Abstract: On-chip decoupling capacitor structures, and methods of fabricating such decoupling capacitors are disclosed. On-chip decoupling capacitors help to reduce or prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions. The inclusion of one or more decoupling capacitors on a chip, in close proximity to the power grid conductors reduces parasitic inductance and thereby provides improved decoupling performance with respect to high frequency noise. In one embodiment of the present invention, a capacitor stack structure is inserted between metal interconnect layers. Such a capacitor stack may consist of a bottom electrode/barrier; a thin dielectric material having a high dielectric constant; and a top electrode/barrier. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom electrode and/or bottom metal interconnect layer have three dimensional texture to increase the surface area of the capacitor.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of fabricating on chip decoupling capacitors which help prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. The inclusion of a hybrid metal/metal nitride top electrode/barrier provides for a low cost and higher performance option to strapping decoupling capacitors.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of fabricating on chip decoupling capacitors which help prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. The inclusion of a hybrid metal/metal nitride top electrode/barrier provides for a low cost and higher performance option to strapping decoupling capacitors.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: On-chip decoupling capacitor structures, and methods of fabricating such decoupling capacitors are disclosed. On-chip decoupling capacitors help to reduce or prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions. The inclusion of one or more decoupling capacitors on a chip, in close proximity to the power grid conductors reduces parasitic inductance and thereby provides improved decoupling performance with respect to high frequency noise. In one embodiment of the present invention, a capacitor stack structure is inserted between metal interconnect layers. Such a capacitor stack may consist of a bottom electrode/barrier; a thin dielectric material having a high dielectric constant; and a top electrode/barrier. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom electrode and/or bottom metal interconnect layer have three dimensional texture to increase the surface area of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an on-chip decoupling capacitor which helps prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. Inclusion of the decoupling capacitor on die directly between the power grid greatly reduces the inductance L, and provides decoupling to reduce the highest possible frequency noise. This invention specifically describes the process flow in which the decoupling capacitor is located between the top layer metallization and the standard bump contacts which have either multiple openings or bar geometries to provide both power grid and top decoupling capacitor electrode contacts.

Abstract: A surface treatment for porous silica to enhance adhesion of overlying layers. Treatments include surface group substitution, pore collapse, and gap filling layer (520) which invades open surface pores (514) of xerogel (510).

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an on-chip decoupling capacitor which helps prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. Inclusion of the decoupling capacitor on die directly between the power grid greatly reduces the inductance L, and provides decoupling to reduce the highest possible frequency noise. This invention specifically describes the process flow in which the decoupling capacitor is located between the top layer metallization and the standard bump contacts which have either multiple openings or bar geometries to provide both power grid and top decoupling capacitor electrode contacts.

Abstract: A xerogel aging system includes an aging chamber (190) with inlets and outlet and flows a gel catalyst in gas phase over a xerogel precursor film on a semiconductor wafer. Preferred embodiments use an ammonia and water vapor gas mixture catalyst.

Abstract: On-chip decoupling capacitor structures, and methods of fabricating such decoupling capacitors are disclosed. On-chip decoupling capacitors help to reduce or prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions. The inclusion of one or more decoupling capacitors on a chip, in close proximity to the power grid conductors reduces parasitic inductance and thereby provides improved decoupling performance with respect to high frequency noise. In one embodiment of the present invention, a capacitor stack structure is inserted between metal interconnect layers. Such a capacitor stack may consist of a bottom electrode/barrier; a thin dielectric material having a high dielectric constant; and a top electrode/barrier. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom electrode and/or bottom metal interconnect layer have three dimensional texture to increase the surface area of the capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: On-chip decoupling capacitor structures, and methods of fabricating such decoupling capacitors are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a capacitor stack may consist of a bottom electrode/barrier; a thin dielectric material having a high dielectric constant; and a top electrode/barrier. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom electrode and/or bottom metal interconnect layer have three dimensional texture to increase the surface area of the capacitor. An illustrative method embodying the present invention, includes fabricating the on-chip decoupling capacitor stack structure and electrically connecting the capacitor to provide efficient capacitive de-coupling.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an on-chip decoupling capacitor which helps prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. Inclusion of the decoupling capacitor on die directly between the power grid greatly reduces the inductance L, and provides decoupling to reduce the highest possible frequency noise. This invention specifically describes the process flow in which the decoupling capacitor is located between the top layer metallization and the standard bump contacts which have either multiple openings or bar geometries to provide both power grid and top decoupling capacitor electrode contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of fabricating on chip decoupling capacitors which help prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. The inclusion of a hybrid metal/metal nitride top electrode/barrier provides for a low cost and higher performance option to strapping decoupling capacitors.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an on-chip decoupling capacitor which helps prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. Inclusion of the decoupling capacitor on die directly between the power grid greatly reduces the inductance L, and provides decoupling to reduce the highest possible frequency noise.