SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, a source region, a drain region, and a metal structure. The substrate has a trench therein, and the dielectric layer is conformally formed over the substrate and the trench. The source region and the least one drain region are in the substrate. The metal structure is filled in the trench and surrounded by the dielectric layer, and the metal structure is disposed between the source region and the drain region. Moreover, the metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, and the first metal portion is disposed between the drain region and the second metal portion.
The present invention relates to a recessed access device and a method for manufacturing the same.
Description of Related ArtTransistor devices are used with semiconductor devices for numerous purposes, and such use is well known. The characteristics of transistor devices are also well known and documented so that further research may improve the transistor devices. For example, in the case of NMOS transistor devices, it is well known that the drive current of an NMOS transistor device will be higher when a high work function gate material is used as opposed to a low work function gate material. The drive current is stronger in a high work function material because the substrate doping can be much lower with a high work function material, resulting in mobility improvement and an improved drive current.
Similar to NMOS transistor devices, access transistor devices used with memory devices, such as DRAM memory, exhibit a higher drive current when a high work function material is used to form the access transistor as compared to when a low work function material is used. However, the use of a high work function material to form an access transistor in a memory device may lead to off-state leakage across the access transistor. Off-state leakage includes current leakage that occurs when the access transistor is in an “off” state. Typically, off-state leakage includes two types of leakage: sub-threshold leakage between a source and a drain region associated with the access transistor and leakage between the drain and the substrate of an access device. The leakage from the drain to the substrate may include both junction leakage and gate-induced drain leakage. Junction leakage may include Schokley-Read-Hall type junction leakage and is undesirable. Gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) is also undesirable.
Recessed access devices (RADs) used as access transistors in memory devices are especially susceptible to gate-induced drain leakage when in an “off” state. The gate-induced drain leakage of a RAD structure dominates the off-state leakage that occurs with such devices. Thus the refresh rate of a RAD structure, and a memory device employing RAD structures, may be dependent upon the amount of gate-induced drain leakage in the RAD device.
Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of gate-induced drain leakage in a RAD structure. It is also desirable to reduce the amount of gate-induced drain leakage while controlling or reducing the amount of other leakages present in the RAD structure or access transistor.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the invention relate to recessed access devices. More particularly, embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of forming recessed access devices for reducing gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current losses from a recessed access device. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims.
An aspect of the present disclosure is related to a semiconductor device which includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, a source region, a drain region, and a metal structure. The substrate has a trench therein, and the dielectric layer is conformally formed over the substrate and the trench. The source region and the least one drain region are in the substrate. A metal structure is filled in the trench and surrounded by the dielectric layer, and the metal structure is disposed between the source region and the drain region. Moreover, the metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, and the first metal portion is disposed between the drain region and the second metal portion.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device includes a first poly-metal structure and a second poly-metal structure. The first poly-metal structure is partially in the source region, and the second poly-metal structure is on the drain region.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first poly-metal structure has a vertical length greater than a vertical length of the second poly-metal structure.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device further includes an isolation layer disposed over the dielectric layer and the metal structure, in which the first and second poly-metal structures extend through the isolation layer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device further includes a dielectric cap between the isolation layer and the metal structure, in which the dielectric cap has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the source region has a p-n junction lower than a p-n junction of each drain region.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is related to a semiconductor device which includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, a source region, two drain regions, and two metal structures. The substrate has two trenches therein, and the dielectric layer is conformally formed over the substrate and the two trenches. The source region and the two drain regions are located in the substrate. The two metal structures are respectively filled in the two trenches and surrounded by the dielectric layer, the source region is between the two metal structures, and the two metal structures are between the two drain regions. Each metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, in which the second metal portions are between the first metal portions.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device further includes a first poly-metal structure and two second poly-metal structures. The first poly-metal structure is partially in the source region, and the two second poly-metal structures are respectively on the two drain regions.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first poly-metal structure has a vertical length greater than a vertical length of each second poly-metal structure.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device further includes an isolation layer disposed over the dielectric layer and the metal structures, in which the first and second poly-metal structures extend through the isolation layer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device further includes two dielectric caps, and each dielectric cap is located between the isolation layer and each metal structure, in which each dielectric cap has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the source region has a p-n junction lower than a p-n junction of each drain region.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is related to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first source region and a drain region in an active region of a substrate, in which a trench is between the first source region and the drain region; conformally forming a dielectric layer over the substrate and the trench; forming a metal structure in the trench, in which the dielectric layer surrounds the metal structure; performing a first etching process to an edge of the metal structure, such that the metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, in which the first metal portion is between the drain region and the second metal portion; and forming a first poly-metal structure electrically connected to the first source region and a second poly-metal structure electrically connected to the drain region.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, forming the first source region and the drain region includes forming a p-type well in the substrate and a first n-type well in the p-type well; and forming the trench in the p-type well and the first n-type well, such that the first source region and the drain region are formed.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, forming the first poly-metal structure includes forming an isolation layer over the dielectric layer and the metal structure after the first etching process; forming a first opening extending through the isolation layer to expose the first source region; and forming the first poly-metal structure in the first opening.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method further includes doping the first source region with an n-type dopant to form a second source region before the first poly-metal structure is formed, such that the second source region has a p-n junction lower than a p-n junction of the drain region.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method further includes forming a dielectric cap on the metal structure before the isolation layer is formed, in which the dielectric cap has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, forming the second poly-metal structure includes forming an isolation layer over the dielectric layer and the metal structure after the first etching process is performed; forming a second opening extending through the isolation layer to expose the drain region; and forming the second poly-metal structure in the second opening.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, a metal structure is between a source region and a drain region, in which each metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which have different heights. As a result, the metal structure configured to be a gate metal structure can control the current flow between the source region and the drain region, so as to curb the gate-induced drain leakage thereof.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
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In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the source region 220b has an n-type portion 221b and a p-type portion 223b under the n-type portion 221b, and each drain region 230 has an n-type portion 231 and a p-type portion 233 under the n-type portion 231, in which the n-type portion 221b has a vertical length V3 greater than a vertical length V2 of the n-type portion 231. Therefore, a p-n junction 225b between the n-type portion 221b and the p-type portion 223b is lower than a p-n junction 235 between the n-type portion 231 and the p-type portion 233. The present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
Each metal structure 250 has a first metal portion 251 and a second metal portion 253, and the second metal portion 253 has a height H2 greater than a height H1 of the corresponding first metal portion 251. For each metal structure 250, a difference between the height H1 of the first metal portion 251 and the height H2 of the second metal portion 253 is smaller than 0.1 um, and the first metal portion 253 has a width smaller than 0.025 um. In other words, each first metal portion 251 has a top surface lower than a top surface of the corresponding second metal portion 253, such that each first metal portion 251, the corresponding second metal portions 253, and the dielectric layer 240 collectively form a recess R on the first metal portion 251. The recess R has a depth smaller than 0.1 um, and a width in a direction perpendicular to the depth that is smaller than 0.025 um. Moreover, the top surface of each first metal portion 251 and the top surface of each second metal portion 253 are rectangular, and thus, the metal structure 250 can be stair-shaped. The present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device 200 further includes an isolation layer 270 over the dielectric layer 240 and the metal structures 250, in which the first and second poly-metal structures 281, 283 extend through the isolation layer 270. The isolation layer 270 can be formed by any suitable deposition process, such as CVD or LPCVD, and the isolation layer 270 can include silicon nitride. The present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device 200 further includes two dielectric caps 260, and each dielectric cap 260 is located between the isolation layer 270 and each metal structure 250. The two dielectric caps 260 are respectively located on and in contact with the two metal structures 250, and the isolation layer 270 is formed on the two dielectric caps 260. Each dielectric cap 260 has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer 270. That is, the dielectric constant of each dielectric cap 260 is lower than the dielectric constant of silicon nitride. The present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor device 200 further includes a first poly-metal structure 281 and two second poly-metal structures 283. The first poly-metal structure 281 is partially in the source region 220b, and the two second poly-metal structures 283 are in contact with and located on the two drain regions 230, respectively. The first poly-metal structure 281 has a vertical length V4 greater than a vertical length V5 of each second poly-metal structure 283, and the first poly-metal structure 281 has a bottom surface lower than a bottom surface of each second poly-metal structure 283. As a result, the gate-induced drain leakage can be efficiently curbed.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, a metal structure is between a source region and a drain region, in which each metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which have different heights. As a result, the metal structure configured to be a gate metal structure can control the current flow between the source region and the drain region, so as to curb the gate-induced drain leakage thereof.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
- a substrate having a trench therein;
- a dielectric layer conformally formed over the substrate and the trench;
- a source region in the substrate;
- a drain region in the substrate; and
- a metal structure filled in the trench and surrounded by the dielectric layer, the metal structure being disposed between the source region and the drain region, wherein the metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, and the first metal portion is disposed between the drain region and the second metal portion, wherein the first and second metal portions are a continuous piece of a same material and both in direct contact with the dielectric layer.
2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first poly-metal structure partially in the source region; and
- a second poly-metal structure on the drain region.
3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the first poly-metal structure has a vertical length greater than a vertical length of the second poly-metal structure.
4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising an isolation layer disposed over the dielectric layer and the metal structure, wherein the first and second poly-metal structures extend through the isolation layer.
5. The semiconductor device of claim 4, further comprising a dielectric cap between the isolation layer and the metal structure, wherein the dielectric cap has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer.
6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the source region has a p-n junction lower than a p-n junction of the drain region.
7. A semiconductor device, comprising:
- a substrate having two trenches therein;
- a dielectric layer conformally formed over the substrate and the two trenches;
- a source region in the substrate;
- two drain regions in the substrate; and
- two metal structures respectively filled in the trenches and surrounded by the dielectric layer, the source region being disposed between the two metal structures, and the two metal structures being disposed between the two drain regions, wherein each metal structure has a first metal portion and a second metal portion which has a height greater than a height of the first metal portion, wherein the first and second metal portions are a continuous piece of a same material and both in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the second metal portions are between the first metal portions.
8. The semiconductor device of claim 7, further comprising:
- a first poly-metal structure partially in the source region; and
- two second poly-metal structures respectively on the two drain regions.
9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the first poly-metal structure has a vertical length greater than a vertical length of each second poly-metal structure.
10. The semiconductor device of claim 8, further comprising an isolation layer disposed over the dielectric layer and the metal structures, wherein the first and second poly-metal structures extend through the isolation layer.
11. The semiconductor device of claim 10, further comprising two dielectric caps, and each dielectric cap is between the isolation layer and each of the metal structures, wherein each dielectric cap has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the isolation layer.
12. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the source region has a p-n junction lower than a p-n junction of each drain region.
13-18 (canceled)
19. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the second metal portion is closest to the source region with respect to any other portion of the metal structure.
20. The semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein each second metal portion is closest to the source region with respect to any other portion of each metal structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 4, 2021
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2022
Inventors: Yu-Ping CHEN (New Taipei City), Jhen-Yu TSAI (Kaohsiung City)
Application Number: 17/168,148