Patent ID: 6420777
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A semiconductor structure comprising:a silicon substrate comprising a semiconductor device including a gate structure between a first and a second portions of said silicon substrate, a barrier of silicon nitride disposed directly on said silicon substrate and the gate structure, said barrier of silicon nitride having a first section and a second section superimposed on each other and coextensive entirely with each other with one of said sections being in contact with said first and second portions of said silicon substrate and the other section being spaced from said silicon substrate, said first and second sections of said silicon nitride barrier extend continuously from said first portion of said silicon substrate to said second portion of said silicon substrate over said gate structure, the silicon nitride in said second section having an Si:N ratio of at least about 0.8 and providing desired etch selectivity, the Si:N ratio of the silicon nitride in said first section being less than about 0.8 and providing desired resistance to positive mobile ion penetration; and wherein a layer of silicon dioxide overlies said barrier of silicon nitride, and at least one opening extends through said silicon dioxide layer and said silicon nitride barrier and has a conductor disposed therein.