Double spacer technology for making self-aligned contacts (sac) on

Abstract

A method was achieved for making improved self-aligned contacts (SAC) to a patterned polysilicon layer, such as gate electrodes for FETs. Lightly doped source/drain areas are implanted. A second insulating layer is deposited and etched back to form first sidewall spacers. A silicon nitride etch-stop layer and a first interpolysilicon oxide (IPO1) layer are deposited. First SAC openings are etched in the IPO1 layer to the etch-stop layer, and concurrently openings are etched for the gate electrodes, eliminating a masking step. The etch-stop layer is etched in the SAC openings to form second sidewall spacers that protect the first sidewall spacers during BOE cleaning of the contacts. A patterned polycide layer is used to make SACs and electrical interconnections. A second IPO layer is deposited to provide insulation, and an interlevel dielectric layer is deposited. Second SAC openings are etched to the etch-stop layer for the next level of metal interconnections, while the contact openings to the gate electrodes are etched to completion. The etch-stop layer is etched in the second SAC openings to form second sidewall spacers to protect the first sidewall spacers during cleaning. Metal plugs are formed from a first metal in the second SAC openings and in the openings to the gate electrodes. A second metal is patterned to complete the structure to the first level of metal interconnections.