Transparent amorphous carbon structure in semiconductor devices

• US 20050056835A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, David J., Yin, Zhiping, Li, Weimin
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02115 the material being carbon, e.g. alpha-C, diamond or hydrogen doped carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02126 the material containing Si, O, and at least one of H, N, C, F, or other non-metal elements, e.g. SiOC, SiOC:H or SiONC
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0214 the material being a silicon oxynitride, e.g. SiON or SiON:H
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/022 the layer being a laminate, i.e. composed of sublayers, e.g. stacks of alternating high-k metal oxides adhesion layers or buffer layers H01L21/02304, H01L21/02362
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02274 in the presence of a plasma [PECVD]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0237 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02439 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02505 consisting of more than two layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/02527 Carbon, e.g. diamond-like carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0262 Reduction or decomposition of gaseous compounds, e.g. CVD
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0332 characterised by their composition, e.g. multilayer masks, materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/3081 characterised by their composition, e.g. multilayer masks, materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/3146 Carbon layers, e.g. diamond-like layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 12/033 the capacitor extending over the transistor

Abstract

A transparent amorphous carbon layer is formed. The transparent amorphous carbon layer has a low absorption coefficient such that the amorphous carbon is transparent in visible light. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may be used in semiconductor devices for different purposes. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may be included in a final structure in semiconductor devices. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may also be used as a mask in an etching process during fabrication of semiconductor devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure including introducing a carbon-containing process gas over a wafer to form the amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes subjecting the process gas and a flowing spreading gas to radio frequency energy to spread a plasma over the wafer for the semiconductor structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing a nitrogen gas as a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing ammonia as a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing argon mixed with nitrogen as a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing helium as a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing one or more gases from C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing C₃H₄ and/or C₄H₁₀.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer at temperatures ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon and substantially without oxygen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as an insulation layer or antireflection layer of the semiconductor structure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing propylene at a flow rate of between 500 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) and 4000 sccm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes providing helium at a flow rate of between 200 sccm and 1500 sccm as a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer.

14. A method comprising:

forming a masking structure for the processing of an electronic device, the masking structure having an amorphous carbon layer formed by a method including;

introducing a process gas containing carbon;

flowing a spreading gas; and

subjecting the process gas and the spreading gas to radio frequency energy to spread a plasma over a wafer for a semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is formed having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein flowing a spreading gas includes flowing a nitrogen gas at a flow rate ranging from about 500 sccm to about 3000 sccm.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein flowing a spreading gas includes flowing ammonia at a flow rate ranging from about 50 sccm to about 200 sccm.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing one or more gases from C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon that is substantially without oxygen.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer at temperatures ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer of the masking structure as a patterned amorphous carbon layer.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein forming the masking structure further includes forming a silicon oxynitride layer over the amorphous carbon layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein forming a silicon oxynitride layer over the amorphous carbon layer includes forming the silicon oxynitride layer in situ deposited together with the amorphous carbon layer.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further includes removing the masking structure.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein removing the masking structure includes removing the amorphous carbon using an oxygen plasma process.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing propylene at a flow rate of between 500 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) and 4000 sccm.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein flowing a spreading gas includes providing helium at a flow rate ranging from about 200 sccm to about 1500 sccm.

27. A method for forming an electronic device comprising:

providing a substrate on which one or more circuits are formed; and

forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure during processing of the one or more circuits, forming the amorphous carbon layer including;

introducing a process gas containing carbon; and

providing a spreading gas to spread the process gas over a wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is formed having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer at temperatures ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing one or more gases of C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon that is substantially without oxygen.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein providing a spreading gas includes providing one or more gases of helium, nitrogen, ammonia, and argon mixed with nitrogen.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming a masking structure having the amorphous carbon layer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein forming a masking structure further includes forming a silicon oxynitride layer over the amorphous carbon layer.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the method further includes removing the masking structure.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as a layer in the semiconductor structure of the electronic device.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as an insulation layer in the semiconductor structure of the electronic device.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as an antireflection layer in the semiconductor structure of the electronic device.

38. The method of claim 27, the method further includes forming an electronic device as an integrated circuit.

39. The method of claim 27, the method further includes forming a plurality of electronic devices.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing propylene at a flow rate of between 500 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) and 4000 sccm.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein providing a spreading gas includes providing helium at a flow rate ranging from about 200 sccm to about 1500 sccm.

42. A method for forming a memory comprising:

providing a substrate;

processing a semiconductor structure for the memory on the substrate; and

forming an amorphous carbon layer for the semiconductor structure, forming the amorphous carbon layer including;

introducing a process gas containing carbon over a wafer for the semiconductor structure; and

maintaining a temperature ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C. to form the amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes forming providing one or more gases of C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon and substantially without oxygen.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the method further includes flowing a spreading gas to spread the process gas over the wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer, the spreading gas including one or more gases of helium, nitrogen, ammonia, and a mixture of argon with nitrogen.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming a masking structure having the amorphous carbon layer.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein forming a masking structure further includes forming a silicon oxynitride layer over the amorphous carbon layer.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the method further includes removing the masking structure.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as a layer in the semiconductor structure of the memory.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as an insulation layer in the semiconductor structure of the memory.

51. A method of forming an electronic system comprising:

providing a controller;

coupling the controller to one or more electronic devices, at least one of the controller and one electronic device of the one or more electronic devices formed by a method that includes forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure, wherein forming the amorphous carbon layer includes;

introducing a process gas containing carbon; and

providing a spreading gas to spread the process gas over a wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is formed having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer at temperatures ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes forming providing one or more gases of C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon that is substantially without oxygen.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein providing a spreading gas includes introducing one or more gases of helium, nitrogen, ammonia, and argon mixed with nitrogen.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming a masking structure having the amorphous carbon layer.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein forming a masking structure further includes forming a silicon oxynitride layer over the amorphous carbon layer.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the method further includes removing the masking structure.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as a layer in the semiconductor structure of the at least one of the controller and one electronic device of the one or more electronic devices.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein forming an amorphous carbon layer for a semiconductor structure includes forming the amorphous carbon layer as an insulation layer in the semiconductor structure of the at least one of the controller and one electronic device of the one or more electronic devices.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein providing a controller includes providing a processor.

62. An electronic device comprising:

a semiconductor structure on a substrate; and

an amorphous carbon layer disposed in the semiconductor structure, the amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

63. The electronic device of claim 62, wherein the electronic device includes an integrated circuit.

64. The electronic device of claim 62, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is an insulation layer in the semiconductor structure.

65. The electronic device of claim 62, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is an antireflection layer in the semiconductor structure.

66. An electronic device comprising:

a semiconductor structure on a substrate; and

an amorphous carbon layer disposed in the semiconductor structure, the amorphous carbon layer formed by a method including;

introducing a process gas containing carbon; and

providing a spreading gas to spread the process gas over a wafer for the semiconductor structure to form the amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

67. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein the method further includes forming the amorphous carbon layer at temperatures ranging from about 150°

C. to about 500°

C.

68. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes forming providing one or more gases of C₃H₆, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₃H₄, and C₄H₁₀.

69. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein introducing a process gas containing carbon includes introducing a process gas containing carbon that does not substantially include oxygen.

70. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein providing a spreading gas includes introducing one or more gases of helium, nitrogen, ammonia, and argon mixed with nitrogen.

71. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein the electronic device includes an integrated circuit.

72. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein the electronic device includes a memory.

73. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein the electronic device is a system.

74. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein the amorphous carbon layer is an insulation layer in the semiconductor structure.

75. The electronic device of claim 66, wherein amorphous carbon layer is an antireflection layer in the semiconductor structure.

76. A memory comprising:

an array of memory cells;

row access circuitry to access a row of the array of memory cells;

column access circuitry to access a column of the array of memory cells;

an input/output circuit to provide transfer of data to and from the array of memory cells; and

control circuitry to control internal and external access to the memory cells, wherein one or more of the memory cells, row access circuitry, column access circuitry, input/output circuit, and control circuit has an semiconductor structure including an amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

77. The memory of claim 76, wherein the memory is a packaged integrated circuit.

78. The memory of claim 76, wherein amorphous carbon layer is an insulation layer in the memory.

79. The memory of claim 76, wherein the memory is a dynamic random access memory.

80. The memory of claim 76, wherein the memory is a static random access memory or a flash memory.

81. An electronic system comprising:

a controller; and

an electronic device coupled to the controller, wherein at least one of the controller and the electronic device has a semiconductor structure that includes an amorphous carbon layer having an absorption coefficient between about 0.001 and about 0.15 at a wavelength of 633 nanometers.

82. The electronic system of claim 81, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

83. The electronic system of claim 81, wherein the electronic device is a memory.

84. The electronic system of claim 81, wherein the electronic system is an information handling system.