Abstract: A method of preparing a PGO solution for spin coating includes preparing a 2-methoxyethanol organic solvent; adding Pb(OCH3CO)2.3H2O to the organic solvent at ambient temperature and pressure in a nitrogen-filled glaved box to form Pb in methoxyethanol; refluxing the solution in a nitrogen atmosphere at 150° C. for at least two hours; fractionally distilling the refluxed solution at approximately 150° C. to remove all of the water from the solution; cooling the solution to room temperature; determining the Pb concentration of the solution; adding the 2-methoxyethanol solution to the Pb 2-methoxyethanol until a desired Pb concentration is achieved; combining Ge(OR)4, where R is taken the group of Rs consisting of CH2CH3 and CH(CH3)2, and 2-methoxyethanol; and adding Ge(OR)4 2-methoxyethanol to PbO 2-methoxyethanol to form the PGO solution having a predetermined metal ion concentration and a predetermined Pb:Ge molar ration.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicided device includes preparing a substrate by forming device areas thereon; providing structures that are located between the substrate and any silicide layers; forming a first layer of a first reactive material over the formed structures; providing insulating regions in selected portions of the structure; forming a second layer of a second reactive material over the insulating regions and the first layer of first reactive material; reacting the first and second reactive materials to form silicide layers; removing any un-reacted reactive material; forming structures that are located on the silicide layers; and metallizing the device.

Abstract: A method of anisotropically etching metals, especially iridium, platinum, ruthenium, osmium, and rhenium using a non-chlorofluorocarbon, fluorine-based chemistry. A substrate having metal deposited thereon, is inserted into an ECR plasma etch chamber and heated. A fluorine containing gas, such as, carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is introduced into the chamber and ionized to form a plasma. Fluorine ions within the plasma strike, or contact, the metal to form volatile metal-fluorine compounds. The metal-fluorine compounds are exhausted away from the substrate to reduce, or eliminate, redeposition of etch reactants.

Abstract: A method of forming a temporary overhang structure to shield the source/drain edges near the gate electrode from the deposition of silicidation metal is provided. The growth of silicide on the source/drain regions remains controlled, without the presence of silicidation metal on the gate electrode sidewalls near the source/drain edges. The resulting silicide layer does not have edge growths interfering with the source/drain junction areas. The overhang structure is formed by covering the gate electrode with two insulators having differing etch selectivities. The top insulator is anisotropically etched so that only the top insulator covering the gate electrode vertical sidewalls remains. The exposed bottom insulator is isotropically etched to form a gap between the top insulator and the source/drain region surfaces. When silicidation metal is deposited, the gap prevents the deposition of metal between the gate electrode and the source/drain region surfaces.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a one-transistor memory includes, on a single crystal silicon substrate, depositing a bottom electrode structure on a gate oxide layer; implanting ions to form a source region and a drain region and activating the implanted ions spin coating the structure with a first ferroelectric layer; depositing a second ferroelectric layer; and annealing the structure to provide a c-axis ferroelectric orientation.

Abstract: An Ir—M—O composite film has been provided that is useful in forming an electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor, where M includes a variety of refractory metals. The Ir combination film is resistant to high temperature annealing in oxygen environments. When used with an underlying barrier layer made from the same variety of M transition metals, the resulting conductive barrier also suppresses to diffusion of Ir into any underlying Si substrates. As a result, Ir silicide products are not formed, which degrade the electrode interface characteristics. That is, the Ir combination film remains conductive, not peeling or forming hillocks, during high temperature annealing processes, even in oxygen. The Ir—M—O conductive electrode/barrier structures are useful in nonvolatile FeRAM devices, DRAMs, capacitors, pyroelectric infrared sensors, optical displays, optical switches, piezoelectric transducers, and surface acoustic wave devices.

Abstract: A conductive barrier, useful as a ferroelectric capacitor electrode, having high temperature stability has been provided. This conductive barrier permits the use of iridium (Ir) metal in IC processes involving annealing. Separating silicon substrate from Ir film with an intervening, adjacent, tantalum (Ta) film has been found to very effective in suppressing diffusion between layers. The Ir prevents the interdiffusion of oxygen into the silicon during annealing. A Ta or TaN layer prevents the diffusion of Ir into the silicon. This Ir/TaN structure protects the silicon interface so that adhesion, conductance, hillock, and peeling problems are minimized. The use of Ti overlying the Ir/TaN structure also helps prevent hillock formation during annealing. A method of forming a multilayer Ir conductive structure and Ir ferroelectric electrode are also provided.

Abstract: An Ir combination film has been provided that is useful in forming an electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor. The combination film includes tantalum and oxygen, as well as iridium. The Ir combination film effectively prevents oxygen diffusion, and is resistant to high temperature annealing in oxygen environments. When used with an underlying Ta or TaN layer, the resulting conductive barrier also suppresses to diffusion of Ir into any underlying Si substrates. As a result, Ir silicide products are not formed, which degrade the electrode interface characteristics. That is, the Ir combination film remains conductive, not peeling or forming hillocks, during high temperature annealing processes, even in oxygen. A method for forming an Ir composite film barrier layer and Ir composite film ferroelectric electrode are also provided.

Abstract: A process of forming silicide at uniform rates across the entire source/drain region is provided. A two-step annealing method permits the thickness of the silicide formed on the edge of a silicon electrode to be substantially the same as it is in the center of the electrode. A first, low temperature anneal begins the salicidation process across the source/drain electrode surface. The time and temperature are controlled so that the metal is only partially consumed. The annealing is interrupted to remove excess silicidation metal, especially the unreacted metal overlying oxide areas neighboring the silicon electrode. Then, the silicidation is completed at a higher temperature anneal. Because the excess metal has been removed, the resulting silicide layer is uniformly flat, permitting the transistor to be fabricated with shallow junction areas and low leakage currents.

Abstract: An Ir—M—O composite film has been provided that is useful in forming an electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor, where M includes a variety of refractory metals. The Ir combination film is resistant to high temperature annealing in oxygen environments. When used with an underlying barrier layer made from the same variety of M transition metals, the resulting conductive barrier also suppresses to diffusion of Ir into any underlying Si substrates. As a result, Ir silicide products are not formed, which degrade the electrode interface characteristics. That is, the Ir combination film remains conductive, not peeling or forming hillocks, during high temperature annealing processes, even in oxygen. The Ir—M—O conductive electrode/barrier structures are useful in nonvolatile FeRAM devices, DRAMs, capacitors, pyroelectric infrared sensors, optical displays, optical switches, piezoelectric transducers, and surface acoustic wave devices.

Abstract: A process of forming silicide at uniform rates across the entire source/drain region is provided. A two-step annealing method permits the thickness of the silicide formed on the edge of a silicon electrode to be substantially the same as it is in the center of the electrode. A first, low temperature anneal begins the salicidation process across the source/drain electrode surface. The time and temperature are controlled so that the metal is only partially consumed. The annealing is interrupted to remove excess silicidation metal, especially the unreacted metal overlying oxide areas neighboring the silicon electrode. Then, the silicidation is completed at a higher temperature anneal. Because the excess metal has been removed, the resulting silicide layer is uniformly flat, permitting the transistor to be fabricated with shallow junction areas and low leakage currents.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a ferroelectric memory transistor using a lithographic process having an alignment tolerance of .delta., includes preparing a silicon substrate for construction of a ferroelectric gate unit; implanting boron ions to form a p- well in the substrate; isolating plural device areas on the substrate; forming a FE gate stack surround structure; etching the FE gate stack surround structure to form an opening having a width of L1 to expose the substrate in a gate region; depositing oxide to a thickness of between about 10 nm to 40 nm over the exposed substrate; forming a FE gate stack over the gate region, wherein the FE gate stack has a width of L2, wherein L2.gtoreq.L1+2.delta.; depositing a first insulating layer over the structure; implanting arsenic or phosphorous ions to form a source region and a drain region; annealing the structure; depositing a second insulating layer; and metallizing the structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an intermediate level in an integrated circuit dielectric during a damascene process using a photoresist mask having an intermediate thickness. The method forms an interconnect to a first depth in the dielectric through an opening in the photoresist pattern. The photoresist profile is partially etched away in the area of the intermediate thickness to reveal a second dielectric surface area. The second dielectric surface area is then etched to a second depth less than the first depth. In this manner, vias can be formed to the first depth, and lines can be formed at a second depth to intersect the vias. The method of the present invention allows a dual damascene process to be performed with a single step of photoresist formation.

Abstract: A method of forming a temporary overhang structure to shield the source/drain edges near the gate electrode from the deposition of silicidation metal is provided. The growth of silicide on the source/drain regions remains controlled, without the presence of silicidation metal on the gate electrode sidewalls near the source/drain edges. The resulting silicide layer does not have edge growths interfering with the source/drain junction areas. The overhang structure is formed by covering the gate electrode with two insulators having differing etch selectivities. The top insulator is anisotropically etched so that only the top insulator covering the gate electrode vertical sidewalls remains. The exposed bottom insulator is isotropically etched to form a gap between the top insulator and the source/drain region surfaces. When silicidation metal is deposited, the gap prevents the deposition of metal between the gate electrode and the source/drain region surfaces.

Abstract: A method for rapid thermally annealing a thin amorphous film on a transparent substrate with the use of a radiation absorption film is provided. Unlike a transmissive silicon thin film, or transparent substrate, the metal absorptive film has excellent radiation absorption characteristics. When a radiation absorption layer is added to the substrate it is possible to rapidly anneal an amorphous silicon film with convention IC process radiation lamps. The metal absorption film also acts to conduct the heat to the amorphous silicon. The control provided by the choice of metal material, metal thickness, the oxidation of the metal surface, and the heat and duration of the RTA process provide unique opportunities to control the crystallization process. Polysilicon made by the above-described method has the potential of high electron mobility and low production costs. A thin-film structure for use in a TFT, made through the above-described method, is also provided.

Abstract: A method for etching a metallic surface on an integrated circuit (IC) is provided to minimize electrical resistance between the metallic surface and subsequently applied chemical vapor deposition (CVD) copper. The metallic surface is etched with the ions of an inert gas, such as Ar, at low energy levels. A low energy level minimizes the penetration of ions into the metallic surface, and the use of an inert gas minimizes chemical interactions between the metallic surface and the ions. CVD copper is then applied to the etched surface. In one embodiment, an inert gas and oxygen ions are used to prepare the metallic surface. The inert gas ions are used to etch the metallic surface to improve conductivity, and the oxygen ions promote the formation of an oxide layer to improve adhesion between the metallic surface and the copper. An IC comprising a copper stud to interconnect dielectric interlevels with improved electrical conductivity is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming silicided source/drain electrodes in active devices wherein the electrodes have very thin junction regions. In the process silicidation material is deposited on the wafer and rapid-thermal-annealed at a temperature and for a time calculated to produce metal-rich or silicon-deficient silicide on the electrodes. The metal-rich or silicon-deficient silicide is selectively formed on the semiconductor electrodes and not on oxide or other insulating surfaces. A selective etch removes the silicidation material which has not reacted with silicon, including metal overlying insulating surfaces. Then, after cleaning the silicide surfaces, a layer of silicon is deposited over the structure and a second rapid thermal anneal is performed at a higher temperature than the first rapid thermal anneal.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming silicide surfaces on source, drain, and gate electrodes in active devices to decrease the resistance of the electrode surfaces, without consuming the silicon of the electrodes in the process. Silicide is directionally deposited on the electrodes so that a greater thickness accumulates on electrode surfaces, and a lesser thickness accumulates on the gate sidewall surfaces isolating the gate from the source/drain electrodes. Then, the electrodes are isotropically etched so that the lesser thickness on the sidewalls is removed, leaving at least some thickness of silicide covering the electrodes. In further steps, the electrodes are masked with photoresist, and any silicide deposited in the region of field oxide around the electrodes is removed.

Abstract: A low reflectance conductor for an integrated circuit is disclosed. A layer of refractory metal is disposed over the aluminum alloy or silicide conductors commonly in use in integrated circuits. The layer of refractory metal is then treated in a plasma reactor to form a low reflective layer of refractory metal oxide on the surface.

Abstract: The formation of elongated structures, such as lines, having a linewidth substantially less than one micrometer is described. An elongated structure of a first material having opposed sides, a rounded surface between the sides and a width typically of about one micrometer or greater is formed on a substrate. The sides of the structure are at least partially coated with a layer of a second material which will etch at a slower rate than the first material. The coating may completely cover the structure. The structure is anisotropically etched. Since the coating protects the sides of the structure, etching proceeds in the center to form two parallel lines, each significantly below one micrometer in width. In one embodiment, formation of the protective coating and etching of the structure are carried out simultaneously.