Selective spacer layer deposition method for forming spacers with different widths
A method of forming spacers with different widths on a semiconductor substrate, includes the steps of disposing a first spacer layer over the substrate, defining the first spacer layer into a plurality of spacers of a first width, and disposing a second spacer layer selectively over the first spacer layer of a number of the spacers preselected for the second spacer layer, the predetermined number of the spacers with the second spacer layer each having a second width which is different from the first width.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,689, filed Apr. 7, 2003. The entire disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,689 is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of forming spacers with different widths on a semiconductor substrate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFabricating integrated circuits with faster and/or an increasing number of semiconductor devices is a continuing trend in integrated circuit technology. A very influential factor in this trend is technology scaling, i.e., the reduction in transistor feature sizes. Technology scaling has enabled transistors to become smaller, thus allowing for more dense integrated circuits in terms of the number of transistors packed on a chip.
At virtually the same time that transistors are becoming smaller, chip sizes have been increasing in size. The chip size increase has, in turn, resulted in transistor driving capability decreases and interconnect parasitics increases. Accordingly, integrated circuits, such as, embedded memory circuits, mixed-mode/RF signal circuits, and System on a Chip (SOC) circuits, must be very carefully designed to meet future speed demands. Design issues which are very critical in the development of such circuits include, for example, transistor architecture. Specifically, careful gate design, transistor sizing, and other such feature parameters are extremely important in order to optimize transistor performance.
Spacers are commonly used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. The spacers may be used, for example, to control transistor gate size, source and drain regions placement or other features. Because variously sized transistors and other features are often required in a particular integrated circuit design, spacers of different widths must be utilized during the fabrication thereof.
Spacers of different widths are typically formed using conventional etching methods. These etching methods, unfortunately, may damage the thin, dielectric gate insulating layer and substrate. Accordingly, a new method is needed for forming spacers of varying width.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA method is disclosed herein for forming spacers with different widths on a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises the steps of disposing a first spacer layer over the substrate, defining the first spacer layer into a plurality of spacers of a first width, and disposing a second spacer layer selectively over the first spacer layer of a number of the spacers preselected for the second spacer layer, the predetermined number of the spacers with the second spacer layer each having a second width which is different from the first width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
The gate electrodes 30a-30c may be formed from a polysilicon, such as undoped poly, amorphous poly, doped poly, and the like, using conventional forming methods, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The thin, dielectric gate insulating layers 32a-32c, may be formed on the substrate 20 from an oxide layer using conventional forming methods, such as physical or chemical vapor deposition, prior to the formation of the gate electrodes 30a-30c. In another embodiment, the thin, dielectric gate insulating layers may be formed from a nitride layer.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
If spacers having a width W3, which is greater than width W2, are desired, a third mask layer 80 may be provided over the spacer 50a of width W1 and its adjacent gate electrode 30a and spacer 50b of width W2 and its adjacent gate electrode 30b as illustrated in
The plasma treatment may be performed using conventional CVD processing equipment. The plasma used in this process may comprise an NH3 or N2O plasma, depending upon the composition of the spacer layer to be treated. For example, in one embodiment of the invention where the first spacer layer is composed of SiO2, an NH3 plasma may be used to generate Si—N dangling bonds over the surface of the SiO2 first spacer layer. The second spacer layer will then be formed by depositing SiO2 over the plasma treated first spacer layer. The SiO2 deposition produces an oxygen-rich, silicon oxynitride (SiON) film over the first spacer layer due to the Si—N dangling bonds, the oxygen-rich SiON film forming the second spacer layer. The unwanted portions of the second spacer layer formed over the other features of the device, such as the gate electrodes (made of poly-silicon for example) and the substrate (made of silicon for example), will still be composed of SiO2 because these features do not have dangling bonds. These unwanted SiO2 portions of the second spacer layer are easily removed by solvent selectivity due to the different materials.
If a third spacer layer is desired, the oxygen-rich SiON film forming the second spacer layer may be treated with an N2O plasma to generate Si—O dangling bonds over the surface of the second spacer layer. Next, the third spacer layer will be formed by depositing SiN over the second spacer layer. The SiN deposition produces a nitrogen-rich, SiON film over the second spacer layer, the nitrogen-rich SiON film forming the third spacer layer. The unwanted portions of the third spacer layer formed over the other features of the device are still composed of SiN. These unwanted portions of the third spacer layer are easily removed by solvent selectivity due to the different materials.
In a second embodiment of the invention where the first spacer layer is composed of SiN, an N2O plasma may be used to generate Si—O dangling bonds over the surface of the SiN first spacer layer. The second spacer layer will then be formed by depositing SiN over the plasma treated first spacer layer. The SiN deposition produces an nitrogen-rich, silicon oxynitride (SiON) film over the first spacer layer due to the Si—O dangling bonds, the nitrogen-rich SiON film forming the second spacer layer. The unwanted portions of the second spacer layer formed over the other features of the device, such as the gate electrodes and the substrate, will still be composed of SiN because these features do not have dangling bonds. These unwanted SiN portions of the second spacer layer are easily removed by solvent selectivity due to the different materials.
If a third spacer layer is desired, the nitrogen-rich SiON film forming the second spacer layer is treated with an NH3 plasma to generate Si—N dangling bonds over the surface of the second spacer layer. Next, the third spacer layer will be formed by depositing SiO2 over the second spacer layer. The SiO2 deposition produces an oxygen-rich, SiON film over the second spacer layer, the oxygen-rich SiON film forming the third spacer layer. The unwanted portions of the third spacer layer formed over the other features of the device are still composed of SiO2. These unwanted portions of the third spacer layer are easily removed by solvent selectivity due to the different materials.
Spacers of increasing widths may be formed by repeating the selective deposition process as many times as desired. The width of a spacer formed in accordance with the present invention is determined by the number of spacer layers used to form the spacer.
The present invention addresses and solves the problems associated with forming spacers of varying widths. Through selective deposition to form spacers of varying width, damage to the thin, dielectric gate insulating layer and substrate is avoided.
While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-24. (canceled)
25. A semiconductor device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of spacers disposed on the substrate;
- a first number of the spacers formed by a first spacer layer of a first dielectric material, the first spacer having a first width; and
- a second number of the spacers defined by the first spacer layer of the first dielectric material and at least a second spacer layer of a second dielectric material, the second spacer having a second width which is different than the first width, the at least second dielectric material comprising one of an oxygen-rich SiON and a nitrogen-rich SiON.
26. The semiconductor device according to claim 25, wherein the first dielectric material comprises SiO2 and the second dielectric material comprises the oxygen-rich SiON.
27. The semiconductor device according to claim 26, further comprising a third number of the spacers defined by the first spacer layer of the first dielectric material, the second spacer layer of the second dielectric material, and a third spacer layer of a third dielectric material, the third spacer having a third width which is different than the first and second widths, the third dielectric material comprising the nitrogen-rich SiON.
28. The semiconductor device according to claim 25, further comprising a third number of the spacers defined by the first spacer layer of the first dielectric material, the second spacer layer of the second dielectric material, and a third spacer layer of a third dielectric material, the third spacer having a third width which is different than the first and second widths, the third dielectric material comprising one of the oxygen-rich SiON and the nitrogen-rich SiON.
29. The semiconductor device according to claim 25, wherein the first dielectric material comprises SiN and the second dielectric material comprises the nitrogen-rich SiON.
30. The semiconductor device according to claim 29, further comprising a third number of the spacers defined by the first spacer layer of the first dielectric material, the second spacer layer of the second dielectric material, and a third spacer layer of a third dielectric material, the third spacer having a third width which is different than the first and second widths, the third dielectric material comprising the oxygen-rich SiON.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 1, 2006
Inventors: Ai-Sen Liu (Hsinchu City), Baw-Ching Perng (Hsin-Chu County), Ming-Ta Lei (Hsin-Chu), Yih-Shung Lin (Sanchung), Cheng-Chung Lin (Taipei), Chia-Hui Lin (Hsin-Chu)
Application Number: 11/206,613
International Classification: H01L 29/94 (20060101);