Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure and methods of fabricating same
First Claim
1. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure for use in an integrated circuit, the MIM capacitor structure comprising:
- (a) first and second legs extending generally parallel to one another and defining a channel therebetween, each leg including top and bottom electrodes, an insulator layer interposed between the top and bottom electrodes, and a sidewall that faces the channel;
(b) a first sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the first sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the first leg, wherein the conductive layer of the first sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode of the first leg;
(c) a second sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the second sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the second leg, wherein the conductive layer of the second sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode of the second leg; and
(d) a dielectric material disposed in the channel and interposed between the conductive layers of the first and second sidewall spacers.
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Abstract
A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor structure and method of fabricating the same in an integrated circuit improve capacitance density in a MIM capacitor structure by utilizing a sidewall spacer extending along a channel defined between a pair of legs that define portions of the MIM capacitor structure. Each of the legs includes top and bottom electrodes and an insulator layer interposed therebetween, as well as a sidewall that faces the channel. The sidewall spacer incorporates a conductive layer and an insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of one of the legs, and the conductive layer of the sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode of the MIM capacitor structure. In addition, the bottom electrode of a MIM capacitor structure may be ammonia plasma treated prior to deposition of an insulator layer thereover to reduce oxidation of the electrode. Furthermore, a multi-rate etching process may be used to etch the top electrode and insulator layer of an MIM structure, using a first, higher rate to perform an anisotropic etch up to a point proximate an interface between the conductive and dielectric materials respectively defining the top electrode and insulator layer of the MIM structure, and then using a second, lower rate to perform an anisotropic etch to a point proximate an etch stop layer defined on the bottom electrode of the MIM structure.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure for use in an integrated circuit, the MIM capacitor structure comprising:
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(a) first and second legs extending generally parallel to one another and defining a channel therebetween, each leg including top and bottom electrodes, an insulator layer interposed between the top and bottom electrodes, and a sidewall that faces the channel;
(b) a first sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the first sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the first leg, wherein the conductive layer of the first sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode of the first leg;
(c) a second sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the second sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the second leg, wherein the conductive layer of the second sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode of the second leg; and
(d) a dielectric material disposed in the channel and interposed between the conductive layers of the first and second sidewall spacers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure for use in an integrated circuit, the MIM capacitor structure comprising:
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(a) a serpentine pattern including first and second legs extending generally parallel to one another and defining a channel therebetween, the serpentine pattern including a substantially co-planar top electrode, a substantially co-planar bottom electrode, and a substantially co-planar insulator layer interposed between the top and bottom electrodes, wherein the first leg includes a sidewall that faces the channel; and
(b) a sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the first leg, wherein the conductive layer of the sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
(a) a second sidewall spacer extending along the channel, the second sidewall spacer including a conductive layer and a dielectric insulator layer interposed between the conductive layer and the sidewall of the second leg, wherein the conductive layer of the second sidewall spacer is physically separated from the top electrode, and (b) a dielectric material disposed in the channel and interposed between the conductive layers of the first and second sidewall spacers.
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Specification