Abstract:
Methods of forming electrical connections with an integrated circuitry substrate node location are described. According to one aspect of the invention, a substrate node location is laterally surrounded with insulating material and left outwardly exposed. Conductive material is deposited over the exposed node location. Subsequently, a photomaskless etch of the conductive material is conducted to a degree sufficient to leave a plug of conductive material over the node location. In a preferred implementation, the insulating material with which such node location is surrounded constitutes insulating material portions which are provided relative to conductive lines which are formed over the substrate. In another preferred implementation, such conductive lines form a grid of insulating material which, in turn, defines the node location.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/251,219, filed Feb. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,876 B2, entitled “Processing Methods of Forming an Electrically Conductive Plug to a Node Location,” naming Alan R. Reinberg as inventor, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/808,603, filed Feb. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,048, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention concerns processing methods of forming an electrically conductive plug to a node location. This invention also concerns methods of forming an electrical connection with an integrated circuit memory cell node location. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fabrication of integrated circuitry typically involves forming electrical connections to substrate node locations. In the context of integrated circuit memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory devices, such electrical connections include those which are made to and between storage capacitors and substrate diffusion regions. 
     In the past, there have been at least two ways to make such electrical connections. A first way of forming such electrical connections involves depositing a thick insulator material, such as borophosphosilicate glass, over the substrate and then conducting a self-aligned etch thereof to form a contact opening. The contact opening, or at least a portion thereof, is subsequently filled with conductive material. As aspect ratios of such contact openings increase, it becomes more challenging to form such openings and electrical connections. A second way of forming such electrical connections involves depositing a conductive material over the entire substrate, patterning and etching such material to define desired electrical connections, and subsequently forming an insulating dielectric layer over the substrate. Contact openings can then be etched through the dielectric layer. Again, challenges are posed with respect to etching the contact openings through the dielectric layer. 
     This invention grew out of concerns associated with improving the manner in which electrical connections are made to or with integrated circuit substrate node locations. This invention also grew out of concerns associated with improving the manner in which electrical connections are made with integrated circuit memory cell node locations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Methods of forming electrical connections with an integrated circuit substrate node location are described. According to one aspect of the invention, a substrate node location is laterally surrounded with insulating material and left outwardly exposed. Conductive material is deposited over the exposed node location. Subsequently, a photomaskless etch of the conductive material is conducted to a degree sufficient to leave a plug of conductive material over the node location. In a preferred implementation, the insulating material with which such node location is surrounded constitutes insulating material portions which are provided relative to conductive lines which are formed over the substrate. In another preferred implementation, such conductive lines form a grid of insulating material which, in turn, defines the node location. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a plurality of insulated conductive lines are formed over a substrate. At least some of the conductive lines constitute word lines and at least some of the conductive lines constitute bit lines. The lines are preferably formed to define and laterally surround an active area substrate location. The substrate location is preferably surrounded by at least four of the lines. Conductive material is deposited over the substrate and the conductive lines and in electrical contact with the node location. The conductive material is then removed to a degree sufficient to form an isolated plug of conductive material over the node location and between the four conductive lines. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a semiconductor wafer fragment at one processing step in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer fragment taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer fragment taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the FIG. 1 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the FIG. 4 wafer fragment taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the FIG. 4 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the FIG. 6 wafer fragment taken along line  7 — 7  in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the FIG. 7 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the FIG. 7 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a view of the FIG. 7 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8). 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor wafer fragment is shown generally at  10  and comprises a semiconductive substrate  12 . In the context of this document, the term “semiconductive substrate” is defined to mean any construction comprising semiconductive material, including, but not limited to bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductive wafer (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials thereon), and semiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials). The term “substrate” refers to any supporting structure, including, but not limited to, the semiconductive substrates described above. In the preferred embodiment, substrate  12  comprises an integrated circuit memory array area and a peripheral area. For purposes of the discussion herein, only a portion of the memory array area is shown. 
     A plurality of isolation oxide runners  14  are formed within substrate  12 . One method of forming such runners is by trench and refill techniques in which substrate portions are etched away and back-filled with isolation oxide. Subsequent planarization provides the illustrated isolation oxide runners. Respective pairs of runners such as pairs  16  define continuous active areas or regions therebetween, such as respective active areas or regions  18 . Active areas or regions  18  constitute continuous active areas which are formed within or relative to substrate  12 . A plurality of laterally spaced apart insulative conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , at least some of which are word lines, are formed over substrate  12  and disposed generally transverse individual isolation oxide runners  14 . The illustrated conductive lines are formed, in the preferred embodiment, to have respective insulative or insulating sidewall spacers (shown in FIG. 2 but not specifically designated) and insulative or insulating caps (shown in FIG. 2 but not specifically designated). 
     Conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  constitute a first series of conductive lines which are formed relative to substrate  12 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, substrate  12  supports integrated circuitry which forms memory cells. Even more preferably, such memory cells constitute dynamic random access memory cells. Accordingly, word line pair  22 ,  24  share an intervening contact of adjacent pairs of memory cells, which in turn share a diffusion region (described below) in substrate  12 . Electrical isolation between the adjacent pairs of memory cells is provided by intervening conductive isolation lines  20 ,  26  which are formed in conjunction with the formation of word lines  22 ,  24 . Lines  20 ,  26  in operation are connected with ground or a suitable negative voltage and effectively substitute for the electrical isolation formerly provided by field oxide. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  have respective conductive line tops  21 ,  23 ,  25 , and  27 . Such line tops are defined by the insulating or insulative caps mentioned above. A plurality of laterally spaced apart insulated conductive memory cell bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32  are formed elevationally outwardly of conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  and their respective conductive line tops, and are disposed generally transverse relative to the word lines. For purposes of illustration and clarity, the bit lines are indicated in FIG. 1 as a second series of parallel lines at least portions of which are disposed elevationally over the first series lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, individual bit lines are formed elevationally over respective individual isolation oxide runners  14  as best shown in FIG. 2 for bit line  28  in corresponding extent and shape. 
     As formed, the first and second series of conductive lines collectively constitute a plurality of upstanding devices, with individual conductive word/isolation lines and bit lines constituting a grid of insulated lines which are formed relative to substrate  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38  with which electrical connection is desired are defined by the grid of upstanding devices and between conductive line pairs  20 ,  22 , and  22 ,  24 , and  24 ,  26  which are formed elevationally outwardly thereof. Although only three node locations are shown for purposes of illustration, other node locations are formed over the array area defined by substrate  12 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38  constitute respective diffusion regions  40 ,  42 , and  44  which are outwardly exposed. As formed, node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38  also constitute first substrate locations which are collectively laterally and completely surrounded with insulating material. In the illustrated example, such insulating material constitutes insulative portions of first series conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , and second series conductive bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32  which are formed elevationally outwardly of and generally transverse relative to conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the conductive word/isolation and bit lines are formed to define an adjacent active area substrate location (corresponding to respective node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38 ) which is laterally surrounded by four of the insulated conductive lines. In this example, two of such lines constitute first series lines, and two of such lines constitute second series lines. As used herein, the term “surround” is defined to mean “to enclose on all sides.” 
     In the illustrated example, a mask can and preferably is utilized to define and expose a plurality of areas  37  (FIG. 1) proximate respective bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Areas  37  constitute areas which laterally expose respective sidewall spacers over the diagrammatically illustrated bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Typically, such sidewall spacers are formed from an oxide or nitride material. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall spacers of conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  comprise a nitride material while those of bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32  comprise an oxide material. The exposed sidewall portions  37  of bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32  are etched in a wet etch comprising HF at a substantially higher rate than the nitride material sidewalls of conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . Accordingly, such enables contact to be made relative to the bit lines without appreciably etching any inadvertently exposed sidewall material of conductive lines  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a fragmentary portion of the FIG. 1 substrate is shown. After node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38  are surrounded with the preferred insulating material and with the bit line conductive sidewall portions being effectively exposed, conductive material  46  is formed or deposited over the grid and the exposed node locations. Exemplary materials for conductive material  46  are polysilicon, tungsten, and the like. Preferably, such conductive material is chemical vapor deposited to achieve a degree of conformal coverage. Accordingly, conductive material  46  is deposited over the conductive lines and in electrical connection with the respective node locations as shown in FIG.  5 . Conductive material  46  is also preferably in contact with the exposed portions of the bit line sidewalls corresponding to areas  37  (FIG.  1 ), thereby forming an electrical connection with node location  36 , which, in turn, will form a connection through a word line/gate with a storage node location described below. In the preferred embodiment, a desired amount of conductive material can be less than the height of adjacent conductive lines, but an amount which is sufficient to fill the spaces between the lines. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, conductive material  46  is removed to a degree sufficient to form isolated plugs  48 ,  50 , and  52  of conductive material (FIG. 6) respectively, over node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38 . Plug  52  is shown in its cross-sectional entirety in FIG.  7 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, a photomaskless etch is conducted of conductive material  46  (FIG. 5) to a degree which is sufficient to remove the conductive material from elevationally outward of the insulating material constituting portions of the conductive lines, and to a degree which is sufficient to leave plugs  48 ,  50 , and  52  over respective node locations  34 ,  36 , and  38 . Accordingly, the photomaskless etch constitutes an etch which is conducted in the absence of any photomasking material laterally proximate the node location. Even more preferably, such etch is conducted in the absence of any photomasking material over the substrate. The photomaskless etch desirably permits conductive material to be removed from outside or outwardly of the illustrated array area without the need for a mask in or over the array area. The preferred etching of conductive material  46  constitutes an isotropic etch of the material to a degree sufficient to completely remove conductive material from over the conductive word/isolation lines, and to expose the insulating material portions of lines  24 ,  26 . Exemplary etches include wet or dry etches, with the latter being preferred. Further, exemplary dry etch chemistries can include one or more of the following: CF 4 , SF 6 , or NF 3 . Accordingly, the conductive material constituting plug  52  is preferably recessed to elevationally below uppermost surfaces or line tops  25 ,  27 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, a layer  54  is formed over substrate  12 . Preferably, layer  54  comprises an insulating or insulative material such as borophosphosilicate glass which is formed over the substrate. An exemplary thickness for layer  54  is 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, an opening  56  is etched or otherwise formed through insulative layer  54  to outwardly expose conductive material of plug  52  overlying node location  38 . Preferably such opening is anisotropically etched to outwardly expose plug  52 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a second, spaced apart substrate location  58  is formed elevationally outward of and in electrical contact with the first substrate location defined by node location  38 . In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the spaced apart first and second substrate locations constitute part of an integrated circuitry memory cell and substrate location  58  constitutes a storage capacitor having a storage node  60 , a dielectric layer  62 , and cell plate  64 . In the illustrated example, at least a portion of the storage capacitor is disposed elevationally outwardly, above or over the previously formed bit lines  28 ,  30 , and  32  (FIG.  1 ). Accordingly, such constitutes a capacitor-over-bit-line dynamic random access memory cell. Other integrated circuit first and second substrate locations are possible, including ones which are not necessarily associated with the above described integrated circuit memory cells. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.