Patent ID: 7786552
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor structure with reduced leakage current, comprising: one or more semiconductor devices formed on a semiconductor substrate; one or more interlayer dielectric layers formed on the semiconductor devices, wherein the interlayer dielectric layers are disposed between the semiconductor devices and a first metal layer; one or more inter-metal dielectric layers formed over the interlayer dielectric layers, wherein the inter-metal dielectric layers are disposed between the first metal layer and a second metal layer overlying the first metal layer, and wherein the interlayer and inter-metal dielectric layers contain dangling bonds causing a leakage current; a hydrogen-containing layer formed between the layers of interlayer dielectric and inter-metal dielectric, wherein the hydrogen-containing layer has a hydrogen density in the range of about 5 atom % and about 40 atom %, substantially higher than that of the interlayer dielectric layers or inter-metal dielectric layers for providing sufficient hydrogen atoms to the interlayer and inter-metal dielectric layers during a hydrogen-forming gas annealing process to fix the dangling bonds therein; and a silicon nitride passivation layer formed over a silicon oxide passivation layer and the hydrogen-containing layer, wherein the hydrogen-containing layer is in direct contact with the inter-dielectric layers and the inter-metal dielectric layers.