Method to increase silicon nitride tensile stress using nitrogen plasma in-situ treatment and ex-situ UV cure
    9.
    发明授权
    Method to increase silicon nitride tensile stress using nitrogen plasma in-situ treatment and ex-situ UV cure 有权
    使用氮等离子体原位处理和非原位UV固化来增加氮化硅拉伸应力的方法

    公开(公告)号:US08138104B2

    公开(公告)日:2012-03-20

    申请号:US11762590

    申请日:2007-06-13

    IPC分类号: H01L21/469

    摘要: Stress of a silicon nitride layer may be enhanced by deposition at higher temperatures. Employing an apparatus that allows heating of a substrate to substantially greater than 400° C. (for example a heater made from ceramic rather than aluminum), the silicon nitride film as-deposited may exhibit enhanced stress allowing for improved performance of the underlying MOS transistor device. In accordance with alternative embodiments, a deposited silicon nitride film is exposed to curing with ultraviolet (UV) radiation at an elevated temperature, thereby helping remove hydrogen from the film and increasing film stress. In accordance with still other embodiments, a silicon nitride film is formed utilizing an integrated process employing a number of deposition/curing cycles to preserve integrity of the film at the sharp corner of the underlying raised feature. Adhesion between successive layers may be promoted by inclusion of a post-UV cure plasma treatment in each cycle.

    摘要翻译: 氮化硅层的应力可以通过在较高温度下沉积来增强。 使用允许将衬底加热到​​基本上大于400℃的装置(例如由陶瓷而不是铝制成的加热器),沉积的氮化硅膜可能表现出增强的应力,从而可以改善下面的MOS晶体管的性能 设备。 根据替代实施例,沉积的氮化硅膜在升高的温度下暴露于紫外线(UV)辐射固化,从而有助于从膜中除去氢并增加膜应力。 根据其他实施例,使用采用多个沉积/固化周期的整合方法形成氮化硅膜,以保持薄膜在底层凸起特征的尖角处的完整性。 可以通过在每个循环中包括UV后固化等离子体处理来促进连续层之间的粘附。