Abstract:
A method of depositing copper wiring that includes at least one of the following. Transporting a semiconductor substrate with a damascene pattern into a first chamber. Substantially concurrently performing a degassing process and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film on a semiconductor substrate located in a first chamber.

Description:
[0001]     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0123533 (filed on Dec. 14, 2005), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     As design rules of semiconductor devices are curtailed, a line width of wiring may become narrower. Single damascene processes or a dual damascene processes may be used to form wiring, which may use Copper having a lower resistance (Rs).  
         [0003]     A dual damascene process may be a process in which an insulating film is formed over a semiconductor substrate and etched. An insulating film may be etched using a via first scheme or a trench first scheme to form a dual damascene pattern. A barrier film may be deposited over a dual damascene pattern. Copper may be deposited to form a Copper film which fills a dual damascene pattern. A Copper film may be planarized (e.g. by using chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)) to form copper wiring.  
         [0004]     After a dual damascene pattern is formed in an insulating film of a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate may be placed in a first chamber. In a first chamber, gases in a semiconductor substrate may be discharged (i.e. degassed). An internal temperature of a first chamber may be raised to reach about 350° C.  
         [0005]     If there is a leak in a first chamber during discharge of gasses, Oxygen in the air may enter into the first chamber. If oxygen enters into a first chamber, the Oxygen may react with a lower Copper wiring, which may be exposed by a dual damascene pattern, to form a Copper Oxide film on a surface of the lower Copper wiring. In order to remove a Copper Oxide film, a semiconductor substrate may be placed in a second chamber. In a second chamber, hydrogen (H 2 ) plasma may be used in a vacuum (e.g. at room temperature) to remove the Copper Oxide (CuO x ) film.  
         [0006]     After a Copper Oxide film is removed, a semiconductor substrate may be placed in a third chamber where a barrier film is deposited over a damascene pattern. In a fourth chamber, a Copper seed layer may be deposited over a barrier film. A Copper film may be deposited to gap-fill a damascene pattern.  
         [0007]     It may be possible that a Copper Oxide film is not completely removed. If a Copper Oxide film is not completely removed, device failure may result.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     Embodiments relate to forming Copper wiring in a semiconductor substrate using a damascene process. Embodiments relate to depositing Copper wiring in a manner that substantially prevents device failure due to Copper Oxide films. Embodiments relate to an apparatus which deposits copper wiring in an effective manner.  
         [0009]     Embodiments relate to a method of depositing Copper wiring, which may comprise at least one of the following steps: A step of placing a semiconductor substrate with a damascene pattern in a first chamber. A step of substantially concurrently performing a degassing process on a semiconductor substrate and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film on the semiconductor substrate located in a first chamber. A step of transferring a semiconductor substrate from a first chamber to a second chamber. A step of depositing a barrier film over a semiconductor substrate in a second chamber. A step of transferring a semiconductor substrate with a barrier film in a third chamber. A step of depositing a Copper seed layer over a semiconductor substrate having a barrier film.  
         [0010]     Embodiments relate to a depositing apparatus, which may include at least one of the following: A first chamber which substantially concurrently performs a degassing process and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film. A second chamber which deposits a barrier film. A third chamber which deposits a Copper seed layer. A substrate transfer unit which transfers a semiconductor substrate into a first chamber, a second chamber, and/or a third chamber.  
         [0011]     In embodiments, a depositing apparatus may include at least one of the following: A chamber that substantially concurrently performs a degassing process and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film. A Hydrogen gas feeding unit connected to a chamber which selectively feeds Hydrogen gas into the chamber based on the degree of vacuum inside the chamber. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Example  FIG. 1  is a process block diagram illustrating a method of depositing Copper wiring, in accordance with embodiments.  
         [0013]     Example  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus which deposits Copper wiring, in accordance with embodiments.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Example  FIG. 1  illustrates a process block diagram of a method of depositing Copper wiring, in accordance with embodiments. Example  FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus that deposits Copper wiring, in accordance with embodiments. In embodiments, a degassing process and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film are substantially concurrently performed in the same chamber.  
         [0015]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an apparatus of depositing Copper wiring has three or six chambers, in accordance with embodiments. In embodiments with an apparatus having six chambers, there may be two substantially identical sets of three chambers. Embodiments with an apparatus having three chambers are illustrated in  FIG. 2 . However, embodiments with an apparatus having six chambers can be realized by the three chambers illustrated in  FIG. 2  as one of the two sets of three chambers.  
         [0016]     The apparatus which deposits Copper wiring, in accordance with embodiments, may include first chamber  10 , second chamber  20 , third chamber  30 , and/or substrate transfer unit  40 . Substrate transfer unit  40  may transfer semiconductor substrates to first chamber  10 , second chamber  20 , and/or third chamber  30 .  
         [0017]     First chamber  10  may substantially concurrently perform a degas process and a process that removes a Copper Oxide film. First chamber  10  may be connected to a vacuum pump which may evaporate air inside of first chamber  10 . First chamber  10  may be connected to Hydrogen gas feeding unit  50 , which may feed Hydrogen gas to first chamber  10 .  
         [0018]     First chamber  10  may be coupled to vacuum degree measuring unit  60 , which may measure the degree of vacuum inside of first chamber  10 . Hydrogen gas feeding unit  50  may feed Hydrogen gas into first chamber  10  if there is an external leak in first chamber  10  which may cause external air to flow into first chamber  10 . If external air flows into first chamber  10 , the degree of vacuum may be degraded. Degradation of the degree of vacuum may be measured by vacuum degree measuring unit  60 . Second chamber  20  may deposit a barrier film. Third chamber  30  may deposit a copper seed layer.  
         [0019]     After a damascene pattern is formed in an insulating layer of a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate may be moved into first chamber  10 . Inside first chamber  10 , Copper wiring may be formed in a damascene pattern, in accordance with embodiments. A vacuum process may be performed in first chamber  10  to produce a vacuum state. The internal temperature of first chamber  10  may be raised to about 350° C. A degassing process which discharges and/or removes gases from a semiconductor substrate may be performed.  
         [0020]     If an external leak causes an external air to flow into first chamber  10  during a degassing process, vacuum degree measuring unit  60  may detect the degree that a vacuum state is degraded due to inflow of external air, in accordance with embodiments. If it is detected that the degree of vacuum is degraded below a predetermined threshold, Hydrogen gas feeding unit  50  may feed Hydrogen gas into first chamber  10 . In embodiments, feeding Hydrogen gas into first chamber  10  may prevent a Copper Oxide film from forming on surfaces of a lower Copper wiring. In embodiments, feeding Hydrogen gas into first chamber  10  may remove a Copper Oxide film formed on a lower Copper wiring.  
         [0021]     In embodiments, Hydrogen gas feeding unit  50  may feed Hydrogen gas into first chamber  10  during a degassing process regardless of whether the external leak is generated or detected. In embodiments, feeding Hydrogen by Hydrogen gas feed unit  50  may substantially prevent formation of a Copper Oxide film.  
         [0022]     In embodiments, when processes of first chamber  10  are completed, substrate transfer unit  40  may transfers a semiconductor substrate to second chamber  20 . In second chamber  20 , a barrier film may be deposited, in accordance with embodiments. In embodiments, depositing a barrier film may include depositing Tantalum Nitride (TaN) and/or Tantalum (Ta). In embodiments, after depositing a barrier film, substrate transfer unit  40  may transfer a semiconductor substrate to third chamber  30 , in which a Copper seed layer may be deposited.  
         [0023]     In embodiments, since a degas process and a process of removing a Copper Oxide film are performed substantially concurrently in a single chamber (e.g. first chamber  10 ), a process of depositing copper wiring may be simplified.  
         [0024]     In embodiments, substantial prevention of formation of a copper oxide film on a lower copper wiring, increases in resistance (e.g. due to a Copper Oxide film) may be prevented. In embodiments, removal of a copper oxide film formed on a lower copper wiring, increases in resistance (e.g. due to a Copper Oxide film) may be prevented. Prevention of increases in resistance may prevent device failure, according to embodiments.  
         [0025]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to embodiments. Thus, it is intended that embodiments cover modifications and variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.