Abstract: A method of fabricating a DRAM device to reduce the stress and enhance the adhesion between the top electrode and the interlevel dielectric layer, includes forming a titanium layer between the top electrode and the interlevel dielectric layer. A titanium oxide layer and a titanium silicide are formed between the titanium layer and the interlevel dielectric layer in post thermal procedures, which enhances the adhesion and avoids cracks and leakage current between the top electrode and the interlevel dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation structure includes the steps of fabricating a self-aligned silicon nitride mask over the trench region so that a kink effect due to the misalignment of mask during a conventional mask-making process can be avoided. Moreover, the silicon nitride mask requires fewer steps and less complicated operations to construct than a conventional reverse tone mask.

Abstract: A method for forming a DRAM capacitor whose titanium nitride electrode is fabricated in a sequence of steps that results in a good step-coverage. Moreover, contamination of the titanium nitride layer and cross-diffusion between the titanium nitride layer and the dielectric film layer is reduced to a minimum. The method of forming the titanium nitride layer includes the steps of depositing a first titanium nitride layer over a dielectric film layer using a conventional physical vapor deposition process. Then, a second titanium nitride layer is deposited over the first titanium nitride layer using a collimated physical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A metallization structure comprises a semiconductor substrate and pre-formed multi-interconnect layer, which include a passivation layer deposited on the top copper layer of the multi-interconnect layer, a pad window, and a non-copper thin conductive film. The non-copper thin conductive film is deposited in the pad window to protect the top copper layer from exposure to the air. The non-copper thin conductive film includes aluminum, tantalum, TaN, TiN, or WN.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a via structure comprising the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate, and then forming conductive line and dielectric layer over the substrate. Next, a photolithographic and a first etching operation are conducted so that an opening in the dielectric layer exposing the conductive line surface is formed. The first etching operation uses several etchants including fluorobutane, which has the highest concentration. Since there is a re-entrance structure at the bottom of the opening, a second etching operation is performed. In the second etching operation, a portion of the conductive line is etched for a fixed time interval to control the degree of etching. Consequently, a slanting surface is formed at the bottom of the opening and the re-entrance structure is eliminated. With a planarized bottom, step coverage of subsequently deposited material is increased.

Abstract: A structure of a capacitor includes two gates and a commonly used source/drain region on a substrate. Then, a pitted self align contact window (PSACW) partly exposes the commonly used source/drain region. Then an glue/barrier layer and a lower electrode of the capacitor are over the PSACW. Then a dielectric thin film with a material having high dielectric constant is over the lower electrode. Then, an upper electrode is over the dielectric thin film to complete a capacitor, which has a structure of metal insulator metal with a shape like the PSACW.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a dual damascene structure on a substrate with a first dielectric layer, an etching stop layer, a second dielectric layer, and a hard mask layer formed on it. The first step is to define the hard mask layer in order to form the first hole, which corresponds to the position of the conductive layer exposing the second dielectric layer. Then, an etching process, including an etching step with medium SiO.sub.2 /SiN etching selectivity and an over-etching step with high SiO.sub.2 /SiN etching selectivity, is performed to form the second hole and the third hole. Finally, a glue/barrier layer and a metal layer are filled into the second hole and the third hole, thus accomplishing a dual damascene structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a bonding pad is provided. A substrate is provided and a multi-metal layer is formed on the substrate. An inter-metal dielectric layer with a trench is formed on the multi-metal layer. A conformal barrier layer is formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer. A first metal layer is formed on the barrier layer to fill a part of the trench. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer to fill the trench. A part of the first metal layer and a part of the second metal layer flowing out the trench are removed to expose the inter-metal dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer. A passivation layer is formed on the cap layer. A part of the passivation and a part of the cap layer are removed to form a bonding pad window by a defined masking layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual damascene structure comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a first conductive layer formed thereon, and then sequentially forming a first dielectric layer, an anti-reflection layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate. Next, the first dielectric layer, the anti-reflection layer and the second dielectric layer are patterned to form a first opening that exposes the conductive layer. Thereafter, the second dielectric layer is patterned to form a trench (or second opening) in a position above the first conductive layer. The trench and the first opening together form an opening of the dual damascene structure. Finally, a second conductive material is deposited into the opening and the trench to form conductive lines and the dual damascene structures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a capacitor, comprising the steps of: providing a conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate having a transistor formed thereon to connect a source/drain region of the transistor; forming a hemispherical grained silicon layer over the conductive layer; using an implantation method to implant ions into the hemispherical grained silicon layer; performing a thermal treatment process to convert the ions into a barrier layer over the hemispherical grained silicon layer; performing a wet etching process to clean a surface of the barrier layer; forming a dielectric layer over the barrier layer and forming a top electrode over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor of a DRAM includes a lower conductive layer of the capacitor is formed over a substrate and is electrically coupled to an interchangeable source/drain region through a contact window penetrating an insulating layer. Then performing etching process on the lower conductive layer so as to form a fence-like plate with a higher height than a thickness of the lower conductive layer and adhere to the lower conductive layer. Next a media conductive layer is formed over the lower conductive layer and the fence-like plate. Then the technology of etching back is utilized to round the sharp area on the tip of the fence-like plate. The lower conductive layer and the media conductive layer are electrically coupled together as a lower electrode. Then, a dielectric thin film is formed over the media conductive layer and an upper electrode is formed over the dielectric thin film. Therefore, a MIM capacitor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is formed.

Abstract: A method to fabricate a dual damascene structure in a substrate is disclosed in the present invention. A first silicon oxide layer is deposited over the substrate and a silicon nitride layer is formed on the first silicon oxide layer. The first silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer are etched in order to form a via hole on the substrate. Afterwards, a second silicon oxide layer is deposited to refill into the via hole and to cover the silicon nitride layer. A dry etching process is performed to remove the second silicon oxide layer in the via hole and to form a metal trench in the second silicon oxide layer on the silicon nitride layer and a metal trench in the second silicon oxide layer above the via hole. After the formation of the metal trenches, a portion of the second silicon oxide layer is remained on the sidewalls and the bottom of the via hole. A dry etching process is performed to remove the remaining portion of the second silicon oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a barrier layer comprising the steps of first providing a semiconductor substrate that has a conductive layer already formed thereon. Then, a dielectric layer such as an organic low-k dielectric layer is deposited over the conductive layer and the semiconductor substrate. Next, an opening in formed in the dielectric layer exposing the conductive layer. Thereafter, a first barrier layer is deposited into the opening and the surrounding area. The first barrier layer can be a silicon-contained layer or a doped silicon (doped-Si) layer formed by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method, a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method, an electron beam evaporation method or a sputtering method. Finally, a second barrier layer is formed over the first barrier layer. The second barrier layer can be a titanium/titanium nitride (Ti/TiN) layer, a tungsten nitride (WN) layer, a tantalum (Ta) layer or a tantalum nitride (TaN) layer.

Abstract: A multilevel interconnect structure is formed in a manner that reduces the problems associated with the formation and subsequent filling of unlanded vias. A first level wiring line is provided on the surface of an interlayer dielectric. The upper surface and sidewalls of the first level wiring line are covered with an etch stop material that is different from the intermetal dielectric used to separate the first level of wiring line from upper levels of wiring lines. The intermetal dielectric layer is deposited over the first level wiring line and a via is etched through the intermetal dielectric to expose the etch stop material above the wiring line, with the via etch stopping on the etch stop material. Etch stop material is removed to expose a portion of the upper surface of the wiring line and a metal plug is formed within the via and then an upper level wiring line is formed in contact with the metal plug.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual damascene structure. A low k dielectric layer and a cap layer are successively formed on a substrate having an active region. A first photoresist layer is formed on the cap layer and the cap layer is then patterned to expose a portion of the low k dielectric layer. The first photoresist layer and a portion of the low k dielectric layer are simultaneously removed to form a wiring line opening. A second photoresist layer is formed on the cap layer to cover a portion of the wiring line opening. When the step of removing the second photoresist layer is performed, a via hole is formed to expose the active region by simultaneously removing the exposed low k dielectric layer. The via hole and the wiring line opening are filled with a metal layer to form a wiring line and a via.

Abstract: A self-aligned via process to prevent the via poisoning includes forming a hydrogen silsesquioxane layer on the substrate and over a pre-formed metal layer, forming an etching stop layer on the hydrogen silsesquioxane layer, forming an oxide layer on the etching stop layer, and then proceeding with a two-step etching process to form a via. The two-step etching process first patterns the oxide layer using a patterned photoresist layer as a mask, and then patterns the etching stop layer together with the hydrogen silsesquioxane layer using the patterned oxide layer as a mask. Because the etching stop layer prevents the hydrogen silsesquioxane layer from reacting with the oxygen plasma during the photoresist layer removal process, via poisoning is eliminated.

Abstract: The capacitor of a DRAM cell is formed by depositing a layer of doped polysilicon, patterning the layer of doped polysilicon to define the extent of the capacitor's lower electrode and depositing a layer of hemispherical-grained silicon (HSG-Si) on the layer of doped polysilicon. A thin layer of amorphous silicon is then formed over the HSG-Si layer. This textured polysilicon structure forms the lower electrode of the DRAM capacitor. A dielectric layer is formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is formed from a second layer of doped polysilicon. As-formed HSG-Si grains tend to form sharp intersections with the polysilicon layers on which they grow. When these HSG-Si grains are exposed to a thermal oxidation environment, poor quality oxides are formed at the sharp corners between the HSG-Si grains and the doped polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a DRAM includes forming a transfer FET on a substrate, the FET having a gate on a gate oxide layer above the substrate and a first and second source/drain region in the substrate on either side of a channel region under the gate. The first and second source/drain regions are typically exposed or nearly exposed in a spacer etch process. A silicon nitride etch stop layer is deposited over the entire structure and then a thick layer of oxide is deposited on the device. Chemical mechanical polishing is performed to provide a planar surface on the thick oxide layer. An opening is formed through the thick layer of oxide above the first source/drain region, stopping at the etch stop layer. The etch stop layer is removed within the opening in the thick layer of oxide and the underlying thin oxide layer is etched. A capacitor electrode can then be formed in contact with the exposed portion of the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A method for forming dual damascene is provided. First, a first inter-metal dielectric layer and a stop layer is formed on a substrate, and then a first photoresist pattern including a via hole and a dummy metal line is patterned and the stop layer is etched for forming via hole. Next, a second inter-metal dielectric layer is deposited and then a second photoresist pattern is patterned for forming metal line trench by etching. Afterwards, a glue layer and a metal layer are blanketed and the dual damascene structure is formed by chemical mechanical polishing.

Abstract: A dual damascene processing method comprising the steps depositing sequentially a first oxide layer, a SRO layer and a second oxide layer over a substrate. Then, photolithographic and etching operations are conducted to form a via that links up with a desired wire-connecting region above the substrate. Next, another photolithographic and etching operations are conducted to form interconnect trench lines followed by the deposition of metal into the via and trench. Finally, the surface is polished with a chemical-mechanical polishing operation to remove the unwanted metal on the surface. The invention is capable of controlling the depth of trench and obtaining a smoother trench bottom for the metal lines. Furthermore, the separation of via and trench etching steps makes the control of the final etch profile much easier, thereby able to get an optimal result.