US5521112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making capacitor for stack dram cell
Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
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Filing: 1994-10-05
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2014-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A method, and resultant structure, for fabricating a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cell with a stack capacitor is described. AMOS (metal oxide semiconductor) device and adjacent word line are provided, having first and second active regions, in a silicon substrate. A first insulating layer is formed over the MOS device and word line, and patterned to form a cell contact opening to the first active region. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer and in the opening. A second insulating layer is formed over the first conductive layer, and patterned to form a second opening centered over the cell contact opening. Silicon nitride spacers are formed on the vertical surfaces of the second opening. The first conductive layer is oxidized within the second opening, forming an oxide mask. The silicon nitride spacers are removed. A third opening is formed in the first conductive layer, in areas not masked by the oxide mask. The oxide mask and the second insulating layer are removed. A photoresist mask is formed between, over, and adjacent to the third opening. The first conductive layer is patterned in areas not masked by the photoresist mask, thereby forming a bottom electrode for the stack capacitor. The capacitor is completed by forming a capacitor dielectric and top electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Horng-Huei Tseng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/01; H10B12/02; H10B12/03; H10B12/033; H10B12/30; H10B12/31; H10B12/318; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/01; H10D1/041; H10D1/043; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/711; H10D1/716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of forming a stack capacitor for a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cell, comprising the steps of: providing a MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) device having first and second active regions, adjacent to a field oxide region on which there is a conductive word line, in a silicon substrate; forming a first insulating layer over said MOS device, said conductive word line, and said field oxide region; patterning said first insulating layer to form a cell contact opening to said first active region; forming a first conductive layer over said first insulating layer and in said opening; forming a second insulating layer over said first conductive layer; patterning said second insulating layer to form a second opening centered over said cell contact opening, said second opening having vertical surfaces and a portion of said first conductive layer therein; forming silicon nitride spacers on the vertical surfaces of said second opening; oxidizing said first conductive layer within said second opening, whereby an oxide mask is formed; removing said silicon nitride spacers; forming a third opening in said first conductive layer, in areas not masked by said oxide mask; removing said oxide mask and said second insulating layer; forming a photoresist mask between, over, and adjacent to said third opening; patterning said first conductive layer in areas not masked by said photoresist mask, whereby a bottom electrode for said stack capacitor is formed; forming a capacitor dielectric over said bottom electrode; and forming a top electrode over said capacitor dielectric.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
249 words
A method of forming a stack capacitor for a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cell, comprising the steps of: providing a MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) device having first and second active regions, adjacent to a field oxide region on which there is a conductive word line, in a silicon substrate; forming a first insulating layer over said MOS device, said conductive word line, and said field oxide region; patterning said first insulating layer to form a cell contact opening to said first active region; forming a first conductive layer over said first insulating layer and in said opening; forming a second insulating layer over said first conductive layer; patterning said second insulating layer to form a second opening centered over said cell contact opening, said second opening having vertical surfaces and a portion of said first conductive layer therein; forming silicon nitride spacers on the vertical surfaces of said second opening; oxidizing said first conductive layer within said second opening, whereby an oxide mask is formed; removing said silicon nitride spacers; forming a third opening in said first conductive layer, in areas not masked by said oxide mask; removing said oxide mask and said second insulating layer; forming a photoresist mask between, over, and adjacent to said third opening; patterning said first conductive layer in areas not masked by said photoresist mask, whereby a bottom electrode for said stack capacitor is formed; forming a capacitor dielectric over said bottom electrode; and forming a top electrode over said capacitor dielectric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first conductive layer is formed of doped polycrystalline silicon to a thickness of between about 2000 and 6000 Angstroms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said polycrystalline silicon is doped in-situ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said polycrystalline silicon is doped by ion implantation of phosphorus 31P at a dose of between about 5 E 15 and 2 E 16 atoms/cm. 2 and at an energy of between about 20 and 60 KeV.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said third opening is formed to a depth of between about 1000 and 5000 Angstroms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said forming silicon nitride spacers further comprises the steps of: forming a layer of silicon nitride over said first insulating layer and in said second opening; and anisotropically etching said silicon nitride layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said layer of silicon nitride is formed to a thickness of between about 600 and 2400 Angstroms, whereby said thickness determines the width of said third opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said capacitor dielectric layer is formed to a thickness of between about 30 and 90 Angstroms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said forming a capacitor dielectric layer further comprises the steps of: forming a first layer of silicon oxide over said bottom electrode; forming an intermediate layer of silicon nitride over said first layer of silicon oxide; and forming a second layer of silicon oxide over said intermediate layer of silicon nitride, whereby said capacitor dielectric layer has an ONO (oxide-nitride-oxide) structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said top electrode is formed of doped polycrystalline silicon at a thickness of between about 1000 and 3000 Angstroms.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of forming a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cell having a stack capacitor, comprising the steps of: providing a MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) device having first and second active regions, adjacent to a field oxide region on which there is a conductive word line, in a silicon substrate; forming a first insulating layer over said MOS device, said conductive word line, and said field oxide region; patterning said first insulating layer to form a cell contact opening to one of said first and second active regions; forming a first conductive layer over said first insulating layer and in said opening; forming a second insulating layer over said first conductive layer; patterning said second insulating layer to form a second opening centered over said cell contact opening, said second opening having vertical surfaces and a portion of said first conductive layer therein; forming silicon nitride spacers on the vertical surfaces of said second opening; oxidizing said first conductive layer within said second opening, whereby an oxide mask is formed; removing said silicon nitride spacers; forming a third opening in said first conductive layer, in areas not masked by said oxide mask; removing said oxide mask and said second insulating layer; forming a photoresist mask between, over, and adjacent to said third opening; patterning said first conductive layer in areas not masked by said photoresist mask, whereby a bottom electrode for said stack capacitor is formed; forming a capacitor dielectric over said bottom electrode; forming a top electrode over said capacitor dielectric, while leaving an exposed portion of said first insulating layer; forming a third insulating layer over said top electrode over exposed portion of said first insulating layer; forming a bit line contact opening through said first and third insulating layers to said second active region; and forming a third conductive layer over said third insulating layer and in said bit line contact opening.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of forming a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cell having a stack capacitor, comprising the steps of: providing a MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) device having first and second active regions, adjacent to a field oxide region on which there is a conductive word line, in a silicon substrate; forming a first insulating layer over said MOS device, said conductive word line, and said field oxide region; patterning said first insulating layer to form a cell contact opening to one of said first and second active regions; forming a first conductive layer over said first insulating layer and in said opening; forming a second insulating layer over said first conductive layer; patterning said second insulating layer to form a second opening centered over said cell contact opening, said second opening having vertical surfaces and a portion of said first conductive layer therein; forming silicon nitride spacers on the vertical surfaces of said second opening; oxidizing said first conductive layer within said second opening, whereby an oxide mask is formed; removing said silicon nitride spacers; forming a third opening in said first conductive layer, in areas not masked by said oxide mask; removing said oxide mask and said second insulating layer; forming a photoresist mask between, over, and adjacent to said third opening; patterning said first conductive layer in areas not masked by said photoresist mask, whereby a bottom electrode for said stack capacitor is formed; forming a capacitor dielectric over said bottom electrode; forming a top electrode over said capacitor dielectric, while leaving an exposed portion of said first insulating layer; forming a third insulating layer over said top electrode over exposed portion of said first insulating layer; forming a bit line contact opening through said first and third insulating layers to said second active region; and forming a third conductive layer over said third insulating layer and in said bit line contact opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said first conductive layer is formed of doped polycrystalline silicon to a thickness of between about 2000 and 6000 Angstroms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said polycrystalline silicon is doped in-situ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said polycrystalline silicon is doped by ion implantation of phosphorus 31P at a dose of between about 5 E 15 and 2 E 16 atoms/cm. 2 and at an energy of between about 20 and 60 KeV.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said third opening is formed to a depth of between about 1000 and 5000 Angstroms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said forming silicon nitride spacers further comprises the steps of: forming a layer of silicon nitride over said first insulating layer and in said second opening; and anisotropically etching said silicon nitride layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said layer of silicon nitride is formed to a thickness of between about 600 and 2400 Angstroms, whereby said thickness determines the width of said third opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said capacitor dielectric layer is formed to a thickness of between about 30 and 90 Angstroms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said forming a capacitor dielectric layer further comprises the steps of: forming a first layer of silicon oxide over said bottom electrode; forming an intermediate layer of silicon nitride over said first layer of silicon oxide; and forming a second layer of silicon oxide over said intermediate layer of silicon nitride, whereby said capacitor dielectric layer has an ONO (oxide-nitride-oxide) structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said top electrode is formed of doped polycrystalline silicon at a thickness of between about 1000 and 3000 Angstroms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5438013A
Cited
US5444005A
Cited
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