Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including a silicon substrate, a source/drain region formed in a surface layer of the silicon substrate, a first insulating film provided with a first hole on the first source/drain region, a conductive film formed on an inner surface of the first hole, a filler body, which is formed with a thickness to fill the first hole on the first conductive film, forms a first conduct plug together with the conductive film, and is formed of an insulating material with an upper surface being amorphous, and a capacitor, which is formed on the first contact plug and is provided with a lower electrode electrically connected to the conductive film, a capacitor dielectric film formed of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode.

Abstract: A plasma etching apparatus for etching semiconductor wafers. The plasma etching apparatus has a reaction tube made of a dielectric material and a high frequency antenna located around the reaction tube for generating a plasma inside the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna has a sloped segment that produces a relatively large capacitive coupling with the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna is moved by a driver around the reaction tube in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device manufacturing method having the etching step of an electrode material film constituting a capacitor using ferroelectric substance or high- dielectric substance, etching of a conductive film that acts as an electrode of the capacitor formed over a semiconductor substrate is carried out in an atmosphere containing bromine, and a heating temperature of the semiconductor substrate is set in a range of 300° C. to 600° C., otherwise etching of at least the conductive film is carried out in an atmosphere to which only hydrogen bromide and oxygen are supplied from an outside.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor formation method necessary for stably fabricating an FeRAM and a semiconductor device fabrication method. After a PZT film is deposited on a lower electrode layer, the PZT film is crystallized by performing heat treatment in an atmosphere of a mixed gas which contains O2 gas and Ar gas. In this case, the flow rate of the O2 gas is controlled by one mass flow controller. The flow rate of the Ar gas used for purging and the flow rate of the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration are controlled by different mass flow controllers. Before raising the temperature, the O2 gas, the Ar gas used for purging, and the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration are made to flow at predetermined flow rates. Only the Ar gas used for purging is stopped, raising the temperature is begun, and the heat treatment is performed. At this time the O2 gas and the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration flow at the predetermined flow rates.

Abstract: There are provided the steps of forming an insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, a second conductive film on the insulating film, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film into a first pattern shape by using a first mask, removing the first mask, and etching simultaneously the first conductive film and the second conductive film having the first pattern shape by using a second mask to form a plurality of capacitor upper electrodes made of the second conductive film and also form a plate line as a capacitor lower electrode, which is covered with the dielectric film having the first pattern shape and has a contact region, made of the first conductive film. Accordingly, a plurality of capacitors can be formed on the capacitor lower electrode with good precision.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method, includes a step of forming a first alumina film (underlying insulating film) 37 on a semiconductor substrate 20, a step of forming a first conductive film 41, a ferroelectric film 42, and a second conductive film 43 in sequence on the first alumina film 37, a step of forming a mask material film 45 on the second conductive film 43, a step of shaping the mask material film 45 into an auxiliary mask 45a, a step of shaping the second conductive film 43 into an upper electrode 43a by an etching using the auxiliary mask 45a and a first resist pattern 46 as a mask, a step of shaping the ferroelectric film 42 into a capacitor dielectric film 42a by patterning, and a step of shaping the first conductive film 41 into a lower electrode 41a by patterning, whereby a capacitor Q is constructed by the lower electrode 41, the capacitor dielectric film 42a, and the upper electrode 43a.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor including a bottom electrode (15), a ferroelectric film (16) and a top electrode (17) is covered with an interlayer insulating film (18). One end of the bottom electrode (15) is formed like comb teeth. To match with the remaining portion of that end, a plurality of contact holes (21) are formed in the interlayer insulating film (18). In other words, gaps (notches) are formed in the bottom electrode (15) between lower ends of at least two of the contact holes (21). And a wiring (25) connected to the bottom electrode (15) through the contact holes (21) is formed on the interlayer insulating film (18).

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including a silicon substrate, a source/drain region formed in a surface layer of the silicon substrate, a first insulating film provided with a first hole on the first source/drain region, a conductive film formed on an inner surface of the first hole, a filler body, which is formed with a thickness to fill the first hole on the first conductive film, forms a first conduct plug together with the conductive film, and is formed of an insulating material with an upper surface being amorphous, and a capacitor, which is formed on the first contact plug and is provided with a lower electrode electrically connected to the conductive film, a capacitor dielectric film formed of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor formation method necessary for stably fabricating an FeRAM and a semiconductor device fabrication method. After a PZT film is deposited on a lower electrode layer, the PZT film is crystallized by performing heat treatment in an atmosphere of a mixed gas which contains O2 gas and Ar gas. In this case, the flow rate of the O2 gas is controlled by one mass flow controller. The flow rate of the Ar gas used for purging and the flow rate of the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration are controlled by different mass flow controllers. Before raising the temperature, the O2 gas, the Ar gas used for purging, and the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration are made to flow at predetermined flow rates. Only the Ar gas used for purging is stopped, raising the temperature is begun, and the heat treatment is performed. At this time the O2 gas and the Ar gas used for adjusting O2 gas concentration flow at the predetermined flow rates.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method whereby a capacitor protective layer for ferroelectric capacitors of FeRAM can be prevented from peeling off. A lower electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer and an upper electrode layer are successively formed one upon another. The upper electrode layer is etched to form an upper electrode pattern, then the ferroelectric layer is etched to form a ferroelectric pattern, and a chemical solution treatment is performed on the resulting structure by using a mixed liquid of ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and water. Subsequently, a capacitor protective layer is formed, and then the lower electrode layer is etched to form a lower electrode pattern. A volatile etching residue produced during the formation of the ferroelectric pattern and adhering to the wafer surface, including the exposed lower electrode layer, is removed by the chemical solution treatment, whereby the subsequently formed capacitor protective layer is prevented from peeling off.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device that prevents an etching residue left at the time of making a contact hole which connects with a ferroelectric capacitor from adhering to the surface of a wafer. In order to make a contact hole which connects with an upper electrode or a lower electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor, a resist mask with predetermined thickness is formed and etching is performed so as to make the shape of the resist mask around an opening after the making of the contact hole taper as a result of widening the diameter of the opening and to make the thickness of a vertical portion of the resist mask around the opening approximately zero. Therefore, even if an etching residue left as a result of, for example, the over-etching of an electrode material adheres to the sidewall of the opening in the resist mask having a taper shape, the etching residue is removed by the etching. As a result, the possibility that the etching residue remains after the etching is small.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes a step of forming an oxidation preventing film 25 on a contact plug 22a on a silicon substrate 10, a step of forming a capacitor Q on the oxidation preventing film 25, a step of forming a second interlayer insulating film 44 to cover the capacitor Q, a step of forming a first hole 44a in the second interlayer insulating film 44, a step of applying a brush scrubbing process to the second interlayer insulating film 44, a step of applying a wet process to the second interlayer insulating film 44, a step of forming a second hole 44c in the second interlayer insulating film 44 by using the oxidation preventing film 25 as a stopper, a step of etching the oxidation preventing film 25 under the second hole 44c to remove and also cleaning an upper electrode 33a under the first hole 44a, and a step of forming first and second conductive plugs 50a, 50c in the first and second holes 44a, 44c.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method, includes a step of forming a first alumina film (underlying insulating film) 37 on a semiconductor substrate 20, a step of forming a first conductive film 41, a ferroelectric film 42, and a second conductive film 43 in sequence on the first alumina film 37, a step of forming a mask material film 45 on the second conductive film 43, a step of shaping the mask material film 45 into an auxiliary mask 45a, a step of shaping the second conductive film 43 into an upper electrode 43a by an etching using the auxiliary mask 45a and a first resist pattern 46 as a mask, a step of shaping the ferroelectric film 42 into a capacitor dielectric film 42a by patterning, and a step of shaping the first conductive film 41 into a lower electrode 41a by patterning, whereby a capacitor Q is constructed by the lower electrode 41, the capacitor dielectric film 42a, and the upper electrode 43a.

Abstract: There are provides the steps of forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, and a second conductive film on an insulating film, forming a first film on the second conductive film, forming a second film made of insulating material on the first film, forming hard masks by patterning the second film and the first film into a capacitor planar shape, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film in a region not covered with the hard masks, etching the first conductive film in the region not covered with the hard masks up to a depth that does not expose the insulating film, removing the second film constituting the hard masks by etching, etching a remaining portion of the first conductive film in the region not covered with the hard masks to the end, and removing the first film.

Abstract: There are provided the steps of forming an insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, a second conductive film on the insulating film, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film into a first pattern shape by using a first mask, removing the first mask, and etching simultaneously the first conductive film and the second conductive film having the first pattern shape by using a second mask to form a plurality of capacitor upper electrodes made of the second conductive film and also form a plate line as a capacitor lower electrode, which is covered with the dielectric film having the first pattern shape and has a contact region, made of the first conductive film. Accordingly, a plurality of capacitors can be formed on the capacitor lower electrode with good precision.

Abstract: There are provided the steps of forming an insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, forming sequentially a first conductive film, a dielectric film, a second conductive film on the insulating film, etching the second conductive film and the dielectric film into a first pattern shape by using a first mask, removing the first mask, and etching simultaneously the first conductive film and the second conductive film having the first pattern shape by using a second mask to form a plurality of capacitor upper electrodes made of the second conductive film and also form a plate line as a capacitor lower electrode, which is covered with the dielectric film having the first pattern shape and has a contact region, made of the first conductive film. Accordingly, a plurality of capacitors can be formed on the capacitor lower electrode with good precision.

Abstract: In a ferroelectric capacitor structure 30 in which a lower electrode and an upper electrode are coupled capacitively with each other through a ferroelectric film, when the upper electrode is formed into a two-layer structure in which a conductive oxide film and an oxidation-resistant metal film are stacked, a protective film is formed on the oxidation-resistant metal film, and the upper electrode of which upper surface alone is covered with the protective film is pattern formed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor including a bottom electrode (15), a ferroelectric film (16) and a top electrode (17) is covered with an interlayer insulating film (18). One end of the bottom electrode (15) is formed like comb teeth. To match with the remaining portion of that end, a plurality of contact holes (21) are formed in the interlayer insulating film (18). In other words, gaps (notches) are formed in the bottom electrode (15) between lower ends of at least two of the contact holes (21). And a wiring (25) connected to the bottom electrode (15) through the contact holes (21) is formed on the interlayer insulating film (18).

Abstract: A plasma etching apparatus for etching semiconductor wafers. The plasma etching apparatus has a reaction tube made of a dielectric material and a high frequency antenna located around the reaction tube for generating a plasma inside the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna has a sloped segment that produces a relatively large capacitive coupling with the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna is moved by a driver around the reaction tube in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A plasma etching apparatus for etching semiconductor wafers. The plasma etching apparatus has a reaction tube made of a dielectric material and a high frequency antenna located around the reaction tube for generating a plasma inside the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna has a sloped segment that produces a relatively large capacitive coupling with the reaction tube. The high frequency antenna is moved by a driver around the reaction tube in a horizontal plane.