Patent application number | Description | Published |
20150017796 | TECHNIQUES PROVIDING METAL GATE DEVICESWITH MULTIPLE BARRIER LAYERS - A semiconductor device with a metal gate is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device with a metal gate includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain features on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the source and drain features. The gate stack includes a HK dielectric layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of barrier layers of a metal compound formed on top of the HK dielectric layer, wherein each of the barrier layers has a different chemical composition; and a stack of metals gate layers deposited over the plurality of barrier layers. | 01-15-2015 |
20150048488 | Semiconductor Devices, Methods of Manufacture Thereof, and Inter-metal Dielectric (IMD) Structures - Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and IMD structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes an adhesion layer disposed over a workpiece. The adhesion layer has a dielectric constant of about 4.0 or less and includes a substantially homogeneous material. An insulating material layer is disposed over the adhesion layer. The insulating material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.6 or less. The adhesion layer and the insulating material layer comprise an IMD structure. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054170 | Semiconductor Devices and Methods of Manufacture Thereof - Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes conductive features disposed over a workpiece, each conductive feature including a conductive line portion and a via portion. A barrier layer is disposed on sidewalls of each conductive feature and on a bottom surface of the via portion of each conductive feature. The barrier layer includes a dielectric layer. A first insulating material layer is disposed beneath a portion of the conductive line portion of each conductive feature. A second insulating material layer is disposed between the conductive features. A third insulating material layer is disposed beneath the first insulating material layer and the second insulating material layer. A lower portion of the via portion of each of the conductive features is formed within the third insulating material layer. The second insulating material layer has a lower dielectric constant than a dielectric constant of the first insulating material layer and a dielectric constant of the third insulating material layer. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056802 | INTERCONNECT STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME - Embodiments of an interconnect structure and methods for forming an interconnect structure are provided. The method includes forming a low-k dielectric layer over a substrate, forming an opening in the low-k dielectric layer, forming a conductor in the opening, forming a capping layer over the conductor, and forming an etch stop layer over the capping layer and the low-k dielectric layer. The etch stop layer includes an N element with a content ratio not less than about 25 at %. | 02-26-2015 |
20150091172 | PORE SEALING TECHNIQUES FOR POROUS LOW-K DIELECTRIC INTERCONNECT - The present disclosure relates to a method of forming pore sealing layer for porous low-k dielectric interconnects. The method is performed by removing hard mask layer before pore sealing and/or applying pore sealing layer before etching etch stop layer (ESL). These methods at least have advantages that aspect ratio is improved, line distortion introduced by the hard mask layer is avoided, and critical dimension is less affected by pore sealing layer. | 04-02-2015 |
20150104953 | HIGH UV CURING EFFICIENCY FOR LOW-K DIELECTRICS - One embodiment is a method for semiconductor processing. In this method, a precursor film is provided over a semiconductor substrate, where the precursor film is made of a structural former and porogen. Prior to cross-linking, the porogen is removed by exposure to UV radiation having one or more wavelengths in the range of 150 nm to 300 nm, while a temperature of 300° C. to 500° C. is applied to the semiconductor substrate. Meanwhile, a Argon:Helium flow rate of 80>Ar>10 slm, 80>He>10 slm is set for the ambient substrate environment where the ratio of Ar:He ranges from 0:1 to 1:0 by volume or molality. | 04-16-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110081774 | METHODS FOR A GATE REPLACEMENT PROCESS - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming a gate structure including a first dummy gate over the substrate; removing the first dummy gate from the gate structure to form a trench; forming an interfacial layer, high-k dielectric layer, and capping layer to partially fill in the trench; forming a second dummy gate over the capping layer, wherein the second dummy gate fills the trench; and replacing the second dummy gate with a metal gate. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming an interfacial layer over the substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer; forming an etch stop layer over the high-k dielectric layer; forming a capping layer including a low thermal budget silicon over the etch stop layer; forming a dummy gate layer over the capping layer; forming a gate structure; and performing a gate replacement process. | 04-07-2011 |
20110089484 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR METAL GATE FORMATION WITH WIDER METAL GATE FILL MARGIN - A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a gate trench and depositing a metal layer, using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, over the substrate to partially fill the trench. The metal layer includes a bottom portion and a sidewall portion that is thinner than the bottom portion. The method also includes forming a coating layer on the metal layer, etching back the coating layer such that a portion of the coating layer protects a portion of the metal layer within the trench, and removing the unprotected portion of the metal layer. A different aspect involves a semiconductor device that includes a gate that includes a trench having a top surface, and a metal layer formed over the trench, wherein the metal layer includes a sidewall portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the sidewall portion is thinner than the bottom portion. | 04-21-2011 |
20110143529 | METHOD OF FABRICATING HIGH-K/METAL GATE DEVICE - The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate structure over the semiconductor substrate, first gate structure including a dummy dielectric and a dummy gate disposed over the dummy dielectric; removing the dummy gate and the dummy dielectric from the gate structure thereby forming a trench; forming a high-k dielectric layer partially filling the trench; forming a barrier layer over the high-k dielectric layer partially filling the trench; forming an capping layer over the barrier layer partially filling the trench; performing an annealing process; removing the capping layer; forming a metal layer over the barrier layer filling in a remainder of the trench; and performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove the various layers outside the trench. | 06-16-2011 |
20110147858 | METAL GATE STRUCTURE OF A FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR - The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a Field Effect Transistor with a low resistance metal gate electrode. An exemplary structure for a gate electrode for a Field Effect Transistor comprises a lower portion formed of a first metal material having a recess and a first resistance; and an upper portion formed of a second metal material having a protrusion and a second resistance, wherein the protrusion extends into the recess, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110151655 | METAL GATE FILL AND METHOD OF MAKING - The present disclosure provides various methods of fabricating a semiconductor device. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate structure over the substrate. The gate structure includes a first spacer and a second spacer formed apart from the first spacer. The gate structure also includes a dummy gate formed between the first and second spacers. The method also includes removing a portion of the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a partial trench. Additionally, the method includes removing a portion of the first spacer and a portion of the second spacer adjacent the partial trench thereby forming a widened portion of the partial trench. In addition, the method includes removing a remaining portion of the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a full trench. A high k film and a metal gate are formed in the full trench. | 06-23-2011 |
20110159678 | METHOD TO FORM A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING GATE DIELECTRIC LAYERS OF VARYING THICKNESSES - A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. An exemplary method can include providing a substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region; and forming a first gate structure in the first region, a second gate structure in the second region, and a third gate structure in the third region, wherein the first, second, and third gate structures include a gate dielectric layer, the gate dielectric layer being a first thickness in the first gate structure, a second thickness in the second gate structure, and a third thickness in the third gate structure. Forming the gate dielectric layer of the first, second, and third thicknesses can include forming an etching barrier layer over the gate dielectric layer in at least one of the first, second, or third regions while forming the first, second, and third gate structures, and/or prior to forming the gate dielectric layer in at least one of the first, second, or third regions, performing an implantation process on the at least one region. | 06-30-2011 |
20110171820 | METHOD OF FORMING A METAL GATE - The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate. A dummy gate is formed over the substrate. A dielectric material is formed around the dummy gate. The dummy gate is then removed to form an opening in the dielectric material. Thereafter, a work function metal layer is formed to partially fill the opening. The remainder of the opening is then filled with a conductive layer using one of a polysilicon substitute method and a spin coating method. | 07-14-2011 |
20110189847 | METHOD FOR METAL GATE N/P PATTERNING - A method for fabricating a integrated circuit is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate; forming a hard mask layer over the substrate; forming a patterned photoresist layer over the hard mask layer, such that portions of the hard mask layer are exposed; performing a dry etching process to remove the exposed portions of the hard mask layer; removing the patterned photoresist layer using at least one of a nitrogen plasma ashing and a hydrogen plasma ashing; and performing a wet etching process to remove remaining portions of the hard mask layer. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193180 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF FORMING A GATE - The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first gate dielectric layer that is disposed over the substrate. The first gate dielectric layer includes a first material. The first gate dielectric layer has a first thickness that is less than a threshold thickness at which a portion of the first material of the first gate dielectric layer begins to crystallize. The semiconductor device also includes a second gate dielectric layer that is disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer includes a second material that is different from the first material. The second gate dielectric layer has a second thickness that is less than a threshold thickness at which a portion of the second material of the second gate dielectric layer begins to crystallize. | 08-11-2011 |
20110256682 | Multiple Deposition, Multiple Treatment Dielectric Layer For A Semiconductor Device - A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A first high-k dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first treatment is performed on the high-k dielectric layer. In an embodiment, the treatment includes a UV radiation in the presence of O | 10-20-2011 |
20110256731 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING A GATE DIELECTRIC LAYER - A method for fabricating the gate dielectric layer comprises forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate; forming an oxygen-containing layer on the high-k dielectric layer by an atomic layer deposition process; and performing an inert plasma treatment on the oxygen-containing layer. | 10-20-2011 |
20120217578 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR METAL GATE FORMATION WITH WIDER METAL GATE FILL MARGIN - A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a gate trench and depositing a metal layer, using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, over the substrate to partially fill the trench. The metal layer includes a bottom portion and a sidewall portion that is thinner than the bottom portion. The method also includes forming a coating layer on the metal layer, etching back the coating layer such that a portion of the coating layer protects a portion of the metal layer within the trench, and removing the unprotected portion of the metal layer. A different aspect involves a semiconductor device that includes a gate that includes a trench having a top surface, and a metal layer formed over the trench, wherein the metal layer includes a sidewall portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the sidewall portion is thinner than the bottom portion. | 08-30-2012 |
20120261758 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A GATE DIELECTRIC LAYER - The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with a gate dielectric layer. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a first active region; a first gate structure over the first active region, wherein the first gate structure comprises a first interfacial layer having a convex top surface; a first high-k dielectric over the first interfacial layer; and a first gate electrode over the first high-k dielectric. | 10-18-2012 |
20120264281 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A PLURALITY OF GATE STRUCTURES - The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with a plurality of gate structures. An exemplary method of fabricating the plurality of gate structures comprises providing a silicon substrate; depositing a dummy oxide layer over the substrate; depositing a dummy gate electrode layer over the dummy oxide layer; patterning the layers to define a plurality of dummy gates; forming nitrogen-containing sidewall spacers on the plurality of dummy gates; forming an interlayer dielectric layer between the nitrogen-containing sidewall spacers; selectively depositing a hard mask layer on the interlayer dielectric layer by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process; removing the dummy gate electrode layer; removing the dummy oxide layer; depositing a gate dielectric; and depositing a gate electrode. | 10-18-2012 |
20130020630 | GATE DIELECTRIC OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a different gate structure in each of a plurality of device regions is described. The method may include a replacement gate process. The method includes forming a hard mask layer on oxide layers formed on one or more regions of the substrate. A high-k gate dielectric layer is formed on each of the first, second and third device regions. The high-k gate dielectric layer may be formed directly on the hard mask layer in a first and second device regions and directly on an interfacial layer formed in a third device region. A semiconductor device including a plurality of devices (e.g., transistors) having different gate dielectrics formed on the same substrate is also described. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026637 | METAL GATE ELECTRODE OF A FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR - An integrated circuit fabrication is disclosed, and more particularly a field effect transistor with a low resistance metal gate electrode is disclosed. An exemplary structure for a metal gate electrode of a field effect transistor comprises a lower portion formed of a first metal material, wherein the lower portion has a recess, a bottom portion and sidewall portions, wherein each of the sidewall portions has a first width; and an upper portion formed of a second metal material, wherein the upper portion has a protrusion and a bulk portion, wherein the bulk portion has a second width, wherein the protrusion extends into the recess, wherein a ratio of the second width to the first width is from about 5 to 10. | 01-31-2013 |
20130032900 | BUFFER LAYER AND METHOD OF FORMING BUFFER LAYER - Buffer layer and method of forming the buffer layer, the method including forming a high-k dielectric layer, forming a titanium nitride layer over the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicon layer on the titanium nitride layer, annealing the silicon layer into the titanium nitride layer to form an annealed silicon layer and forming an n-metal over the high-k dielectric layer. | 02-07-2013 |
20130040455 | HIGH TEMPERATURE ANNEAL FOR STRESS MODULATION - A method for modulating stress in films formed in semiconductor device manufacturing provides for high temperature annealing of an as-deposited compressive film such as titanium nitride. The high temperature annealing converts the initially compressive film to a tensile film without compromising other film qualities and characteristics. The converted tensile films are particularly advantageous as work function adjusting films in PMOS transistor devices and are advantageously used in conjunction with additional metal gate materials. | 02-14-2013 |
20130075827 | REPLACEMENT GATE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a semiconductor substrate having a first opening and second opening. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. An etch stop layer on the dielectric layer in the first opening. Thereafter, a work function layer is formed on the etch stop layer and fill metal is provided on the work function layer to fill the first opening. | 03-28-2013 |
20130099320 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVING HAVING METAL GATE ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF - The present disclosure provides a method including providing a substrate having a first opening and a second opening on the substrate. A blocking layer is formed in the first opening. A second metal gate electrode is formed the second opening while the blocking layer is in the first opening. The blocking layer is then removed from the first opening, and a first metal gate electrode formed. In embodiments, this provides for a device having a second gate electrode that includes a second work function layer and not a first work function layer, and the first gate electrode includes the first work function layer and not the second work function layer. | 04-25-2013 |
20130102142 | STRESS MODULATION FOR METAL GATE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The present disclosure provides a method of semiconductor device fabrication including removing a sacrificial gate structure formed on a substrate to provide an opening. A metal gate structure is then formed in the opening. The forming of the metal gate structure includes forming a first layer (including metal) on a gate dielectric layer, wherein the first layer includes a metal and performing a stress modulation process on the first layer. The stress modulation process may include ion implantation of a neutral species such as silicon, argon, germanium, and xenon. | 04-25-2013 |
20130149821 | Methods for a Gate Replacement Process - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming a gate structure including a first dummy gate over the substrate; removing the first dummy gate from the gate structure to form a trench; forming an interfacial layer, high-k dielectric layer, and capping layer to partially fill in the trench; forming a second dummy gate over the capping layer, wherein the second dummy gate fills the trench; and replacing the second dummy gate with a metal gate. In one embodiment, the method may include providing a substrate; forming an interfacial layer over the substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer over the interfacial layer; forming an etch stop layer over the high-k dielectric layer; forming a capping layer including a low thermal budget silicon over the etch stop layer; forming a dummy gate layer over the capping layer; forming a gate structure; and performing a gate replacement process. | 06-13-2013 |
20140004694 | METAL GATE ELECTRODE OF A FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140091400 | Gate Dielectric Of Semiconductor Device - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a different gate structure in each of a plurality of device regions is described. The method may include a replacement gate process. The method includes forming a hard mask layer on oxide layers formed on one or more regions of the substrate. A high-k gate dielectric layer is formed on each of the first, second and third device regions. The high-k gate dielectric layer may be formed directly on the hard mask layer in a first and second device regions and directly on an interfacial layer formed in a third device region. A semiconductor device including a plurality of devices (e.g., transistors) having different gate dielectrics formed on the same substrate is also described. | 04-03-2014 |
20140291777 | BUFFER LAYER ON SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - A semiconductor device including a substrate having a source region, a drain region, and a channel region disposed between the source region and the drain region. Additionally, the semiconductor device includes a high-k dielectric layer formed over the channel region, an n-metal formed over the high-k dielectric layer and a barrier layer formed between the high-k dielectric layer and the n-metal, the barrier layer including a layer of annealed silicon. | 10-02-2014 |
20140295659 | METHOD OF MAKING A GATE STRUCTURE - A method of making a gate structure includes forming a trench in a dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the trench. The gate dielectric layer defines an opening in the dielectric layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode in the opening. Forming the gate electrode includes filling a width of a bottom portion of the opening with a first metal material. The first metal material has a recess. Forming the gate electrode includes filling an entire width of a top portion of the opening with a homogeneous second metal material. The homogeneous second metal material has a protrusion extending into the recess, and a maximum width of the homogeneous second metal material is equal to a maximum width of the first metal material. A top surface of the gate dielectric layer is co-planar with a top surface of the homogeneous second metal material. | 10-02-2014 |