Abstract: A method for reducing RC delay in integrated circuits by lowering the dielectric constant of the intermetal dielectric material between metal interconnects or metal damascene interconnects is described. The dielectric constant of the intermetal dielectric is lowered by introducing air into the intermetal dielectric between metal interconnections. An air bridge comprising a porous material, preferably amorphous silicon, porous silicon oxide, or porous silsesquioxane, is deposited over a layer containing a reactive organic material. An oxygen plasma treatment or an anisotropic etching through the pores in the air bridge layer removes at least a portion of the reactive material, leaving air plugs within the intermetal dielectric.

Abstract: An effective copper decontamination method in the fabrication of integrated circuits is achieved. An organic-based HFACAC decontamination compound in vapor phase is sprayed over elemental copper found on equipment or tools or as a spill wherein the compound reacts with all of the elemental copper and forms a volatile compound that can be flushed away thereby completing copper decontamination.

Abstract: A new method of depositing a copper layer, using disproportionation of Cu(I) ions from a solution stabilized by a polar organic solvent, for single and dual damascene interconnects in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device has been achieved. A dielectric layer, which may comprise a stack of dielectric material, is provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned to form vias and trenches for planned dual damascene interconnects. A barrier layer is deposited overlying the dielectric layer to line the vias and trenches. A simple Cu(I) ion solution, stabilized by a polar organic solvent, is coated overlying said barrier layer. Water is added to the stabilized simple Cu(I) ion solution to cause disproportionation of the simple Cu(I) ion from the Cu(I) ion solution. A copper layer is deposited overlying the barrier layer.

Abstract: A method for introducing air into the gaps between neighboring conducting structures in a microelectronics fabrication in order to reduce the capacitative coupling between them. A patterned metal layer is deposited on a substrate. The layer is lined with a CVD-oxide. A disposable gap-filling material is deposited over the lined metal layer. A two layer “air-bridge” is formed over the gap-fill by depositing a layer of TiN over a layer of CVD-oxide. This structure is rendered porous by several chemical processes. An oxygen plasma is passed through the porous air-bridge to react with and dissolve the gap-fill beneath it. The reaction products escape through the porous air-bridge resulting in air-filled gaps.

Abstract: A method for removing unreacted nickel or cobalt after silicidation using carbon monoxide dry stripping is described. Shallow trench isolation regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate surrounding and electrically isolating an active area from other active areas. A gate electrode and associated source and drain regions are formed in the active area wherein dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. A nickel or cobalt layer is deposited over the gate electrode and associated source and drain regions, shallow trench isolation regions, and dielectric spacers. The semiconductor substrate is annealed whereby the nickel or cobalt layer overlying the gate electrode and said source and drain regions is transformed into a nickel or cobalt silicide layer and wherein the nickel or cobalt layer overlying the dielectric spacers and the shallow trench isolation regions is unreacted.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a damascene structure with reduced capacitance by forming one or more of: the passivation layer, the etch stop layer, and the cap layer using a low dielectric constant material comprising carbon nitride, boron nitride, or boron carbon nitride. The method begins by providing a semiconductor structure having a first conductive layer thereover. A passivation layer is formed on the first conductive layer. A first dielectric layer is formed over the passivation layer, and an etch stop layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop layer, and an optional cap layer can be formed over the second dielectric layer. The cap layer, the second dielectric layer, the etch stop layer, and the first dielectric layer are patterned to form a via opening stopping on said passivation layer and a trench opening stopping on the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A method of cleaning elemental copper, cobalt, or nickel from the surface of equipment hardware without corroding or damaging the equipment parts and surfaces in the event of wafer breakage and non-wafer breakage is described. A solution includes an alkyldione peroxide, a stabilizing agent, and alcohols is used to oxidize the metal and form soluble complexes which are removed by the cleaning solution. Also, a alkyldione peroxide solution for cleaning elemental copper, cobalt, or nickel from the surface of equipment hardware in the event of wafer breakage and non-wafer breakage is provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed over the substrate a planarizable layer. The planarizable layer has a lower residual portion of the planarizable layer and an upper removable portion of the planarizable layer, where one of the lower residual portion of the planarizable layer and the upper removable portion of the planarizable layer has a colorant incorporated therein. The colorant is positioned at a location which assists in monitoring and controlling an endpoint of a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method employed in planarizing the planarizable layer. There is then planarized through the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method the planarizable layer while employing the colorant concentration to determine the endpoint of the chemical mechanical polish (CMP) planarizing method.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned metal layer within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed over the substrate a blanket metal layer. There is then formed over the blanket metal layer a patterned photoresist layer. There is then etched through use of a plasma etch method while employing the patterned photoresist layer as a photoresist etch mask layer the blanket metal layer to form a patterned metal layer. The patterned metal layer so formed has a metal impregnated carbonaceous polymer residue layer formed upon a sidewall of the patterned metal layer. There is then stripped from the patterned metal layer the patterned photoresist layer through use of an oxygen containing plasma while simultaneously oxidizing the metal impregnated carbonaceous polymer residue layer to form an oxidized metal impregnated polymer residue layer upon the sidewall of the patterned metal layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating damascene vias has been achieved. Diffusion of copper into dielectric layers due to overetch of the passivation layer is eliminated by a barrier layer. The method can be used to form dual damascene interconnects. Copper traces through an isolation layer are provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. A passivation layer is deposited overlying the copper traces and the isolation layer. A dielectric layer is deposited. A cap layer is deposited. The cap layer and the dielectric layer are patterned to expose the top surface of the passivation layer and to form trenches for the damascene vias. A barrier layer is deposited overlying the passivation layer, the dielectric layer, and the cap layer. The barrier layer is etched though to expose the top surfaces of the cap layer and the passivation layer. The barrier layer isolates the sidewalls of the trenches. The passivation layer is etched through to complete damascene vias.

Abstract: A method for forming a via through a dielectric layer within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed upon the substrate a pair of microelectronic structures. There is then formed sequentially upon the substrate including the pair of microelectronic structures a first conformal dielectric layer followed by a second conformal dielectric layer followed by a third dielectric layer, where the second conformal dielectric layer serves as an etch stop layer with respect to the third dielectric layer in a first plasma etch method employed in forming in part a via through the third dielectric layer, the second conformal dielectric layer and the first conformal dielectric layer at a location between the pair of microelectronic structures.

Abstract: The microtip housing cavity in a cold cathode display was formed by selecting for the dielectric layer surrounding it a material whose etch rate (for the same etchant) was 3 to 20 times faster than the etch rate of the gate layer. Specifically, a gaseous etchant that included CHF.sub.3, CH.sub.4, CO, or CO and C.sub.4 F.sub.8 was used to form the cavity in a layer consisting of silicon oxide containing between about 3 and 10 weight % boron and between about 3 and 10 weight % phosphorus, deposited by chemical vapor deposition at pressures somewhat less than atmospheric (commonly referred to as SABPSG or sub-atmospheric boro-phosphosilicate glass). The gate layer consisted of phosphorus-doped polysilicon. Using this combination, once the gate opening had been etched, etching of the cavity proceeded very rapidly with little increase in the width of the gate opening. Thus the cavity was formed in a single mask, single etchant process.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a large surface area, storage node structure, for a DRAM device, has been developed. The storage node structure is comprised of a lower level polysilicon structure, exhibiting a "twin hammer tree" shape, and connected to an upper polysilicon level, exhibiting a "branch" type shape. The fabrication process used to create this storage node structure, features various deposition procedures, used for insulator and polysilicon layers, and various anisotropic and isotropic, dry etch procedures, as well as wet etch procedures, used for creation of the "twin hammer tree" shaped structure.

Abstract: An improved method for removing a photoresist mask from an etched aluminum pattern after etching the pattern in a chlorine containing plasma has been created. The method is a two step process, in which a first stripping step is in a plasma containing O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O and a second stripping step is in a plasma containing O.sub.2.

Abstract: A microloading quantification apparatus is comprising a supporting substrate, a first bonding pad deposited upon the supporting substrate, a second bonding pad deposited upon the supporting substrate, and an etched conductive pattern deposited upon the supporting substrate and operably connected to the first bonding pad and the second bonding pad. Methods for the formation and application of the microloading quantification apparatus to quantify the variation of the microloading effect as a result of modifications of the set of parameters of integrated circuit processing particularly those of the plasma dry etch are described.