摘要:
An ultrathin gate dielectric having a graded dielectric constant and a method for forming the same are provided. The gate dielectric is believed to allow enhanced performance of semiconductor devices including transistors and dual-gate memory cells. A thin nitrogen-containing oxide, preferably having a thickness of less than about 10 angstroms, is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A silicon nitride layer having a thickness of less than about 30 angstroms may be formed over the nitrogen-containing oxide. The oxide and nitride layers are annealed in ammonia and nitrous oxide ambients, and the nitride layer thickness is reduced using a flowing-gas etch process. The resulting two-layer gate dielectric is believed to provide increased capacitance as compared to a silicon dioxide dielectric while maintaining favorable interface properties with the underlying substrate. In an alternative embodiment, a different high dielectric constant material is substituted for the silicon nitride. Alternatively, both nitride and a different high dielectric constant material may be used so that a three-layer dielectric is formed.
摘要:
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is presented wherein a trench is patterned in a field region of a semiconductor substrate. The trench is defined within the semiconductor substrate by a trench floor and trench sidewalls. A liner that primarily comprises nitride is formed upon the trench floor and sidewalls. The liner is then oxidized. A trench dielectric may be formed within the trench and planarized to complete the isolation structure.
摘要:
A photolithographic system including a light filter that varies light intensity according to measured dimensional data that characterizes a lens error is disclosed. The light filter compensates for the lens error by reducing the light intensity of the image pattern as the lens error increases. In this manner, when the lens error causes focusing variations that result in enlarged portions of the image pattern, the light filter reduces the light intensity transmitted to the enlarged portions of the image pattern. This, in turn, reduces the rate in which regions of the photoresist layer beneath the enlarged portions of the image pattern are rendered soluble to a subsequent developer. As a result, after the photoresist layer is developed, linewidth variations that otherwise result from the lens error are reduced due to the light filter. Preferably, the light filter includes a light-absorbing film such as a semi-transparent layer such as calcium fluoride on a light-transmitting base such as a quartz plate, and the thickness of the light-absorbing film varies in accordance with the measured dimensional data to provide the desired variations in light intensity. The invention is particularly well-suited for patterning a photoresist layer that defines polysilicon gates of an integrated circuit device.
摘要:
A method is presented for forming a transistor wherein polysilicon is preferably deposited upon a dielectric-covered substrate to form a sacrificial polysilicon layer. The sacrificial polysilicon layer may then be reduced to a desired thickness. Thickness reduction of the sacrificial polysilicon layer is preferably undertaken by oxidizing a portion of the sacrificial polysilicon layer and then etching the oxidized portion. As an option, the sacrificial polysilicon layer may be heated such that it is recrystallized. The sacrificial polysilicon layer is preferably annealed in a nitrogen-bearing ambient such that it is converted to a gate dielectric layer that includes nitride. Polysilicon may be deposited upon the gate dielectric layer, and select portions of the polysilicon may be removed to form a gate conductor. LDD and source/drain areas may be formed adjacent to the gate conductor.
摘要:
A transistor is provided and formed using self-aligned low-resistance source and drain regions within a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) process. The gate of the transistor may also be formed from a low-resistance material such as a metal. The transistor channel is located in a polysilicon layer arranged over a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate. To fabricate the transistor, an isolating dielectric, polysilicon layer, and protective dielectric layer are deposited over a semiconductor substrate. Source/drain trenches are formed in the protective dielectric and polysilicon layers and subsequently filled with sacrificial dielectrics. The protective dielectric lying between these sacrificial dielectrics is removed, and replaced with sidewall spacers, a gate dielectric, and a gate conductor which may be formed from a low-resistance metal. The sacrificial dielectrics are subsequently removed and replaced with source/drain regions which may be formed from a low-resistance metal. The resulting transistor may exhibit low contact and series resistances, and increased operation speed.
摘要:
An integrated circuit containing separately optimized gate structures for n-channel and p-channel transistors is provided and formed. Original gate structures for both n-channel and p-channel transistors are patterned over appropriately-doped active regions of a semiconductor substrate. Protective dielectrics are formed over the semiconductor substrate to the same elevation level as the upper surfaces of the original gate structures, so that only the upper surfaces of the gate structures are exposed. A masking layer is used to cover the gate structures of either the p-channel or the n-channel transistors. The uncovered gate structures are removed, forming a trench within the protective dielectric in place of each removed gate structure. The trenches are refilled with a new gate structure which is preferably optimized for operation of the appropriate transistor type (n-channel or p-channel).
摘要:
A trench isolation structure is provided which includes a dielectric material having a relatively low dielectric constant, K, that is approximately less than 3.8. The capacitance between active areas separated by the trench isolation structure, being directly proportional to K, is thus reduced. As a result, the lateral width of the isolation structure may be decreased without significantly increasing the capacitance between those active areas. In an embodiment, a fabrication process for the trench isolation structure may include a trench is etched within a semiconductor substrate upon which a masking layer is formed. An oxide liner is thermally grown upon the sidewalls and base of the trench. A layer of low K dielectric material is deposited across the oxide liner. A fill oxide is then formed upon the layer of dielectric material. The resulting trench isolation structure includes a low K dielectric material interposed between an oxide liner and a fill oxide. The trench isolation structure is less likely to experience current leakage during the operation of an ensuing integrated circuit employing the isolation structure.
摘要:
An integrated circuit is formed whereby junction of NMOS transistors are formed dissimilar to junctions of PMOS transistors. The NMOS transistors include an LDD area, an MDD area and a heavy concentration source/drain area. Conversely, the PMOS transistor include an LDD area and a source/drain area. The NMOS transistor junction is formed dissimilar from the PMOS transistor junction to take into account the less mobile nature of the junction dopants relative to the PMOS dopants. Thus, a lessening of the LDD area and the inclusion of an MDD area provide lower source/drain resistance and higher ohmic connectivity in the NMOS device. The PMOS junction includes a relatively large LDD area so as to draw the highly mobile, heavy concentration boron atoms away from the PMOS channel.
摘要:
A method of making NMOS and PMOS devices with reduced masking steps is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a first active region of first conductivity type and a second active region of second conductivity type, forming a gate material over the first and second active regions, forming a first masking layer over the gate material, etching the gate material using the first masking layer as an etch mask to form a first gate over the first active region and a second gate over the second active region, implanting a dopant of second conductivity type into the first and second active regions using the first masking layer as an implant mask, forming a second masking layer that covers the first active region and includes an opening above the second active region, and implanting a dopant of first conductivity type into the second active region using the first and second masking layers as an implant mask. Advantageously, the dopant of first conductivity type counterdopes the dopant of second conductivity type in the second active region, thereby providing source and drain regions of second conductivity type in the first active region and source and drain regions of first conductivity type in the second active region with a single masking step and without subjecting either gate to dopants of first and second conductivity type.
摘要:
A transistor is provided and formed using self-aligned low-resistance source and drain regions within a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) process. The gate of the transistor may also be formed from a low-resistance material such as a metal. The source and drain regions of the transistor are configured upon a semiconductor substrate, and the transistor channel is within the substrate. A protective dielectric layer is deposited over the semiconductor substrate. Source/drain trenches are formed in the protective dielectric layer and subsequently filled with sacrificial dielectrics. The protective dielectric lying between these sacrificial dielectrics is removed, and replaced with sidewall spacers, a gate dielectric, and a gate conductor which may be formed from a low-resistance metal. The sacrificial dielectrics are subsequently removed and replaced with source/drain regions which are preferably formed from a low-resistance metal. The resulting transistor may exhibit low contact and series resistances, and increased operating speed.