Abstract:
Air gaps may be formed in a metallization layer of a microstructure device on the basis of a patterning sequence in which also respective via openings are formed. Thereafter, the via openings and the air gaps may be closed by a deposition process without significantly affecting the interior of the corresponding openings. Thereafter, the further processing may be continued by forming respective trenches while maintaining integrity of the covered air gaps. Thus, the relative permittivity of the interlayer dielectric material may efficiently be reduced without adding additional process complexity.
Abstract:
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, the electromigration performance of copper metal lines at the top interface thereof may be enhanced by forming a copper alloy (132C) that is locally restricted to the interface (132S). To this end, an appropriate alloy-forming species, such as aluminum, may be provided on the basis of a non-masked deposition process and may be subsequently removed by a non-masked etch process, wherein the characteristic of the resulting alloy may be adjusted during an intermediate heat treatment.
Abstract:
A semiconductor structure (300) comprises a semiconductor substrate (301). A layer of an electrically insulating material (304) is formed over the semiconductor substrate (301). An electrically conductive feature (312) is formed in the layer of electrically insulating material (304). A first layer of a semiconductor material (320) is formed between the electrically conductive feature (312) and the layer of electrically insulating material (304).
Abstract:
By removing excess material of an interlayer dielectric material (207, 307) deposited by SACVD, the gap filling capabilities of this deposition technique may be exploited, while, on the other hand, negative effects of this material may be reduced. In other aspects, a buffer material (360), such as silicon dioxide, may be formed prior to depositing the interlayer dielectric material (207, 307) on the basis of SACVD, thereby creating enhanced uniformity during the deposition process when depositing the interlayer dielectric material (207, 307) on dielectric layers having different high intrinsic stress levels. Consequently, the reliability of the interlayer dielectric material (207, 307) may be enhanced while nevertheless maintaining the advantages provided by an SACVD deposition.
Abstract:
During the formation of complex metallization systems a conductive cap layer (122C) may be formed on a copper-containing metal region (122A) in order to enhance the electromigration behaviour without negatively affecting the overall conductivity. At the same time, a thermo chemical treatment may be performed so as to provide for superior surface conditions of the sensitive dielectric material (121) and also to suppress carbon depletion, which may conventionally result in a significant variability of material characteristics of sensitive ULK materials.
Abstract:
Electromigration behavior in complex metallization systems of semiconductor devices may be enhanced at critical areas between a metal line and a via by locally forming a copper/silicon compound. In some illustrative embodiments, the formation of the copper/ silicon compound may be combined with other treatments for cleaning the exposed surface areas and/or modifying the molecular structure thereof.
Abstract:
In a semiconductor device a through hole via extending through the substrate of the device may be formed on the basis of a carbon-containing material, thereby providing excellent compatibility with high temperature processes, while also providing superior electrical performance compared to doped semiconductor materials and the like. Thus, in some illustrative embodiments, the through hole vias may be formed prior to any process steps used for forming critical circuit elements, thereby substantially avoiding any interference of the through hole via structure with a device level of the corresponding semiconductor device. Consequently, highly efficient three-dimensional integration schemes may be realized.
Abstract:
During the manufacturing of advanced metallization systems, a dielectric cap layer formed on a sensitive dielectric material may be partially maintained during a CMP process for removing excess metal, thereby avoiding the necessity for depositing a dedicated etch stop material, as may be required in conventional approaches when substantially completely consuming the dielectric cap material during the CMP process. Hence, reduced process complexity and/or enhanced flexibility may be accomplished in combination with increased integrity of the low-k dielectric material.
Abstract:
By forming metallization structures on the basis of an imprint technique, in which via openings and trenches may be commonly formed, a significant reduction of process complexity may be achieved due to the omission of at least one further alignment process as required in conventional process techniques. Furthermore, the flexibility and efficiency of imprint lithography may be increased by providing appropriately designed imprint molds in order to provide via openings and trenches exhibiting an increased fill capability, thereby also improving the performance of the finally obtained metallization structures with respect to reliability, resistance against electromigration and the like.
Abstract:
In a metallization system of a complex semiconductor device, metal pillars (271) such as copper pillars may be formed in a nail-like configuration in order to reduce the maximum mechanical stress acting on the metallization system while providing a required contact surface for connecting to the package substrate. The nail-like configuration may be obtained on the basis of appropriately configured resist masks.