Abstract: A cap nitride stack which prevents etch penetration to the HDP nitride while maintaining the electromigration benefits of HDP nitride atop Cu. In one embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride and a second layer of a Si—C—H compound disposed over the first layer. The Si—C—H compound is for example BLoK, or N-BLoK (Si—C—H—N), and is selected from a group of materials that has high selectivity during via RIE such that RIE chemistry from the next wiring level does not punch through. Carbon and nitrogen are the key elements. In another embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride, followed by a second layer of UVN (a plasma nitride), and a third layer comprising HDP nitride disposed over the second layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a FET device in which a nitride layer overlies the PFET gate structure, where the nitride layer has a compressive stress with a magnitude greater than about 2.8 GPa. This compressive stress permits improved device performance in the PFET. The nitride layer is deposited using a high-density plasma (HDP) process, wherein the substrate is disposed on an electrode to which a bias power in the range of about 50 W to about 500 W is supplied. The bias power is characterized as high-frequency power (supplied by an RF generator at 13.56 MHz). The FET device may also include NFET gate structures. A blocking layer is deposited over the NFET gate structures so that the nitride layer overlies the blocking layer; after the blocking layer is removed, the nitride layer is not in contact with the NFET gate structures. The nitride layer has a thickness in the range of about 300-2000 ?.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a FET device in which a nitride layer overlies the PFET gate structure, where the nitride layer has a compressive stress with a magnitude greater than about 2.8 GPa. This compressive stress permits improved device performance in the PFET. The nitride layer is deposited using a high-density plasma (HDP) process, wherein the substrate is disposed on an electrode to which a bias power in the range of about 50 W to about 500 W is supplied. The bias power is characterized as high-frequency power (supplied by an RF generator at 13.56 MHz). The FET device may also include NFET gate structures. A blocking layer is deposited over the NFET gate structures so that the nitride layer overlies the blocking layer; after the blocking layer is removed, the nitride layer is not in contact with the NFET gate structures. The nitride layer has a thickness in the range of about 300-2000 ?.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of dual damascene interconnect structures in integrated circuit devices. Specifically, a method is disclosed for forming a single or dual damascene structure in a low-k dielectric thin film utilizing a planarizing material and a compressive diffusion barrier material. The barrier material preferably has a compressive stress of greater than 300 MPa. In a preferred dual damascene embodiment of this method, the vias are formed first in the dielectric material, then the planarizing material is deposited in the vias and on the dielectric material, and the barrier material is deposited on the planarizing material. The trenches are then formed lithographically in the imaging material, etched through the barrier material into the planarizing material, and the trench pattern is transferred to the dielectric material. During and following the course of these etch steps, the imaging, barrier and planarizing materials are removed.

Abstract: Methods of forming a mask for implanting a substrate and implanting using an implant stopping layer with a photoresist provide lower aspect ratio masks that cause minimal damage to trench isolations in the substrate during removal of the mask. In one embodiment, a method of forming a mask includes: depositing an implant stopping layer over the substrate; depositing a photoresist over the implant stopping layer, the implant stopping layer having a density greater than the photoresist; forming a pattern in the photoresist by removing a portion of the photoresist to expose the implant stopping layer; and transferring the pattern into the implant stopping layer by etching to form the mask. The implant stopping layer may include: hydrogenated germanium carbide, nitrogenated germanium carbide, fluorinated germanium carbide, and/or amorphous germanium carbon hydride (GeHX), where X includes carbon. The methods/mask reduce scattering during implanting because the mask has higher density than conventional masks.

Abstract: A lithographic structure consisting essentially of: an organic antireflective material disposed on a substrate; a vapor-deposited RCHX material, wherein R is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, B, Sn, Fe and Ti, and wherein X is not present or is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of O, N, S and F; and a photoresist material disposed on the RCHX material. The invention is also directed to methods of making the lithographic structure, and using the structure to pattern a substrate.

Abstract: A method for protecting a semiconductor device from carbon depletion type damage includes enriching an exposed surface of a porous interlevel dielectric material (ILD) with a carbon based material, and implementing a plasma based operation on the porous ILD material. The enriching of the porous ILD material reduces effects of carbon depletion as a result of the plasma based operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bilayer cap structure for interconnect structures that comprise copper metallization or other conductive metallization. Such bilayer cap structure includes a first cap layer formed by an unbiased high density plasma (HDP) chemical vapor deposition process, and a second cap layer over the first cap layer, where the second cap layer is formed by a biased high density plasma (bHDP) chemical vapor deposition process. During the bHDP chemical vapor deposition process, a low AC bias power is applied to the substrate to increase the ion bombardment on the substrate surface and to induce resputtering of the capping material, thereby forming a seamless second cap layer with excellent reactive ion etching (RIE) selectivity.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a FET device in which a nitride layer overlies the PFET gate structure, where the nitride layer has a compressive stress with a magnitude greater than about 2.8 GPa. This compressive stress permits improved device performance in the PFET. The nitride layer is deposited using a high-density plasma (HDP) process, wherein the substrate is disposed on an electrode to which a bias power in the range of about 50 W to about 500 W is supplied. The bias power is characterized as high-frequency power (supplied by an RF generator at 13.56 MHz). The FET device may also include NFET gate structures. A blocking layer is deposited over the NFET gate structures so that the nitride layer overlies the blocking layer; after the blocking layer is removed, the nitride layer is not in contact with the NFET gate structures. The nitride layer has a thickness in the range of about 300-2000 ?.

Abstract: A cap nitride stack which prevents etch penetration to the HDP nitride while maintaining the electromigration benefits of HDP nitride atop Cu. In one embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride and a second layer of a Si—C—H compound disposed over the first layer. The Si—C—H compound is for example BLoK, or N-BLoK (Si—C—H—N), and is selected from a group of materials that has high selectivity during via RIE such that RIE chemistry from the next wiring level does not punch through. Carbon and nitrogen are the key elements. In another embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride, followed by a second layer of UVN (a plasma nitride), and a third layer comprising HDP nitride disposed over the second layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bilayer cap structure for interconnect structures that comprise copper metallization or other conductive metallization. Such bilayer cap structure includes a first cap layer formed by an unbiased high density plasma (HDP) chemical vapor deposition process, and a second cap layer over the first cap layer, where the second cap layer is formed by a biased high density plasma (bHDP) chemical vapor deposition process. During the bHDP chemical vapor deposition process, a low AC bias power is applied to the substrate to increase the ion bombardment on the substrate surface and to induce resputtering of the capping material, thereby forming a seamless second cap layer with excellent reactive ion etching (RIE) selectivity.

Abstract: A cap nitride stack which prevents etch penetration to the HDP nitride while maintaining the electromigration benefits of HDP nitride atop Cu. In one embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride and a second layer of a Si—C—H compound disposed over the first layer. The Si—C—H compound is for example BLoK, or N-BLoK (Si—C—H—N), and is selected from a group of materials that has high selectivity during via RIE such that RIE chemistry from the next wiring level does not punch through. Carbon and nitrogen are the key elements. In another embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride, followed by a second layer of UVN (a plasma nitride), and a third layer comprising HDP nitride disposed over the second layer.

Abstract: A method is described for forming a low-k dielectric film, in particular, a pre-metal dielectric (PMD) on a semiconductor wafer which has good gap-filling characteristics. The method uses a thermal sub-atmospheric CVD process that includes a carbon-containing organometallic precusor such as TMCTS or OMCTS, an ozone-containing gas, and a source of dopants for gettering alkali elements and for lowering the reflow temperature of the dielectric while attaining the desired low-k and gap-filling properties of the dielectric film. Phosphorous is a preferred dopant for gettering alkali elements such as sodium. Additional dopants for lowering the reflow temperature include, but are not limited to boron, germanium, arsenic, fluorine or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A cap nitride stack which prevents etch penetration to the HDP nitride while maintaining the electromigration benefits of HDP nitride atop Cu. In one embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride and a second layer of a Si—C—H compound disposed over the first layer. The Si—C—H compound is for example BLoK, or N-BLoK (Si—C—H—N), and is selected from a group of materials that has high selectivity during via RIE such that RIE chemistry from the next wiring level does not punch through. Carbon and nitrogen are the key elements. In another embodiment, the stack comprises a first layer of HDP nitride, followed by a second layer of UVN (a plasma nitride), and a third layer comprising HDP nitride disposed over the second layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a trench storage structure that includes a substrate having a trench, a capacitor conductor in the lower part of the trench, a conductive node strap in the trench adjacent the capacitor conductor, a trench top oxide above the capacitor conductor, and a conductive buried strap in the substrate adjacent the trench top oxide. The trench top oxide includes a doped trench top oxide layer above the conductive strap, and an undoped trench top oxide layer above the doped trench top oxide layer.

Abstract: A fluid depth determination system is provided for a vessel that contains first and second immiscible fluids, where the second fluid floats on top of the first fluid forming an interface therebetween. The system includes a first pressure probe which is located in the floor of the vessel, a second pressure probe being at least vertically moveable in the first and second fluids in a region of the interface, means for collecting pressure readings from the first and second pressure probes and means for calculating the depth of the first fluid based on a difference in the pressure readings. The present invention is also directed to a method of determining a depth of a first fluid having an immiscible second fluid floating on top of the first fluid and forming an interface therebetween.

Abstract: A process for providing regions of substantially lower fluorine content in a fluorine-containing dielectric comprises exposing the fluorine-containing dielectric to a reactive species to form volatile byproducts.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of dual damascene interconnect structures in integrated circuit devices. Specifically, a method is disclosed for forming a single or dual damascene structure in a low-k dielectric thin film utilizing a planarizing material and a compressive diffusion barrier material. The barrier material preferably has a compressive stress of greater than 300 MPa. In a preferred dual damascene embodiment of this method, the vias are formed first in the dielectric material, then the planarizing material is deposited in the vias and on the dielectric material, and the barrier material is deposited on the planarizing material. The trenches are then formed lithographically in the imaging material, etched through the barrier material into the planarizing material, and the trench pattern is transferred to the dielectric material. During and following the course of these etch steps, the imaging, barrier and planarizing materials are removed.

Abstract: A process for providing regions of substantially lower fluorine content in a fluorine-containing dielectric comprises exposing the fluorine-containing dielectric to a reactive species to form volatile byproducts.

Abstract: The invention provides a trench storage structure that includes a substrate having a trench, a capacitor conductor in the lower part of the trench, a conductive node strap in the trench adjacent the capacitor conductor, a trench top oxide above the capacitor conductor, and a conductive buried strap in the substrate adjacent the trench top oxide.