|Publication number||US5877087 A|
|Application number||US 08/561,605|
|Publication date||2 Mar 1999|
|Filing date||21 Nov 1995|
|Priority date||21 Nov 1995|
|Also published as||EP0776037A2, EP0776037A3, US6355560, US6743714, US20020102842|
|Publication number||08561605, 561605, US 5877087 A, US 5877087A, US-A-5877087, US5877087 A, US5877087A|
|Inventors||Roderick Craig Mosely, Hong Zhang, Fusen Chen, Ted Guo|
|Original Assignee||Applied Materials, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (33), Non-Patent Citations (15), Referenced by (47), Classifications (31), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates to a metallization process for manufacturing semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the metallization of apertures to form void-free interconnections between conducting layers, including such contacts or vias in high aspect ratio sub-half micron applications.
Sub-half micron multilevel metallization is one of the key technologies for the next generation of very large scale integration ("VLSI"). The multilevel interconnections that lie at the heart of this technology require planarization of high aspect ratio apertures, including contacts, vias, lines or other features. Reliable formation of these interconnects is very important to the success of VLSI and to the continued effort to increase circuit density and quality on individual substrates and die.
Aluminum (Al) layers formed by chemical vapor deposition ("CVD"), like other CVD processes, provide good conformal aluminum layers, i.e., a uniform thickness layer on the sides and base of the feature, for very small geometries, including sub-half micron (<0.5 μm) apertures, at low temperatures. Therefore, CVD of aluminum is acommon method used to fill apertures. However, recent transmission electron microscopy data ("TEM") has revealed that voids exist in many of the CVD formed Al apertures even though electric tests of these same apertures do not evidence the existence of this void. If the layer is subsequently processed, the void can result in a defective circuit.
Referring to FIG. 3, a TEM photograph shows a cross-sectional image of a 0.45 micron via filled with CVD Al. The image clearly indicates that voids exist in the metal layer deposited within the via structure. It should be recognized that this kind of void is very difficult to detect by regular cross sectional standard electron microscopy ("SEM") techniques, because some deformation occurs in soft aluminum during mechanical polishing. In addition, electric conductivity tests do not detect any structural abnormalities. However, despite the generally positive electric conductivity tests, conduction through the contact having the void may, over time, compromise the integrity of the integrated circuit devices.
A TEM study of various CVD Al layers formed on substrates indicates that the formation of voids occurs through a key hole process wherein the top portion of the via becomes sealed before the via has been entirely filled. Although a thin conformal layer of CVD Al can typically be deposited in high aspect ratio contacts and vias at low temperatures, continued CVD deposition to complete filing of the contacts or vias typically results in the formation of voids therein. Extensive efforts have been focused on elimination of voids in metal layers by modifying CVD processing conditions. However, the results have not yeilded a void free structure.
An alternative technique for metallization of high aspect ratio apertures, is hot planarization of aluminum through physical vapor deposition ("PVD"). The first step in this process requires deposition of a thin layer of a refractory metal such as titanium (Ti) on a patterned wafer to form a wetting layer which facilitates flow of the Al during the PVD process. Following deposition of the wetting layer, the next step requires deposition of either (1) a hot PVD Al layer or (2) a cold PVD Al layer followed by a hot PVD Al layer onto the wetting layer. However, hot PVD Al processes are very sensitive to the quality of the wetting layer, wafer condition, and other processing parameters. Small variations in processing conditions and/or poor coverage of the PVD Ti wetting layer can result in incomplete filling of the contacts or vias, thus creating voids. In order to reliably fill the vias and contacts, hot PVD Al processes must be performed at temperatures above about 450° C. Because the PVD Ti process provides poor coverage of high aspect ratio, sub-micron via side walls, hot PVD Al does not provide reliable filling of the contacts or vias. Even at higher temperatures, PVD processes may result in a bridging effect whereby the mouth of the contact or via is closed because the deposition layer formed on the top surface of the substrate and the upper walls of the contact or via join before the floor of the contact or via has been completely filled.
Once a PVD Al layer has been deposited onto the substrate, reflow of the Al may occur by directing ion bombardment towards the substrate itself. Bombarding the substrate with ions causes the metal layer formed on the substrate to reflow. This process typical heats the metal layer as a result of the energy created by the plasma and resulting collisions of ions onto the metal layer. The generation of high temperatures of the metal layers formed on the substrate compromises the integrity of devices having sub-half micron geometries. Therefore, heating of the metal layers is disfavored in these applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,819 ("the '819 patent") discloses a process for filling vias that involves applying a CVD Al layer with a thickness of from 5 percent to 35 percent of the defined contact or via diameter to improve step coverage, then applying a sufficiently thick PVD Al layer to achieve a predetermined overall layer thickness. A high energy laser beam is then used to melt the intermixed CVD Al and PVD Al and thereby achieve improved step coverage and planarization. However, this process requires heating the wafer surface to a temperature no less than 660° C. Such a high temperature is not acceptable for most sub-half micron technology. Furthermore, the use of laser beams scanned over a wafer may affect the reflectivity and uniformity of the metal layer.
The '819 patent also discloses that silicide layers and/or barrier metal layers may be deposited onto a wafer before Al is deposited by either a CVD or PVD process. According to the teachings of this reference, these additional underlying layers are desirable to increase electrical conduction and minimize junction spiking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,465 ("the '465 patent") discloses a process similar to the '819 patent using a high energy laser beam to planarize intermixed CVD/PVD metal structures. Alternatively, the '465 patent teaches the application of a PVD Al layer formed at a wafer temperature of about 550° C. However, during the high temperature sputtering process, ion bombardment due to the plasma raises the surface temperature to about 660° C. causing the Al film to melt and planarize. Like the process of the '819 patent, the use of high temperatures is unacceptable for most sub-half micron applications, and particularly for use in filling high aspect ratio sub-half micron contacts and vias. Subjecting wafers to temperatures high enough to melt intermixed CVD/PVD metal layers can compromise the integrity of devices formed on the substrate, in particular where the process is used to planarize a metal layer formed above several other metal and dielectric layers.
Other attempts at filling high aspect ratio sub-half micron contacts and vias using known reflow or planarization processes at lower temperatures have resulted in dewetting of the CVD Al from the silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrate and the formation of discontinuous islands on the side walls of the vias. Furthermore, in order for the CVD Al to resist dewetting at lower temperatures, the thickness of the CVD Al has to be several thousand Angstroms (Å). Since ten thousand Angstroms equal one micron, a CVD Al layer of several thousand Angstroms on the walls of a sub-half micron via will completely seal the via and form voids.
Therefore, there remains a need for a low temperature metallization process for filling apertures, particularly high aspect ratio sub-half micron contacts and vias. More particularly, it would be desirable to have a low temperature process for filling such contacts and via with only a thin layer of CVD Al and allowing the via to then be filled with PVD Al.
The present invention provides a process for providing uniform step coverage on a substrate. First, a thin refractory layer is formed on a substrate followed by a thin conformal CVD metal layer formed over the refractory layer. A PVD metal layer is then deposited over the CVD metal layer.
The present invention relates generally to improved step coverage and planarization of metal layers to form continuous, void-free contacts or vias, including such as in sub-half micron applications. In one aspect of the invention, a refractory layer is deposited onto a substrate having high aspect ratio contacts or vias formed thereon. A CVD Al layer is then deposited onto the refractory layer at low temperatures to provide a conformal wetting layer for PVD Al. Next, PVD Al is deposited onto the previously formed CVD Al layer at a temperature below that of the melting point of aluminum. The resulting CVD/PVD Al layer is substantially void-free.
In another aspect of the invention, the metallization process is carried out in an integrated processing system that includes both a PVD and CVD processing chamber. Once the substrate is introduced into a vacuum environment, the metallization of the vias and contacts occurs without the formation of an oxide layer over the CVD Al layer. This results because the substrate need not be transferred from one processing system to another system to undergo deposition of the CVD and PVD deposited layers. Accordingly, the substrate remains under vacuum pressure thereby preventing formation of detrimental oxide layers. Furthermore, diffusion of dopants deposited with the PVD layer into the CVD layer is improved by simultaneous deposition in the integrated system.
The present invention further provides an apparatus for providing improved step coverage and metallization of a semiconductor. The apparatus comprises a multiplicity of isolatable communicating regions including a load lock chamber, a refractory metal processing chamber, a CVD metal processing chamber, and a PVD metal processing chamber. The apparatus further comprises an intermediate substrate transport region and vacuum means communicating with the isolatable regions for establishing a vacuum gradient of decreasing pressure across the apparatus from the load lock chamber to the processing chambers.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to th embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefor not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a metallized semiconductor substrate via according to the present invention having a glue layer and a CVD Al layer;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a metallized semiconductor substrate via according to the present invention having a glue layer and an intermixed CVD/PVD Al layer;
FIG. 3 is a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having voids therein;
FIG. 4 is a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having a thin titanium layer covered with a layer of CVD aluminum;
FIG. 5 is a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having a completely filled via according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an integrated CVD/PVD system configured for sequential metallization in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram of a CVD gas box delivery system for suppling gases to the system of FIG. 6.
The present invention provides a method for providing improved uniform step coverage in high aspect ratio apertures at low temperature, particularly in sub-micron apertures. One aspect of the invention provides a method for metallizing high aspect ratio apertures, including contacts, vias, lines or other features,with aluminum at temperatures below about 660° C. In particular, the invention provides improved step coverage for filling high aspect ratio apertures in applications with a first layer of CVD aluminum ("CVD Al") and a second layer of PVD aluminum ("PVD Al") where the thin CVD Al layer is prevented from dewetting on a dielectric layer by capping the dielectric layer with a thin glue layer comprised of a refractory metal having a melting point greater than that of aluminum and providing greater wetting with aluminum than does the dielectric. Preferably, this process occurs in an integrated processing system including both a CVD and a PVD processing chamber.
It has been demonstrated that some soft metals, such as aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu), can flow at temperatures below their respective melting points due to the effects of surface tension. However, these metals have a tendency to dewet from an underlying dielectric layer at high temperatures. Therefore, the present invention interposes a glue layer between a soft metal layer and the dielectric to improve the wetting of the soft metal. An appropriate glue layer is one that wets the soft metal better than the dielectric material. It is preferred that the glue layer provide improved wetting even when only a thin layer of glue is deposited. It follows that a preferred glue can be formed substantially uniformly over the surface of the dielectric, including the walls and floor of the apertures.
According to the present invention, preferred glue layers include such layers as a PVD Ti or other refractory (Nb, aluminum silicates, silica, high alumina, etc.), CVD TiN, PVD TiN, or a combination of these layers. The glue layer is deposited to form a substantially continuous cap over the dielectric layer. Titanium, having good wetting properties with aluminum and a melting temperature of about 1675° C., is a preferred glue material and may be deposited by PVD or CVD processes.
A layer of CVD Al is then grown atop the glue layer to form conforming coverage of the via structure without sealing the top of the vias. CVD Al provides a conformal wetting layer over the glue layer for receipt of PVD Al thereon. While the CVD Al may be deposited under various conditions, a standard process involves wafer temperatures of between about 180° C. and about 265° C. and a deposition rate of between about 20 Å/sec and about 130 Å/sec. The CVD Al deposition may be performed at chamber pressures of between about 1 torr and about 80 torr, with the preferred chamber pressures being about 25 torr. The preferred deposition reaction for CVD Al involves the reaction of dimethyl aluminum hydride ("DMAH") with hydrogen gas (H2) according to the following equation:
(CH3)2 Al-H+H2 →Al+CH4 +H2
The substrate is then sent to a PVD Al chamber to deposit PVD Al below the melting point temperature of the CVD Al and PVD Al. Where the soft metal is aluminum, it is preferred that the PVD Al be deposited at a wafer temperature below about 660° C., preferably below about 400° C. The aluminum layers start to flow during the PVD deposition process at about 400° C., with the titanium glue layer remaining firmly in place as a solid metal layer. Because titanium has good wetting with aluminum, the CVD Al is prevented from dewetting the titanium at about 400° C. and, therefore, wafer temperatures above the melting point of aluminum (>660° C.), as taught by the prior art CVD process, are not required. Therefore, the application of a thin titanium layer enables planarization of the aluminum to be achieved at temperatures far below the melting point of the aluminum.
It is preferred that the PVD Al layer further comprise copper (Cu) sputtered along with the aluminum in a simultaneous PVD AlCu process. When the PVD AlCu sequentially follows CVD Al, no oxide layer can form therebetween and the PVD AlCu grows epitaxially on the CVD Al such that nograin boundries are present. Furthermore, the sequential CVD Al/PVD AlCu process allows the intermixed layer to be annealed at about 300° C. for about 15 minutes and acheive uniform distribution of Cu in the stack. It is also preferred that the top surface of the intermixed CVD/PVD Al layer receive a PVD TiN anti-reflection coating ("ARC") for reducing the reflectivity of the surface and improving the photolithographic performance of the layer. Finally, a most preferred method of the present invention for metallization of a substrate aperture includes the sequential steps of precleaning the substrate surface, depositing titanium through a coherent Ti process, CVD Al, PVD AlCu and TiN ARC.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a substrate having a patterned dielectric layer 12 formed thereon is shown. The dielectric layer 12 has a via 14 having a high aspect ratio, i.e, a high ratio of via depth to via diameter, of about three (3), but the present invention may be beneficial in cooperation with vias having any aspect ratio. A thin titanium layer 16 is deposited directly onto the substrate covering substantially all surfaces of the dielectric layer 12 including the walls 18 and floor 20 of via 14. The thin titanium layer 16 will generally have a thickness of between about 5 Å and about 700 Å, with the preferred thickness being in the range between about 100 Å and about 200 Å. A conformal CVD Al layer 22 is deposited on the titanium layer 16 to a desired thickness not to exceed the thickness which would seal the top of the contact or via.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a PVD Al layer is deposited onto the CVD Al layer 22 (layer 22 of FIG. 1) to form a PVD layer 23 thereon. An intermixed CVD/PVD Al layer will result from intermixing as the PVD Al is deposited onto the CVD Al layer. The PVD Al may contain certain dopants and upon deposition the PVD Al may intermix with the CVD Al so that the dopant is dispersed throughout much of the PVD/CVD Al intermixed layer 24. However, the PVD Al does not need to be doped. The top surface 26 of the intermixed layer 24 is substantially planarized. Because the titanium layer provides good wetting of the Al layer, the dielectric layer or wafer temperature during deposition of PVD Al does not need to exceed the melting point of aluminum (660° C.), but rather may be performed at a temperature below about 660° C. and is preferable performed at a temperature below about 400° C.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having voids therein is shown. These voids are formed through a key hole mechanism common to CVD processes wherein the top or throat of the contact or via is sealed before the entire via can be filled. Although techniques for high aspect ratio sub-half micron metallization have previously been reported as achieving satisfactory electrical conduction, only through the use of improved transition electron microscopy techniques has it been shown that a bubble or void is present in the via plug. This void can be caused by reactant byproduct gas being trapped through a key hole mechanism or by the aluminum dewetting from the via walls. Through the forces of surface tension, gas will tend to form a single large spherical void having a small surface area within the contact or via structure.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having a thin titanium layer (about 600 Å) covered with a layer of CVD Al (about 1500 Å) is shown.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a transmission electron microscopy photograph showing a cross-section of semiconductor substrate vias having a completely filled via according to the present invention is shown. Note that the titanium glue layer remains a solid and does not flow or thin during deposition of either aluminum layer. The intermixed CVD/PVD Al layer shows large grain formation and is free of voids.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of an integrated cluster tool is shown. A microprocessor controller is provided to control the sequence and formation of the desired film layers on the substrates. The cluster tool generally includes a de-gas chamber wherein the substrates are introduced to outgas contaminants. The substrate is then moved into a pre-clean chamber where the surface of the substrate is cleaned. Depending on the particular application, the substrate is moved by the robot into either a Coherent Ti chamber or a CVD TiN chamber. In the case where the substrate first receives deposition of a coherent Ti layer, the substrate is then typically processed in the CVD Ti chamber. Following deposition of the CVD Ti layer, the substrate is moved into a CVD Al chamber. Next, the substrate is processed in a PVD AlCu chamber. Finally, the substrate is introduced into a PVD TiN ARC chamber.
Improved Cu dispersion throughout the Al layer is achieved by the present invention because the integrated system allows the substrate to be processed continually in a single processing tool. This application prevents exposure of the processed substrate to the outside environment which may result in the formation of oxide layers on the first deposited, i.e., the CVD Al layer. Consequently, formation of an oxide layer onto the CVD Al layer inhibits even distribution of the Cu provided in the PVD Al process throughout the entire Al layer.
It should be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the structure and operation of the chambers shown in FIG. 6. Generally, the chambers typically include an enclosure, a substrate support member located within the enclosure and means for providing deposition material to be deposited on the substrates, and power means to provide an electrical bias within the chambers, i.e., the PVD chamber, to excite an inert gas such as Ar into a plasma state to sputter the target. The cluster tool also generally includes two robots for transferring the substrate through the processing steps required for the formation of film layers thereon.
One staged-vacuum wafer processing system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,718, entitled Staged-Vacuum Wafer Processing System and Method, Tepman et al., issued on Feb. 16, 1993, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to FIG. 7, a gas box system for supplying gases to the CVD chamber of the system in FIG. 6 is illustrated. The TiN gas box is supplied with N2, Ar, He, O2, and NF3. The reaction product tetracus dimethyl amino titanium (TDMAT), along with the inert gas Ar and N2, are passed into the CVD TiN chamber for processing. Similarly, a CVD Al gas box is supplied with N2, Ar and H2. The reaction product dimethyl aluminum hydride (DMAH)/H2 and the inert gas Ar are passed into the CVD Al chamber for deposition of aluminum. Both chambers are equipped with a turbo pump for providing a vacuum in the chamber and a blower/dry pump.
While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims which follow.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4784973 *||24 Aug 1987||15 Nov 1988||Inmos Corporation||Semiconductor contact silicide/nitride process with control for silicide thickness|
|US4920072 *||31 Oct 1988||24 Apr 1990||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Method of forming metal interconnects|
|US4920073 *||11 May 1989||24 Apr 1990||Texas Instruments, Incorporated||Selective silicidation process using a titanium nitride protective layer|
|US4926237 *||4 Apr 1988||15 May 1990||Motorola, Inc.||Device metallization, device and method|
|US4938996 *||12 Apr 1988||3 Jul 1990||Ziv Alan R||Via filling by selective laser chemical vapor deposition|
|US4951601 *||23 Jun 1989||28 Aug 1990||Applied Materials, Inc.||Multi-chamber integrated process system|
|US4960732 *||14 Nov 1989||2 Oct 1990||Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.||Contact plug and interconnect employing a barrier lining and a backfilled conductor material|
|US4985750 *||17 Sep 1987||15 Jan 1991||Fujitsu Limited||Semiconductor device using copper metallization|
|US4994410 *||16 Feb 1990||19 Feb 1991||Motorola, Inc.||Method for device metallization by forming a contact plug and interconnect using a silicide/nitride process|
|US5010032 *||5 Oct 1989||23 Apr 1991||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Process for making CMOS device with both P+ and N+ gates including refractory metal silicide and nitride interconnects|
|US5023201 *||30 Aug 1990||11 Jun 1991||Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.||Selective deposition of tungsten on TiSi2|
|US5028565 *||25 Aug 1989||2 Jul 1991||Applied Materials, Inc.||Process for CVD deposition of tungsten layer on semiconductor wafer|
|US5043299 *||1 Dec 1989||27 Aug 1991||Applied Materials, Inc.||Process for selective deposition of tungsten on semiconductor wafer|
|US5043300 *||16 Apr 1990||27 Aug 1991||Applied Materials, Inc.||Single anneal step process for forming titanium silicide on semiconductor wafer|
|US5081064 *||4 Jun 1990||14 Jan 1992||Fujitsu Limited||Method of forming electrical contact between interconnection layers located at different layer levels|
|US5091339 *||23 Jul 1990||25 Feb 1992||Microelectronics And Computer Technology Corporation||Trenching techniques for forming vias and channels in multilayer electrical interconnects|
|US5102826 *||9 Nov 1990||7 Apr 1992||Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba||Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a silicide layer|
|US5102827 *||19 Jul 1991||7 Apr 1992||At&T Bell Laboratories||Contact metallization of semiconductor integrated-circuit devices|
|US5147819 *||21 Feb 1991||15 Sep 1992||Micron Technology, Inc.||Semiconductor metallization method|
|US5250465 *||24 Jan 1992||5 Oct 1993||Fujitsu Limited||Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices|
|US5250467 *||29 Mar 1991||5 Oct 1993||Applied Materials, Inc.||Method for forming low resistance and low defect density tungsten contacts to silicon semiconductor wafer|
|US5292558 *||8 Aug 1991||8 Mar 1994||University Of Texas At Austin, Texas||Process for metal deposition for microelectronic interconnections|
|US5354712 *||12 Nov 1992||11 Oct 1994||Northern Telecom Limited||Method for forming interconnect structures for integrated circuits|
|US5439731 *||11 Mar 1994||8 Aug 1995||Cornell Research Goundation, Inc.||Interconnect structures containing blocked segments to minimize stress migration and electromigration damage|
|US5480836 *||3 Jun 1994||2 Jan 1996||Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha||Method of forming an interconnection structure|
|US5514425 *||5 Jul 1994||7 May 1996||Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba||Method of forming a thin film|
|US5585673 *||22 Nov 1994||17 Dec 1996||International Business Machines Corporation||Refractory metal capped low resistivity metal conductor lines and vias|
|DE3743591A1 *||22 Dec 1987||7 Jul 1988||Mitsubishi Electric Corp||Method for fabricating a semiconductor arrangement|
|JP2513900A *||Title not available|
|JPH0226051A *||Title not available|
|JPH0810693A *||Title not available|
|JPH05217940A *||Title not available|
|JPS639925A *||Title not available|
|1||"CVD Al for Submicron VLSI Metallization" W. Y-C. Lai, et al., 1991 Proc. 8th Int. IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnect. Conf. (Jun. 11-12, 1991) pp. 89-95.|
|2||*||Advanced Technology STI Solutions, Applied Materials Process Sequence Integration, (1997).|
|3||*||Copper Metallization for ULSI and Beyond, Shyam P. Mararka and Steven W. Hymes, Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences, 20(2):87 120 (1995).|
|4||Copper Metallization for ULSI and Beyond, Shyam P. Mararka and Steven W. Hymes, Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences, 20(2):87-120 (1995).|
|5||*||CVD Al for Submicron VLSI Metallization W. Y C. Lai, et al., 1991 Proc. 8th Int. IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnect. Conf. (Jun. 11 12, 1991) pp. 89 95.|
|6||*||Formation of titanium nitride layers by the nitridation of titanium in high pressure ammonium ambient, Tohru Hara, Kouichi Tani, and Ken Inoue, Applied Physics Letters 57, Oct. 15, 1990, No. 16, New York.|
|7||Formation of titanium nitride layers by the nitridation of titanium in high-pressure ammonium ambient, Tohru Hara, Kouichi Tani, and Ken Inoue, Applied Physics Letters 57, Oct. 15, 1990, No. 16, New York.|
|8||K. Mikagi, H. Ishikawa, T. Usami, M. Suzuki, K. Inoue, N. Oda, S. Chikaki, I. Sakai and T. Kikkawa, "Barrier Metal Free Copper Damascene Interconnection Technology Using Atmospheric Copper Reflow and Nitrogen Doping in SiOF Film." 1996 IEEE, pp. 365-368.|
|9||*||K. Mikagi, H. Ishikawa, T. Usami, M. Suzuki, K. Inoue, N. Oda, S. Chikaki, I. Sakai and T. Kikkawa, Barrier Metal Free Copper Damascene Interconnection Technology Using Atmospheric Copper Reflow and Nitrogen Doping in SiOF Film. 1996 IEEE, pp. 365 368.|
|10||*||Self Aligned Titanium Silicidation by Lamp Annealing, K. Tsukamoto, T. Okamoto, M. Shimizu, T. Matsukawa, and H. Harada, Japanese Journal Applied Physics Supplements, 16th Int. Conf. Solid State Devices and Materials, (1984) Koi Aug. 30 Sept. 1, Tokyo Japan, (4) four pages.|
|11||Self-Aligned Titanium Silicidation by Lamp Annealing, K. Tsukamoto, T. Okamoto, M. Shimizu, T. Matsukawa, and H. Harada, Japanese Journal Applied Physics Supplements, 16th Int. Conf. Solid State Devices and Materials, (1984) Koi Aug. 30 -Sept. 1, Tokyo Japan, (4) four pages.|
|12||*||Sugai et al., Aluminum Chemical Vapor Deposition With New Gas Phase Pretreatment Using AR Tetrakisdimethylamino Titanium For Ultralarge Scale Integrated Circuit 1995.|
|13||Sugai et al., Aluminum Chemical Vapor Deposition With New Gas Phase Pretreatment Using AR Tetrakisdimethylamino-Titanium For Ultralarge-Scale Integrated-Circuit--1995.|
|14||*||Y. Shacham Diamand, V. Dubin and M. Angyal, Electroless Copper Deposition for ULSI, 1995 Elsevier Science S.A., pp. 93 103.|
|15||Y. Shacham-Diamand, V. Dubin and M. Angyal, "Electroless Copper Deposition for ULSI," 1995 Elsevier Science S.A., pp. 93-103.|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5981382 *||13 Mar 1998||9 Nov 1999||Texas Instruments Incorporated||PVD deposition process for CVD aluminum liner processing|
|US5994217 *||16 Dec 1996||30 Nov 1999||Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.||Post metallization stress relief annealing heat treatment for ARC TiN over aluminum layers|
|US6001716 *||22 Jul 1998||14 Dec 1999||United Silicon Incorporated||Fabricating method of a metal gate|
|US6123992 *||10 Nov 1998||26 Sep 2000||Nec Corporation||Method of forming aluminum interconnection layer|
|US6143645 *||30 Jan 1998||7 Nov 2000||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Reduced temperature contact/via filling|
|US6169030 *||14 Jan 1998||2 Jan 2001||Applied Materials, Inc.||Metallization process and method|
|US6171957 *||20 Jan 1998||9 Jan 2001||Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha||Manufacturing method of semiconductor device having high pressure reflow process|
|US6297147 *||5 Jun 1998||2 Oct 2001||Applied Materials, Inc.||Plasma treatment for ex-situ contact fill|
|US6352620 *||28 Jun 1999||5 Mar 2002||Applied Materials, Inc.||Staged aluminum deposition process for filling vias|
|US6355558 *||10 Jun 1999||12 Mar 2002||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Metallization structure, and associated method, to improve crystallographic texture and cavity fill for CVD aluminum/PVD aluminum alloy films|
|US6361880 *||22 Dec 1999||26 Mar 2002||International Business Machines Corporation||CVD/PVD/CVD/PVD fill process|
|US6458684 *||3 Feb 2000||1 Oct 2002||Applied Materials, Inc.||Single step process for blanket-selective CVD aluminum deposition|
|US6492281 *||22 Sep 2000||10 Dec 2002||Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.||Method of fabricating conductor structures with metal comb bridging avoidance|
|US6518176 *||5 Jun 1998||11 Feb 2003||Ted Guo||Method of selective formation of a barrier layer for a contact level via|
|US6528180||23 May 2000||4 Mar 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Liner materials|
|US6537905 *||30 Dec 1996||25 Mar 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Fully planarized dual damascene metallization using copper line interconnect and selective CVD aluminum plug|
|US6547934||21 May 1998||15 Apr 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Reduction of metal oxide in a dual frequency etch chamber|
|US6605531 *||31 Jul 1998||12 Aug 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Hole-filling technique using CVD aluminum and PVD aluminum integration|
|US6627050||26 Jul 2001||30 Sep 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum-containing layer on a substrate|
|US6627542 *||27 Jun 2000||30 Sep 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Continuous, non-agglomerated adhesion of a seed layer to a barrier layer|
|US6656831||26 Jan 2000||2 Dec 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a metal nitride layer|
|US6660135||21 Dec 2001||9 Dec 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Staged aluminum deposition process for filling vias|
|US6699790 *||4 Jan 2002||2 Mar 2004||Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.||Semiconductor device fabrication method for filling high aspect ratio openings in insulators with aluminum|
|US6716733||11 Jun 2002||6 Apr 2004||Applied Materials, Inc.||CVD-PVD deposition process|
|US6743714||11 Feb 2002||1 Jun 2004||Applied Materials, Inc.||Low temperature integrated metallization process and apparatus|
|US6794311||10 Jul 2001||21 Sep 2004||Applied Materials Inc.||Method and apparatus for treating low k dielectric layers to reduce diffusion|
|US7053002||4 Dec 1998||30 May 2006||Applied Materials, Inc||Plasma preclean with argon, helium, and hydrogen gases|
|US7101779 *||19 Aug 2003||5 Sep 2006||Micron, Technology, Inc.||Method of forming barrier layers|
|US7112528||13 Feb 2003||26 Sep 2006||Applied Materials, Inc.||Fully planarized dual damascene metallization using copper line interconnect and selective CVD aluminum plug|
|US7550055||12 Sep 2005||23 Jun 2009||Applied Materials, Inc.||Elastomer bonding of large area sputtering target|
|US7867900 *||29 Sep 2008||11 Jan 2011||Applied Materials, Inc.||Aluminum contact integration on cobalt silicide junction|
|US8003536||2 Sep 2009||23 Aug 2011||International Business Machines Corporation||Electromigration resistant aluminum-based metal interconnect structure|
|US8084864||27 Dec 2011||International Business Machines Corporation||Electromigration resistant aluminum-based metal interconnect structure|
|US8575028 *||16 May 2011||5 Nov 2013||Novellus Systems, Inc.||Method and apparatus for filling interconnect structures|
|US20020102365 *||12 Mar 2002||1 Aug 2002||Applied Materials, Inc.||Adhesion of diffusion barrier and fluorinated silicon dioxide using hydrogen based preclean technology|
|US20030161943 *||13 Feb 2003||28 Aug 2003||Applied Materials, Inc.||Fully planarized dual damascene metallization using copper line interconnect and selective CVD aluminum plug|
|US20040053495 *||19 Aug 2003||18 Mar 2004||Vaartstra Brian A.||Method of forming barrier layers|
|US20040200576 *||6 May 2004||14 Oct 2004||Tokyo Electron Limited||Method and apparatus for plasma cleaning of workpieces|
|US20050101154 *||22 Nov 2004||12 May 2005||Judy Huang||Plasma treatment to enhance adhesion and to minimize oxidation of carbon-containing layers|
|US20060266643 *||12 Sep 2005||30 Nov 2006||Applied Materials, Inc.||Elastomer bonding of large area sputtering target|
|US20090087983 *||29 Sep 2008||2 Apr 2009||Applied Materials, Inc.||Aluminum contact integration on cobalt silicide junction|
|US20100237503 *||23 Sep 2010||International Business Machines Corporation||Electromigration resistant aluminum-based metal interconnect structure|
|US20110221064 *||15 Sep 2011||International Business Machines Corporation||Electromigration resistant aluminum-based metal interconnect structure|
|US20120264290 *||18 Oct 2012||Reid Jonathan D||Method and apparatus for filling interconnect structures|
|CN100386861C||22 Oct 2003||7 May 2008||英飞凌技术股份有限公司||Manufacturing method of thin layer. for integrated circuit|
|EP1094503A2 *||20 Oct 2000||25 Apr 2001||Applied Materials, Inc.||Barrier layer for aluminium metallisation|
|WO2011162036A1||12 May 2011||29 Dec 2011||Canon Anelva Corporation||Sputtering device, deposition method and control device|
|U.S. Classification||438/656, 438/668, 438/685, 438/675, 257/E21.586, 438/681, 257/E21.295, 438/646, 257/E21.585, 438/688|
|International Classification||H01L21/28, H01L21/768, H01L21/285, H01L21/677, C23C16/54, C23C14/56, H01L21/3205|
|Cooperative Classification||H01L21/76877, C23C16/54, H01L21/76879, H01L21/76876, H01L21/32051, H01L21/76843, C23C14/568|
|European Classification||H01L21/768C4B, H01L21/3205M, C23C16/54, C23C14/56F, H01L21/768C4, H01L21/768C3B, H01L21/768C3S6|
|4 Mar 1996||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MOSELY, RODERICK CRAIG;ZHANG, HONG;CHEN, FUSEN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:007916/0380;SIGNING DATES FROM 19960221 TO 19960223
|5 Dec 2000||CC||Certificate of correction|
|27 Mar 2001||CC||Certificate of correction|
|30 Aug 2002||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|22 Aug 2006||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|24 Aug 2010||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 12