METAL ETCHING WITH REDUCED TILT ANGLE

Methods for etching metal, such as for processing a metal gate, are provided. A method includes forming a hard mask over the metal, wherein the hard mask includes a sidewall defining an opening; and performing a plasma etching process including cycles of depositing a carbon nitride film on the sidewall and etching the metal.

BACKGROUND

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “over”, “overlying”, “above”, “upper”, “top”, “under”, “underlying”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “bottom”, “side”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

In certain embodiments herein, a “material structure” is a structure that includes at least 50 wt. % of the identified material, for example at least 60 wt. % of the identified material, at least 75 wt. % of the identified material, at least 90 wt. % of the identified material, at least 95 wt. % of the identified material, or at least 99 wt. % of the identified material; and a structure that is formed of a “material” includes at least 50 wt. % of the identified material, for example at least 60 wt. % of the identified material, at least 75 wt. % of the identified material, at least 90 wt. % of the identified material, at least 95 wt. % of the identified material, or at least 99 wt. % of the identified material. For example, certain embodiments, each of a tungsten structure and a structure formed of tungsten is a structure that is at least 50 wt. %, at least 60 wt. %, at least 75 wt. %, at least 90 wt. %, at least 95 wt. %, or at least 99 wt. % of tungsten.

For the sake of brevity, typical techniques related to semiconductor device fabrication may not be described in detail herein. Moreover, the various tasks and processes described herein may be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or process having additional functionality not described in detail herein. In particular, various processes in the fabrication of semiconductor devices are well-known and so, in the interest of brevity, many typical processes will only be mentioned briefly herein or will be omitted entirely without providing the well-known process details. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a complete reading of the disclosure, the structures disclosed herein may be employed with a variety of technologies, and may be incorporated into a variety of semiconductor devices and products. Further, it is noted that semiconductor device structures include a varying number of components and that single components shown in the illustrations may be representative of multiple components.

Presented herein are embodiments of semiconductor devices and of methods for fabricating such devices. Methods described herein may be easily integrated into the current process flow. Further, methods described herein relate to the formation of an insulation structure, such as a cut-metal dielectric structure, used to cut metal gate lines into separate metal gates and separate functional devices.

Embodiments herein describe methods for etching a trench through a metal gate lines and into the dielectric material lying beneath the metal gate line. Further, the methods avoid issues related to an excessive tilt angle of the trench. Specifically, the trench formed by cutting the metal gate line is a high aspect ratio trench. It has been found that when etching such high aspect ratio trenches at wafer edges, the resulting trenches suffer from excessive tilt angles due to by-product accumulation such as on trench sidewalls. Tilted trenches may be reduced vertical depth and fail to completely pass through the metal gate line. As a result, device shorts are increased at wafer edges.

Embodiments of the present disclosure offer advantages over the existing art, though it is understood that other embodiments may offer different advantages, not all advantages are necessarily discussed herein, and no particular advantage is required for all embodiments.

For purposes of the discussion that follows,FIG.1provides a flow chart for a method10for fabricating a semiconductor device100during a semiconductor fabrication process. Method10is described below with reference toFIGS.2-8which illustrate the semiconductor device100at various stages of fabrication according to method10.FIG.2illustrates a top-down view of an intermediate structure in forming a device100, such as a FinFET semiconductor device, according to some embodiments.FIGS.3-8are cross-sectional views in which the vertical direction is defined by the Z-axis and the lateral direction is defined by the Y-axis, i.e., are Y-cuts. It is understood that method10includes steps having features of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology process flow and thus, are only described briefly herein. Also, additional steps may be performed before, after, and/or during method10.

InFIG.2, the device100includes a substrate103, fins105, and a plurality of gate electrodes107over the fins105. Fins105may include a multi-layer structure comprising a plurality of nanosheets such as in a Gate-All-Around (GAA) device.

FIG.2further illustrates a plurality of cut-metal dielectric structures109separating two of the gate electrodes107and a Continuous Poly On Diffusion Edge (CPODE) structure111dividing one of the fins105in two and intersecting the cut-metal gate structures109.

Although three fins105are illustrated inFIG.2and four fins105are illustrated in the following figures, it is understood that depending on the desired design and number of the semiconductor devices100, any suitable number of fins105may be formed in the multi-layer structure103to form the desired semiconductor devices100. Furthermore, any suitable number of gate electrodes107, CPODE structures111, and cut-metal gate structures109may be formed to form the desired semiconductor devices100.

InFIG.2, the X-axis extends through the length of the fin105and passes through the CPODE structure111. Further, the Y-axis extends through the length of a gate electrode107that has been separated by the two cut-metal dielectric structures109, through the two cut-metal dielectric structures109, and through the CPODE structure111intersecting the two cut-metal dielectric structures109. The following cross-sectional views are taken along the Y-axis.

Referring now toFIGS.1and3, a method10for fabricating a semiconductor device100includes, at S11, forming fin structures105over a semiconductor substrate103, in accordance with some embodiments.

In an embodiment the substrate103is a semiconductor substrate, which may be, for example, a silicon substrate, a silicon germanium substrate, a germanium substrate, a III-V material substrate (e.g., GaAs, GaP, GaAsP, AlInAs, AlGaAs, GalnAs, InAs, GalnP, InP, InSb, and/or GaInAsP; or a combination thereof), or a substrate formed of other semiconductor materials with, for example, high band-to-band tunneling (BTBT). The substrate103may be doped or un-doped. In some embodiments, the substrate103may be a bulk semiconductor substrate, such as a bulk silicon substrate that is a wafer, a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a multi-layered or gradient substrate, or the like. A multi-layer structure may be formed over the substrate103. For example, the multi-layer structure may include alternating layers of first semiconductor material and second semiconductor material. According to some embodiments, the first layers may be formed using a first semiconductor material with a first lattice constant, such as SiGe, Ge, Si, GaAs, InSb, GaSb, InAlAs, InGaAs, GaSbP, GaAsSb, combinations of these, or the like. In some embodiments, a first layer of the first semiconductor material (e.g., SiGe) is epitaxially grown on the substrate103using a deposition technique such as epitaxial growth, vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), although other deposition processes, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low pressure CVD (LPCVD), atomic layer CVD (ALCVD), ultrahigh vacuum CVD (UHVCVD), reduced pressure CVD (RPCVD), a combination thereof, or the like, may also be utilized. In some embodiments, the first layer is formed to thicknesses of from about 3 nm and about 10 nm. However, any suitable thickness may be utilized while remaining within the scope of the embodiments.

After the first layer has been formed over the substrate103, a second layer may be formed over the first layer. According to some embodiments, the second layers may be formed using a second semiconductor material such as Si, SiGe, Ge, GaAs, InSb, GaSb, InAlAs, InGaAs, GaSbP, GaAsSb, combinations of these, or the like with a second lattice constant that is different from the first lattice constant of the first layer. In a particular embodiment in which the first layer is silicon germanium, the second layer is a material such as silicon. However, any suitable combination of materials may be utilized for the first layers and the second layers.

In some embodiments, the second layer is epitaxially grown on the first layer using a deposition technique similar to that used to form the first layer. However, the second layer may use any of the deposition techniques suitable for forming the first layer, as set forth above or any other suitable technique. According to some embodiments, the second layer is formed to a similar thickness to that of the first layer. However, the second layer may also be formed to a thickness that is different from the first layer. According to some embodiments, the second layer may be formed to a thickness of from about 5 nm and about 15 nm. However, any suitable thickness may be used.

After forming the second layer over the first layer, the deposition process is repeated to form the remaining material layers in the series of alternating materials of the first layers and the second layers until a desired topmost layer of the multi-layer stack has been formed. According to the present embodiment, the first layers may be formed to a same or similar first thickness and the second layers may be formed to the same or similar second thickness. However, the first layers may have different thicknesses from one another and/or the second layers may have different thicknesses from one another and any combination of thicknesses may be used for the first layers and the second layers. According to the present embodiment, the topmost layer of the multi-layer stack is formed as a second layer; however, in other embodiments, the topmost layer of the multi-layer stack may be formed as a first layer. Additionally, although embodiments are disclosed herein comprising three of the first layers and three of the second layers, the multi-layer stack may have any suitable number of layers (e.g., nanosheets). For example, the multi-layer stack may comprise from two to tene nanosheets. In some embodiments, the multi-layer stack may comprise equal numbers of the first layers to the second layers; however, in other embodiments, the number of the first layers may be different from the number of the second layers. According to some embodiments, the multi-layer stack may be formed to a height of from about 12 nm to about 100 nm. However, any suitable height may be used.

FIG.3further illustrates, a patterning process to form fin structure105and a formation of isolation regions209in an intermediate stage of manufacturing the Semiconductor device100, in accordance with some embodiments. The patterning process is used to form fins105and to form trenches between the fins105in preparation for forming the isolation regions209. The patterning process for forming the fins105, according to some embodiments, comprises applying a photoresist over the substrate and then patterning and developing the photoresist to form a mask over the substrate. After being formed, the mask is then used during an etching process, such as an anisotropic etching process to transfer the pattern of the mask into the underlying layers to form the trenches into the substrate103to define the fins105, wherein the fins105are separated by the trenches.

In an exemplary embodiment, the isolation regions209are formed as shallow trench isolation regions by depositing a dielectric material in the trenches. According to some embodiments, the dielectric material used to form the isolation regions209may be a material such as an oxide material (e.g., a flowable oxide), high-density plasma (HDP) oxide, or the like. The dielectric material may be formed, after an optional cleaning and lining of the trenches, using either a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method (e.g., the HARP process), a high density plasma CVD method, or other suitable method of formation to fill or overfill the regions around the fins105. In some embodiments, a post placement anneal process (e.g., oxide densification) is performed to densify the material of the isolation regions209and to reduce its wet etch rate. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), an etch, a combination of these, or the like may be performed to remove any excess material of the isolation regions209.

After the dielectric material has been deposited to fill or overfill the regions around the fins105, the dielectric material may then be recessed away from the surface of the fins105to form the isolation regions209. The recessing may be performed to expose at least a portion of the sidewalls of the fins105adjacent to the top surface of the fins105. The dielectric material may be recessed using a wet etch by dipping the top surface of the fins105into an etchant selective to the material of the dielectric material, although other methods, such as a reactive ion etch, a dry etch, chemical oxide removal, or dry chemical clean may be used.

Still cross-referencingFIGS.1and3, method10may continue, at S12, with forming sacrificial or dummy gate stacks301over the fins105, in accordance with some embodiments. According to some embodiments, the dummy gate stacks301comprise a dummy gate dielectric211, a dummy gate electrode303over the dummy gate dielectric211, a first hard mask305over the dummy gate electrode303, and a second hard mask307over the first hard mask305.

As shown inFIG.3, a dummy gate dielectric211is formed over the exposed portions of the fins105. After the isolation regions209have been formed, the dummy gate dielectric211may be formed by thermal oxidation, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, or any other methods known and used in the art for forming a gate dielectric. Depending on the technique of gate dielectric formation, the dummy gate dielectric211thickness on the top may be different from the dummy dielectric thickness on the sidewall. In some embodiments, the dummy gate dielectric211may be formed by depositing a material such as silicon and then oxidizing or nitridizing the silicon layer in order to form a dielectric such as the silicon dioxide or silicon oxynitride. In such embodiments, the dummy gate dielectric211may be formed to a thickness of from about 3 Å to about 100 Å, such as about 10 Å. In other embodiments, the dummy gate dielectric211may also be formed from a high permittivity (high-k) material such as lanthanum oxide (La2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), hafnium oxide (HfO2), hafnium oxynitride (HfON), or zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or combinations thereof, with an equivalent oxide thickness of from about 0.5 Å to about 100 Å, such as about 10 Å or less. Additionally, any combination of silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride, and/or high-k materials may also be used for the dummy gate dielectric211.

As shown inFIG.3, the dummy gate electrode303is formed over the dummy gate dielectric211. In some embodiments, the dummy gate electrode303comprises a conductive material and may be selected from a group comprising of polysilicon, W, Al, Cu, AlCu, W, Ti, TiAlN, TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, TiN, Ta, TaN, Co, Ni, combinations of these, or the like. The dummy gate electrode303may be deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputter deposition, or other techniques known and used in the art for depositing conductive materials. The thickness of the dummy gate electrode303may be from about 5 Å to about 500 Å. The top surface of the dummy gate electrode303may have a non-planar top surface, and may be planarized prior to patterning of the dummy gate electrode303or gate etch. Ions may or may not be introduced into the dummy gate electrode303at this point. Ions may be introduced, for example, by ion implantation techniques.

After the dummy gate electrode303has been formed, the dummy gate dielectric211and the dummy gate electrode303may be patterned. In an embodiment the patterning may be performed by initially forming a first hard mask305over the dummy gate electrode303and forming the second hard mask307over the first hard mask305.

According to some embodiments, the first hard mask305comprises a dielectric material such as silicon nitride (SiN), oxide (OX), silicon oxide (SiO), titanium nitride (TiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), combinations of these, or the like. The first hard mask305may be formed using a process such as chemical vapor deposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, or the like. However, any other suitable material and method of formation may be utilized. The first hard mask305may be formed to a thickness of from about 20 Å to about 3000 Å, such as about 20 Å.

The second hard mask307comprises a separate dielectric material from the material of the first hard mask305. The second hard mask307may comprise any of the materials and use any of the processes suitable for forming the first hard mask305and may be formed to a same or similar thickness as the first hard mask305. In embodiments where the first hard mask305comprises silicon nitride (SiN), the second hard mask307may be e.g., an oxide (OX). However, any suitable dielectric materials, processes and thicknesses may be used to form the second hard mask.

After the first hard mask305and the second hard mask307have been formed, the first hard mask305and the second hard mask307may be patterned. Patterning of the first hard mask305and second hard mask307occurs in the X-dimension, i.e., distanced into or out of the drawing sheet for the cross-sectional views ofFIGS.3-8. Thereafter, various processes may be performed to form desired structures, etching of the dummy gate material to form distinct dummy gate stacks, formation of spacers, etching of openings for source/drain regions, epitaxial growth of source/drain regions, implant processes, and other typical gate processing. Further, such processing includes removal of the first hard mask305and the second hard mask307. According to some embodiments, one or more etching processes and/or the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) may be utilized to remove the first hard mask305and the second hard mask307. As such, the dummy gate electrode303is exposed after the removal of the first hard mask305.

Cross-referencingFIGS.1and4, method10may continue, at S13, with removing the dummy gate electrode303and the dummy gate dielectric211.

After being exposed by removal of the first hard mask305, the dummy gate electrode303may be removed in order to expose the underlying dummy gate dielectric211. In an embodiment the dummy gate electrode303is removed using, e.g., one or more wet or dry etching process that utilizes etchants that are selective to the material of the dummy gate electrode303. However, any suitable removal process may be utilized.

After the dummy gate dielectric211has been exposed by removal of the dummy gate electrode303, the dummy gate dielectric211may be removed. In an embodiment the dummy gate dielectric211may be removed using, e.g., a wet etching process, although any suitable etching process may be utilized.

When forming a GAA device100, the method10may include a wire-release process to form nanostructures, i.e., vertically-spaced nanosheets, in accordance with some embodiments. The wire release process step may also be referred to as a sheet release process step, a sheet formation process step, a nanosheet formation process step or a wire formation process step. In an embodiment the first layers may be removed using a wet etching process that selectively removes the material of the first layers (e.g., silicon germanium (SiGe)) without significantly removing the material of the substrate103and the material of the second layers (e.g., silicon (Si)). However, any suitable removal process may be utilized.

For example, in an embodiment, an etchant such as a high temperature HCl may be used to selectively remove the material of the first layers (e.g., SiGe) without substantively removing the material of the substrate103and/or the material of the second layers (e.g., Si). Additionally, the wet etching process may be performed at a temperature of from 400° C. to about 600° C., such as about 560° C., and for a time of from about 100 seconds to about 600 seconds, such as about 300 seconds. However, any suitable etchant, process parameters, and time can be utilized.

InFIGS.1and4, method10may continue, at S14, with forming a gate layer, including a gate dielectric and gate metal.FIG.4illustrates the formation of a gate dielectric703over the nanostructures701, according to some embodiments.

FIG.6further illustrates the formation of the gate dielectric703, according to some embodiments. In an embodiment the gate dielectric703comprises a high-k material (e.g., K greater than or equal to 9) such as Ta2O5, Al2O3, Hf oxides, Ta oxides, Ti oxides, Zr oxides, Al oxides, La oxides (e.g., HfO2, HfSiO, HfSiON, HfTaO, HfTIO, HfZrO, LaO, ZrO, TiO), combinations of these, or the like, deposited through a process such as atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or the like. In some embodiments, the gate dielectric703comprises a nitrogen doped oxide dielectric that is initially formed prior to forming a metal content high-K (e.g., K value>13) dielectric material. The gate dielectric703may be deposited to a thickness of from about 1 nm to about 3 nm, although any suitable material and thickness may be utilized.

Further, the method10forms a metal layer70over the gate dielectric703. In some embodiments, the metal layer70is formed using multiple layers, each layer deposited sequentially adjacent to each other using a highly conformal deposition process such as atomic layer deposition, although any suitable deposition process may be utilized. According to some embodiments, a capping layer, a barrier layer, an n-metal work function layer, a p-metal work function layer, and a fill material may be provided.

The capping layer may be formed adjacent to the gate dielectric703and may be formed from a metallic material such as TaN, Ti, TiAlN, TiAl, Pt, TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, TiN, Ru, Mo, WN, other metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates, oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconium aluminate, combinations of these, or the like. The metallic material may be deposited using a deposition process such as atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or the like, although any suitable deposition process may be used.

The barrier layer may be formed adjacent the capping layer, and may be formed of a material different from the capping layer. For example, the barrier layer may be formed of a material such as one or more layers of a metallic material such as TiN, TaN, Ti, TiAlN, TiAl, Pt. TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, Ru, Mo, WN, other metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates, oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconium aluminate, combinations of these, or the like. The barrier layer may be deposited using a deposition process such as atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or the like, although any suitable deposition process may be used.

The n-metal work function layer may be formed adjacent to the barrier layer. In an embodiment the n-metal work function layer is a material such as W, Cu, AlCu, TiAlC, TiAlN, TiAl, Pt, Ti, TiN, Ta, TaN, Co, Ni, Ag, Al, TaAl, TaAlC, TaC. TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, other suitable n-type work function materials, or combinations thereof. For example, the first n-metal work function layer may be deposited utilizing an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, CVD process, or the like. However, any suitable materials and processes may be utilized to form the n-metal work function layer.

The p-metal work function layer may be formed adjacent to the n-metal work function layer. In an embodiment, the first p-metal work function layer may be formed from a metallic material such as W. Al, Cu, TiN, Ti, TiAIN, TiAl, Pt, Ta, TaN, Co, Ni, TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, TaSi2, NiSi2, Mn, Zr, ZrSi2, TaN, Ru, AlCu, Mo, MoSi2, WN, other metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates, oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconium aluminate, combinations of these, or the like. Additionally, the p-metal work function layer may be deposited using a deposition process such as atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or the like, although any suitable deposition process may be used.

After the p-metal work function layer has been formed, the fill material is deposited to fill a remainder of the opening. In an embodiment the fill material may be a material such as tungsten, Al, Cu, AlCu, W, Ti, TiAlN, TiAl, Pt, TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, TiN, Ta, TaN, Co, Ni, combinations of these, or the like, and may be formed using a deposition process such as plating, chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, physical vapor deposition, combinations of these, or the like. However, any suitable material may be utilized.

After the openings left behind by the removal of the dummy gate electrode303have been filled, the materials of the metal layer70and the gate dielectric703may be planarized in order to remove any material that is outside of the openings left behind by the removal of the dummy gate electrode303. In a particular embodiment the removal may be performed using a planarization process such as chemical mechanical polishing, although any suitable planarization and removal process may be utilized. According to some embodiments, the metal layer, i.e., gate electrodes, may be formed to a vertical height, in the Z-direction, of from 70 nm to 85 nm. However, any suitable height may be used.

Cross-referencingFIGS.1and4, method10may continue, at S15, with patterning a hard mask400over the metal layer70. In some embodiments, the hard mask400may include multiple layers, such as a bottom layer401, a middle layer402, and a top layer403. In some embodiments, the bottom layer401is silicon nitride, the middle layer402is silicon, and the top layer403is silicon nitride. However, other suitable materials and arrangements may be used.

As further shown, a patterning mask500is formed over the hard mask400. The patterning mask500may include multiple layers, such as a bottom layer501, a middle layer502, and a top layer503. In some embodiments, the bottom layer501is a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC). The BARC may provide for absorption of radiation incident to the substrate during photolithography processes, including exposure of an overlying photoresist layer. In some embodiments, the middle layer502includes a reflective multilayer structure. In some embodiments, the top layer503is a photosensitive mask (e.g., photoresist).

As shown, the photoresist503is patterned to include a gap505aligned with a region506of the metal layer70selected for removal.

As shown inFIG.5, patterning the hard mask400includes etching the hard mask400through the gap505. Thereafter, the patterning mask500may be removed.

As shown, etching the hard mask400through gap505results in formation of an opening405through the hard mask400. Thus, the hard mask400is formed with a sidewall410that bounds and defines the opening405. The opening405may have a lateral width W1, from sidewall to sidewall, of from 10 to 30 nm, such as from 12 to 20 nm, for example from 14 to 18 nm, such as 16 nm. The opening405may extend a shallow depth into the metal layer70.

With the structure of the device100inFIG.5, method10is prepared to form a high aspect ratio trench through the metal layer70, such as in a cut-metal process to define separate gates and devices.

Cross-referencingFIGS.1and6, method10includes, at S16, etching a trench600through the metal layer70and into the shallow trench isolation regions209.

In some embodiments, the etching process is a plasma etching process. In some embodiments, the etching process includes cycles of deposition and cycles of etching. For example, in order to prevent etching of the sidewalls410and top surface409of the hard mask400, a deposition process may be performed to form a film700on the sidewalls410and top surface409of the hard mask400. In some embodiments, the film700is uniform. In some embodiments, a non-conformal process is used to form the film700.

After formation of the film700, etching processes may be performed to etch the metal layer70. During such etching processes, the film700may be slowly etched. Therefore, after etching the metal layer70to a first depth601, the etching process may be stopped and the deposition process may be repeated to re-form the film700on the sidewalls410and top surface409of the hard mask400again.

After re-forming the film700, etching processes may again be performed to etch the metal layer70. Again, during such etching processes, the re-formed film700may be slowly etched. Therefore, after etching the metal layer70to a second depth602, the etching process may be stopped and the deposition process may be repeated to again re-form the film700on the sidewalls410and top surface409of the hard mask400.

While the method10has been described as forming the uniform layer700on three separate occasions, the uniform layer700may be formed as many times as is suitable. Generally, the uniform layer700may be formed before or when the previously-formed uniform layer700is completely removed in order to minimize or control etching of the hard mask400.

As a result of keeping a protective film700on the sidewalls410and the top surface409of the hard mask, the flow of plasma etchant may be controlled such that byproduct accumulation does not occur along the sidewalls of the trench600. As a result, the trench600is formed in a vertical direction, with reduced tilt angle.

As described herein, the plasma etching process can be used for any metal etching processes. Further, the plasma etching process includes cycles of deposition and etching steps.

As provided, a multiple step etching process may be used to tune the desired trim shape.

In some embodiments, the film700is formed a carbon nitride material. For example, the film700may be formed by performing a CH4/N2 deposition step for depositing a carbon nitride material on the sidewalls410of the hard mask400.

In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a CH4 flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm. In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a N2 flow rate of from 50 to 300 sccm. In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a He flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm. In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a pressure range of from 2 to 50 mT. In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a plasma power range of from 0 to 600 W.

In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a source power three state pulsing duty ratio % of 20/60/20 and a power of 1948W/1948W/0W.

In some embodiments, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with bias pulsing, including three state pulsing duty ratio % of 20/60/20 and a power of 220W/45W/0W.

In some embodiments, the plasma etching process includes etching steps performed with a metal etching gas selected from bromide (Br), hydrogen bromide (HBr), nitrogen (N2), fluorocarbon (CxFy) (where x+y=1), and hydrofluorocarbon (CxFyHz) (where x+y+2=1).

Referring toFIG.7, as a result of the plasma etching process, the trench600is formed with a vertical depth D1, measured from a plane108defined by the top surface of the metal layer70. In some embodiments, vertical depth D1 is from 100 to 150 nm. Further, the metal layer70has a vertical height H1 of from 70 to 85 nm. Thus, the trench600may extend into the isolation region209for a vertical depth of 15 to 80 nm. As further shown, the trench600has a lateral width W2 at the plane108of from 15 to 20 nm.

Cross-referencingFIGS.1and8, method10may continue at S17with forming a cut-metal dielectric structure109in trench600to isolation the adjacent metal layers70from one another. The cut-metal dielectric structure109may be formed by initially depositing a dielectric material to fill and overfill the trench600. In accordance with some embodiments, the cut-metal dielectric structure109are formed using any suitable dielectric material and deposition process. For example, the cut-metal dielectric structure109may be formed from silicon nitride (SiN) in a deposition process such as Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). However, any suitable dielectric materials and deposition processes may be used. After depositing the dielectric material, excess dielectric material and the hard mask400may be removed, such as by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP).

As shown, the cut-metal dielectric structure109divides the metal layer70into two gate electrodes107and isolates the segmented gate electrodes107from one another.

As shown inFIG.1, method10may continue, at S18, with further processing for completing the device100. For example, the further processing may include forming a Continuous Poly On Diffusion Edge (CPODE), interlayer dielectric and metallization layers, forming source/drain contacts to the source/drain regions, and forming source/drain vias and gate vias, in accordance with some embodiments.

Referring now toFIG.9, the tilt angle of the trench600is described.FIG.9illustrates a device100′ formed with a tilted trench and a device100formed with a vertical trench at the stage of fabrication after formation of trench600. In each device, a midpoint P1, equally distanced from opposite sidewalls of the trench, is located at a depth D2 below a plane106defined by the top of the fins105. For purposes of calculation, depth D2 is 25 nm, though any suitable depth may be used. In each device, a midpoint P2, equally distanced from opposite sidewalls of the trench, is located at plane108at a height H2 above plane106defined by the top of the fins105. InFIG.9, height H2 is 13.5 nm.

In the tilted trench600of device100′ inFIG.9, a vertical line from point P1 intersects plane108at point P3. Further, point P2 is distanced from point P3 by a lateral tilt margin W3. In a non-tilted trench600, such as in device100inFIG.9, point P2 is vertically aligned with point P1, and the tilt margin is zero.

Thus, the tilt angle in device100is zero. The tilt angle Al in device100′ is equal to the arctangent of W3/H2.

In exemplary embodiments, the tilt margin W3 of a device100formed by method10is less than 3 nm, such as less than 2.5 nm, less than 2.0 nm, less than 1.8 nm, less than 1.6 nm, less than 1.4 nm, less than 1.2 nm, or less than 1 nm. In exemplary embodiments, the tilt angle Al of a device100formed by method10is less than 3°, such as less than 2.5°, less than 2°, less than 1.9°, less than 1.8°, less than 1.7°, less than 1.6°, less than 1.5°, less than 1.4°, less than 1.3°, less than 1.2°, less than 1.1°, less than 1.0°, less than 0.9°, less than 0.8°, less than 0.7°, less than 0.6°, less than 0.5°, less than 0.4°, less than 0.3°, less than 0.2°, or less than 0.1°.

The vertical trench600of device100inFIG.9has a sidewall605. In certain embodiments, the profile of the sidewall605is vertical, i.e., the sidewall605is perpendicular to the substrate103. In some embodiments, the sidewall605is within 3° of perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate103, i.e., is from 87 to 93°, or is within 2.5°, within 2°, within 1.9°, within 1.8°, within 1.7°, within 1.6°, within 1.5°, within 1.4°, within 1.3°, within 1.2°, within 1.1°, within 1.0°, within 0.9°, within 0.8°, within 0.7°, within 0.6°, within 0.5°, within 0.4°, within 0.3°, within 0.2°, or within 0.1° of perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate103.

In an embodiment, a method for processing a metal gate includes forming a metal gate line over a semiconductor substrate; patterning a hard mask over the metal gate line, an opening in the hard mask is located over a region of the metal gate line to be removed, and the hard mask includes sidewalls defining the opening; and performing a plasma etching process through the opening, the plasma etching process includes a CH4/N2 deposition step for depositing a carbon nitride material on the sidewalls of the hard mask.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process includes a first deposition step for depositing the carbon nitride material as a first carbon nitride material layer on the sidewalls of the hard mask; a first etching step to etch the metal gate line to a first depth; a second deposition step for re-forming carbon nitride material on the sidewalls of the hard mask as a second carbon nitride material layer; and a second etching step to etch the metal gate line to a second depth.

In some embodiments, the plasma etching process further includes a third deposition step for depositing the carbon nitride material as a third carbon nitride material layer on the sidewalls of the hard mask; and a third etching step to etch the metal gate line to a third depth.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process forms a trench through the metal gate line and into an isolation region lying below the metal gate line.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process forms a trench extending through the metal gate line, and wherein the trench has a tilt angle of less than 1.5°.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process forms a trench extending through the metal gate line, the trench has a sidewall, and the sidewall of the trench is perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate or within 1.5° of perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.

In some embodiments of the method, the CH4/N2 deposition step is performed with a CH4 flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm; with a N2 flow rate of from 50 to 300 sccm; with a He flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm; with a pressure range of from 2 to 50 mT; and with a plasma power range of from 0 to 600 W.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process includes cycled deposition and etching steps.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma etching process includes etching steps performed with a metal etching gas selected from bromide (Br), hydrogen bromide (HBr), nitrogen (N2), fluorocarbon (CxFy), and hydrofluorocarbon (CxFyHz).

In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming fin structures over a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal layer over a fin structures; forming a mask with an opening over the metal layer, the opening is defined by a sidewall; depositing a carbon nitride film on the sidewall; and etching the metal layer through the opening while protecting the mask with the carbon nitride film.

In some embodiments of the method, etching the metal layer through the opening while protecting the mask with the carbon nitride film includes forming a trench extending through the metal layer, wherein the trench has a sidewall, and wherein the sidewall of the trench is perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate or within 1.5° of perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.

In some embodiments, the method further includes repeating depositing the carbon nitride film on the sidewall and etching the metal layer through the opening while protecting the mask with the carbon nitride film.

In some embodiments of the method, depositing the carbon nitride film on the sidewall includes performing a plasma deposition process with CH4/N2.

In some embodiments of the method, the plasma deposition process is performed with a CH4 flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm and a N2 flow rate of from 50 to 300 sccm.

In some embodiments of the method, etching the metal layer through the opening while protecting the mask with the carbon nitride film includes forming a trench through the metal layer, and the trench has a tilt angle of less than 1.5°.

In some embodiments of the method, etching the metal layer through the opening while protecting the mask with the carbon nitride film includes forming a trench through the metal layer, and the trench has a vertical depth from a top surface of the metal layer of from 100 to 150 nm.

In some embodiments of the method, the trench has a lateral width at a top surface of the metal layer of from 15 to 20 nm.

In another embodiment, a method for etching metal includes forming a hard mask over the metal, the hard mask includes a sidewall defining an opening; and performing a plasma etching process including cycles of depositing a carbon nitride film on the sidewall and etching the metal.

In some embodiments of the method, the metal lies over a semiconductor substrate; performing the plasma etching process including cycles of depositing a carbon nitride film on the sidewall and etching the metal includes forming a trench extending through the metal; the trench has a sidewall; and the sidewall of the trench is perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate or within 1.5° of perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.

In some embodiments of the method, each cycle of depositing a carbon nitride film on the sidewall includes performing a plasma deposition process with CH4/N2; with a CH4 flow rate of from 10 to 200 sccm and a N2 flow rate of from 50 to 300 sccm.

In some embodiments of the method, performing the plasma etching process includes etching the metal to form a trench, the trench has a tilt angle of less than 1.5°, the trench has a vertical depth from a top surface of the metal of from 100 to 150 nm, and the trench has a lateral width at a top surface of the metal of from 15 to 20 nm.