Dual damascene process for forming a multi-layer low-k dielectric interconnect
In a dual damascene process for forming a multi-layer low-k dielectric interconnect, the formation of each layer of interconnect comprises deposition of a first low-k dielectric layer, etching of the first low-k dielectric layer to form two dual damascene vias, formation of two Cu conductor plugs enclosed with barrier layers in the two dual damascene vias, etching of the first low-k dielectric layer between the two dual damascene vias to form a trench, and spin-on of a second low-k dielectric layer filled in the trench. The spin-on low-k dielectric layer is selected to have a dielectric constant smaller than that of the first low-k dielectric layer to reduce the equivalent dielectric constant in the layer of interconnect.
The present invention relates generally to a dual damascene process and structure, and more particularly to a dual damascene process for forming a multi-layer low-k dielectric interconnect.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDue to the rapid development of integrated circuit (IC) process, the components in an IC are shrunk to attain high density. For the high density and shrinkage, it is required more advanced wiring structure and new materials for better transmission performance. Thus, copper-based conductor is employed to replace the traditional aluminum wiring. High density of IC increases difficulties to the process and therefore, dual damascene process and structure is developed to simplify the fabrication work.
In general, dual damascene process may reduce overall fabrication steps and copper-based conductor may effectively lower the resistance of wiring. However, in an extremely high density IC, formation of dual damascene interconnect with Cu process still faces high RC delay due to high dielectric constant of the inter-layer dielectric (ILD), and delay of the IC in operation arises. Therefore, low-k dielectric is proposed to resolve the problem of such delay.
Utilization of low-k material for ILD may lower the effective dielectric constant of dual damascene interconnect. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,184 issued to Zhao et al., for instance, two low-k dielectric layers and an etch-stop dielectric layer inserted therebetween are deposited at first, and then the two low-k dielectric layers are etched to form dual damascene vias to fill Cu plugs therewith. However, this method of lowering the dielectric constant has its limitation. One of the reasons is that the dielectric constant of the aforementioned etch-stop dielectric layer is higher and this boosts up the total dielectric constant. Another reason for this is that no material of lower dielectric constant may be applied to this process. Kitch had proposed another dual damascene process in U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,641, by which method the original dielectric layer is removed after Cu dual damascene plugs are formed in the dielectric layer to fill another low-k dielectric layer to replace the original dielectric layer. Even though further lowering the effective dielectric constant, this process complicates the process as well and likewise, much lower dielectric constant material may not be applied in this process.
Among various low-k dielectric materials, the dielectric constant of fluorinated silicate glass (e.g., FSG) is about 3.5, CVD oxide (e.g., SiOC) is ranged between 2.5 and 3, and spin-on dielectric has a lowest one and smaller than 2.5. Conventional dual damascene process utilizing dielectric materials with dielectric constant between 2.5 and 3 have touched the limit of lowering effective dielectric constant. Therefore, other materials with much lower dielectric constant must be adopted to further reduce the total dielectric constant. Unfortunately, spin-on low-k dielectric having dielectric constant lower than 2.5 is difficult to apply to large area, uniform or thicker deposition and hence, is not suitable for current dual damascene process. In the process, spin-on low-k dielectrics are difficult to control and are only suitable for trench filling. If spin-on low-k dielectrics are employed to replace the conventional dual damascene dielectrics, the yield will be lowered. In other words, conventional dual damascene processes cannot make good use of spin-on low-k dielectrics to lower the effective dielectric constant of dual damascene interconnects. Therefore, it is desired a modified process to utilize spin-on low-k dielectrics to lower the effective dielectric constant of dual damascene interconnects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne object of the present invention is to propose a process of forming a multi-layer Cu dual damascene interconnect to lower the effective dielectric constant thereof and thereby reduce the speed delay of the IC employing the multi-layer Cu dual damascene interconnect.
In a dual damascene process for forming a multi-layer low-k dielectric interconnect, according to the present invention, a low-k dielectric layer is deposited on a substrate by CVD and then etched to form a plurality of dual damascene vias, a barrier layer is formed to cover the low-k dielectric layer as well as the exposed surface of the substrate, each dual damascene via is filled with a Cu conductor plug, a second barrier layer is formed to cover on the top of the Cu conductor plugs, the low-k dielectric layer is etched to form trenches between the dual damascene vias, and a spin-on low-k dielectric layer is applied to fill in the trenches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown in
Next, as shown in
The principle and features of the inventive dual damascene process are described below. CVD is used at first to form the large area and uniform dielectric 10 to the desired thickness, whose dielectric constant is between 2.5 and 3. After the Cu conductor plugs 18 are performed, some parts of the dielectric layer 10 are removed and become thinner thereof. The removed space, i.e., the trenches 22, is filled with spin-on low-k dielectric instead. Thus, the total or equivalent dielectric constant of the resulted ILD is lowered and high yield is maintained.
Repeating the aforementioned steps will obtain a multi-layer dual damascene interconnect. As shown in
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A dual damascene process for forming a multi-layer low-k interconnects, comprising the steps of:
- depositing a first dielectric layer of a first low-k on a substrate;
- etching said first dielectric layer for forming two dual damascene vias extending through said first dielectric layer to expose a surface of said substrate;
- forming a first barrier layer for covering on said first dielectric layer and said surface;
- forming two Cu conductor plugs each filled in one of said two dual damascene vias;
- forming a second barrier layer for covering on said two Cu conductor plugs to enclose said two Cu conductor plugs by said first and second barrier layers;
- etching-back said first dielectric layer for forming a trench between said two dual damascene vias; and
- spinning-on a second dielectric layer of a second low-k smaller than said first low-k in said trench.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein said forming two Cu conductor plugs comprises the steps of:
- depositing a Cu conductor layer filled in said two dual damascene vias; and
- etching-back said Cu conductor layer for leaving said Cu conductor layer in said two dual damascene vias.
3. The process of claim 2, further comprising etching said first barrier layer for leaving said first barrier layer in said two dual damascene vias after said etching-back said Cu conductor layer.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein said forming a second barrier layer comprises the steps of:
- depositing said second barrier layer on said two Cu conductor plugs and first dielectric layer; and
- applying CMP to said second barrier layer for leaving said second barrier layer over said two dual damascene vias.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein said depositing a first dielectric layer comprises depositing a SiOC by CVD.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein said etching-back said first dielectric layer comprises wet etching said first dielectric layer.
7. The process of claim 1, further comprising etching-back said second dielectric layer for planarizing said second dielectric layer to said second dielectric layer.
8. The process of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
- depositing a third dielectric layer of a third low-k on said second dielectric and barrier layers;
- etching said third dielectric and second barrier layers for forming two second dual damascene vias extending through said third dielectric and second barrier layers to expose a surface of said two Cu conductor plugs;
- forming a third barrier layer for covering on said third dielectric layer and surface of said two Cu conductor plugs;
- forming two second Cu conductor plugs each filled in one of said first two dual damascene vias;
- forming a fourth barrier layer for covering on said two second Cu conductor plugs to enclose said two second Cu conductor plugs by said third and fourth barrier layers;
- etching-back said third dielectric layer for forming a second trench between said two second dual damascene vias; and
- spinning-on a fourth dielectric layer of a fourth low-k smaller than said third low-k in said second trench.
9. A multi-layer low-k dual damascene interconnect comprising:
- a first dielectric layer of a first low-k on a substrate;
- a second dielectric layer of a second low-k smaller than said first low-k spun-on said first dielectric layer;
- a plurality of dual damascene vias formed in said first and second dielectric layers;
- a plurality of Cu conductor plugs each filled in one of said plurality of dual damascene vias; and
- a barrier layer inserted between said plurality of Cu conductor plugs and first and second dielectric layers.
10. The interconnect of claim 9, wherein said first low-k has a value between 2.5 and 3.
11. The interconnect of claim 9, wherein said first dielectric layer comprises SiOC.
12. The interconnect of claim 9, wherein said second low-k has a value smaller than 2.5.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 12, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 16, 2005
Inventor: Jui-Neng Tu (Hsinchu)
Application Number: 10/733,814