Patent ID: 6387754
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for forming a capacitor within a semiconductor device including the steps of:(a) depositing a first film as a lower electrode film over an underlying structure, said lower electrode film having a first thickness; (b) depositing a hardmask film over said lower electrode film, said hardmask film formed of one of aluminum and silicon; (c) depositing a dielectric film as a capacitor dielectric over said hardmask film; (d) depositing a second film as an upper electrode film over said capacitor dielectric, said second film having a second thickness greater than said first thickness of said first film; (e) forming a masking pattern over said upper electrode film, said masking pattern including a protected region formed of a photoresist film and unprotected regions surrounding said protected region; (f) sequentially removing said second film and said dielectric film from said unprotected regions by etching, thereby exposing corresponding unprotected regions of said hardmask film; (g) removing said unprotected regions of said hardmask film by etching, thereby exposing corresponding unprotected regions of said first film; (h) removing said photoresist film; and (i) plasma etching said unprotected regions of said first film for a time sufficient to completely remove said unprotected regions of said first film.