Patent ID: 8921238
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for processing a high-k (high dielectric constant) dielectric layer, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the high-k dielectric layer has a crystalline temperature; performing a first annealing process, wherein a first process gas comprising a plurality of radicals is introduced during the first annealing process, and a process temperature of the first annealing process is substantially smaller than the crystalline temperature; and performing a second annealing process to crystallize only the top portion of the high-k dielectric layer, wherein a second process gas is introduced during the second annealing process, a reactivity of the second process gas is lower than a reactivity of the first process gas, and a process temperature of the second annealing process is substantially larger than the crystalline temperature.