Abstract: A method for forming an MIM capacitor, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor structure having an exposed lower metal damascene is provided. A capacitor layer is formed over the semiconductor structure and the exposed lower metal damascene. An organic etch stop layer is formed upon the capacitor layer. An IMD layer is formed upon the organic etch stop layer. The IMD layer is etched with a first etch highly selective to the IMD layer as compared to the organic etch stop layer, to form an IMD trench exposing a portion of the organic etch stop layer. The exposed portion of the organic etch stop layer is etched with a second etch method highly selective to the exposed portion of the organic etch stop layer as compared to the capacitor layer, to expose a portion of the capacitor layer. An upper metal damascene is formed upon the exposed portion of the capacitor layer and within the IMD trench to complete formation of the MIM capacitor.

Abstract: A method of fabricating metal plugs within via openings comprising the following steps. A semiconductor substrate having an overlying metal layer and oxide hard masks overlying the metal layer is provided. The oxide hard masks are used to etch the metal layer to form metal lines separated by metal line openings. An oxide liner is formed over the etched structure. A layer of FSG is deposited over the oxide liner. The FSG layer is then planarized to remove: the excess of the FSG layer from the etched structure; and the portions of the oxide liner over the oxide hard masks to form FSG blocks within the metal line openings. A cap layer is formed over the planarized structure. The cap layer and hard masks are then planarized to form via openings exposing the metal lines. Planarized metal plugs are then within the via openings.

Abstract: A method for forming a dielectric layer upon a silicon layer. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed over the substrate a silicon layer. There is then formed through use of a first thermal annealing method employing a nitrogen containing annealing atmosphere in absence of an oxidizing material or a reducing material silicon nitride containing layer upon a partially consumed silicon layer derived from the silicon layer. There is then oxidized through use of a second thermal annealing method employing an oxidizing material containing atmosphere the silicon nitride containing layer to form an oxidized silicon nitride containing layer upon a further consumed silicon layer derived from the partially consumed silicon layer. The method is particularly useful in forming a gate dielectric layer with enhanced hot carrier resistance properties and enhanced dopant diffusion barrier properties within a field effect transistor (FET).

Abstract: A method of bonding a bonding element to a metal bonding pad comprises the following steps. A semiconductor structure having an exposed, recessed metal bonding pad within a layer opening is provided. The layer has an upper surface. A conductive cap having a predetermined thickness is formed over the metal bonding pad. A bonding element is bonded to the conductive cap to form an electrical connection with the metal bonding pad.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer having at least one integrated circuit, the method comprising the following steps. A semiconductor wafer structure having at least an upper and a lower dielectric layer is provided. The semiconductor wafer structure having a bonding pad area and an interconnect area. At least one active interconnect having a first width is formed in the interconnect area, through the dielectric layers. A plurality of adjacent dummy plugs each having a second width is formed in the bonding pad area, through a portion of the dielectric layers. The semiconductor wafer structure is patterned and etched to form trenches through the upper dielectric layer. The trenches surround each of the at least one active interconnect and the dummy plugs whereby the upper dielectric level between the adjacent dummy plugs is removed. A metallization layer is deposited over the lower dielectric layer, filling the trenches at least to the upper surface of the remaining upper dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a via through a silicon oxide layer. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a patterned silicon nitride layer which defines a contact region beneath the patterned silicon nitride layer. There is then formed over the patterned silicon nitride layer a silicon oxide layer. There is then etched the silicon oxide layer while employing a reactive ion etch (RIE) method employing a first etchant gas composition comprising a fluorocarbon etchant gas to form: (1) an etched silicon oxide layer which exposes the contact region without substantially etching the patterned silicon nitride layer; and (2) a fluorocarbon polymer residue layer formed upon at least one of the etched silicon oxide layer and the patterned silicon nitride layer. Finally, there is stripped from the substrate the fluorocarbon polymer residue layer while employing a downstream plasma etch method employing a second etchant gas composition comprising a fluorocarbon etchant gas and oxygen.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dog-bone in a DRAM device, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor structure having an upper silicon layer with STIs formed therein is provided. The semiconductor structure has a LOGIC region and a DRAM region with a stitch region therebetween. A polysilicon layer is formed over the semiconductor structure. A dopant is selectively implanted in the polysilicon region within the DRAM region, and the portion of the stitch region within the DRAM region, to form a doped poly segment, and an undoped poly segment within the LOGIC region, and the portion of the stitch region within the LOGIC region. A hard mask is formed over the doped poly segment and the undoped poly segment and patterned to form at least one patterned first hard mask portion only over the word line doped poly segment within the DRAM region.

Abstract: Within a method for removing from over a substrate a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) residue layer there is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate: (1) a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) substrate layer having an aperture formed therein; (2) a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized patterned layer formed within the aperture within the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) substrate layer; and (3) a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) residue layer formed upon at least one of the chemical mechanical polish substrate layer and the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized patterned layer, where at least one of the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) substrate layer and the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarized patterned layer has a first aqueous contact angle.

Abstract: A method of patterning a hard mask, the comprising the following steps. A semiconductor structure is provided. A conductor film is formed over the semiconductor structure. An oxide layer is formed over the conductor film. A patterned metal oxide layer is formed over the conductor film. The oxide layer and the conductor film are etched, using the metal oxide layer as a hard mask, to form a patterned structure.

Abstract: A method for forming upon a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication a dieletric layer with improved physical properties. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a series of lines which constitute a patterned microelectronics layer. There is then formed over the patterned microelectronics layer and substrate a conformal dielectric layer. There is then formed over the substrate a second dielectric layer. There is then formed over the substrate a third dielectric layer formed of silicon oxide dielectric material employing high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) to complete a composite inter-level metal dielectric (IMD) layer. A fourth dielectric layer formed employing silicon containing dielectric material may be formed over the substrate and third dielectric layer to complete an inter-level metal dielectric (IMD) layer.

Abstract: A method for forming an under bump metal, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor structure is provided having an exposed I/O pad. A patterned passivation layer is formed over the semiconductor structure, the patterned passivation layer having an opening exposing a first portion of the I/O pad. A dry film resistor (DFR) layer is laminated, exposed and developed to form a patterned dry film resistor (DFR) layer over the patterned passivation layer. The patterned dry film resistor (DFR) layer having an opening exposing a second portion of the I/O pad. The patterned dry film resistor (DFR) layer opening having opposing side walls with a predetermined profile with an undercut. A metal layer is formed over the patterned dry film resistor (DFR) layer, the exposed third portion of the I/O pad, and over at least a portion of the opposing side walls of the patterned dry film resistor (DFR) layer opening.

Abstract: In the first option of the present invention, a semiconductor structure is provided and an overlying titanium nitride barrier layer is deposited thereon at about 100° C. At least Al and Cu is sputtered over the titanium nitride barrier layer from about 270 to 300° C. to form an Al—Cu alloy containing metal layer. The sputtered Al—Cu alloy containing metal layer is promptly cooled at a cooling rate greater than about 100° C./minute to a temperature below 200° C. to form a Al—Cu alloy containing metal layer having minimal CuAl2 grain growth. The semiconductor structure is removed from the cooling chamber and the semiconductor structure is processed further below 200° C. to form semiconductor device precursors. In the second option of the present invention, a semiconductor structure having an overlying barrier layer is provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CVD low-k SiOCN material. The first embodiment comprising the following steps. MeSiH3, N2O, and N2 are reacted at a molar ratio of from about 1:5:10 to 1:10:15, at a plasma power from about 0 to 400 W to deposit a final deposited film. The final deposited film is treated to stabilize the final deposited film to form a CVD low-k SiOCN material. The second embodiment comprising the following steps. A starting mixture of MeSiH3, SiH4, N2O, and N2 is reacted at a molar ratio of from about 1:1:5:10 to 1:5:10:15, in a plasma in a helium carrier gas at a plasma power from about 0 to 400 W to deposit a CVD low-k SiOCN material.

Abstract: A method of forming a planarized metal interconnect comprising the following steps. A semiconductor structure is provided. A low K dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor structure. A sacrificial layer over is formed over the low K dielectric layer. The sacrificial layer and low K dielectric layer are patterned to form a trench within the sacrificial layer and low K dielectric layer. A barrier layer is formed over the sacrificial layer, lining the trench side walls and bottom. Metal is deposited on the barrier layer to form a metal layer filling the lined trench and blanket filling the sacrificial layer covered low K dielectric layer. The metal layer and the barrier layer are planarized, exposing the upper surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to form a planarized metal interconnect.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microelectronic layer. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a target layer. There is then formed upon the target layer a patterned photoresist layer which defines a first aperture, where the first aperture has a first aperture width which exposes a first portion of the target layer. There is then reflowed thermally the patterned photoresist layer to form a reflowed patterned photoresist layer which defines a substantially straight sided second aperture. The second aperture has a second aperture width less than the first aperture width, and the second aperture thus exposes a second portion of the blanket target layer of areal dimension less than the first portion of the blanket target layer. Finally, there is then fabricated the target layer to form a fabricated target layer while employing the reflowed patterned photoresist layer as a mask layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a series of patterned planarized aperture fill layers within a series of apertures within a topographic substrate layer employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a topographic substrate layer employed within a microelectronics fabrication, where the topographic substrate layer comprises a series of mesas of substantially equivalent height but of differing widths and the series of mesas is separated by a series of apertures. There is then formed upon the topographic substrate layer a blanket first aperture fill layer. The blanket first aperture fill layer is formed employing a first simultaneous deposition and sputter method.

Abstract: A method for forming through a microelectronic layer a via contiguous with a trench. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a first microelectronic layer. There is then formed upon the first microelectronic layer an etch stop layer. There is then formed upon the etch stop layer a second microelectronic layer. There is then formed over the second microelectronic layer a first patterned photoresist layer which defines the location of a via to be formed through the second microelectronic layer, the etch stop layer and the first microelectronic layer. There is then etched, while employing a first etch method which employs the first patterned photoresist layer as a first etch mask layer, the second microelectronic layer, the etch stop layer and the first microelectronic layer to form a corresponding patterned second microelectronic layer, patterned etch stop layer and patterned first microelectronic layer which define the via.

Abstract: A method of preventing copper transport on a semiconductor wafer, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor wafer having a front side and a backside is provided. Metal, selected from the group comprising aluminum, aluminum-copper, aluminum-silicon, and aluminum-copper-silicon is sputtered on the backside of the wafer to form a layer of metal. The back side sputtered aluminum layer may be partially oxidized at low temperature to further decrease the copper penetration possibility and to also provide greater flexibility in subsequent copper interconnect related processing. Once the back side layer is in place, the wafer can be processed as usual. The sputtered back side aluminum layer can be removed during final backside grinding.

Abstract: A method of removing copper contamination from a semiconductor wafer, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor wafer having copper contamination thereon is provided. An oxidizing radical containing downstream plasma is provided from a first source (alternatively halogen (F2, Cl2, or Br2) may be used as on oxidizing agent). A vaporized chelating agent is provided from a second source. The oxidizing radical containing downstream plasma and vaporized chelating agent are mixed to form an oxidizing radical containing downstream plasma/vaporized chelating agent mixture. The mixture is directed to the copper contamination so that the mixture reacts with the copper contamination to form a volatile product. The volatile product is removed from the proximity of the wafer.

Abstract: A method for electroplating copper in trenches, including the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a trench formed therein and electrolytically depositing a first copper containing layer having an upper surface and a predetermined thickness within the trench. The first copper deposition step has a first ratio of brighteners concentration:levelers concentration. Then a second copper containing layer having an upper surface and a predetermined thickness is electrolytically deposited over the first copper containing layer. The second copper deposition step has a second ratio of brighteners concentration:levelers concentration that is less than the said first ratio of brighteners concentration:levelers concentration. The second copper containing layer upper surface having a greater planarity than the first copper containing layer upper surface due to an increased concentration of levelers relative to the brighteners in the electrolytic bath.