Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer and two compatible oxide etch processes. The Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer can be used as a hard mask in a dual damascene structure and as a hard mask for over a polysilicone gate. The invention has the following key elements: 1) Si rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) ARC layer, 2) Special Silicon oxide Etch process that has a high selectivity of Si-Rich SiON to silicon oxide or SiN; 3) Special Si Rich SiON spacer process for a self aligned contact (SAC). A dual damascene structure is formed by depositing a first dielectric layer. A novel anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer is deposited on top of the first dielectric layer. A first opening is etched in the first insulating layer. A second dielectric layer is deposited on the anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer and two compatible oxide etch processes. The Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer can be used as a hard mask in a dual damascene structure and as a hard mask for over a polysilicon gate. The invention has the following key elements: 1) Si rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) ARC layer, 2) Special Silicon oxide Etch process that has a high selectivity of Si- Rich SiON to silicon oxide or SiN; 3) Special Si Rich SiON spacer process for a self aligned contact (SAC).

Abstract: A method for forming upon a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication a dielectric passivating layer with attenuated delamination and improved adhesion to subsequent passivating and encapsulating materials. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed upon the substrate a patterned microelectronics layer. There is then formed over the substrate a silicon containing dielectric layer employing high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (IDP-CVD) in two steps, wherein the conditions of the HDP-CVD process are optimized during the second step to provide a final layer portion with a greater degree of surface topography. Subsequently there are formed over the substrate an additional passivation layer with attenuated delamination and an organic polymer overcoat layer with improved adhesion.

Abstract: Within a method for forming an aperture fill layer within an aperture there is first provided a topographic substrate which has formed therein a pair of mesas which defines an aperture. There is then formed over the topographic substrate and into the aperture a blanket aperture fill layer while employing a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) method, where the blanket aperture fill layer is formed to a thickness greater than a depth of the aperture while forming a pair of protrusions over the pair of mesas. There is then etched, while employing a sputter etch method, the blanket aperture fill layer to form an etched blanket aperture fill layer such that the pair of protrusions of the blanket aperture fill layer formed over the pair of mesas is etched more rapidly than a portion of the blanket aperture fill layer formed within the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer and two compatible oxide etch processes. The Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer can be used as a hard mask in a dual damascene structure and as a hard mask for over a polysilicon gate. The invention has the following key elements: 1) Si rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) ARC layer, 2) Special Silicon oxide Etch process that has a high selectivity of Si-Rich SiON to silicon oxide or SiN; 3) Special Si Rich SiON spacer process for a self aligned contact (SAC). A dual damascene structure is formed by depositing a first dielectric layer. A novel anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer is deposited on top of the first dielectric layer. A first opening is etched in the first insulating layer. A second dielectric layer is deposited on the anti-reflective Si-Rich Silicon oxynitride (SiON) etch barrier layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices and more particularly to a method for forming and then later removing a silicon oxynitride, SiON, anti-reflection coating (ARC) over a semiconductor substrate, for the purpose of enhancing the resolution of photolithographically defined sub-micron polysilicon gates. The problem addressed by this invention is that the SiON ARC must first be used to reduce optical reflection from a blanket polysilicon surface, during the photolithography exposure step that defines the sub-micron polysilicon gate features, and then the ARC must be removed by a wet etch process that will not chemically attack the gate oxide under the polysilicon gate features or any exposed polysilicon surfaces.

Abstract: A new method of forming a non-shrinkable metal passivation layer that will eliminate metal voiding and improve electromigration lifetime of the integrated circuit device is described. Semiconductor device structures are provided in and on a semiconductor substrate and covered by an insulating layer. A metal layer is deposited overlying the insulating layer and patterned to form metal lines wherein there is a gap between two of the metal lines. A non-shrinkable passivation layer is formed according to the following steps: 1) a HDP-CVD oxide layer is deposited overlying the metal lines wherein the gap is filled by the HDP-CVD oxide layer. 2) A silicon nitride layer is deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition overlying the HDP-CVD oxide layer. Or, 1) a PECVD oxide layer is deposited over the metal lines. 2) A silicon nitride layer is deposited by PECVD over the oxide layer to fill the gap and complete the passivation. Then, the fabrication of the integrated circuit device is completed.

Abstract: A method for filling a trench within a substrate. First a substrate is provided having a trench formed therein. The trench has a bottom surface and opposing side walls. An undoped silicon glass liner is then thermally grown to coat the bottom surface and side walls of the trench. An undoped silicon oxide layer is then deposited over the undoped silicon glass liner. A boron doped silicon oxide layer is then deposited over the undoped silicon oxide layer, filling the trench. The boron doped silicon oxide layer is then heated to reflow the boron doped silicon oxide to fill any void initially formed within the boron doped silicon oxide layer within the trench, thereby eliminating any void so formed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for smoothing the surface of undoped polysilicon regions of a CMOS structure, primarily gate regions. A direct HPD-CVD argon sputter is used improve the surface roughness by a factor of more than 50%. The argon plasma sputter may be used either alone or in conjunction with a thin capping layer of oxide, nitride or oxynitride. The devices manufactured using the process exhibit excellent electrical characteristics and improved reliability compared to devices made using conventional manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Method for forming an inter-level dielectric layer upon a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed upon the substrate a patterned microelectronics layer. There is then formed upon and between the patterned microelectronics layer and substrate a blanket first silicon oxide layer employing high density plasma chemical vapor deposition. There is then an optional exposure of the first blanket silicon oxide layer to a nitrogen plasma treatment prior to formation thereupon of a second blanket silicon oxide dielectric layer employing ozone assisted sub-atmospheric pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition, where the nitrogen plasma exposure results in improved gap fill within the silicon oxide dielectric layer, whereas avoidance of exposure to the nitrogen plasma results in formation of voids within the blanket second silicon oxide dielectric layer, leading to lower capacitance.

Abstract: A process is described for forming very narrow polysilicon gate lines for use as gate electrodes in FETs. The process uses a consumable hard mask of silicon oxynitride covered by a thin layer of silicon oxide during the etching of the polysilicon. The thicknesses of the two layers that make up the hard mask are chosen so that the structure also serves as an ARC for the photoresist coating immediately above it. A relatively thin layer of the latter is used in order to improve resolution. After the photoresist has been patterned it may be trimmed or it may be removed and re-formed, since the silicon oxide layer provides protection for the underlying silicon oxynitride. After the hard mask has been formed, all photoresist is removed and the polysilicon is etched. During etching there is simultaneous removal of the silicon oxide layer and part of the silicon oxynitride as well.

Abstract: A method for forming a planarized trench fill layer within a trench within a substrate. There is first provided a substrate having a trench formed therein. There is then formed over the substrate and at least partially filling the trench a first trench fill layer formed employing a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) method. There is then formed upon the first trench fill layer a second trench fill layer formed employing a subatmospheric pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition (SACVD) method employing ozone as an oxidant source material and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as a silicon source material. Finally, there is then planarized by employing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method the second trench fill layer and the first trench fill layer to form a patterned planarized trench fill layer within the trench.

Abstract: A high selectivity etch-stop layer comprising oxynitride is disclosed for forming damascene structures in the manufacturing of semiconductor substrates. Because of its relatively high selectivity to oxides, the oxynitride etch-stop can be made thinner than the conventionally used nitride layer. Therefore, the disclosed oxynitride etch-stop layer makes it possible to avoid the cracking problems of thicker etch-stop layers as well as the associated problems of poor definition of contact or via holes in the damascene structure.

Abstract: A method for filling shallow trenches 28 with a HDPCVD oxide 50. The invention has two liners: (a) a thermal oxide liner 36 and (b) an overlying conformal O.sub.3 -TEOS protective liner 40. The O.sub.3 -TEOS protective liner 40 prevents the HDPCVD oxide 50 from sputter damaging the trench sidewalls and the masking layer 24. The O.sub.3 -TEOS layer has novel process temperature (400 to 560.degree. C.) and low pressure (40 to 80 torr) that allows the O.sub.3 -TEOS layer to deposit uniformly over thermal oxide liner 36. The method begins by forming pad oxide layer 20 and a barrier layer 24 over a substrate. A trench 28 is formed in the substrate 10 through the pad oxide layer 20 and the barrier layer 24. A thermal oxide liner 36 and a protective O.sub.3 -TEOS liner layer 40 are formed over the walls of the trench 28 and over the barrier layer 24. Lastly, a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) oxide layer 50 is formed over the protective liner layer 40 filling the trench 28.