EP0698918A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A conductive noble-metal-insulator-alloy barrier layer for high-dielectric-constant material electrodes
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1995-07-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A preferred embodiment of this invention comprises an oxidizable layer (e.g. TiN 50), an noble-metal-insulator-alloy barrier layer (e.g. Pd-Si-N 34) overlying the oxidizable layer, an oxygen stable layer (e.g. platinum 36) overlying the noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer, and a high-dielectric-constant material layer (e.g. barium strontium titanate 38) overlying the oxygen stable layer. The noble-metal-insulator-alloy barrier layer substantially inhibits diffusion of oxygen to the oxidizable layer, thus minimizing deleterious oxidation of the oxidizable layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott R. Summerfelt
- 👤 Jason Reid
- 👤 Marc Nicolet
- 👤 Elzbieta Kolawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:35
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/682; H10D1/696
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of forming a microelectronic structure, said method comprising: (a) forming an oxidizable layer; (b) forming a noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer on said oxidizable layer; (c) forming an oxygen stable layer on said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer; and (d) forming a layer of a high-dielectric-constant material on said oxygen stable layer, wherein the noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer substantially inhibits diffusion of oxygen to the oxidizable layer, whereby deleterious oxidation of the oxidizable layer is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising exposing said structure to oxygen between said steps (c) and (d) to pre-oxidize a sidewall portion of said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising exposing said structure to oxygen between said steps (c) and (d) to pre-oxidize an upper surface portion of said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising forming an oxygen stable sidewall adjacent said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer and said oxygen stable layer between said steps (c) and (d).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer is partially oxidized during said step (d).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer comprises Pd-Si-N.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer is selected from the group consisting of: Pd-Si-N, Pt-Si-N, Pt-Si-O, Pd-Si-O, Pd-Si-O, Pd-B-O, Pd-B-N, Pd-Al-N, Pd-Al-O, Ru-Si-O, Ru-Si-N, and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said oxidizable layer is selected from the group consisting of: tantalum, tungsten, titanium, molybdenum, titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, titanium silicide, tantalum silicide, tungsten silicide, molybdenum silicide, tantalum carbide, titanium boride, boron carbide, silicon, germanium, carbon, GaAs, and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said high-dielectric-constant material is selected from the group consisting of: barium strontium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, lead lanthanum titanate, lead lanthanum zirconate titanate, bismuth titanate, potassium tantalate, lead scandium tantalate, lead niobate, lead zinc niobate, potassium niobate, lead magnesium niobate, and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen stable layer comprises platinum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen stable layer is selected from the group consisting of: platinum, palladium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, rhenium oxide, osmium oxide, rhodium oxide, iridium oxide, and combinations thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising forming an upper electrode on said high-dielectric-constant material layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said upper electrode is selected from the group consisting of: tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, ruthenium dioxide, YBa₂Cu₃O 7-x , platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, iridium, silver, and combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A microelectronic structure comprising: an oxidizable layer, wherein said oxidizable layer is substantially conductive and unoxidized; a noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer overlying said oxidizable layer; an oxygen stable layer overlying said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer; and a layer of a high-dielectric-constant material overlying said oxygen stable layer, whereby the noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer substantially inhibits diffusion of oxygen to the oxidizable layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer is partially oxidized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer comprises Pd-Si-N.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said noble-metal-insulator-alloy layer is selected from the group consisting of: Pd-Si-N, Pt-Si-N, Pt-Si-O, Pd-Si-O, Pd-Si-O, Pd-B-O, Pd-B-N, Pd-Al-N, Pd-Al-O, Ru-Si-O, Ru-Si-N, and combinations thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of 14, said structure further comprising an upper electrode overlying said high-dielectric-constant material layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 18, wherein said upper electrode is selected from the group consisting of: tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, ruthenium dioxide, YBa₂Cu₃O 7-x , platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, iridium, silver, and combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0514149A1
Cited
EP0609081A2
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