Semiconductor Constructions and Transistor Gates
One aspect of the invention encompasses a method of forming a semiconductor structure. A patterned line is formed to comprise a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises silicon and the second layer comprises a metal. The line has at least one sidewall edge comprising a first-layer-defined portion and a second-layer-defined portion. A third layer is formed along the at least one sidewall edge. The third layer comprises silicon and is along both the first layered defined portion of the sidewall edge and the second-layered-defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is reacted with the metal of the second layer to form a silicide along the second layer defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is removed to leave the silicon of the first layer, the metal of the second layer, and the silicide.
The invention pertains to methods of forming semiconductor structures, including methods of forming transistor gates for field effect transistor and flash memory devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA continuing goal in semiconductor device fabrication is to create increasing densities of circuitry on semiconductor real estate. Such goal is realized through ever-decreasing dimensions of semiconductor circuit elements. For instance, in the early 1970's a typical gate length of a field effect transistor gate in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device was on the order of from 5 to 6 micrometers, and polysilicon was utilized as a sole conductive material of the gate. Advances in DRAM generation of the late 1980's reduced the gate length to approximately one micrometer. However, it was found that word line resistance was too high if conductively doped polysilicon was utilized as the sole conductive component of a gate line, and accordingly silicide (such as tungsten silicide, molybdenum silicide or titanium silicide) was deposited over the polysilicon. The term “polycide” was coined to describe a stack of gate materials which comprised conductively doped polysilicon having a silicide thereover.
Technological advances of the 1990's reduced the gate length to less than 0.2 micrometers. It was found that the resistance of polycide materials was too high for such gates, and accordingly procedures were developed to provide a metal to replace the silicide of the polycide structure. Exemplary metals utilized are tungsten, molybdenum and titanium. Such gates would be considered modern structures in current technology.
Semiconductive substrate 14 can comprise, for example, conductively doped monocrystalline silicon. To aid in interpretation of the claims that follow, the terms “semiconductive substrate” and “semiconductor substrate” are defined to mean any construction comprising semiconductive material, including, but not limited to, bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductive wafer (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials thereon), and semiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials). The term “substrate” refers to any supporting structure, including, but not limited to, the semiconductive substrates described above.
Gate structure 16 has opposing sidewalls 30, and insulative spacers 32 are formed along such opposing sidewalls. Insulative spacers 32 can comprise, for example, silicon nitride.
Source/drain regions 18 formed proximate gate structure 16, and a channel region 19 is defined beneath gate structure 16. Spacers 32 can be utilized during formation of source/drain regions 18 to space an implant of a conductivity-enhancing dopant from sidewall edges 30, and to thereby control a location of heavily doped source/drain regions 18 relative to sidewalls 30. Lightly doped diffusion regions are formed beneath spacers 32, and between heavily doped source/drain regions 18 and channel region 19, to define graded junction regions 33. The lightly doped diffusion regions are frequently formed prior to provision of spacers 32.
A problem can occur in utilizing the field effect transistor structure 12 of
One of the techniques utilized to enhance integrity of transistor gates is to oxidize a portion of a semiconductive material substrate proximate the gate to form small “bird's beak” structures beneath sidewall edges 30. Such technique is illustrated in
A problem which occurs with the processing of
Among the techniques which have been utilized to avoid oxidation of the metal edge are wet hydrogen oxidation, and the utilization of silicon nitride or silicon dioxide to protect the edges. Additionally, silicon oxynitride has been utilized to cover edges of the metal material in the gate stack prior to oxidation of an upper surface of semiconductive material 14.
The above-described problems are not limited to field effect transistor technologies. The problems can also occur in stacks utilized for other memory devices, such as, for example, the gate stacks utilized in flash memory devices.
Note that layers 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 comprise a stack identical to the stack utilized in gate structure 16. Accordingly, oxidation of semiconductive material substrate 52 can lead to problems similar to those discussed above regarding oxidation of semiconductive material 14. Specifically, oxidation of semiconductive material 52 can be accompanied by oxidation of sidewall edges of metal layer 66 which can cause failure of a circuit device incorporating stack 54.
The above-described
It would be desirable to develop alternative methods of forming gate stacks and wordlines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention includes a method of forming a conductive line. A line stack is formed of at least two different conductive material layers. At least one of the layers comprises a metal, and the line stack has at least one sidewall edge that includes the metal-comprising layer. The metal-comprising layer is reacted at the sidewall edge with silicon to form the metal-comprising layer to comprise a silicide at the sidewall edge and unreacted metal inwardly thereof. After the reacting, at least a portion of the line stack is oxidized.
Another aspect of the invention encompasses a method of forming a semiconductor structure. A patterned line is formed to comprise a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises silicon and the second layer comprises a metal. The line has at least one sidewall edge comprising a first-layer-defined portion and a second-layer-defined portion. A third layer is formed along the at least one sidewall edge. The third layer comprises silicon and is along both the first layered defined portion of the sidewall edge and the second-layered-defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is reacted with the metal of the second layer to form a silicide along the second layer defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is removed to leave the silicon of the first layer, the metal of the second layer, and the silicide.
In another aspect, the invention encompasses another method of forming a semiconductor structure. A patterned line is formed to comprise a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises silicon and the second layer comprises a metal. The line has at least one sidewall edge comprising a first-layered-defined portion and a second layered defined portion. A third layer is formed along the at least one sidewall edge. The third layer comprises silicon and is along both the first-layer-defined portion of the sidewall edge and the second layer defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is reacted with metal of the second layer to form a silicide along the second-layer-defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is provided to be different than the silicon of the first layer, and is selectively removed relative to the silicon of the first layer to leave the silicide along the second-layer-defined portion of the sidewall edge.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
In particular aspects, the invention encompasses methods of protecting a metal layer during oxidation of a proximate substrate by forming silicide structures over regions of the metal layer. The silicide protects regions of the metal layer from being exposed to oxidizing conditions.
A first embodiment method of the present invention is described with reference to
For purposes of interpreting this disclosure and the claims that follow, a layer which is referred to as a “silicon layer” is to be understood to comprise silicon and may consist essentially of silicon, but not necessarily to consist essentially of silicon unless it is expressly stated that such layer consists essentially of silicon. Accordingly, a “silicon layer” can comprise, for example, silicon and germanium. Additionally, a “metal layer” is to be understood to comprise metal and may consist essentially of metal, but not to necessarily consist essentially of metal unless it is specifically stated to consist essentially of metal.
Gate stack 104 comprises sidewalls 116, and such sidewalls comprise portions of each of layers 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114. In particular aspects of the invention, layer 108 can be referred to as a first layer and layer 112 as a second layer. The portion of sidewall 116 corresponding to layer 112 can thus be referred to as a second layer defined portion, and the portion of sidewall 116 corresponding to layer 108 can be referred to as a first layer defined portion.
Substrate 102 comprises an upper surface 118, some of which is covered by gate stack 104, and some of which extends beyond gate stack 104. An etch stop layer 117 is formed over upper surface 118 of substrate 102. Such etch stop layer can comprise, for example, silicon oxide or silicon nitride. A silicon layer 120 is formed over upper surface 118 of substrate 102 (and specifically on etch stop layer 117), along sidewalls 116 of gate stack 104, and over an upper surface of gate stack 104. Layer 120 can comprise, for example, silicon in amorphous or polycrystalline form, and is typically formed to a thickness of from about 100 angstroms to about 200 angstroms. Silicon layer 120 can be formed by chemical vapor deposition to provide layer 120 to lie conformally over the sidewalls and top of gate stack 104. Generally, the difference between whether layer 120 comprises amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon is determined by a temperature of deposition, with amorphous silicon being deposited at temperatures of from about 500° C. to about 550° C., and polycrystalline silicon being deposited at temperatures of from about 580° C. to about 625° C.
In particular aspects of the invention, silicon layer 120 comprises a different composition than silicon-containing layer 108. Such difference in composition can correspond to, for example, a difference in dopant concentration within silicon layer 120 relative to silicon layer 108. For instance, layer 108 preferably has a conductivity-enhancing impurity concentration of at least 1×1018 atoms/cm3 to render layer 108 electrically conductive. Accordingly, layer 120 can be provided with a conductivity-enhancing dopant concentration of less than 1×1018 atoms/cm3 to provide a difference between layers 120 and 108. Such difference can be exploited in later steps of the method to enable layer 120 to be selectively removed relative to layer 108. In particular embodiments, layer 120 can be provided to be substantially undoped with conductivity-enhancing impurity, with the term “substantially undoped” understood to mean a dopant concentration of less than or equal to about 1×1015 atoms/cm3. A “substantially undoped” silicon layer is different than an “undoped” silicon layer in that an “undoped” silicon layer would have a dopant concentration of about zero, whereas a “substantially undoped” silicon layer can have a dopant concentration from zero to as high as about 1015 atoms/cm3.
In particular aspects of the invention, layer 120 can be referred to as a third layer which extends along both the portion of the sidewall 116 defined by silicon layer 108, and the portion defined by metal layer 112.
Referring to
Yet another method of the present invention is described with reference to
Referring to
Referring to
In yet other aspects of the invention, the utilization of material 153 can be avoided, to leave only portions 150 and 152 along stack 104. Further, portions 150 and 152 can be removed prior to any implant of source/drain regions, to form a structure identical to that shown in
Another method encompassed by the present invention is described with reference to
Fragment 100a comprises a silicon layer 120 identical to that of
Referring to
Referring to
Although the invention has been described with reference to methods of forming field effect transistor structures, it is to be understood that the invention can also be applied to methods of forming other memory devices, such as, for example, flash memory devices. An exemplary method of utilizing the techniques described with reference to
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1-40. (canceled)
41) A semiconductor construction comprising:
- a semiconductive substrate having a metal mass thereover, the metal mass comprising opposing sidewalls; and
- an oxide-comprising material above the substrate, wherein at least one sidewall of the metal mass is substantially free of metal oxide.
42) The semiconductor construction of claim 41 wherein the metal mass comprises tungsten.
43) The semiconductor construction of claim 41 wherein the oxide-comprising material comprises silicon oxide.
44) The semiconductor construction of claim 41 wherein the oxide-comprising material is between the metal mass and the substrate.
45) The semiconductor construction of claim 41 further comprising semiconductive material between the metal mass and the substrate, the semiconductive material having opposing sidewalls and forming a gate transistor with the metal mass.
46) The semiconductor construction of claim 45 wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the semiconductive material is oxidized.
47) The semiconductor construction of claim 45 wherein the semiconductive material comprises a dopant.
48) The semiconductor construction of claim 47 further comprising a silicide-comprising material along the at least one sidewall of the metal mass.
49) The semiconductor construction of claim 48 further comprising a barrier material between the metal mass and the semiconductive material, wherein the barrier material comprises opposing sidewalls, the sidewalls of the barrier material being substantially free of both the silicide-comprising and the metal oxide.
50) A transistor gate comprising a semiconductive layer having a metal layer thereover, the semiconductive and metal layers defining a stack having opposing sidewalls, wherein:
- an oxide-comprising material is formed along at least one of the sidewalls of the semiconductive layer; and
- at least one of the sidewalls of the metal layer is substantially free of metal oxide.
51) The transistor gate of claim 50 wherein the metal layer comprises tungsten.
52) The transistor gate of claim 50 wherein the semiconductive material comprises doped polysilicon.
53) The transistor gate of claim 50 wherein the semiconductive material comprise germanium.
54) The transistor gate of claim 50 further comprising an insulative cap over the metal layer.
55) The transistor gate of claim 54 wherein the insulative cap comprises opposing sidewalls, the oxide-comprising material being formed along at least one of the sidewalls of the insulative cap.
56) The transistor gate of claim 50 further comprising insulative material formed along the sidewalls of the stack.
57) The transistor gate of claim 50 further comprising a barrier layer between the semiconductive material and the metal layer.
58) The transistor gate of claim 57 wherein the barrier layer comprises metal nitride.
59) The transistor gate of claim 50 further comprising a silicide-comprising material along the at least one sidewall of the metal layer.
60) The transistor gate of claim 50 further comprising source/drain regions associated with the gate.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 26, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 23, 2008
Inventors: Leonard Forbes (Corvallis, OR), Kie Y. Ahn (Chappaqua, NY), Luan C. Tran (Meridian, ID)
Application Number: 12/147,327
International Classification: H01L 29/78 (20060101);