GB2024505A - Manufacture of Integrated Circuits - Google Patents
Manufacture of Integrated Circuits Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2024505A GB2024505A GB7918079A GB7918079A GB2024505A GB 2024505 A GB2024505 A GB 2024505A GB 7918079 A GB7918079 A GB 7918079A GB 7918079 A GB7918079 A GB 7918079A GB 2024505 A GB2024505 A GB 2024505A
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- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- layer
- polysilicon
- silicon
- silicon dioxide
- exposed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 12
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 178
- 229910021420 polycrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 176
- 229920005591 polysilicon Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 168
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 89
- 235000012239 silicon dioxide Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 88
- 229910052581 Si3N4 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 75
- HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon nitride Chemical compound N12[Si]34N5[Si]62N3[Si]51N64 HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 75
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 62
- 150000004767 nitrides Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 61
- 239000002019 doping agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 122
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 97
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 38
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000005669 field effect Effects 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims 11
- 229910021421 monocrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 7
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims 3
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 229910052814 silicon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005468 ion implantation Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 204
- 229920002120 photoresistant polymer Polymers 0.000 description 56
- 238000001020 plasma etching Methods 0.000 description 11
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 11
- 229910052785 arsenic Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 229910052698 phosphorus Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 239000011574 phosphorus Substances 0.000 description 10
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N arsenic atom Chemical compound [As] RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 9
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical compound [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000001465 metallisation Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000001039 wet etching Methods 0.000 description 5
- -1 boron ions Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000137 annealing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000003323 beak Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000007943 implant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005055 memory storage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052594 sapphire Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010980 sapphire Substances 0.000 description 2
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002939 deleterious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000280 densification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001459 lithography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000615 nonconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- JRKICGRDRMAZLK-UHFFFAOYSA-L peroxydisulfate Chemical compound [O-]S(=O)(=O)OOS([O-])(=O)=O JRKICGRDRMAZLK-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010405 reoxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005488 sandblasting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/28—Manufacture of electrodes on semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/268
- H01L21/28008—Making conductor-insulator-semiconductor electrodes
- H01L21/28017—Making conductor-insulator-semiconductor electrodes the insulator being formed after the semiconductor body, the semiconductor being silicon
- H01L21/28158—Making the insulator
- H01L21/28167—Making the insulator on single crystalline silicon, e.g. using a liquid, i.e. chemical oxidation
- H01L21/28202—Making the insulator on single crystalline silicon, e.g. using a liquid, i.e. chemical oxidation in a nitrogen-containing ambient, e.g. nitride deposition, growth, oxynitridation, NH3 nitridation, N2O oxidation, thermal nitridation, RTN, plasma nitridation, RPN
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/027—Making masks on semiconductor bodies for further photolithographic processing not provided for in group H01L21/18 or H01L21/34
- H01L21/033—Making masks on semiconductor bodies for further photolithographic processing not provided for in group H01L21/18 or H01L21/34 comprising inorganic layers
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- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/22—Diffusion of impurity materials, e.g. doping materials, electrode materials, into or out of a semiconductor body, or between semiconductor regions; Interactions between two or more impurities; Redistribution of impurities
- H01L21/225—Diffusion of impurity materials, e.g. doping materials, electrode materials, into or out of a semiconductor body, or between semiconductor regions; Interactions between two or more impurities; Redistribution of impurities using diffusion into or out of a solid from or into a solid phase, e.g. a doped oxide layer
- H01L21/2251—Diffusion into or out of group IV semiconductors
- H01L21/2254—Diffusion into or out of group IV semiconductors from or through or into an applied layer, e.g. photoresist, nitrides
- H01L21/2255—Diffusion into or out of group IV semiconductors from or through or into an applied layer, e.g. photoresist, nitrides the applied layer comprising oxides only, e.g. P2O5, PSG, H3BO3, doped oxides
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/28—Manufacture of electrodes on semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/268
- H01L21/283—Deposition of conductive or insulating materials for electrodes conducting electric current
- H01L21/285—Deposition of conductive or insulating materials for electrodes conducting electric current from a gas or vapour, e.g. condensation
- H01L21/28506—Deposition of conductive or insulating materials for electrodes conducting electric current from a gas or vapour, e.g. condensation of conductive layers
- H01L21/28512—Deposition of conductive or insulating materials for electrodes conducting electric current from a gas or vapour, e.g. condensation of conductive layers on semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table
- H01L21/28525—Deposition of conductive or insulating materials for electrodes conducting electric current from a gas or vapour, e.g. condensation of conductive layers on semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table the conductive layers comprising semiconducting material
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/30—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26
- H01L21/31—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26 to form insulating layers thereon, e.g. for masking or by using photolithographic techniques; After treatment of these layers; Selection of materials for these layers
- H01L21/32—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26 to form insulating layers thereon, e.g. for masking or by using photolithographic techniques; After treatment of these layers; Selection of materials for these layers using masks
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/04—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
- H01L21/18—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer the devices having semiconductor bodies comprising elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table or AIIIBV compounds with or without impurities, e.g. doping materials
- H01L21/30—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26
- H01L21/31—Treatment of semiconductor bodies using processes or apparatus not provided for in groups H01L21/20 - H01L21/26 to form insulating layers thereon, e.g. for masking or by using photolithographic techniques; After treatment of these layers; Selection of materials for these layers
- H01L21/3205—Deposition of non-insulating-, e.g. conductive- or resistive-, layers on insulating layers; After-treatment of these layers
- H01L21/321—After treatment
- H01L21/32105—Oxidation of silicon-containing layers
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/70—Manufacture or treatment of devices consisting of a plurality of solid state components formed in or on a common substrate or of parts thereof; Manufacture of integrated circuit devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/71—Manufacture of specific parts of devices defined in group H01L21/70
- H01L21/76—Making of isolation regions between components
- H01L21/762—Dielectric regions, e.g. EPIC dielectric isolation, LOCOS; Trench refilling techniques, SOI technology, use of channel stoppers
- H01L21/76202—Dielectric regions, e.g. EPIC dielectric isolation, LOCOS; Trench refilling techniques, SOI technology, use of channel stoppers using a local oxidation of silicon, e.g. LOCOS, SWAMI, SILO
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- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/70—Manufacture or treatment of devices consisting of a plurality of solid state components formed in or on a common substrate or of parts thereof; Manufacture of integrated circuit devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/71—Manufacture of specific parts of devices defined in group H01L21/70
- H01L21/768—Applying interconnections to be used for carrying current between separate components within a device comprising conductors and dielectrics
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- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L23/00—Details of semiconductor or other solid state devices
- H01L23/52—Arrangements for conducting electric current within the device in operation from one component to another, i.e. interconnections, e.g. wires, lead frames
- H01L23/535—Arrangements for conducting electric current within the device in operation from one component to another, i.e. interconnections, e.g. wires, lead frames including internal interconnections, e.g. cross-under constructions
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- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/40—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/41—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions
- H01L29/417—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by their shape, relative sizes or dispositions carrying the current to be rectified, amplified or switched
- H01L29/41725—Source or drain electrodes for field effect devices
- H01L29/41775—Source or drain electrodes for field effect devices characterised by the proximity or the relative position of the source or drain electrode and the gate electrode, e.g. the source or drain electrode separated from the gate electrode by side-walls or spreading around or above the gate electrode
- H01L29/41783—Raised source or drain electrodes self aligned with the gate
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- H01L29/40—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/43—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by the materials of which they are formed
- H01L29/49—Metal-insulator-semiconductor electrodes, e.g. gates of MOSFET
- H01L29/51—Insulating materials associated therewith
- H01L29/511—Insulating materials associated therewith with a compositional variation, e.g. multilayer structures
- H01L29/513—Insulating materials associated therewith with a compositional variation, e.g. multilayer structures the variation being perpendicular to the channel plane
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- H01L29/40—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/43—Electrodes ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor characterised by the materials of which they are formed
- H01L29/49—Metal-insulator-semiconductor electrodes, e.g. gates of MOSFET
- H01L29/51—Insulating materials associated therewith
- H01L29/518—Insulating materials associated therewith the insulating material containing nitrogen, e.g. nitride, oxynitride, nitrogen-doped material
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- H01L29/00—Semiconductor devices specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching and having potential barriers; Capacitors or resistors having potential barriers, e.g. a PN-junction depletion layer or carrier concentration layer; Details of semiconductor bodies or of electrodes thereof ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/66—Types of semiconductor device ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
- H01L29/66007—Multistep manufacturing processes
- H01L29/66075—Multistep manufacturing processes of devices having semiconductor bodies comprising group 14 or group 13/15 materials
- H01L29/66227—Multistep manufacturing processes of devices having semiconductor bodies comprising group 14 or group 13/15 materials the devices being controllable only by the electric current supplied or the electric potential applied, to an electrode which does not carry the current to be rectified, amplified or switched, e.g. three-terminal devices
- H01L29/66409—Unipolar field-effect transistors
- H01L29/66477—Unipolar field-effect transistors with an insulated gate, i.e. MISFET
- H01L29/66568—Lateral single gate silicon transistors
- H01L29/66575—Lateral single gate silicon transistors where the source and drain or source and drain extensions are self-aligned to the sides of the gate
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- H01L29/66—Types of semiconductor device ; Multistep manufacturing processes therefor
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- H01L29/66075—Multistep manufacturing processes of devices having semiconductor bodies comprising group 14 or group 13/15 materials
- H01L29/66227—Multistep manufacturing processes of devices having semiconductor bodies comprising group 14 or group 13/15 materials the devices being controllable only by the electric current supplied or the electric potential applied, to an electrode which does not carry the current to be rectified, amplified or switched, e.g. three-terminal devices
- H01L29/66409—Unipolar field-effect transistors
- H01L29/66477—Unipolar field-effect transistors with an insulated gate, i.e. MISFET
- H01L29/66833—Unipolar field-effect transistors with an insulated gate, i.e. MISFET with a charge trapping gate insulator, e.g. MNOS transistors
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- H10B—ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICES
- H10B20/00—Read-only memory [ROM] devices
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- H01L2924/0002—Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
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- Internal Circuitry In Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A silicon nitride layer 6 on a silicon dioxide layer on a silicon substrate are initially etched off where field oxide regions 2, 3 and 4 are to be grown to isolate FETs and diffused lines. A polysilicon layer 11 is laid down and oxidised on its surface and nitride layer is then formed. The nitride layer is masked and etched to leave a button (13) where connection is to be made to a polysilicon line 11 on the field oxide region 3. The polysilicon is then etched to leave an FET gate electrode and the said line. The exposed nitride layer 6 and underlying dioxide layer are etched off to expose source and drain regions for the FET and a diffused line between field oxide regions 3 and 4. Dopants are introduced e.g. by ion implantation or diffusion. An oxidation step ensures that oxide margins 475 are grown on the exposed edges of the polysilicon gates and lines. The nitride buttons are etched off where connections are to be made. Further insulation may be built up by depositing silicon dioxide 410 and etching where connections are to be made. Finally a pattern of conductors 20 is etched, these making contact with the polysilicon line 11 where it was exposed by removing the nitride button and with the source and drain of the FET. The diffused line between field regions 3 and 4 may constitute the connection to the gate of the FET. The polysilicon layer may be replaced by an oxidisable metal e.g. molybdenum. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Manufacture of Integrated Circuits
The invention relates to the manufacture of integrated circuits, more particularly to the fabrication of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI) having increased density and reliability and containing FET devices, polysilicon and diffused
N+ interconnect lines, and metallized interconnect lines interfacing with the polysilicon and N+ diffused lines.
The semiconductor art has been concerned with reducing the size and power consumption of individual devices and integrated circuits in order to increase the logic power of these circuits per unit area. A particular effort has been extended in the area of monolithic random access memories (RAM's) and read only memories (ROM's) having very large memory capacity. Many things have been done over the years in an attempt to reduce the size of devices and improve tolerances with which they are fabricated. Such efforts have included, inter alia, fine line lithography, improved mask generation and alignment machines, improved tolerances on mask alignment, and selfaligned gates. These techniques have reduced the area required for the fabrication of the individual
FET devices used in these integrated circuits.
However, because of alignment tolerances, the
FET devices must be designed with larger geometry than they would have to be if perfect mask alignment were obtained. Furthermore, because of alignment tolerances, the FET devices must be spaced further apart than otherwise necessary in order to allow for the misalignment in the formation of the interconnection lines.
Consequently, there is a need for an improved integrated circuit fabrication technique for producing VLSI circuits including FET devices and conducting lines having reduced sensitivity to mask alignment.
Summary of the Invention
In a process in accordance with the invention, both the gate oxide layer of the active FET devices of the integrated circuit as well as a silicon nitride layer are formed on the surface of a silicon substrate. Both layers are surrounded by a field oxide layer and simultaneously formed on areas in which diffused N+ conducting lines are to be formed. A polysilicon layer formed on the nitride layer, is delineated to provide the polysilicon conductor of the gates of the FET devices as well as being delineated for additional interconnection lines and then may be partially oxidized in reliance on the masking effect of the nitride layer. This affords minimal oxide layer thickness on the gate polysilicon layer and again contributes to the reduced device size.Subsequently, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide, and photoresist layers are then employed in various masking and selective etch processes to provide self-aligned gates and contacts for FET devices and selfaligned interconnection interfaces. The fact that silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide,
photoresist, and silicon all have different etch
removal rates when exposed to various etching processes makes it feasible for the number of
masking steps to be reduced in comparison to prior art methods and further allows selfalignment features not previously obtainable. In addition, the method described below in
accordance with the present invention allows the simultaneous doping of two or more region. This
is advantageous in that the resulting integrated circuit device has more uniform characteristics.
The processes of the present invention permit
direct contact to the gate electrode as well as floating gate contact configurations. Diffused conducting lines permit a first level interconnect to source and drain as well as being compatible with a direct gate contact configuration.
Conversely a remote gate contact with direct source and drain contacts may also be afforded.
Theoretically, simultaneous and direct source, gate, and drain contacts may be provided
although current technology limits the
miniaturization of device size and configuration by virtue of the dimensions of the conducting lines in such a simultaneous direct contact device configuration.
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 illustrates a partial plan view of the surface of the semiconductor wafer to be processed in accordance with the present invention. The cross-hatched portions correspond to the various photolithographic masks used in performing the process in accordance with the present invention. Section lines A-A, B-B and C-C are provided so as to reference Figures 2 through 11,13 and 15~17.
Figures 2-1 7 illustrate partial plan and crosssectional views of the semiconductor wafer illustrated in Figure 1. These figures illustrate in chronological order the semiconductor wafer after having undergone the various steps enumerated below.
Figure 18 illustrates an electrical integrated circuit which may be a portion of a VLSI circuit.
Figure 19 is the equivalent electrical schematic of the structure of Figure 18.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
First Preferred Embodiment
The following description of the first preferred embodiment provides the chronological sequence of process steps performed in accordance with the present invention. Each of these process steps has been given a numerical designation for ease of identification.
Step 1. The process starts with a semiconductor wafer having a monocrystalline device quality layer of P-type silicon. The wafer can be either of monolithic configuration or may be a composite wafer having a silicon layer 1 on top of a substrate of different material (e.g., silicon-on-sapphire composite). In addition, while the process has been illustrated as beginning with a P-type substrate it is of course understood that the process is amenable to N-type substrates as well. The dopant materials used in such a case would be different from those indicated below.
The wafer is first cleaned by conventional means to remove the normal surface impurities. Figure 2 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a monolithic silicon wafer 1.
Step 2. The now cleaned wafer is subjected to a conventional oxidation process (e.g., thermal oxidation) which serves to form a silicon dioxide layer 5 on top of the silicon layer 1. A typical thickness for the silicon dioxide layer 5 would be somewhere on the order of 600 A. Figure 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the wafer after having been processed in accordance with this step.
Step 3a. A first nitride layer 6 is deposited on top of the silicon dioxide layer 5 using conventional nitride deposition techniques. The nitride layer 6 deposited may typically be on the order of 575 A thick.
Step 3b. The wafer is then optionally subjected to a short steam cycle to form a thin silicon oxynitride layer 400 on top of the silicon nitride layer 6. This oxynitride layer 400 allows for greater adherence of the photoresist regions 100 and 101 applied in step 4a below. However, it has been found that this oxynitride layer is not absolutely necessary. Figure 4 illustrates the wafer after being processed in accordance with step 3b.
Step 4a. A photoresist layer is then deposited on top of the silicon nitride and oxynitride layers and this photoresist layer is exposed to actinic radiation through a N-mask.
The N-mask is substantially transparent to actinic radiation except for a plurality of protective regions (i.e. 100 and 101 as illustrated in Figure
1) which are opaque to the actinic radiation. The photoresist regions 100 and 101 which have been shielded by the opaque protective regions of the N-mask are nonsoluble in an appropriate photoresist developer while the remainder of the photoresist which had been exposed to the actinic radiation becomes soluble in the same appropriate photoresist developer. Thus, by placing the wafer in an appropriate developer solution, the photoresist layer is selectively removed in accordance with the configuration of the protective regions 100 and 101 of the N
mask.
Step 4b. The wafer is then subjected to sequential selective oxynitride and nitride removal
processes using removal processes that attack the oxynitride layer 400 and the nitride layer 6 but
do not attack the photoresist layer. Thus, the
oxynitride layer 400 and the nitride layer 6 are
selectively removed from the entire surface of the
silicon dioxide layer at all regions except where
protected by the remaining regions 100 and 101
of the photoresist layer. A plasma etching process is but one example of such a selective nitride removal process. The remaining oxynitride and nitride regions cover those areas of the wafer in which the FET devices will be located (i.e. region
100) and further cover the areas of the chip in which N+ diffused interconnecting lines will eventually be formed (i.e. region 101).
Figures 1 and 5 illustrate the two photoresist layer regions 100 and 101 which the N mask has protected.
Step 5. The wafer is then subjected to a dopant implant step in which dopant ions (e.g.
boron ions) are implanted into the surface of the entire silicon layer except for those areas directly underneath the remaining photoresist regions
100 and 101. The photoresist layer is a shield against the dopant ions. The arrows 150, in
Figure 5, indicate the path of the dopant ions.
After the ion implantation step, the photoresist regions 100 and 101 are removed by conventional techniques (e.g., sulphuric/persulfate acid bath). The ion implantation serves to dope the silicon substrate 1 in those regions which will ultimately be used for isolating the active devices and the N+ interconnecting lines. Figure 6 illustrates the wafer after being processed in accordance with -this step.
Step 6. The wafer is then subjected to an annealing process which serves to stabilize and equalize the above noted ion implantation step.
This annealing step may be combined with the field oxidation step (step 7) described below.
Step 7. The wafer is then subjected to a thermal field oxidation process which thermally oxidizes the surface of the field portions of the silicon layer 1 except under the remaining portions of the silicon oxynitride and nitride layers 400 and 6. The silicon nitride layer portions 6 serve to protect the underlying silicon from thermal oxidation. Typically, the thermal oxidation process can be used to form silicon dioxide layers 2, 3 and 4 having a thickness on the order 15,500 A. In addition, such a thermal oxidation process of sufficient duration to produce a 15,500 A silicon dioxide thickness will produce an oxynitride layer 7 having a 200 A thickness. The oxynitride layer 7 combines with the optional oxynitride layer 400 to form a single oxynitride layer. This single combined layer will subsequently be referred to as oxynitride layer 400 for convenience. The thermally grown silicon dioxide field oxide layers 2, 3 and 4 will ultimately serve to electrically isolate the FET devices and N+ diffused interconnections. Figure 7 illustrates a crosssectional view of the semiconductor wafer illustrated in Figure 1 after having undergone processing steps 1 through 7. Note that the thick field oxide regions 2, 3 and 4 have been grown everywhere but in regions 8 and 10. Region 8 illustrates the cross-section taken along section line A-A of Figure 1 while area 9 illustrates a cross-section taken along section line B-B of
Figure 1. Area 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line C-C of Figure 1.In areas 8 and 10, the silicon substrate 1 is covered by the gate oxide layer 5, the silicon nitride layer 6, and the oxynitride layer 400. Present but not shown in
Figure 7 are the regions of silicon layer 1 underneath the field oxide layer 2, 3 and 4 which have dopant ions which have been implanted by step 5. While the process indicates the use of a nitride layer, it is understood that other materials having characteristics similar to silicon nitride may be substituted.
Step 8. A layer of polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) 11 is then deposited on top of the surface of the wafer. Typically, a phosphorus or arsenic doped polysilicon is used and a polysilicon layer 11 having a thickness on the order of 8,000 A is deposited. The polysilicon layer 11 will eventually be delineated so as to form the gate electrodes and remote gate interconnect lines.
While polysilicon is indicated as the appropriate material for this process, it is understood that others have experimented with the use of various metals (e.g. molybdenum) as a substitute material for polysilicon in such applications.
Step 9. The polysilicon layer 11 is then oxidized using conventional oxidation techniques (e.g., steam treatment) to form a layer of silicon dioxide 12 on top of the polysilicon layer 1 1.
Typically, a silicon dioxide layer 12 of between 600 to 1,200 A is formed.
Step 10. The wafer is then subjected to a second nitride deposition process which deposits a layer of silicon nitride 13 on top of the silicon dioxide layer 12. Typically, this second nitride layer 13 is on the order of 400 A thick. Figure 8 illustrates the wafer after being processed in accordance with step 10.
Step 11. A layer of photoresist is then applied on top of the second nitride layer is and exposed to actinic radiation through a PC-mask.
This mask has its opaque protective regions 103, illustrated in Figure 1, configured so as to render the photoresist layer nonsoluble at that region on the wafer wherein the polysilicon contact to a subsequently formed metaliized interconnect line is to be located. The photoresist layer is then developed with the appropriate photoresist developer solution to remove the unwanted photoresist layer.
Step 1 2a. The wafer is then subjected to a selective nitride layer removal process (e.g., plasma etching) to selectively remove all of the second nitride layer 13 except those portions protected by the remaining photoresist layer 401.
Figure 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor wafer 1 of Figure 1 after having undergone processing up to and including step 1 2a in accordance with the present invention. The polysilicon layer 11 is covered at the PC contact site by a silicon dioxide layer 12, the second silicon nitride layer 13, and the photoresist region 401 which covers the illustrated polysilicon contact.
Step 1 2b. The remaining photoresist layer 401 is then removed. Thus, the PC contact area is protected by the second nitride layer 13, while the remainder of the wafer has a surface layer of silicon dioxide 12.
Step 13. Apply a layer of material such as boron doped chemically vapor deposited silicon dioxide (Silox) which has a lower etch rate than oxynitride layers when exposed to the same etchants. Other substitute materials may be used.
Step 1 4a. Apply a layer of photoresist 14 to the silicon wafer and expose same to actinic radiation through a G-mask and then remove the unwanted photoresist layer using the appropriate developer solution. This leaves regions of photoresist 14 atop the exposed Silox layer 402 atop the second nitride layer 13 and silicon dioxide layer 12 at those locations where the polysilicon interconnect and polysilicon gate lines are located (illustrated as area 102 in Figure 1).
Figure 10 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the wafer after being processed in accordance with step 14. Note that the G-mask resist areas 403 and 404 are juxtaposed directly above the gate and polysilicon line regions. Also note that as illustrated in Figure 1, because of the fact that the
PC mask and N mask regions 103 and 100 are larger than the polysilicon line and gate mask 102, the alignment tolerance of the G mask is not stringent.
Step 1 spa. Using a selective oxide removal process, selectively remove those portions of the
Silox layer 402 not protected by the G-mask resist regions 403 and 404.
Step 1 sub. Using a selective nitride removal process (e.g., plasma etch), selectively remove those portions of the second silicon nitride layer 13 not protected by the photoresist regions 403 and 404.
Step 1 sic. Using a selective oxide removal process, selectively remove those portions of the silicon dioxide layer 12 not protected by the Gmask resist regions 403 and 404.
Step 1 sod. Using a selective polysilicon removal process selectively remove those portions of the polysilicon layer 1 1 not protected by the photoresist regions 403 and 404. Figure 11 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the wafer after having undergone processing in accordance with step 1 sod. Note that the G-mask region in area 8 (i.e. the gate region) comprises the silicon 1, covered by silicon dioxide 5, silicon nitride 6, and silicon oxynitride 400, covered in turn by polysilicon 1 1, silicon dioxide 12, Silox 402, and finally covered by the G-mask resist region 403. The G-mask region in area 9 (i.e. the
PC polysilicon contact region) consists of the silicon 1 covered by the field oxide 3, covered by polysilicon 1 silicon dioxide 12, covered in turn by the second nitride layer 13, the Silox 402, and finally covered by the G-mask resist region 404.
The source, drain, and N+ diffused line areas consist of the silicon 1 covered by silicon dioxide 5, silicon nitride 6, and silicon oxynitride 400.
Step 1 sue. Remove the remaining portions of the photoresist layer using conventional techniques.
Step 1 6. Apply a layer of photoresist to the
silicon wafer and expose same to actinic radiation
through a C-mask and then remove the unwanted
photoresist layer using the appropriate developer
solution. This leaves a layer of photoresist atop the wafer at those regions shown in crosshatch
lines as regions 405 and 406 of Figure 12. Areas 501-506 respectively illustrate the polysilicon
line 501, source 502, gate 503, and drain 504 of
an FET device, N+ diffused line 505 and N+ contact 506. These regions are over areas which
will ultimately be the contact interface between the source and drain lines (i.e. region 405) the diffused N+ lines (i.e. region 406) and the subsequently formed metalized interconnection
lines.As illustrated in Figure 1, the C mask areas 405 and 406 do not require stringent placement alignment tolerances, since they are larger than the areas to be protected.
Step 1 7a. Using a selective oxynitride
removal process, selectively remove those portions of the oxynitride layer not protected by the photoresist regions 405 and 406.
Step 1 7b1. Using a selective nitride removal
process, selectively remove those portions of the
nitride layer not protected by the photoresist
regions 405 and 406.
Step 1 7b2. Remove the underlying oxide
exposed by the nitride removal process in step
17b1.
Step 1 7b3. Deposit a phosphorus or arsenic dopant on the surface of the wafer and perform a dopant drive process to dope the N+ line.
Step 1 7c. Remove the photoresist regions 405 and 406 using conventional techniques.
Step 1 7d 1. Oxidize the exposed polysilicon interconnect line and N+ interconnect line using conventional oxidization techniques (e.g., steam processing) to fabricate a thick silicon dioxide layer 15 thereon. Typically, a 4000 to 5000 A thick layer may be produced. It is important to note that in region 8 and in the region protected in the earlier steps by photoresist region 406, the oxynitride layer 400 and underlying nitride layer 6 protect the underlying source, drain and N+ contact areas from oxidation. Note that the sides of the polysilicon gate and line, not protected by a silicon nitride or oxynitride layer, are oxidized simultaneously with the formation of oxide layer
15.These additional oxidized side areas 475 are extremely important since their presence prevents the subsequently applied metalized interconnection to the source, drain, and N+ contacts, from shorting to the sides of the polysilicon gate and line if misalignment should occur. The oxidation process also partially oxidizes the top of polysilicon layer 1 1 not protected by the second silicon nitride layer.
Figure 13 illustrates dopantions present in the
Silox layer 402. Figure 13 illustrates the wafer cross-section after being processed in accordance with step 17.
Step 1 8. Subject the wafer to a dip etch process to remove all of the exposed Silox layer 402. Alternatively, (see Alternate step 18 below) the wafer can be subjected to a C2-mask step to
leave a Silox layer covering the poly line except at the PC poly line contact site. Figure 14 illustrates
such a C2-mask. The use of the C2 mask step, as
described below in Alternate step 18, leaves the
Silox layer 402 covering the polysilicon line
except at the PC contact site. Because of the
presence of the Silox layer, the polysilicon line would not be doped by step 20. However, additional doping of the already doped polysilicon may not be required. For the remaining discussion, it will be assumed that step 18 has been performed instead of Alternate step 1 8.
Alternate Step 18. A photoresist layer is applied to the surface of the wafer and exposed to actinic radiation through a C2-mask and the unwanted portions of the photoresist layer are then removed using an appropriate developer solution. The C2-mask contains opaque protective regions so as to leave a photoresist layer over the entire surface except at those areas in which polysilicon line contacts are to be formed. The exposed Silox layer 402 is then removed and the
C2-mask photoresist layer removed, leaving a
N+ contact area protected by a nitride/oxynitride button.
Step 1 9a. Subject the wafer to a selective oxynitride removal process (e.g., wet or plasma etching) to selectively remove the exposed oxynitride layer off of the source, drain, and N+ line contacts located under the oxynitride layer.
Step 1 9b. Subject the wafer to a nitride removal process (e.g., plasma or wet etching) to selectively remove those portions of the first nitride layer covering the source, drain, N+ line contacts and polysilicon line contact sites. Figure 1 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the silicon wafer 1 after having undergone the nitride removal process of step 1 9b. Note that the source, drain, polysilicon contact and N+ contact now all have just a thin oxide layer cover. Dip etch the wafer to remove the oxide layer covering the regions to be doped.
Step 20. Deposit a layer of phosphorus using, for example, conventional POCI3 techniques or deposit arsenic using a layer of arsenic doped Silox or polysilicon. Using conventional techniques, the wafer is then subjected to a doping process which drives the phosphorus or arsenic ions simultaneously into the source, drain, N+ contact and polysilicon contact regions.
Step 21. Deglaze if a conventional POCK, doping procedure is performed, by a dip (batch) etching procedure. This dip etching serves also to remove any thin oxide layer covering the contact sites formed in step 20. Figure 1 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the wafer after having been processed in accordance with step 21.
Step 22. Apply a Silox layer 410 to the surface of the wafer and densify by normal densification techniques. Then apply a layer of photoresist and expose same to actinic radiation through a second C-mask and then remove the unwanted photoresist layer using the appropriate developer solution. The second C-mask has opaque portions arranged so as to leave unprotected the previously formed contact sites.
The wafer is then subjected to a selective oxide removal process (e.g., etching) so as to provide windows into the contact sites. Note that the oxide removal process may be used to etch a window through both the Silox layer 410 and any remaining portions of the silicon dioxide layer 5.
The second C-mask does not require stringent alignment tolerances since all the contact regions have already been formed and are separated by insulating materials, and since all of the edges 475 of the polysilicon line 11 are protected by an insulating oxide.
Step 23. Apply a metalization layer 20 and a photoresist layer and expose same to actinic radiation through a M-mask and then remove the unwanted photoresist layer using standard removal techniques. The M-mask is arranged to leave protective portions of photoresist layer on those areas of the conductive metalization layer wherein interconnections to the contacts are to be formed. The wafer is then subjected to a standard metalization layer removal prncess#(e.g., etching) to remove the unwanted metalization layer and the wafer is then subjected to a photoresist removal process. Other materials (e.g.
polysilicon) could be substituted for the metalization layer 20.
Step 24. The wafer is then exposed to a hydrogen annealing process to anneal the previously formed metalization layer. Figure 17 illustrates the silicon wafer of Figure 1 after this step.
Step 25. The wafer is then subjected to the usual finishing procedures (e.g., sandblasting, cleaning, passivating) in accordance with conventional procedures.
Alternate Embodiment I
This embodiment is essentially a modification of the first embodiment described above with the distinction being that the boron doped Silox deposition step (Step 13) is replaced by the boron doping of an oxynitride layer (greater than 80 A thick) formed over the second silicon nitride film.
In other words, after Step 10 of the first embodiment, we would add:
Step 1 Oa. Steam nitride layer to form an oxynitride layer thereon.
Step 1 Ob. Subject the wafer to a boron deposition process (e.g., boron deposition at
10300 with Bur3) to deposit boron ions on the just formed oxynitride layer.
Step 13 of course would be deleted and in
Steps 1 5a and 18 we would of course selectively etch the boron doped oxynitride layer rather than a Silox layer. The remaining processing steps would be identical to those of the first embodiment.
Alternate Embodiment II This embodiment is an improvement over the embodiments described above in that a layer of silicon nitride is used instead of the boron doped
Silox or boron doped oxynitride layers.# Since the silicon nitride layer (designated silicon nitride Ill) may be as thin as 400 A, one can more accurately etch the polysilicon lines then, for example, when using the Silox or nitride 11 layer which must be thicker typically than the silicon nitride layer.
Since the processes of this embodiment are quite similar to those of the first embodiment, the different processes described below with regard to this embodiment will not be stated in such comprehensive detail as that provided for the first embodiment.
Step 1. Perform the steps of the first embodiment up to and including Step 10 (deposit silicon nitride layer li).
Step 2. Steam silicon nitride Il layer to form a layer of silicon oxynitride (e.g., greater than 80 a thick).
Step 3. PC mask.
Step 3a. Remove unwanted resist so as to leave resist on the PC mask as in first embodiment.
Step 3b, Etch the unprotected oxynitride layer.
Step 3c. Remove the exposed field nitride layer using, for example, a plasma etch process.
Step 4. Deposit a silicon nitride layer Ill (e.g., 400 A thick), and steam the nitride layer to form a silicon oxynitride layer.
Step 5. G mask.
Step 5a. Remove unwanted photoresist layer so as to leave resist over the PC stripe and over the polysilicon interconnection lines.
Step 5b. Etch the exposed oxynitride off of the field areas.
Step 5c. Etch the nitride off of the field using, for example, a plasma etch process so as to leave nitride covering the oxynitride step on the PC pad and over the oxidized polysilicon interconnection lines.
Step 5d. Remove the remaining photoresist and etch the exposed oxide and polysilicon lines using, for example, wet or dry plasma etching techniques.
Step 6. C mask (as in first embodiment).
Step 6a. Remove unwanted photoresist so as to leave resist areas on the N+ diffused line contact region and the source and drain regions.
Step 6b. Using a selective removal procedure, (e.g. selective etch) etrh the oxynitride layer off of the N+ lines.
Step 6c. Remove the remaining photoresist layer using conventional methods.
Step 6d. Plasma etch the silicon nitride off of the N+ lines and the polysilicon lines and then dip etch the entire wafer to remove the underlying silicon dioxide layer so as to expose the bare silicon, thus exposing the N+ and polysilicon lines.
Step 7. Deposit arsenic or phosphorus using conventional techniques or alternatively implant arsenic or phosphorus ions using ion implant techniques. Deglaze the wafer if necessary.
Step 8. Drive the junctions in the N+ lines and oxidize the N+ lines and polysilicon lines to any desired oxide thickness. For example, if a 5,000 A thick oxide layer is desired, a 90~120 minute steam process would be desirable for phosphorus type doping. A different cycle would be necessary for arsenic doping to achieve a similar result.
Step 9. Dip etch the oxynitride layer off of the contact sites.
Step 10. Plasma etch the exposed nitride layer off of the contact sites.
Step 11. Phosphorus or arsenic dope the source, drain, N+ contacts and PC contacts as in the first embodiment. Note that in this embodiment, the N+ and polysilicon lines are doped in a separate step.
Step 12. Continue with Step 21 of the first embodiment and complete the processing of the wafer.
Alternate Embodiment Ill
As an extension of alternate embodiment Il, the following improved variation is offered:
At Step 4 of alternate embodiment II, a photoresist layer can be substituted for the third silicon nitride layer and left in place after the G masking steps (Steps 5 and 5a of alternate embodiment II). After Step 5b of alternate embodiment ll is completed, the oxynitride layer is removed, and the polysilicon layer plasma etched to delineate the polysilicon lines. The plasma etching method usually improves the resist adherence through perhaps an additional polymerization.This is a highly desirable feature, since in this alternate embodiment, the G mask resist is left in place as a protective covering for the polysilicon contact stripe PC of oxynitride coated nitride during the C layer etching step of the oxynitride layer over the N+ lines (i.e., the resist for the C layer is next applied over the resist remaining from the G layer masking steps. The processing then continues to Step 6b of alternate embodiment ll and the oxynitride layer is etched off the N+ lines. Subsequently, in Step 6c the resist from both the C and the C masking operations is removed. Step 6d is then performed to plasma etch the first silicon nitride layer from the N+ lines. The wafer is then dip etched to remove the underlying oxide layer and the processing proceeds to Step 7 of alternate embodiment II and continues to completion of the wafer.
Alternate Embodiment IV
In order to reduce the deleterious effect of the first silicon nitride regions edge lifting and cracking after Step 7, (i.e., the field oxidation step of all the various embodiments) the first silicon nitride layer can be stripped by a plasma etching technique after the field oxidation, and then the wafer can be subjected to a wet etching to remove the underlying oxide layer. A new gate oxide and gate silicon nitride layer are then regrown. For example, the wafer is first processed in accordance with Steps 1 through 7 of the first embodiment. The wafer is then processed as follows:
Step 2a. Remove the oxynitride layer off the
N mask regions by conventional etching techniques (e.g., wet acid etching).
Step 2b. Remove the exposed silicon nitride layer by conventional plasma etching techniques.
Step 2c. Remove the exposed underlying oxide layer if desired.
Step 2d. Subject the wafer to a reoxidation process to regrow the gate oxide to a thickness of about 600 A. It is noted that the removal of the
underlying oxide (Step c) will preferentially attack the "bird beak" formed during the original field oxidation step and reduce its height and stress contributing factors. This preferential attacking of the "bird beak" oxide occurs because the "bird beak" oxide is more highly stressed. By reoxidizing the intended gate region and redepositing a silicon nitride layer, the resultant oxide/nitride sandwich layer has a better integrity and fewer defects. Furthermore, by regrowing the oxide and the depositing with silicon nitride, the field oxide regions are covered with an additional silicon nitride layer to provide additional isolation of the polysilicon lines and the field oxide.
Furthermore, the silicon nitride layer atop the field oxide provides a different types of surface for nucleating the polysilicon layer to be applied later and usually produces a finer grained polysilicon texture.
Step 2e. Subject the wafer to a steam treatment to convert the exposed nitride film to an oxynitride. An added advantage of this newly formed silicon nitride layer is that it will prevent later oxide growth of the field regions during subsequent diffusion steps and act as an etch stop during later oxide etch steps. The wafer is then processed in accordance with the remaining steps of the various embodiments (i.e., deposit a layer of polysilicon as in Step 8).
Alternate Embodiment V
An improvement can be made in the above noted embodiments by the use of a doped chemically vapor deposited silicon dioxide layer (Silox). The Silox layer (doped either with phosphorus or arsenic for example) is used as a diffusion source for all of the N+ areas and enables the simultaneous diffusion of the source, drain, N+ lines, polysilicon lines, and polysilicon contacts. The doped Silox is left in place after the dopant diffusion process to serve as an electrical insulating layer. Particularly, it serves as an electrical insulator between the polysilicon lines and the metalized interconnection lines overlying the polysilicon lines. Another feature of this embodiment is the elimination of the first C masking step since a later C mask over the doped
Silox layer will be used to open contacts to all of the desired contact regions.This C mask will have enlarged contact geometries, (for example, larger than the width of the polysilicon lines or lines), to enable a non-stringent C mask positional alignment tolerance. Additionally, the polysilicon lines are oxidized to form for example 5,000 A of silicon dioxide after the G masking step used to delineate the polysilicon lines but before the nitride layer is selectively removed from the N+ lines, source, drain, and polysilicon contacts. The basic sequence of masks used in this embodiment are: N, PC, G, C and M. A short description of the sequence of steps in this embodiment is noted below:
Proceed to process the wafer in accordance with alternate embodiment IV as noted above up to and including the G mask process.After the photoresist layer has been exposed to the G layer mask to delineate the polysilicon lines, the wafer is dip etched to remove the oxynitride layer on the
PC nitrided surface pad and the wafer is then subjected to a plasma etching process to remove the nitride extensions beyond the PC mask stripe.
The wafer is then subjected to a wet etching process to remove the field oxide layer on top of the poly layer and the wafer is then plasma etched to remove the polysilicon field. As an alternative to the plasma etching process, the remaining photoresist layer can be removed and the wafer subjected to a wet etching process to remove the polysilicon field.
The polysilicon lines are now delineated and after removing the remaining photoresist layer (if necessary) the polysilicon lines are oxidized to form a silicon dioxide layer thereon of typically between 3,000 and 5,000 A thick.
The wafer is then subjected to a dip etching process to remove all of the oxynitride layer over the N+ lines. The oxynitride is also removed by the same process from the source and drain regions and the polysilicon contact sites.
The wafer is then subjected to a plasma etching process to remove the protective nitride I layer from the N+ lines, source, drain, and polysilicon contacts. Accordingly, the underlying oxide layer is dip etched. A layer of doped Silox (for example phosphorus doped) is then deposited and the wafer subjected to a drive process to simultaneously dope the source, drain, N+ lines,
N+ contacts and polysilicon contacts.
A photoresist layer is then applied and exposed to actinic radiation through a C mask having typically enlarged contact geometries (perhaps with the exception of the PC stripe) on each side beyond the respective lines to be contacted. This allows for less stringent alignment tolerances.
After conventional photolithographic processing steps, the windows in the Silox are etched using conventional etching techniques.
An optional Silox reflow step may be performed here to smooth the Silox layer and aid in the subsequent metalization stops and it further causes a beneficial additional dopant diffusion into the contact sites. However, this step is not absolutely necessary and in fact may not be preferable in some cases.
The wafer is then subjected to an acid dip etch and then metalized as in the case of the previous embodiments.
Figure 18 is a partial plan view of a portion of a semiconductor substrate containing elements fabricated in accordance with the present invention. Illustrated are field effect transistor devices Q1 and Q2 each having a source, gate and drain. Connected to the respective sources of transistors Q, and Q2 are diffused N+ lines 801 and 803 which have been inter-connected by means of diffused N+ line 806. Similarly, the drains of transistors Q, and Q2 are interconnected to each other by means of diffused N+ lines 802, 805 and 807. All of these diffused lines may be delineated simultaneously by means of the Nmask step. As illustrated in Figure 18, diffused N+ lines 806 and 807 can extend in various directions on the substrate so as to interconnect with a plurality of additional devices.It is of course also possible to provide one or more contact regions to directly interconnect the N+ diffused lines 806 and 807 to the subsequent metalized interconnections delineated in the Mmask step.
The gates of transistors Q1 and Q2 are illustrated as being connected to polysilicon lines 800 and 804, respectively. These remote polysilicon lines could be connected to other portions of, the circuitry contained on the substrate. In many cases, however, a direct contact rather than a remote contact would be provided so as to directly connect the gates of the transistors to the metalized interconnections delineated by the M-mask step.
Figure 19 schematically illustrates the portion of the substrate circuitry illustrated in Figure 18.
Like designators of the elements in Figure 19 correspond to like elements in Figure 18.
An important usage for the circuitry shown in
Figures 18 and 19 would be in the fabrication of monolithic random access memories or read only memories having a large number of memory elements. As indicated in the Summary of the
Invention, the disclosed fabrication process lends itself to the fabrication of circuits having active devices and associated interconnects having substantially reduced surface area in comparison to circuitry fabricated by prior art methods. Since there are inherent size limitations in the surface area of the silicon substrates contained in integrated circuit chips, the advantageous reduction in the overall surface area of the elements fabricated in accordance with the present invention allows for the production of integrated circuit chips having greater numbers of memory elements. For example, the invention renders it feasible to produce random access memory chips in accordance with the present invention having 256 kilobits of memory storage capability whereas present day prior art fabrication techniques have only been able to produce commercially feasible random access memory chips having 32 kilobits of memory storage capability.
Numerous modifications and variations of the process and device structures and configurations and of integrated circuit designs incorporating such devices will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Whereas N channel devices have been disclosed, it will be apparent that P channel devices instead can be made by this process. The processes have been illustrated as employing bulk silicon, but silicon layers on other substrates, such as silicon-on-sapphire, may be employed in the alternative.
Claims (27)
1. oxidizing said silicon layer to form a first
silicon dioxide layer on a surface thereon;
2. applying a first layer of silicon nitride over
the surface of the first silicon dioxide layer;
3. selectively removing portions of said first
silicon nitride layer, leaving portions of said
first silicon nitride layer juxtaposed over
areas wherein field effect transistors and
diffused interconnect lines are to be formed;
4. oxidizing portions of said silicon layer to
produce a very thick layer of silicon dioxide
over said surface of the silica except at those
areas juxtaposed beneath the remaining
portions of said first silicon nitride layer;;
5. depositing a layer of polysilicon having
dopant ions there in over said surface of the
device;
6. oxidizing the surface of said polysilicon layer
to form a second layer of silicon dioxide
thereon;
7. applying a seocnd layer of silicon nitride on
top of the surface of the second silicon
dioxide layer;
8. removing, by a selective removal process, all
of said second nitride layer except for a
region juxtaposed over the area in which a
polysilicon interconnect line contact is to be
formed;
9. applying a layer of silicon dioxide containing
dopant ions therein over the surface of said
device;
10. selectively removing all of the silicon
dioxide layer containing dopant ions except
at those regions juxtaposed over areas in
which gates of the field effect transistors and
the polysilicon interconnect lines are to be
formed;;
11. selectively removing the portions of said
silicon nitride layers exposed by the removal
of said silicon dioxide layer containing
dopant ions;
12. selectively removing the exposed portions
of any of said silicon dioxide layers exposed
by the removal of said silicon nitride layers;
13. selectively removing the exposed portions
of said polysilicon layer exposed by the
removal of any of said silicon dioxide layers;
14. selectively removing all of the exposed
portions of said silicon nitride layer except
for those regions juxtaposed over areas to be
formed into said field effect transistors and
the contact of said diffused interconnect
lines;
15. oxidizing said device whereby an additional
layer of silicon dioxide is formed over said
diffused interconnect lines and at least a
portion of said polysilicon interconnect lines;;
16. batch removing said silicon dioxide layer
containing dopant ions;
17. removing said exposed silicon nitride
layer exposed by the removal of said silicon
dioxide layer containing dopant ions;
18. removing any of said remaining silicon
dioxide layers from the areas wherein
contact to the sources, gates, and drains of
said field effect devices, the polysilicon
interconnect line contact, and the diffused
interconnect line contact are to be formed;
19. selectively applying conducting
interconnection lines to said contact areas
exposed by the removal of said remaining
silicon dioxide layers.
2. A process as in claim 1 , further comprising the following step to be performed prior to step 15:
doping said diffused interconnect lines except for the portions thereof juxtaposed beneath said contact area of said diffused interconnect lines.
3. A process as in claim 1, further comprising the following step to be performed prior to step 19:
simultaneously doping all of said exposed areas exposed by the removal of said remaining silicon dioxide layers.
4. A process as in claim 2, further comprising the following step to be performed prior to step 19:
simultaneously doping all of said exposed areas exposed by the removal of said remaining silicon dioxide layers.
5. A process as in claims 3 or 4, wherein said simultaneous doping step comprises the steps of:
applying a layer of material containing dopant ions;
heating said material to diffuse said dopant ions into said exposed regions.
6. A process as in claim 1 further comprising the following step to be performed prior to step 4:
ion implanting dopant ions into the surface of said silicon except for those areas wherein field effect transistors and diffused interconnect lines are to be formed.
7. A method of fabricating a very large scale integrated circuit including field effect transistor devices, first level interconnect lines, and diffused interconnect lines on a substrate comprising the steps of:
providing a monolithic monocrystalline silicon wafer to form the substrate of the integrated circuit;
forming a layer of silicon dioxide covering a first surface of said silicon wafer;;
selectively applying a first oxidation mask layer covering said silicon dioxide layer in regions immediately juxtaposed the locations wherein field effect devices, first level interconnect lines, and diffused interconnect lines are to be formed, whereby said first oxidation mask layer is of a material which does not significantly oxidize at those temperatures which would oxidize silicon and wherein said first oxidation mask layer material remains substantially intact when exposed to an oxide removal process which removes oxides;
selectively doping the portions of the silicon substrate area wherein said active devices and diffused interconnect lines are to be located;
oxidizing said silicon wafer to form a thick field oxide layer on those regions of said silicon dioxide layer not covered by said first oxidation mask layer;;
selectively applying one of either a polycrystalline silicon containing dopant ions therein and a metal layer, wherein said one of said polycrystalline silicon and a metal layer is to be used in the formation of the gate electrodes and interconnect lines;
subjecting the wafer to an oxidation process for oxidizing said layer of one of either polycrystalline silicon and a metal layer;
selectively applying a second oxidation mask layer over an area including the region of said first level interconnect lines where an electrical connection is to be made;
selectively applying an insulating layer over the entire surface of the wafer except on those regions wherein said first level interconnect lines are located;;
selectively removing the exposed portions of the first and second oxidation mask layers using a selective removal process which removes said oxidation mask layer material without substantially effecting the silicon or silicon dioxide materials;
selectively removing the exposed silicon dioxide layers using a selective removal process whereby said silicon dioxide layers are removed without substantially effecting said oxidation mask layer material;
selectively removing exposed portions of said one of either polycrystalline silicon or metal layer to delineate said first level interconnect lines using a selective removal process whereby said one of either polycrystalline silicon and metal layer is removed without substantially effecting the oxidation mask material or the silicon dioxide layer;;
selectively removing the exposed portions of said first and second oxidation mask layers using a selective removal process whereby said first and second oxidation mask layers are removed without substantially effecting the silicon dioxide or one of said polycrystalline silicon or metal layers;
subjecting the wafer to an oxidation process whereby said exposed silicon and said one of either polycrystalline silicon or metal layers are oxidized;
selectively removing the exposed insulating layer using a selective removal process whereby said insulating layer is removed without materially removing the other layers on said wafer;
selectively removing the exposed first and second oxidation mask layers without materially effecting the remaining layers on the wafer;;
doping portions of said wafer by providing dopant ions whereby at least said source, drain, and diffused interconnect line contact regions are doped;
providing electrical connections to said source, drain, first level interconnect, and diffused interconnect line contacts by means of the selective application of a conductive material.
8. A process in accordance with claim 7, wherein said first and second oxidation mask layers comprise silicon nitride layers.
9. A process in accordance with claim 8, wherein said insulating layer is comprised of chemically vapor deposited silicon dioxide having dopant ions therein.
10. A process in accordance with claim 8, wherein said selective removal processes comprise etching processes.
1 1. A process for forming very large scale integrated circuits on a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor substrate having field oxide regions surrounding and isolating at least a first selected area in which a field effect semiconductor device is to be formed and at least a second selected area in which a diffused conducting line is to be formed and having polysilicon line conductors disposed on said field oxide and for providing self-aligned contacts to at least selected ones of said conductors comprising the steps of::
thermally growing a first silicon dioxide layer on each of said first and second selected areas,
forming a silicon nitride layer on said first silicon dioxide layer,
forming a silicon oxynitride layer on said first silicon nitride layer,
forming a polysilicon layer having dopant ions therein on said silicon oxynitride layer extending over said selected areas and said field oxide region,
forming a protective button on said polysilicon layer, juxtaposed over the location of a corresponding said polysilicon line conductor to be formed, and of greater width than said line,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein on the exposed surface area,
defining a polysilicon gate electrode extending transversely and centrally of said selected area for said active device, and a polysilicon line conductor, extending at least in part over said field region, of lesser width dimension than said button and intersecting same in an intersection region, to be formed from said polysilicon layer,
removing portions of said button to conform the width of said button to that of said intersection region with said defined polysilicon line conductor,
delineating said polysilicon layer including said layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein to form said line conductor with said conformed button juxtaposed thereon and to form said gate electrode,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions containing dopant ions except for that portion juxtaposed on said polysilicon layer,
protecting the portions of said first silicon oxynitride and nitride layers on said source and drain regions and on a selected contact area of said diffused conducting line and removing all unprotected portions of said first silicon oxynitride and silicon nitride layers,
removing the silicon dioxide layer portions exposed by removal of said first silicon nitride layer portions,
forming a thermal oxide on exposed surfaces of said gate polysilicon layer, of said polysilicon line conductor, and of said diffused line, and
removing said first silicon oxynitride and nitride layers from said source and drain regions and said diffused conducting line and removing said button, thereby to expose said contact surfaces of said source and drain regions, of said diffused conducting line and of said polysilicon line conductor.
12. A process as recited in claim 1 1 further comprising a step of providing conductor lines on said semiconductor substrate extending over said field oxide and onto said polysilicon line contact for providing electrical connection thereto.
13. A process as recited in claim 1 1 wherein said button comprises a silicon nitride layer, and said step of removing said button comprises applying a material to said substrate which selectively removes nitride and has no substantial effect on said insulating thermal oxide.
14. A process for forming very large scale integrated circuits on a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor substrate having field oxide regions surrounding and isolating at least a first selected area in which a field effect semiconductor device is to be formed and at least a second selected area in which a diffused conducting line is to be formed and having polysilicon line conductors disposed on said field oxide and for providing self-aligned contacts to at least selected ones of said conductors comprising the steps of::
thermally growing a first silicon dioxide layer on each of said first and second selected areas,
forming a first silicon nitride layer on said first silicon dioxide layer,
forming a silicon oxynitride layer on said first silicon nitride layer,
forming a polysilicon layer having dopant ions therein on said silicon oxynitride layer extending over said selected areas and said field oxide region,
forming a second silicon nitride layer on said polysilicon layer,
retaining a selected portion of said second silicon nitride layer overlying said field region as a button having a width dimension larger than the width of a polysilicon line conductor to be formed from said polysilicon layer on said field region and removing remaining portions of said silicon nitride layer,
defining a polysilicon gate electrode, extending transversely and centrally of said selected area for said active device, and a polysilicon line conductor, extending at least in part over said field region, of lesser width dimension than said button and intersecting same in an intersection region, to be formed from said polysilicon layer,
removing portions of said second silicon oxynitride and silicon nitride layers of said button to conform the width of said button to that of said intersection region with said defined polysilicon line conductor,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein on the exposed surface areas,
delineating said polysilicon layer including said layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein to form said line conductor with said conformed button juxtaposed thereon and to form said gate electrode,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions containing dopant ions except for that portion juxatposed on -said polysilicon layer,
protecting the portions of said first silicon oxynitride and nitride layers on said source and drain regions and on a selected contact area of said diffused conducting line and removing all unprotected portions of said first silicon oxynitride and silicon nitride layers,
removing the silicon dioxide layer portions exposed by removal of said first nitride layer portions,
forming a thermal oxide on exposed surfaces of said gate polysilicon layer, of said polysilicon line conductor, and of said diffused line, and, in sequence,
removing exposed portions of said first oxynitride layer and the thereby exposed portions of said first and second nitride layers,
removing the exposed portions of said silicon dioxide layer exposed by removal of said portions of said first silicon nitride layer and any oxide on the exposed contact surface of said polysilicon line conductor, thereby to expose said contact surfaces of said source and drain regions, of said diffused conducting line, and of said polysilicon line conductor.
15. A process as recited in claims 11 or 14, further comprising the steps of:
performing a first diffusion doping into the exposed surfaces of said diffused conducting line prior to the step of forming a thermal oxide thereon, and
performing a second diffusion doping into the exposed surfaces of said source and drain regions and of said diffused conducting line.
1 6. A process for fabricating a field effect semiconductor device having source, drain, and gate regions on a selected area of a first surface of a monocrystalline silicon substrate comprising the steps of:
thermally growing a silicon dioxide layer on said selected area of said first surface of a thickness suitable for the gate insulator layer of said first effect device,
forming a first silicon nitride layer on said silicon dioxide layer,
forming a first silicon oxynitride layer on said first silicon nitride layer,
forming a polysilicon layer having dopant ions therein on said first silicon oxynitride layer,
forming a second silicon nitride layer on said polysilicon layer,
removing said second nitride layer except for retaining a gate contact surface defining portion thereof extending transversely of said selected area in the region of a gate to be defined,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein on the exposed surface areas,
protecting said retained portion of said second silicon nitride layer while delineating said polysilicon layer to define a gate polysilicon layer electrode extending transversely of said selected area of said active device of greater width than and in alignment with said retained portion of said second silicon nitride layer, said gate polysilicon layer electrode defining first and second remaining portions of said selected area corresponding to source and drain regions of said device,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions containing dopant ions except for that portion juxtaposed said polysilicon layer, thermally oxidizing the surface of said gate polysilicon layer electrode while retaining said first silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride layers over said source and drain regions of said active device to prevent formation of any substantial amount of oxide thereon,
removing said retained portion from said gate polysilicon layer electrode and simultaneously removing the portions of said first silicon oxynitride layer from said source and drain regions,
removing said retained second nitride layer portion from said gate polysilicon layer electrode and simultaneously removing the portions of said first nitride layer portions from said source and drain regions, and
removing any silicon dioxide from said gate polysilicon electrode exposed by removal of said second silicon nitride portions therefrom, to expose the underlying contact surface of said gate polysilicon layer electrode defined thereby, and simultaneously removing said silicon dioxide layer from said source and drain region sources, thereby to provide a direct contact to said gate polysilicon layer electrode.
1 7. A process for fabricating a field effect semiconductor device having source, drain, and gate regions on a selected area of a first surface of a monocrystalline silicon substrate comprising the steps of:
thermally growing a silicon dioxide layer on said selected area of said first surface of a thickness suitable for the gate insulator layer of said field effect device,
forming a first silicon nitride layer on said silicon dioxide layer,
forming a first silicon oxynitride layer on said first silicon nitride layer,
forming a polysilicon layer having dopant ions therein on said first silicon oxynitride layer,
forming a protection layer on said polysilicon layer, said protection layer being substantially non-oxidizable by thermal oxidation and being removable by a material-selective removal process having no substantial effect on silicon and silicon dioxide surfaces,
removing said protection layer except for retaining a gate contact surface defining portion thereof extending transversely of said selected area in the region of a gate to be defined,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide having dopant ions therein on the exposed surface areas,
protecting said retained portion of said protection layer while delineating said polysilicon layer to define a gate polysilicon layer electrode extending transversely of said selected area of said active device of greater width than and in alignment with said retained portion of said protection layer, said gate polysilicon layer electrode defining first and second remaining portions of said selected area corresponding to source and drain regions of said device,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions containing dopant ions except for that portion juxtaposed on said polysilicon layer,
thermally oxidizing the surface of said gate polysilicon layer electrode while retaining said first silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride layers over said source and drain regions of said active device to prevent formation of any substantial amount of oxide thereon,
removing said retained, protection layer portion from said gate polysilicon layer electrode and removing said first silicon oxynitride and silicon nitride layers from said source and drain regions, and
removing any silicon dioxide from said gate polysilicon electrode exposed by removal of said protection layer portion therefrom, to expose the underlying contact surface of said gate polysilicon layer electrode defined by said protection layer portion, and simultaneously removing said silicon dioxide layer from said source and drain region sources, thereby to provide a direct contact to said gate polysilicon layer electrode.
1 8. A process for forming a self-aligned contact with polysilicon line conductor to be formed at least in part on the field oxide of a semiconductor substrate, comprising:
forming a polysilicon layer having dopant ions therein on said substrate extending at least over said field oxide,
forming a protective button on said polysilicon layer, juxtaposed on the location of a corresponding said polysilicon line conductor to be formed, and of greater width than said line conductor,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide having dopant ions therein on the exposed surface areas,
defining said polysilicon line conductor,
delineating said button to conform in width and location to said defined line conductor,
delineating said polysilicon layer to form said line conductor with said conformed button juxtaposed thereon, and to form said gate electrode,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions having dopant ions except for that portion juxtaposed on said polysilicon layer,
thermally oxidizing said polysilicon line to form an insulating oxide layer thereon while said button prevents thermal oxidation of the line conductor portion on which it is juxtaposed, and
removing said button by a selective material removal process which does not affect said insulating thermal oxide, thereby to expose the underlying surface portion of said polysilicon line conductor as a contact.
19. A process as recited in claim 18, further comprising a step of providing conductor lines on said semiconductor substrate extending over said field oxide and onto said polysilicon line contact for providing electrical connection thereto.
20. A process as recited in claim 18, wherein said button comprises a silicon nitride layer, and said step of removing said button comprises applying a material to said substrate which selectively removes nitride and has no substantial affect on said insulating thermal oxide.
21. A process for forming very large scale integrated circuits on a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor substrate having field oxide surrounding and isolating at least one selected area in which a field effect semiconductor device is to be formed and having at least one polysilicon line conductor disposed at least in part on said field oxide and for providing self-aligned contacts to at least the source and drain regions of said device and to said polysilicon line conductor at a selected location thereof, comprising the steps of::
thermally oxidizing the surface of said semiconductor substrate in said selected area to form a first silicon dioxide layer thereon,
forming a first silicon nitride layer on said first silicon dioxide layer,
forming a first silicon oxynitride layer on said first silicon nitride layer,
forming a layer of polysilicon having dopant ions therein on said first silicon oxynitride layer and on said field oxide,
applying a layer of silicon dioxide containing dopant ions therein on the exposed surface areas,
forming a protective button on said polysilicon layer, juxtaposed over the location of the corresponding said polysilicon line conductor to be formed, and of greater width and said line conductor,
defining a polysilicon line conductor to be formed from said polysilicon layer in accordance with the said juxtaposed position of said button and defining a polysilicon gate electrode to be formed in said polysilicon layer, said gate electrode extending transversely and centrally of said selected area for said active device,
delineating said button to conform in width and location to that of said line,
delineating said polysilicon layer to provide said polysilicon line conductor and said polysilicon gate electrode,
removing all of said silicon dioxide regions containing dopant ions except for that portion juxtaposed on said polysilicon layer,
thermally oxidizing said polysilicon line conductor and said polysilicon gate electrode to form an insulating oxide on exposed surfaces thereof while said button prevents thermal oxidation of the line portion on which it is juxtaposed and said first silicon nitride and oxynitride layer prevent thermal oxidation of said source and drain regions,
removing said button and said first silicon oxynitride and nitride layers overlying said source and drain regions of said device,
removing the silicon dioxide layer portions exposed by removal of said first silicon oxynitride and nitride layers and removing any oxide on the surface of said polysilicon line conductor exposed by removal of said button, thereby to expose said contact surfaces of said source and drain regions and of said polysilicon conducting line.
22. A process as recited in claim 21 further comprising a step of providing conductor lines on said semiconductor substrate extending over said field oxide and onto said polysilicon line contact for providing electrical connection thereto.
23. A process as recited in claim 21 wherein said button comprises a silicon nitride layer, and said step of removing said button comprises applying a material to said substrate which selectively removes nitride and has no substantial affect on said insulating thermal oxide.
24. A very large scale integrated circuit produced in accordance with the process claimed in claims 1,7,11, 14 or 21.
25. A field effect transistor produced in accordance with the process claimed in claims 16 or 17.
26. A self-aligned contact with polysilicon line conductors in accordance with the process claimed in claim 18.
27. A process for fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising
producing self-aligned contacts from a metal layer to a diffusion layer, and
simultaneously producing self-aligned contacts from a metal layer to a polycrystalline layer,
such that said diffusion layer is not inadvertently shorted to said polycrystalline layer by said metal layer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US05/909,886 US4277881A (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-05-26 | Process for fabrication of high density VLSI circuits, having self-aligned gates and contacts for FET devices and conducting lines |
US05/913,182 US4221044A (en) | 1978-06-06 | 1978-06-06 | Self-alignment of gate contacts at local or remote sites |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2024505A true GB2024505A (en) | 1980-01-09 |
GB2024505B GB2024505B (en) | 1983-03-23 |
Family
ID=27129539
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB7918079A Expired GB2024505B (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1979-05-24 | Manufacture of integrated circuits |
GB08220264A Expired GB2106315B (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1982-07-13 | Manufacture of integrated circuits |
GB08220289A Expired GB2104285B (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1982-07-13 | Manufacture of integrated circuits |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08220264A Expired GB2106315B (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1982-07-13 | Manufacture of integrated circuits |
GB08220289A Expired GB2104285B (en) | 1978-05-26 | 1982-07-13 | Manufacture of integrated circuits |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (3) | GB2024505B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1984004204A1 (en) * | 1983-04-18 | 1984-10-25 | Ncr Co | Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having small dimensions |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA1258320A (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1989-08-08 | Madhukar B. Vora | Small contactless ram cell |
US6107194A (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 2000-08-22 | Stmicroelectronics, Inc. | Method of fabricating an integrated circuit |
US5439846A (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 1995-08-08 | Sgs-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc. | Self-aligned method for forming contact with zero offset to gate |
US6284584B1 (en) | 1993-12-17 | 2001-09-04 | Stmicroelectronics, Inc. | Method of masking for periphery salicidation of active regions |
DE69424388T2 (en) * | 1993-12-23 | 2000-08-31 | Stmicroelectronics, Inc. | Process and dielectric structure to facilitate metal overetching without damaging the intermediate dielectric |
-
1979
- 1979-05-24 GB GB7918079A patent/GB2024505B/en not_active Expired
-
1982
- 1982-07-13 GB GB08220264A patent/GB2106315B/en not_active Expired
- 1982-07-13 GB GB08220289A patent/GB2104285B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1984004204A1 (en) * | 1983-04-18 | 1984-10-25 | Ncr Co | Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having small dimensions |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2104285A (en) | 1983-03-02 |
GB2106315B (en) | 1983-08-03 |
GB2024505B (en) | 1983-03-23 |
GB2104285B (en) | 1983-07-06 |
GB2106315A (en) | 1983-04-07 |
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