away without leaving stringers. A bit line contact opening is etched through a second dielectric layer to the underlying semiconductor substrate wherein the bit line contact opening is separated from the third polysilicon layer by a thickness of the second dielectric layer. A fourth polysilicon layer is deposited within the contact opening to form the bit line contact.