摘要:
A method of patterning a feature in a substrate to reduce edge roughness comprises forming a resist layer overlying a substrate, exposing the resist layer to create an image of a feature, and developing the exposed resist layer to leave a portion of the resist layer that creates the image of the feature. The method then includes treating the exposed resist layer with a plasma to cure the portion of the resist layer creating the feature image. The plasma treatment has an ion bombardment level insufficient to substantially etch the underlying substrate. The method then includes etching the underlying substrate to create the feature.
摘要:
In the present method of trimming photoresist to form a mask for a layer of a semiconductor device, which layer may include polysilicon and/or nitride, the method is practiced substantially in accordance with: wmin=(h0−Rvtmax)/ARmax where w1=minimum width of trimmed photoresist; h0=height of photoresist prior to trim; Rv=resist vertical etch rate; tmax=maximum etch time to reach resist vertical etch limit; ARmax=maximum allowable aspect ratio of trimmed photoresist. The present invention is further a method of trimming photoresist to form a mask for a layer of a semiconductor device, which layer may include polysilicon and/or nitride, and which method is practiced substantially in accordance with: w0=(h0−Rvtmax)/ARmax+Rhtmax where w0=width of photoresist prior to trim; h0=height of photoresist prior to trim; Rv=resist vertical etch rate; tmax=maximum etch time to reach resist vertical etch limit; ARmax=maximum allowable aspect ratio of trimmed photoresist; Rh=horizontal resist etch rate.
摘要:
A method is provided herein for trim etching a resist line in a plasma etch apparatus. The method provides a reduced rate of vertical direction etching of the resist, and an increased rate of horizontal direction etching of the resist, by applying a lower biasing power to the plasma etch apparatus that is conventionally used. The resulting resist has an increased height in relation to its width which adds to the structural integrity of the resist line and significantly reduces problems of discontinuity in the resist line.
摘要:
A process for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the formation of a metal device feature layer using lithographic techniques, followed by an oxidation process to reduce the lateral dimension of the metal device feature. The oxidation process is carried out by selectively, laterally oxidizing the metal composition of the device feature that overlies a dielectric layer. The lateral oxidation process forms metal oxide sidewall spacers on the device feature. Upon completion of the oxidation process, the metal oxide sidewall spacers are removed and a residual layer of unoxidized metal remains. The lateral dimension of the residual layer can be substantially less than that achievable by optical lithographic techniques.
摘要:
During damascene formation of local interconnects in a semiconductor wafer, a punch-through region can be formed into the substrate as a result of exposing the oxide spacers that are adjacent to a transistor gate to one or more etching plasmas that are used to etch one or more overlying dielectric layers. A punch-through region can damage the transistor circuit. Improved, multipurpose spacers are provided to reduce the chances of over-etching. The multipurpose spacers are made of silicon oxime. The etching plasmas that are used to etch one or more overlying dielectric layers tend to have a higher selectivity ratio to the multipurpose spacers than to the conventional oxide spacers. Additionally, the multipurpose spacers do not tend to degrade the hot carrier injection (HCI) properties as would a typical nitride spacer.
摘要:
Memory devices having improved TPD characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain two or more memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and bit line openings containing a bit line dielectric between the memory cells. The memory cell contains a charge storage layer and a first poly gate. The bit line opening extends into the semiconductor substrate. By containing the bit line dielectric in the bit line openings that extend into the semiconductor substrate, the memory device can improve the electrical isolation between memory cells, thereby preventing and/or mitigating TPD.
摘要:
Memory devices having improved BVdss characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain bitline dielectrics on bitlines of a semiconductor substrate; first spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the bitline dielectrics and on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a trench in the semiconductor substrate between the first spacers; and second spacers adjacent the side surfaces of the trench. By containing the trench and the first and second spacers between the bitlines, the memory device can improve the electrical isolation between the bitlines, thereby preventing and/or mitigating bitline-to-bitline current leakage and increasing BVdss.
摘要:
A process for forming a transistor having a gate width of less than 70 nm is disclosed herein. The process includes E-beam irradiation a gate patterned on a photoresist layer, trimming the gate patterned on the photoresist layer, and etching the gate patterned on the photoresist layer to a polysilicon layer disposed below the photoresist layer.
摘要:
A process for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the formation of a hard-mask using lithographic techniques followed by a lateral oxidation process to reduce the lateral dimension of the hard-mask. The lateral oxidation is carried out by selectively oxidizing an oxidizable layer situated between an etch-stop layer and an oxidation resistant layer. Upon completion of the lateral oxidation process, etch-stop layer and the oxidation resistant are removed and a residual layer of oxidizable material is then used as a mask for the formation of a device component. The lateral dimension of the residual layer can be substantially less than that achievable by optical lithographic techniques.
摘要:
The present invention provides a process for self-limiting trim etch of patterned photoresist that will allow integrated circuit fabrication to achieve smaller integrated circuit component features and greatly reduce final critical dimension drift or variation. Trim time is set in a plateau region of the critical dimension loss process curve.