Method of fabricating a capacitor under bit line DRAM structure using contact hole liners

Claim 1

A method of fabricating a capacitor structure for a memory device, on a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of: providing insulator encapsulated gate structures, on a gate insulator layer, on said semiconductor substrate, with source/drain regions, in an area of said semiconductor substrate, not covered by said insulator encapsulated gate structures; forming self-aligned contact openings, in a first silicon oxide layer, exposing said source/drain regions, located between said silicon encapsulated gate structures; forming conductive plug structures, in said self-aligned contact openings; depositing a composite insulator layer, comprised an underlying first silicon nitride layer, and an overlying second silicon oxide layer; forming capacitor node openings in said composite insulator layer, with a first capacitor node opening, exposing the top surface of a first conductive plug structure, and with a second capacitor node opening exposing a portion of the top surface of said first silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node structure, in said first capacitor node opening, overlying and contacting the top surface of said first conductive plug structure, and forming a second storage node structure, in said second capacitor node opening; forming a capacitor dielectric layer, on said first storage node structure, and on said second storage node structure; depositing a polysilicon layer, completely filling the space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure; depositing a third silicon oxide layer; using a first opening, in a photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to create a first contact hole, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, with said first contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, in said polysilicon layer, in said capacitor dielectric layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top of a second conductive plug structure, with said first contact hole featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a second opening, in said photoresist shape as an etch mask, to create a second contact hole, in the space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, with said second contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, and in a top portion of said polysilicon layer, exposing the bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, and in said capacitor dielectric layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of said first storage node structure; using a third opening, in said photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to create a third contact hole, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, with said third contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, in said polysilicon layer, in said capacitor dielectric layer, in said first silicon nitride layer, and in said first silicon oxide layer, exposing a portion of said semiconductor substrate, with said third contact hole featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a fourth opening, in said photoresist shape, to define a capacitor upper plate structure, with said capacitor upper plate structure formed in a region not covered by said storage node structures, and formed by the etching of: said third silicon oxide layer; said polysilicon layer; said capacitor dielectric layer; said first silicon nitride layer, and said first silicon oxide layer; forming silicon nitride spacers on the sides of said first contact hole, on the sides of said second contact hole, and on the sides of said third contact hole, with a thicker silicon nitride spacer formed in the undercut regions of said polysilicon layer, in said first contact hole, and in said third contact hole; and forming a bit line contact structure, in said first contact hole, forming a capacitor contact structure, in said second contact hole, and forming a substrate contact structure, in said third contact hole.

Claim 2

A method of fabricating a capacitor structure for a memory device, on a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of: providing insulator encapsulated gate structures, on a gate insulator layer, on said semiconductor substrate, with source/drain regions, in an area of said semiconductor substrate, not covered by said insulator encapsulated gate structures; forming self-aligned contact openings, in a first silicon oxide layer, exposing said source/drain regions, located between said silicon encapsulated gate structures; forming conductive plug structures, in said self-aligned contact openings; depositing a composite insulator layer, comprised an underlying first silicon nitride layer, and an overlying second silicon oxide layer; forming capacitor node openings in said composite insulator layer, with a first capacitor node opening, exposing the top surface of a first conductive plug structure, and with a second capacitor node opening exposing a portion of the top surface of said first silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node structure, in said first capacitor node opening, overlying and contacting the top surface of said first conductive plug structure, and forming a second storage node structure, in said second capacitor node opening; forming a capacitor dielectric layer, on said first storage node structure, and on said second storage node structure; depositing a polysilicon layer, completely filling the space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure; depositing a third silicon oxide layer; using a first opening, in a photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to create a first contact hole, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, with said first contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, in said polysilicon layer, in said capacitor dielectric layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top of a second conductive plug structure, with said first contact hole featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a second opening, in said photoresist shape as an etch mask, to create a second contact hole, in the space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, with said second contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, and in a top portion of said polysilicon layer, exposing the bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, and in said capacitor dielectric layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of said first storage node structure; using a third opening, in said photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to create a third contact hole, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, with said third contact hole formed in said third silicon oxide layer, in said polysilicon layer, in said capacitor dielectric layer, in said first silicon nitride layer, and in said first silicon oxide layer, exposing a portion of said semiconductor substrate, with said third contact hole featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a fourth opening, in said photoresist shape, to define a capacitor upper plate structure, with said capacitor upper plate structure formed in a region not covered by said storage node structures, and formed by the etching of: said third silicon oxide layer; said polysilicon layer; said capacitor dielectric layer; said first silicon nitride layer, and said first silicon oxide layer; forming silicon nitride spacers on the sides of said first contact hole, on the sides of said second contact hole, and on the sides of said third contact hole, with a thicker silicon nitride spacer formed in the undercut regions of said polysilicon layer, in said first contact hole, and in said third contact hole; and forming a bit line contact structure, in said first contact hole, forming a capacitor contact structure, in said second contact hole, and forming a substrate contact structure, in said third contact hole.

Claim 13

A method of fabricating a DRAM capacitor structure, on a semiconductor substrate, featuring an upper capacitor plate structure, defined during bit line, capacitor, and substrate contact hole openings, and featuring silicon nitride spacers on the sides of all contact holes, comprising the steps of: providing silicon nitride capped, polycide gate structures, with silicon nitride sidewall spacers, on an a silicon dioxide gate insulator layer, with source/drain regions located in a region of said semiconductor substrate not covered by said silicon nitride capped, polycide gate structures; depositing a first silicon oxide layer; planarizing said first silicon oxide layer; forming self-aligned contact openings, in said first silicon oxide layer, with each self-aligned contact opening exposing a source/drain region, located between said silicon nitride capped polycide gate structures; forming a first polysilicon plug structure, in a first self-aligned contact opening, and forming a second polysilicon plug structure, in a second self-aligned contact opening; depositing a first silicon nitride layer; depositing a second silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node opening, in said second silicon oxide layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top surface said first polysilicon plug structure, and forming a second storage node opening, in said second silicon oxide layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of said first silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node structure, in said first storage node opening, contacting underlying first polysilicon plug structure, and forming a second storage node structure, in said second storage node opening, overlying said first silicon oxide layer, resulting a narrow space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, exposing a portion of said first silicon nitride layer; forming a capacitor dielectric layer; depositing a polysilicon layer; depositing a third silicon oxide layer; using a first opening, in a photoresist shape, to form a bit line contact hole opening, in a region not covered by storage node structures, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in said polysilicon layer, and anisotropically in said capacitor dielectric layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top surface of a second polysilicon plug structure, and featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a second opening, in said photoresist shape, to form a capacitor contact hole opening, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in a top portion of said polysilicon layer, located in said narrow space, exposing a bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, in said narrow space, and anisotropically in said capacitor dielectric layer, exposing a portion of said first storage node structure; using a third opening, in said photoresist shape, to form a substrate contact hole opening, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in said polysilicon layer, creating an undercut region in said polysilicon layer, and anisotropically in said in said capacitor dielectric layer, in said first silicon nitride layer, and in said first silicon oxide layer, exposing a portion of said semiconductor substrate; using a fourth opening, in said photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to define said upper capacitor plate structure, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, via anisotropic etching of said third silicon oxide layer, isotropic etching of said polysilicon layer, and anisotropic etching of said capacitor dielectric layer, first silicon nitride layer, and of said first silicon oxide layer, creating said DRAM capacitor structure comprised of said upper plate capacitor structure, capacitor dielectric layer, and a lower capacitor plate structure, with said lower capacitor plate comprised of said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, connected by said bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, located in said narrow space; depositing a second silicon nitride layer; performing an anisotropic dry etching procedure to create silicon nitride spacers on the sides of said bit line contact hole, said capacitor contact hole, and said substrate contact hole, with thick silicon nitride spacers located in undercut regions of said polysilicon layer, in said bit line contact hole, and in said substrate contact hole; and forming a bit line contact plug structure, in said bit line contact hole opening, a capacitor contact plug structure, in said capacitor contact hole opening, and forming a substrate contact plug structure, in said substrate contact hole opening.

Claim 14

A method of fabricating a DRAM capacitor structure, on a semiconductor substrate, featuring an upper capacitor plate structure, defined during bit line, capacitor, and substrate contact hole openings, and featuring silicon nitride spacers on the sides of all contact holes, comprising the steps of: providing silicon nitride capped, polycide gate structures, with silicon nitride sidewall spacers, on an a silicon dioxide gate insulator layer, with source/drain regions located in a region of said semiconductor substrate not covered by said silicon nitride capped, polycide gate structures; depositing a first silicon oxide layer; planarizing said first silicon oxide layer; forming self-aligned contact openings, in said first silicon oxide layer, with each self-aligned contact opening exposing a source/drain region, located between said silicon nitride capped polycide gate structures; forming a first polysilicon plug structure, in a first self-aligned contact opening, and forming a second polysilicon plug structure, in a second self-aligned contact opening; depositing a first silicon nitride layer; depositing a second silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node opening, in said second silicon oxide layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top surface said first polysilicon plug structure, and forming a second storage node opening, in said second silicon oxide layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of said first silicon oxide layer; forming a first storage node structure, in said first storage node opening, contacting underlying first polysilicon plug structure, and forming a second storage node structure, in said second storage node opening, overlying said first silicon oxide layer, resulting a narrow space between said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, exposing a portion of said first silicon nitride layer; forming a capacitor dielectric layer; depositing a polysilicon layer; depositing a third silicon oxide layer; using a first opening, in a photoresist shape, to form a bit line contact hole opening, in a region not covered by storage node structures, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in said polysilicon layer, and anisotropically in said capacitor dielectric layer, and in said first silicon nitride layer, exposing the top surface of a second polysilicon plug structure, and featuring an undercut region, in said polysilicon layer; using a second opening, in said photoresist shape, to form a capacitor contact hole opening, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in a top portion of said polysilicon layer, located in said narrow space, exposing a bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, in said narrow space, and anisotropically in said capacitor dielectric layer, exposing a portion of said first storage node structure; using a third opening, in said photoresist shape, to form a substrate contact hole opening, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, anisotropically in said third silicon oxide layer, isotopically in said polysilicon layer, creating an undercut region in said polysilicon layer, and anisotropically in said in said capacitor dielectric layer, in said first silicon nitride layer, and in said first silicon oxide layer, exposing a portion of said semiconductor substrate; using a fourth opening, in said photoresist shape, as an etch mask, to define said upper capacitor plate structure, in a region not covered by said storage node structures, via anisotropic etching of said third silicon oxide layer, isotropic etching of said polysilicon layer, and anisotropic etching of said capacitor dielectric layer, first silicon nitride layer, and of said first silicon oxide layer, creating said DRAM capacitor structure comprised of said upper plate capacitor structure, capacitor dielectric layer, and a lower capacitor plate structure, with said lower capacitor plate comprised of said first storage node structure, and said second storage node structure, connected by said bottom portion of said polysilicon layer, located in said narrow space; depositing a second silicon nitride layer; performing an anisotropic dry etching procedure to create silicon nitride spacers on the sides of said bit line contact hole, said capacitor contact hole, and said substrate contact hole, with thick silicon nitride spacers located in undercut regions of said polysilicon layer, in said bit line contact hole, and in said substrate contact hole; and forming a bit line contact plug structure, in said bit line contact hole opening, a capacitor contact plug structure, in said capacitor contact hole opening, and forming a substrate contact plug structure, in said substrate contact hole opening.