Abstract: Electroless NiWP layers are used for TFT Cu gate process. The NiWP deposition process comprises the following steps. (a) Cleaning of the base surface using for example UV light, ozone solution and/or alkaline mixture solution, (b) micro-etching of the base surface using, e.g. diluted acid, (c) catalyzation of the base surface using, e.g. SnCl<SUB>2</SUB> and PdCl<SUB>2</SUB> solutions, (d) conditioning of the base surface using reducing agent solution, and (e) NiWP deposition. It has been discovered that NiWP layers deposited under certain conditions could provide good adhesion to the glass substrate and to the Cu layer with a good Cu barrier capability. A NiWP layer in useful for adhesion, capping and/or barrier layers for TFT Cu gate process (e.g. for flat screen display panels).

Abstract: An improved method of preventing copper poisoning in the fabrication of metal interconnects on a semiconductor substrate comprises sequential formation of a copper layer, a first stop layer, a first inter-metal dielectric layer, a second stop layer, and a second inter-metal dielectric layer over the substrate. The second inter-metal dielectric layer and the second stop layer are defined to form an opening. A conformal first glue/barrier layer is formed over the substrate. The first glue/barrier layer and the first inter-metal dielectric layer are patterned to form a via hole below the opening until the first stop layer is exposed. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the opening and the via hole below the opening. The first stop layer at bottom of the via hole is removed to expose the copper layer.

Abstract: An improved method for fabricating metal interconnects on a semiconductor substrate comprises sequential formation of a copper layer, a first stop layer, a first inter-metal dielectric layer, a second stop layer, and a second inter-metal dielectric layer over the substrate. The second inter-metal dielectric layer and the second stop layer are defined to form an opening. A conformal first glue/barrier layer is formed over the substrate. The first glue/barrier layer and the first inter-metal dielectric layer are defined to form a via hole above the opening until the first stop layer is exposed. Spacers are formed on sidewalls of the opening and the via hole above the opening. The first stop layer at bottom of the via hole is removed to expose the copper layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate. A gate oxide layer, a polysilicon layer and a barrier layer are subsequently formed on a substrate, on which an isolation structure is formed. A conductive layer is formed on the barrier layer by sputtering deposition using titanium silicide with a low silicon content as a target. A rapid thermal process (RTP) is performed to remove the polymer nodule formed by sputtering deposition. An anti-reflection layer is formed on the conductive layer. The anti-reflection layer, the conductive layer and the barrier layer are patterned by the etchant composed of chlorine/nitrogen/hexafluoroethane until the polysilicon layer is exposed. Using the anti-reflection layer, the conductive layer and the barrier layer as a mask, the exposed polysilicon layer and the gate oxide layer underlying the exposed polysilicon layer are removed by the etchant composed of chlorine/hydrogen bromide/helium/oxygen until the substrate is exposed and a gate is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for etching a poly-silicon layer of a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer comprises a dielectric layer, a poly-silicon layer situated on the dielectric layer and containing dopants to a predetermined depth, and a photo-resist layer having a rectangular cross-section above a predetermined area of the poly-silicon layer. The semiconductor wafer is processed in a plasma chamber. A first dry-etching process is performed to vertically etch away the dopant-containing portion of the poly-silicon layer not covered by the photo-resist layer. Then, a second dry-etching process is performed to vertically etch away the residual portion of the poly-silicon layer not covered by the photo-resist layer down to the surface of the dielectric layer. The etching gases used in the first dry-etching process differ from those used in the second dry-etching process, and the main etching gas of the first dry-etching process is C2F6.

Abstract: A method for forming a contact hole in a silicon oxide layer formed over a silicon nitride layer and a substrate performs an etching process with an etchant, C4F8/Ar or C4F8/C2F6/Ar, on an inductively coupled plasma etcher. The inductively coupled plasma etcher contains a chamber, a ring, and a roof. The etchant used in the etching process is controlled by conditions that include a C4F8 flow of about 10 to 20 sccm, a CO flow of less than about 100 sccm, and an Ar flow of about 50 to 500 sccm. In the meantime, the conditions of the inductively coupled plasma etcher include a roof temperature of about 150 to 300 ° C., a ring temperature of about 150 to 400 ° C., and a pressure within the chamber of about 4 to 50 mtorr. By performing a plasma etching process under the foregoing conditions, a properly profiled contact hole is obtained.

Abstract: A method for forming a different width of gate spacer is disclosed. The method includes firstly forming a gate oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon layer, a conductive layer, a first dielectric layer are formed in order on the gate oxide layer. The first dielectric layer, the conductive layer, the polysilicon layer, and the gate oxide layer are further etched using them as the interior gate and the peripheral gate. Next, second dielectric layer, third dielectric layer, and fourth dielectric layer are formed over the interior gate and the peripheral gate, and a first photoresist layer abuts the surface of the fourth dielectric layer of the interior circuit. Moreover, etching the fourth dielectric layer of peripheral gate to form a second spacer of peripheral gate, and etching the third dielectric layer of the peripheral gate are undertaken to form a first spacer of the peripheral gate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cylindrical capacitor is provided. This invention uses a composite structure composed of stacked barrier/scarificing/mask layers to prevent the contact plug of the capacitor from being attacked by wet etchants. An insulating layer is formed over a substrate having a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode. Then a barrier layer, a sacrificing layer and a mask layer are sequentially formed over the insulating layer. Next, a contact hole is formed over the source region and spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the contact hole. After a storage electrode of the capacitor is formed and exposed portions of the mask layer are removed, the sacrificing layer is isotropically etched using the spacers and the barrier layer as stopping layers. Thereafter, a capacitor dielectric layer and an opposite electrode are formed over the storage electrode thereby completing the capacitor.

Abstract: An oxide etching method using low-medium density plasma includes a first etching step to pre-etch the oxide layer with low etching selectivity etchant to pre-form a contact opening and a monitoring opening. The low etching selectivity etchant can also etch the photoresist layer and the photoresist reaction residue. Then, a second etching with high etching selectivity on the oxide is performed to completely form the contact opening with a SAC property and the monitoring opening. The openings expose the substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a rugged capacitor structure of high density Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cells is disclosed. First, MOSFETs, wordlines and bitlines are formed on a semiconductor silicon substrate. Next, a dielectric layer and a doped polysilicon layer are sequentially deposited over the entire silicon substrate. The dielectric layer and doped polysilicon layer are then partially etched to open source contact windows. Then, a polysilicon layer is deposited overlaying the doped polysilicon layer and filling into the source contact windows. Next, the polysilicon layer and doped polysilicon layers are partially etched to define bottom electrodes of the capacitors. Next, tilt angle implantation is performed to implant impurities into top surface and four sidewalls of the polysilicon layer and doped polysilicon layer. Next, a rugged polysilicon layer is deposited overlaying the polysilicon, doped polysilicon and third dielectric layers.