US5733808A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for fabricating a cylindrical capacitor for a semiconductor device
Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1996-01-16
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2016-01-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a cylindrical capacitor for a DRAM. A resist layer is first used to pattern a first conductive layer and an oxidation barrier layer into a cylindrical bottom electrode. In a critical step, the resist layer is laterally etched removing a lateral portion of the resist layer thereby exposing an outer cylindrical section of the barrier layer. Using the now narrower (laterally plasma etched) resist layer as a mask, the exposed portions of the oxidation barrier layer are etched away. A masking layer is formed over the sidewalls and the exposed portions of the bottom electrode by an oxidation process. The oxidation barrier layer then is removed. The bottom electrode is anisotropically etched using the masking layer as a mask forming a cylindrical storage electrode. A dielectric layer and top plate electrode are formed over the storage electrode to form the capacitor.
Inventors
- 👤 Horng-Huei Tseng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:55
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/01; H10B12/02; H10B12/03; H10B12/033; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/01; H10D1/041; H10D1/043; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/711; H10D1/716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of fabricating a cylindrical capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming an etch barrier layer over a substrate surface; b) forming a first insulation layer over said etch barrier layer; c) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said etch barrier layer; d) forming a first conductive layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; e) forming an oxidation barrier layer over said first conductive layer; f) forming a resist layer over said oxidation barrier layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; g) etching said oxidation barrier layer and said first conductive layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a bottom electrode; said bottom electrode having sidewalls; h) laterally etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer; i) etching said exposed outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer using the remaining resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said bottom electrode; j) removing said resist layer; k) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said bottom electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said bottom electrode; l) removing said oxidation barrier layer exposing a central portion of said bottom electrode; m) anisotropically etching said bottom electrode using said masking layer as an etch mask forming a central channel and a ridge of said bottom electrode; n) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; o) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said bottom electrode; and p) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing said cylindrical capacitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of fabricating a cylindrical capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming an etch barrier layer over a substrate surface; b) forming a first insulation layer over said etch barrier layer; c) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said etch barrier layer; d) forming a first conductive layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; e) forming an oxidation barrier layer over said first conductive layer; f) forming a resist layer over said oxidation barrier layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; g) etching said oxidation barrier layer and said first conductive layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a bottom electrode; said bottom electrode having sidewalls; h) laterally etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer; i) etching said exposed outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer using the remaining resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said bottom electrode; j) removing said resist layer; k) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said bottom electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said bottom electrode; l) removing said oxidation barrier layer exposing a central portion of said bottom electrode; m) anisotropically etching said bottom electrode using said masking layer as an etch mask forming a central channel and a ridge of said bottom electrode; n) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; o) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said bottom electrode; and p) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing said cylindrical capacitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said etch barrier layer is formed of silicon nitride and has a thickness in the range of between about 500 and 1000 Å.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first insulation layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide and borophosphosilicate glass; and has a thickness in the range between about 4000 and 10,000 Å.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidation barrier layer is formed of silicon nitride; and has a thickness in the range of between about 300 and 800 Å.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said resist layer is formed of positive type resist with a thickness in the range of between about 1.0 and 1.5 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bottom electrode is formed of doped polysilicon having an impurity concentration in the range between about 1E20 and 1E22 atoms/cm 3 and a thickness in the range between about 3000 and 8000 Å.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said masking layer is formed by oxidizing said first conductive layer and said masking layer has a thickness in the range between about 300 and 800 Å; said masking layer is formed of silicon oxide and polysilicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in said step (h) said lateral etching of said resist layer comprises a plasma etch using an oxygen reactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (h) said lateral etching of said resist layer removes a lateral portion of said resist layer having a width in the range of between about 0.05 and 0.15 μm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said anisotropic etch of said bottom electrode is a reactive ion etch and has a selectivity to polysilicon over polyoxide of between about 10:1 and 30:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said bottom electrode comprise a wet thermal oxidation at a temperature in the range of between about 700° and 900° C.; and uses H 2 O and N 2 reactants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said central channel has a width in the range between about 0.1 and 0.3 μm and a depth in the range between about 0.3 and 0.8 μm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ridges have a width in the range between about 0.1 and 0.3 μm; and a height in the range between about 0.3 and 0.8 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said selective etching of said masking layer and said first isolation layer is performed with a buffered HF etch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said capacitor dielectric is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of: silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide (ONO), silicon nitride and Ta 2 O 5 ; and has a thickness in the range between about 20 and 100 Å.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said top plate electrode is formed of doped polysilicon having a thickness in the range between about 1000 and 2000 Å and an impurity concentration in the range between about 1E20 and 1E22 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 18
Independent Claim
320 words
A method of fabricating a crown capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming an silicon nitride etch barrier layer over a substrate surface; b) forming a first silicon oxide layer over said silicon nitride etch barrier layer; c) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said silicon nitride etch barrier layer; d) forming a first polysilicon layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; e) forming a silicon nitride layer over said first conductive layer; f) forming a resist layer over said silicon nitride layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; g) etching said silicon nitride layer and said first polysilicon layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a storage electrode; said storage electrode having sidewalls; h) laterally etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said silicon nitride layer; i) etching said exposed outer portions of said silicon nitride layer using the resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said storage electrode; j) removing said resist layer exposing a central portion of said storage electrode; k) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said storage electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said storage electrode; said silicon nitride layer to prevent oxidizing the portions covered by said silicon nitride layer; l) removing said barrier layer exposing a central portion of said storage electrode; m) anisotropically etching said exposed central portion of said storage electrode using said masking layer as a mask forming a central channel and a ridge; n) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; o) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said storage electrode; and p) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing said crown capacitor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
320 words
A method of fabricating a crown capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming an silicon nitride etch barrier layer over a substrate surface; b) forming a first silicon oxide layer over said silicon nitride etch barrier layer; c) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said silicon nitride etch barrier layer; d) forming a first polysilicon layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; e) forming a silicon nitride layer over said first conductive layer; f) forming a resist layer over said silicon nitride layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; g) etching said silicon nitride layer and said first polysilicon layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a storage electrode; said storage electrode having sidewalls; h) laterally etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said silicon nitride layer; i) etching said exposed outer portions of said silicon nitride layer using the resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said storage electrode; j) removing said resist layer exposing a central portion of said storage electrode; k) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said storage electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said storage electrode; said silicon nitride layer to prevent oxidizing the portions covered by said silicon nitride layer; l) removing said barrier layer exposing a central portion of said storage electrode; m) anisotropically etching said exposed central portion of said storage electrode using said masking layer as a mask forming a central channel and a ridge; n) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; o) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said storage electrode; and p) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing said crown capacitor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said masking layer has a thickness in the range between about 300 and 800 Å; said masking layer is formed of silicon oxide and polysilicon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said laterally etching of said resist layer comprises a plasma etch using an oxygen reactant.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said plasma etching of said resist layer removes a lateral portion of said resist layer having a width in the range of between about 0.05 and 0.15 μm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said selective etching of said masking layer and said first isolation layer is performed with a buffered HF etch.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
379 words
A method of fabricating a memory cell having a cylindrical storage capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming a plurality of active regions in a semiconductor substrate each comprising a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; b) forming insulating layers in portions of said substrate to separate etch of said active regions from adjacent active regions; c) forming an interlayer oxide over all exposed surfaces of said active regions, said insulating layers and said substrate; d) forming an etch barrier layer over said interlayer oxide; e) forming a first insulation layer over said etch barrier layer; f) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said etch barrier layer; g) forming a first conductive layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; h) forming an oxidation barrier layer over said first conductive layer; i) forming a resist layer over said oxidation barrier layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; j) etching said oxidation barrier layer and said first conductive layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a bottom electrode; said bottom electrode having sidewalls; k) isotropically plasma etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer; l) etching said exposed outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer using the remaining resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said bottom electrode; m) removing said resist layer; n) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said bottom electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said bottom electrode; said oxidation barrier layer to prevent the oxidization of the portions covered by said oxidation barrier layer; o) removing said oxidation barrier layer exposing a central portion of said bottom electrode; p) anisotropically etching said bottom electrode using said masking layer as a mask forming a central channel and a ridge of said bottom electrode; q) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; r) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said bottom electrode; and s) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing the cylindrical capacitor and memory cell.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
379 words
A method of fabricating a memory cell having a cylindrical storage capacitor comprises the steps of: a) forming a plurality of active regions in a semiconductor substrate each comprising a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; b) forming insulating layers in portions of said substrate to separate etch of said active regions from adjacent active regions; c) forming an interlayer oxide over all exposed surfaces of said active regions, said insulating layers and said substrate; d) forming an etch barrier layer over said interlayer oxide; e) forming a first insulation layer over said etch barrier layer; f) forming a contact hole through said first insulation layer and said etch barrier layer; g) forming a first conductive layer on said first insulation layer and filling said contact hole; h) forming an oxidation barrier layer over said first conductive layer; i) forming a resist layer over said oxidation barrier layer; said resist layer having openings defining a storage electrode; j) etching said oxidation barrier layer and said first conductive layer using said resist layer as a mask thereby forming a bottom electrode; said bottom electrode having sidewalls; k) isotropically plasma etching said resist layer removing a lateral portion of said resist layer thereby exposing outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer; l) etching said exposed outer portions of said oxidation barrier layer using the remaining resist layer as a mask thereby exposing peripheral portions of said bottom electrode; m) removing said resist layer; n) oxidizing said sidewalls and said exposed peripheral portions of said bottom electrode forming a masking layer over said sidewalls and said exposed portions of said bottom electrode; said oxidation barrier layer to prevent the oxidization of the portions covered by said oxidation barrier layer; o) removing said oxidation barrier layer exposing a central portion of said bottom electrode; p) anisotropically etching said bottom electrode using said masking layer as a mask forming a central channel and a ridge of said bottom electrode; q) selectively etching said masking layer and said first insulation layer using said etch barrier layer as an etch stop; r) forming a capacitor dielectric layer covering at least said bottom electrode; and s) forming a top plate electrode over said capacitor dielectric layer thereby completing the cylindrical capacitor and memory cell.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said masking layer has a thickness in the range between about 300 and 800 Å; said masking layer is formed of silicon oxide and polysilicon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said laterally etching of said resist layer comprises a plasma etch using an oxygen reactant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said plasma etching of said resist layer removes a lateral portion of said resist layer with width in the range of between about 0.05 and 0.15 μm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said selective etching of said masking layer and said first isolation layer is performed with a buffered HF etch.
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