Semiconductor processing method of providing a roughened polysilicon film and a capacitor construction

Claim 2

A semiconductor processing method, comprising: placing a substrate within a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer onto the substrate at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a selected rate to a higher annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; and maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon.

Claim 3

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec.

Claim 4

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the annealing second temperature is less than 700° C.

Claim 5

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the period is less than or equal to 60 seconds.

Claim 6

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is the same pressure.

Claim 7

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein is the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is greater than or equal to 0.01 Torr.

Claim 8

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is greater than or equal to 760 Torr.

Claim 9

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is the same pressure, with such pressure being greater than or equal to 0.01 Torr.

Claim 10

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is the same pressure, with such pressure being greater than or equal to 760 Torr.

Claim 11

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is the same pressure.

Claim 12

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is greater than or equal to 0.01 Torr.

Claim 13

The semiconductor processing method of claim 1 wherein the selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition and annealing steps is greater than or equal to 760 Torr.

Claim 14

A semiconductor processing method, comprising: placing a semiconductive substrate within a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer onto the substrate at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a first selected rate to a higher silicon seeding temperature; with the substrate at the seeding temperature, depositing a discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer, providing the substrate temperature at an annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; and maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon.

Claim 15

A semiconductor processing method, comprising: placing a semiconductive substrate within a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer onto the substrate at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a first selected rate to a higher silicon seeding temperature; with the substrate at the seeding temperature, depositing a discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer, providing the substrate temperature at an annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; and maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon.

Claim 16

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the step of depositing the discontinuous silicon seeds comprises feeding a silicon source gas to the reactor, the silicon source gas comprising a gaseous compound of the formula Si n H 2n+2 , where "n" is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

Claim 17

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the second annealing temperature is greater than the seeding temperature, with the substrate temperature being raised to the second annealing temperature from the seeding temperature at a second selected rate.

Claim 18

The semiconductor processing method of claim 15 wherein the second rate is the same as the first rate.

Claim 19

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the discontinuous silicon seeds are provided to have a diameter of from 10 Angstroms to 50 Angstroms.

Claim 20

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the first selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec.

Claim 21

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is the same pressure.

Claim 22

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is greater than or equal to 0.01 Torr.

Claim 23

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is greater than or equal to 760 Torr.

Claim 24

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the first selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is the same pressure.

Claim 25

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the first selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is greater than or equal to 0.01 Torr.

Claim 26

The semiconductor processing method of claim 13 wherein the first selected rate is less than or equal to 10° C./sec, and the reactor pressure during the amorphous silicon deposition, the discontinuous deposition and the annealing steps is greater than or equal to 760 Torr.

Claim 27

A semiconductor processing method of forming a capacitor, comprising: providing a semiconductive monocrystalline silicon substrate, forming a diffusion region within the semiconductive substrate; forming an insulative layer over the semiconductive substrate; forming an opening through the insulative layer, the diffusion region being exposed within said opening; after forming the opening, placing the semiconductive substrate in a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer over the insulative layer and within the opening at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness, the doped amorphous layer contacting the diffusion region; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a selected rate to a higher annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon; after converting the at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer, polishing the polysilicon layer to remove the polysilicon layer from over the insulative layer and to form a polished polysilicon layer within the opening; forming a dielectric layer over the polished polysilicon layer and over the insulative layer; and forming an outer capacitor plate over the dielectric layer; the outer capacitor plate, dielectric layer and polysilicon layer together comprising a capacitor.

Claim 28

A semiconductor processing method of forming a capacitor, comprising: providing a semiconductive monocrystalline silicon substrate, forming a diffusion region within the semiconductive substrate; forming an insulative layer over the semiconductive substrate; forming an opening through the insulative layer, the diffusion region being exposed within said opening; after forming the opening, placing the semiconductive substrate in a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer over the insulative layer and within the opening at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness, the doped amorphous layer contacting the diffusion region; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a selected rate to a higher annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon; after converting the at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer, polishing the polysilicon layer to remove the polysilicon layer from over the insulative layer and to form a polished polysilicon layer within the opening; forming a dielectric layer over the polished polysilicon layer and over the insulative layer; and forming an outer capacitor plate over the dielectric layer; the outer capacitor plate, dielectric layer and polysilicon layer together comprising a capacitor.

Claim 29

A semiconductor processing method of forming a capacitor, comprising: providing a semiconductive monocrystalline silicon substrate, forming a diffusion region within the semiconductive substrate; forming an insulative layer over the semiconductive substrate; forming an opening through the insulative layer, the diffusion region being exposed within said opening; after forming the opening, placing the semiconductive substrate in a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer over the substrate within the reactor at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a first selected rate to a higher silicon seeding temperature; with the substrate at the seeding temperature, depositing a discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer, providing the substrate temperature at an annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon; after converting the at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer, polishing the polysilicon layer to remove the polysilicon layer from over the insulative layer and to form a polished polysilicon layer within the opening; forming a dielectric layer over the polished polysilicon layer and over the insulative layer; and forming an outer capacitor plate over the dielectric layer; the outer capacitor plate, dielectric layer and polysilicon layer together comprising a capacitor.

Claim 30

A semiconductor processing method of forming a capacitor, comprising: providing a semiconductive monocrystalline silicon substrate, forming a diffusion region within the semiconductive substrate; forming an insulative layer over the semiconductive substrate; forming an opening through the insulative layer, the diffusion region being exposed within said opening; after forming the opening, placing the semiconductive substrate in a chemical vapor deposition reactor; while the substrate is within the chemical vapor deposition reactor, chemical vapor depositing an in situ conductively doped amorphous silicon layer over the substrate within the reactor at a first temperature, the first temperature being below 600° C., the doped amorphous silicon layer having an outer surface of a first degree of roughness; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the doped amorphous silicon layer, raising the substrate temperature at a first selected rate to a higher silicon seeding temperature; with the substrate at the seeding temperature, depositing a discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer; within the chemical vapor deposition reactor and after depositing the discontinuous layer of silicon seeds atop the doped amorphous silicon layer, providing the substrate temperature at an annealing second temperature, the annealing second temperature being from 550° C. to 950° C.; maintaining the substrate at the annealing second temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer having an outer surface of a second degree of roughness, the second degree of roughness being greater than the first degree of roughness, the substrate not being removed from the reactor nor exposed to oxidizing conditions between the time of deposition of the doped amorphous silicon layer and its conversion to polysilicon; after converting the at least an outer portion of the doped amorphous layer into a doped polysilicon layer, polishing the polysilicon layer to remove the polysilicon layer from over the insulative layer and to form a polished polysilicon layer within the opening; forming a dielectric layer over the polished polysilicon layer and over the insulative layer; and forming an outer capacitor plate over the dielectric layer; the outer capacitor plate, dielectric layer and polysilicon layer together comprising a capacitor.