Method for manufacturing a low dielectric constant inter-level integrated circuit structure
First Claim
1. An method for forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a first dielectric layer having a first trench region and a second trench region separated from the first trench region;
forming a first conductive region in the first trench region and a second conductive region in the second trench region using a first planarization process, the second conductive region being laterally separated from the first conductive region wherein the first and second conductive regions are separated by an intermediate portion of the first dielectric layer;
removing the intermediate portion of the first dielectric layer to form a gap between the first and second conductive regions;
forming a second dielectric layer having a dielectric constant ε
wherein ε
≦
3.5 overlying the first and second conductive regions, the second dielectric layer having a first portion which fills the gap; and
polishing a top portion of the dielectric layer to expose a top surface of at least one of the first conductive region or the second conductive region wherein the first portion of the second dielectric layer remains within the gap.
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Abstract
An interconnect structure having a dielectric layer with low dielectric constant is formed within an integrated circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, portions of a silicon dioxide layer (18) lying adjacent to a conductive interconnect (21) are removed to expose portions of a silicon nitride etch stop layer (16). A dielectric layer (22) having a low dielectric constant is then formed overlying the conductive interconnect (21) and the exposed portions of the silicon nitride etch stop layer (16). A portion of the dielectric layer (22) is then removed to expose the top surface of the conductive interconnect (21) to leave portions of the dielectric layer (22) between adjacent conductive interconnects (21). The resulting interconnect structure has reduced cross-talk between conductive interconnects (21) while avoiding prior art disadvantages of reduced thermal dissipation and increased mechanical stress.
229 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An method for forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a first dielectric layer having a first trench region and a second trench region separated from the first trench region; forming a first conductive region in the first trench region and a second conductive region in the second trench region using a first planarization process, the second conductive region being laterally separated from the first conductive region wherein the first and second conductive regions are separated by an intermediate portion of the first dielectric layer; removing the intermediate portion of the first dielectric layer to form a gap between the first and second conductive regions; forming a second dielectric layer having a dielectric constant ε
wherein ε
≦
3.5 overlying the first and second conductive regions, the second dielectric layer having a first portion which fills the gap; andpolishing a top portion of the dielectric layer to expose a top surface of at least one of the first conductive region or the second conductive region wherein the first portion of the second dielectric layer remains within the gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An method for forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a first dielectric layer; forming contact openings in first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer wherein the second dielectric layer bridges the contact openings to form contact air gaps; forming openings through the second dielectric layer to expose the contact air gaps and form interconnect trenches; and forming conductive material within the contact air gaps and the interconnect trenches to form a conductive interconnect wherein conductive material in the interconnect trenches are separated by the second dielectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An method for forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of separated conductive members wherein adjacent separated conductive members in the plurality of separated conductive members are separated by gaps; and forming a first dielectric layer, via a spin-on process, overlying the plurality of separated conductive members whereby at least one of the gaps is bridged by the first dielectric layer to form at least one air region, wherein the at least one air region has a dielectric constant less than 2.0 and improves isolation between at least two separated conductive members in the plurality of separated conductive members wherein the first dielectric layer is selected from a group consisting of;
a spin-on polyimide material, a PPQ spin-on polymer, and a material selected from a group consisting of poly(amic) acid solution and fully imidized polyimide. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for forming an integrated circuit structure comprising the steps of:
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providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of conductive members overlying the first dielectric layer, wherein the plurality of conductive members are separated by a first distance X; depositing a nonconformal dielectric layer overlying the plurality of conductive member, wherein the nonconformal dielectric layer is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and forms a sealed void region between at least two of the conductive members in the plurality of conductive members, the sealed void region spanning at least 50 percent of the first distance X; and forming a second dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer overlying the sealed void region and the nonconformal dielectric layer. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An method for forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of separated conductive members wherein adjacent separated conductive members in the plurality of separated conductive members are separated by gaps; forming a second dielectric layer over the plurality of separated conductive members; etching the second dielectric layer to form sidewall spacers laterally adjacent the plurality of separated conductive members; and forming a first dielectric layer, via a spin-on process, overlying the second dielectric layer and the plurality of separated conductive member whereby at least one of the gaps is bridged by the first dielectric layer to form at least one air region, wherein the at least one air region has a dielectric constant less than 2.0 and improves isolation between at least two separated conductive members in the plurality of separated conductive members.
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Specification