Process for fabricating high performance BiMOS circuits

Abstract: A method of making complementary vertical bipolar transistors and complementary field effect transistors on the same substrate is described. The process includes forming buried layers in a semiconductor substrate which are spaced apart in a self-aligned manner by use of a lateral etching technique to undercut the mask used for definition of the buried layers. In the process, the collector and base contacts of the bipolar devices and the corresponding conductivity-type sources and drains of the field effect transistors are combined to minimize processing steps. The process also includes a silicided polycrystalline silicon layer used to form resistors and contact the various transistors.

Description: This invention relates to processes for manufacturing integrated circuits, and in particular, to a process for fabricating integrated circuits having both bipolar and complementary field effect transistors on a common substrate. The process is particularly suited to the manufacture of high performance products, for example, high speed static random access memories. Numerous processes are now well known for the manufacture of BiCMOS integrated circuits. See, for example, Bastani, et al. , "Advanced One Micron BiCMOS Technology for High Speed 256k SRAMs," 1987 VLSI Symposium; Watanabe, et al. , "High Speed BiCMOS VLSI Technology with Buried Twin Well Structure," 1985 IEDM. Such processes typically have not been optimized for the manufacture of either the bipolar or the field effect portions of the circuit. For example, in such prior art processes, there is typically a large encroachment by the field oxide used to electrically isolate individual devices from each other. The large field oxide encroachment is undesirable because it decreases device density and degrades performance of the completed circuit. In addition, lower density means that a larger chip size is required for the fabrication of a fixed number of transistors. The larger chip size reduces the yield and therefore increases the cost of the completed product. Another problem with prior art BiCMOS processes is that the small geometry MOS transistors have been prone to punchthrough, due to the use of relatively thick gate oxides and relatively deep source/drain junctions. In addition, the bipolar devices typically have a high collector-substrate capacitance and a high parasitic capacitance. This undesirably slows circuit operation. Another disadvantage of prior art BiCMOS processes has been that metal contacts to shallow junctions have been susceptible to leakage. In addition, such prior art BiCMOS processes formed high resistance polysilicon load resistors using techniques which required relatively long resistors, thereby limiting the density of memory cells formed using the BiCMOS process. Another difficulty with prior art BiCMOS processes was the requirement for tapered sidewalls in contact openings to obtain adequate metal step coverage. The tapered sidewalls undesirably expand the surface area required for a contact, thereby limiting layout density. The reduced layout density carries with it the difficulties mentioned above. A further disadvantage is the use in prior art BiCMOS processes of relatively long thermal processes. These processes create deep junctions which are incompatible with scaled devices. A further BiCMOS process is disclosed in EP-A-278 619. EP-A-159 408 and 173 611 disclose methods for forming integrated circuits including active devices and resistors. The invention as defined in the independent claims allows to overcome one or several of these drawbacks. Particular embodiments of the process of the invention overcome various of the foregoing difficulties. In an embodiment the process increases density and performance over prior art BiCMOS processes. In the novel BiCMOS process, the electrically isolating field oxide is formed using a zero encroachment technique, yet one which results in a substantially planar field oxide, thereby increasing device density. The collector-substrate capacitance in the bipolar devices is reduced by reducing the collector area and by separating the N- and P-conductivity type buried layers using a self-aligned technique. Furthermore, small geometry MOS transistors resistant to punchthrough are fabricated using shallower junctions, thinner gate oxide, and more heavily doped well profiles. The parasitic regions in bipolar devices are reduced through the use of a self-aligned polysilicon base and emitter contact and recessed oxide isolation. Self-aligned polycrystalline silicon contacts are also employed in the MOS transistors. Metal contacts to shallow junctions are eliminated by the use of an intermediate polycrystalline silicon layer. In a preferred embodiment, the process of the invention comprises a method of fabricating complementary conductivity-type buried layers in a semiconductor substrate. The method includes the steps of defining a mask across the surface of the substrate to expose only regions of the substrate where a first conductivity-type impurity is desired. First conductivity-type impurity is introduced into the exposed regions of the substrate. Then portions of the mask laterally adjacent the periphery of the regions doped with the first conductivity-type impurity are removed to thereby expose additional regions of the substrate. Following this step a layer of masking material is formed over all of the exposed portions of the substrate, and then the original mask is removed. Finally, a second impurity of opposite conductivity-type to the first impurity is introduced into the substrate except where it is overlaid by the layer of masking material. The step of removing regions laterally adjacent the periphery allows the opposite conductivity-type buried layers to be spaced apart, yet self-aligned. In a further portion of the process of the invention a pair of complementary bipolar transistors and a pair of complementary field effect transistors are formed using common process steps. This process includes the steps of forming first and second buried layers in a semiconductor substrate, each of the buried layers adjacent an upper surface of the substrate, each being of a specified conductivity type. Then a layer of epitaxial silicon is deposited across the upper surface of the substrate over each of the buried layers. Later in the process, a layer of polycrystalline silicon is deposited on the epitaxial silicon to form a gate of a P-channel field effect transistor and a gate of an N-channel field effect transistor. Then, in a single step, the base region of the PNP bipolar device and the corresponding conductivity-type low doped drain region of the N-channel field effect transistors are doped. Also in a single step, the collector contact of the NPN bipolar transistor and the corresponding conductivity-type sources and drains of the N-channel field effect transistor are doped. Finally, in another single step, a base contact region of the NPN bipolar device, a collector contact of the PNP bipolar device, and the corresponding conductivity-type sources and drains of the P-channel field effect transistor are doped. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after implantation of a P-type buried layer. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after isotropic etching of a silicon dioxide layer beneath a silicon nitride layer. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after annealing of the buried layers. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after ion-implantation of the N-type wells in the epitaxial layer. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after implantation of the P-type wells in the epitaxial layer. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after definition of the regions of the structure where field oxide is desired. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after deposition of a layer of silicon dioxide. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after etching to remove the oxide portion of the spacer regions. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after oxidation of the first layer of polycrystalline silicon. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after implantation of the bipolar base. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after etching of the interpoly oxide. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after annealing of the second layer of polycrystalline silicon. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure after etching of contact openings to the metal silicide. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure of the completed structure. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor structure which may be fabricated using well known process technology. The structure depicted in Figure 1 serves as a starting point for a description of the process of invention. As shown in Figure 1, on a lightly-doped, P-conductivity type silicon substrate, having 30-50 ohm-centimeter resistivity, a thin layer of stress relief oxide 12 is formed. Silicon dioxide layer 12 typically is about 225 Angstroms thick and functions in a well known manner to alleviate thermal stresses induced by expansion or contraction of overlying layers. On the upper surface of oxide 12, a layer of silicon nitride 15 approximately 1500 Angstroms (1 Angstrom = 10 -10 m) thick is deposited using chemical vapor deposition. Finally, as shown in Figure 1, on the upper surface of silicon nitride 15 a layer of photoresist 18 is formed. Photoresist 18 is well known photoresist conventionally available from many suppliers. Using well known masking techniques, photoresist 18 is exposed and developed to remove it from regions where a P-type buried layer is desired, e.g., regions 19, 20 and 21. After photoresist 18 is removed, silicon nitride layer 15 is etched using well known wet or dry processes. To protect the substrate, an etchant is employed which does not attack the silicon dioxide layer 12. Finally, as also shown in Figure 1, a P-conductivity type implant is performed to introduce P-type impurities into regions of the substrate 10 where P-conductivity type buried layers are desired. Three such regions 19, 20, and 21 are depicted in Figure 1, although only small portions of regions 20 and 21 are shown. In the preferred embodiment a 8.0 E 13 dose of boron impurity is employed with 90 kev energy level to form buried layer implant 24. As next shown in Figure 2, the photoresist is removed from the structure, and the silicon dioxide layer 12 is etched using a well known acid. The etchant will completely remove the silicon dioxide layer in those regions not protected by silicon nitride layer 18. In addition, because of its isotropic properties, the acid will etch some of the silicon dioxide from beneath the edges of the silicon nitride layer 18. The result is to create small regions 25 where the silicon nitride 18 overhangs the silicon dioxide 15. In the preferred embodiment an overhang of 1.25 microns is desired. Figure 3 depicts the next several steps of the process. As shown there, the semiconductor structure is oxidized to create a relatively thicker layer of buried layer masking oxide 27 between regions of the substrate protected by silicon nitride. Of course, silicon dioxide 15 remains beneath these nitride regions during this portion of the process. In the preferred embodiment, a buried layer masking oxide is approximately 5000 Angstroms thick and is formed by heating the structure in an oxidizing ambient to a temperature of 950°C for 3 hours. It should be appreciated, however, that this thickness is somewhat arbitrary, and that the buried layer oxide need only be thick enough to resist an N-conductivity type implantation step described below. In other words, if lower energy implantation is employed, then thinner oxide layers may be formed, while if higher energy implantation is used, then thicker oxide layers will be required. Following formation of the buried layer masking oxide 27, the silicon nitride is removed from the surface of the structure and another implantation step performed. During this implantation step, N-conductivity type impurity, preferably arsenic, is introduced into the structure to form N-type regions beneath the regions previously protected by silicon nitride. The arsenic is ion-implanted with a dose of 6.0 E 15 at 75 kev. Importantly, because of the encroachment of the buried layer masking oxide 27 beneath the protective nitride, the thick masking oxide 27 extends slightly beyond the perimeter of the P-type buried layer implant 24. This spacing results in the P-conductivity type wells being separated from the N-conductivity type wells in the final product. The separation of the wells can be controlled by controlling the amount that the silicon nitride overhangs the silicon dioxide in Figure 2. The next several steps of the process are described in conjunction with Figure 4. After implanting the N-type impurity, the buried layers are annealed by heating the structure for a prolonged period. In the preferred embodiment, the structure is heated to a temperature of 1000°C for 20 minutes in a nitrogen ambient. During the annealing process, the N- and P-type impurities in the substrate will diffuse downward and outward from their initially implanted locations to create buried layers having the general appearance depicted in Figure 4. Next, the masking oxide 27, as well as the initially-formed stress relief oxide, are stripped from the surface of the structure using a well known acid. Then, using well known semiconductor fabrication technology, a layer of epitaxial silicon 30 is deposited across the upper surface of the structure. Preferably, epitaxial layer 30 is deposited from dichlorosilane to a thickness of approximately 1.30 microns. Of course, thicker or thinner epitaxial layers may be employed depending upon the characteristics desired for the transistors which will ultimately be formed therein. On the upper surface of epitaxial layer 30, another layer of stress relief oxide 31 is formed, using a thermal process like that described above. Similarly, another layer of silicon nitride 32 is deposited on the upper surface of oxide layer 31. Although not shown in Figure 4, silicon nitride layer 32 initially extends across the entire upper surface of the wafer. Finally, on the upper surface of nitride 32 a layer of photoresist 34 is deposited. Again, using well known photolithographic technology, openings are defined in photoresist layer 34 wherever the N-wells 28 are situated. These openings may be formed using a mask which is a negative of the mask used to define the P buried layers in Figure 2, or using the same mask as in Figure 2, but employing opposite type of photoresist. In a similar manner to that described above, the nitride unprotected by overlying photoresist 34 is removed, and another ion-implantation step performed. In this ion-implantation step an N-type impurity, preferably phosphorus, is implanted to form N-well implant regions 36 adjacent the upper surface of the epitaxial layer 30. Preferably, these regions are implanted using a dose of 6.0 E 12 at 80 kev energy. The appearance of the structure after this implant is depicted in Figure 4. Following the N-well implant into the epitaxial layer 30, the structure is oxidized by heating it to a temperature of 950°C for 3 hours in an oxidizing ambient. During this step the silicon dioxide layer 31 overlaid by nitride 32 is essentially unaffected. In contrast, the oxide not protected by nitride becomes much thicker, thereby forming well masking oxide regions 38, typically on the order of 5000 Angstroms thick. Next, the remaining portions of silicon nitride layer 32 are removed from the structure, and a P-well implant performed. The P-well implant will create P-well implant regions 39 as shown in Figure 5. Preferably, the P-well implant employs a dose 1.0 E 12 of boron impurity at an energy of 50 kev. Following the P-well implant 39, the silicon dioxide is stripped from the upper surface of the structure using conventional etching technology. Then, another thin layer of silicon dioxide 40, approximately 250 Angstroms thick, is formed, preferably using thermal oxidation. On the upper surface of oxide 40, another layer of silicon nitride 41 is deposited. Nitride layer 41 is approximately the same thickness as the nitride layers described above. Finally, a layer of photoresist 42 is formed on the upper surface of nitride 41. Photoresist 42 is masked and developed as shown in Figure 6. At this stage of the process, the photoresist protects all of the active areas of the to-be-formed circuit. For illustration, CMOS devices ultimately will be formed in the left-hand portion of Figure 6, while bipolar devices will be formed in the right-hand portion. After definition of the photoresist, suitable etchants are employed to remove the exposed silicon nitride 41, silicon dioxide 40, and approximately the upper 3000 Angstroms of epitaxial layer 30. This process may be carried out using conventional wet or dry etching processes and the appropriate selective etchants. Because of the tolerances desired, in the preferred embodiment an anisotropic process is employed. Following the etching, if desired, the exposed portions of epitaxial silicon 30 may be implanted with a suitable impurity to prevent field inversion. Ultimately, this impurity will be disposed below the field oxide which isolates the bipolar devices from the CMOS devices, and each device from another. The appearance of the structure at this stage in the process, assuming no field implant, is depicted in Figure 6. Next, the photoresist layer 42 is removed, and a thin layer of stress relief oxide formed over all of the exposed regions of epitaxial layer 30. Because of its relative thinness, this layer of stress relief oxide is not shown in Figure 7. Another layer of silicon nitride 44 then is deposited across the entire surface of the structure. Over the upper surface of silicon nitride 44, another layer of silicon dioxide 46 is formed; this time, however, preferably by chemical vapor deposition. In the preferred embodiment oxide layer 46 is approximately 1200 Angstroms thick. Following the formation of silicon dioxide layer 46, an anisotropic etch step is performed to etch through the silicon dioxide 46 and silicon nitride 44 (as well as the underlying stress relief oxide) until silicon from the epitaxial layer 30 is exposed. Because this process is essentially anisotropic, those regions of the structure where the oxide-nitride-oxide sandwich vertically traverses the edges of the underlying oxide 40-nitride 41 sandwich are not etched completely, thereby forming spacer regions. Next, the structure is subjected to a buffered oxide etchant. This removes the silicon dioxide from atop the spacer regions of silicon nitride 44. In other words, the spacer regions at this stage in the process consist only of silicon nitride, as shown in Figure 8. The next several steps of the process are described in conjunction with Figure 9. After removal of the spacer oxide, the entire structure is subjected to a field oxidation step by heating the structure in an oxidizing ambient at a pressure of 10 atmospheres to form relatively thick field oxide regions 48. In the preferred embodiment, the structure is heated to a temperature of 1000°C for 15 minutes to form field oxide regions which are approximately 7500 Angstroms thick. These field oxide regions 48 extend through the epitaxial silicon to the underlying P- and N-conductivity type buried layers, 24 and 28, respectively. During this step, the P- and N-conductivity type well regions, 39 and 36, respectively, in the epitaxial layer, diffuse through the remaining portion of the epitaxial layer to contact the P- and N-type buried layers beneath the epitaxial layer. The ultimate configuration of these wells is depicted in Figure 9. After removal of the nitride, the underlying stress relief oxide is removed, and a sacrificial oxidation performed (not shown). In the sacrificial oxidation step, a layer of silicon dioxide is formed across the surface of the entire structure by heating it in an oxidizing ambient to form a layer approximately 400 Angstroms thick. The sacrificial oxidation helps to insure a very clean gate oxide. Then, a V T adjustment is performed by implanting boron across the entire structure. In the preferred embodiment, a dose of approximately 3.0 E 12 at an energy of 30 kev is employed. The function of this implant is to adjust the threshold voltage of the to-be-formed field effect transistors. Finally, the sacrificial oxide is stripped from the structure using an etchant. After removal of the sacrificial oxide, the upper surface of the structure is again oxidized, this time to form the thin gate oxide for the field effect transistors. In the preferred embodiment, the gate oxide is approximately 150 Angstroms thick. Because of the thinness of the gate oxide, it is not shown in Figure 9. Over the upper surface of the gate oxide, a layer of polycrystalline silicon 50 is formed to provide the gates of the MOS transistors. In the preferred embodiment, polysilicon 50 is deposited using chemical vapor deposition and is approximately 3250 Angstroms thick. After deposition of the polysilicon, it is doped with a suitable impurity to render it conductive. In the preferred embodiment phosphorus is used to reduce the resistivity of layer 50 to approximately 30 ohms per square. Next, polysilicon So is masked and etched to define the gates as shown in Figure 9. Following the formation of a thin oxide layer (not shown), a mask is defined across the upper surface of the structure, for example, using photoresist. The mask protects all of the structure except for where the N-channel field effect transistor and the PNP active base region are to be formed in the P-well 39. The width of the field oxide regions 48 which surround the P-well 39 provide ample masking tolerances, thereby eliminating the need for critical alignment of this mask. Next, an ion-implantation of N-conductivity type impurity is performed to dope the lightly doped drain structure 49a and the base region of the PNP bipolar transistor 49b. In the preferred embodiment, this implant comprises phosphorus impurity introduced with a dose of 3.0 E 13 and an energy of 20 kev. After implantation, a high temperature chemical vapor deposition spacer oxide is deposited across the entire surface of the structure. In the preferred embodiment the spacer oxide is deposited to a thickness of 1800 Angstroms, and then a reactive ion or other anisotropic etching process is performed to define the spacer regions 52 adjacent the polysilicon electrodes 50. Then, the structure is thinly oxidized with a "screen" oxide step (not shown) to inhibit dopant channeling during source/drain ion-implantation and reduce crystalline damage. After formation of the screen oxide, an N+ source-drain mask is defined to expose the P-well 39 and one portion of N-well 36a where the NPN bipolar transistor collector contact is to be formed. Next, N-type impurity, preferably arsenic, is implanted into the structure to form the N-type source and drain regions 55a as well as the collector contact 55b. The base contact region 55c of the PNP bipolar transistor may also be formed at this step. Then, that mask is removed and another mask (not shown) is formed across all of the structure except where N-well 36b is formed. (This is the region where the active portion of the NPN bipolar transistor will be fabricated.) P-type impurity, preferably BF 2 + (boron difluoride), is introduced into the upper surface of N-well 36b, preferably by a dose of 4.0 E 13 at an energy of 35 kev. The result is a lightly doped P-type base region 58 separated from the N-type buried layer 28 by N-well 36b. At this stage in the process, the structure appears as shown in Figure 10. After implanting the NPN base region 58, the structure again is masked with photoresist to expose only the regions of the N-wells 36 where field effect transistors are desired, to expose the portions of N-well 36b where an NPN base contact is desired, and to expose the portions of P-well 39b where a PNP bipolar collector contact will be formed. Then P-conductivity type dopants are implanted into the substrate at these locations. In the preferred embodiment, BF 2 + (boron difluoride) impurity is employed a dose of 1.0 E 15 at an energy level of 50 kev. The resulting P-type source-drain regions 60a are shown in Figure 11. Also shown are the P-type NPN base contact 60b and the PNP collector contact 60c. After the implantation, a rapid thermal annealing step is performed in which the structure is heated to a temperature of 1050°C for 10 seconds. During this step, dopant activation is achieved without significant dopant redistribution. Next, the structure is subjected to a high temperature chemical vapor deposition step to form interpoly silicon dioxide layer 64. This interpoly oxide will electrically isolate the first layer of polysilicon, which is used in the field effect transistor gates, from overlying layers of polysilicon used to connect the sources, drains, and other components of the integrated circuit. After formation of the interpoly oxide 64, and using conventional photolithographic techniques, a contact mask is employed to define those regions on the surface of the structure where a second layer of polycrystalline silicon is to contact the substrate. In Figure 11 openings are shown over the P-type source and drain regions 60a, the N-type source and drain regions 55a, the collector contact 55b, and the NPN base 58, 60b. A part of region 58 will become the NPN emitter, while region 60b is the contact to the NPN base. Also shown in Figure 11 are openings to the PNP collector contact 60c and the PNP base 49b, 55c. A part of region 49b will become the PNP emitter, while region 55c is the contact to the PNP base. After formation of the contact openings, a second layer of polycrystalline silicon is deposited across the entire surface of the structure. In the preferred embodiment, chemical vapor deposition is employed to deposit a layer approximately 2000 Angstroms thick. After deposition of the polysilicon, an ion-implantation step is done to tailor the electrical properties of subsequently-formed resistors. The entire polysilicon surface is implanted during this step, with the precise location resistor regions being defined by subsequent etching steps. Of course, the precise dose and energy levels will depend upon the desired resistance of the to-be-formed resistors; however, in the preferred embodiment, arsenic impurity is employed with a dose of 9.0 E 13 at an energy level of 50 kev. The more impurity introduced into the polysilicon, the lower will be the resistance. After implanting the resistor regions in polysilicon 66, another mask is formed to protect the resistor regions and expose those regions of the polysilicon which are to be doped strongly with N-conductivity type impurity. This doping is performed, in the preferred embodiment, with the polysilicon 66 doped with enough arsenic impurity to lower its sheet resistance to 300 ohms/square. Next, another mask is formed over the structure to protect the resistor regions and those regions of the polysilicon which have already been doped, and to expose those regions which are to be doped strongly with P-conductivity type impurity. These regions are doped with BF 2 + (boron difluoride) to lower their sheet resistance to 900 ohms/square. As shown in Figure 12, region 66a of the second layer of polycrystalline silicon has been doped strongly with P-type impurity, while region 66b has been doped with N-type impurity. The masking and doping operations may create PN junctions such as junction 68 between P- and N-type polysilicon. Any such junctions which are undesired will be "shorted" in a later process operation. In other regions of the structure 66c, the polycrystalline silicon may not be doped heavily and therefore will retain the electrical characteristics determined by the unmasked implant done immediately after polysilicon deposition. This will provide high value resistors. Following the doping of the polysilicon, another photolithographic masking and etching step is performed. During this operation the polycrystalline silicon is removed from the surface of the integrated circuit except for where contacts, resistors, and interconnect lines are desired. After removal of the undesired polycrystalline silicon, the remaining regions are annealed by heating the structure to 900°C for 15 minutes. During the annealing step, impurity in the polycrystalline silicon diffuses out and into the underlying structure to assure excellent contact between the second layer of polycrystalline silicon and the active regions in the epitaxial layer. Also, during this process, impurities move from the emitter contacts 66d, 66e into the base regions 58, 49b to form the emitters of the NPN and PNP bipolar devices, respectively. At this stage in the process, the appearance of the structure is shown in Figure 12. Next, a layer of a metal which reacts with silicon to form a silicide is sputtered across the surface of the structure. In the preferred embodiment, titanium is employed; however, other silicide-forming refractory metals such as tungsten, platinum, or cobalt are also suitable. Then, another mask is formed across the surface of the structure to expose those regions of the surface where metal silicide is not desired. The portions of the titanium layer thereby exposed then are etched using conventional process technology, for example, an etchant consisting of ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide mixture. The structure then is heated to cause the titanium to react with the underlying polycrystalline silicon to form titanium silicide. Any remaining titanium then is removed from the structure using ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide mixture. The structure is again heated to assure complete conversion of all titanium to titanium silicide. As shown in Figure 13, the titanium silicide generally overlies the polycrystalline silicon. For example, region 70a of titanium silicide assures a low resistance contact to the P-channel FET. Silicide 70b overlying polysilicon region 66a and 66b short these two regions together, thereby providing a low resistance contact between the P-channel and the N-channel devices. Silicide regions 70c and 70d provide contacts to opposite ends of a low value resistor extending between the collector of the NPN bipolar device and the N-channel FET. Finally, silicide region 70e provides a low resistance contact to the lightly doped polycrystalline silicon 66c. This polysilicon provides a high value resistor which is useful in the formation of static memory cells. Next, a layer 73 of phosphorus-doped glass is deposited on the structure by chemical vapor deposition. After deposition, a liquid, polymeric glass is spun onto the surface and baked to planarize layer 73. The glass is cured by a thermal process in a steam ambient. In the preferred embodiment the structure is heated to 800°C for 30 minutes. Following the curing, another photolithographic operation is performed to define contact openings to the titanium silicide layer beneath glass 73. The undesired glass is removed using an anisotropic plasma oxide etch, resulting in the structure depicted in Figure 13. Tungsten, or other suitable metal then is deposited using chemical vapor deposition onto the structure to form plugs 75 in the openings in glass 73. By controlling the deposition conditions, the tungsten is deposited only in the openings. In an alternative embodiment, a thin metal layer approximately 200 Angstroms TiW is first sputter-deposited. Then tungsten is chemical vapor deposited over the entire surface. Because of the conformal nature of the deposition, the contact holes are completely filled with tungsten metal. Following the deposition, the tungsten is anisotropically etched back using a plasma etch until no tungsten remains atop the planarized oxide. Because of the anisotropic nature of the plasma etch, plugs of metal remain in the contact holes. After formation of the plugs, a first layer of metal 78, preferably aluminum/silicon/copper alloy, is sputtered across the upper surface of glass 73. Conventional photolithographic processes are used to mask and remove undesired regions of the metal as shown in Figure 14. Next, the layer of low temperature chemical vapor deposition oxide, is deposited across the structure. Again, a liquid polymeric glass is spun and cured to planarize the surface. Then it is etched back using a plasma oxide etch to further planarize it. Finally, another layer of low temperature oxide is deposited across its upper surface to form the final intermetal oxide which electrically isolates the first metal layer from a second metal layer. Using conventional photolithographic techniques, the oxide layer 80 is masked and etched to define openings where contacts to the metal layer are desired. Tungsten is deposited in these openings in the same manner as described above to form plugs, such as plug 83, wherever contacts to the first layer of metal are desired. Next, a second layer of metal 86 is deposited across the upper surface of oxide layer 80 in contact with plugs 83. In the preferred embodiment, this layer of metal comprises aluminum/copper alloy. Again, a photolithographic masking and etching step is performed to define the metal into desired regions and interconnect selected regions of metal 1. After definition of metal 86, the structure is passivated using conventional techniques. The process of the invention as described above provides significant advantages over prior art BiCMOS processes. The technique by which the field oxide regions are formed increases the density of the integrated circuit by providing a highly planar surface with essentially zero encroachment. The collector-substrate capacitance of the NPN bipolar transistor is reduced by reducing the collector area and separating the N-type buried collector contact from nearby P-type buried layers. The process is also advantageous in that improved field effect transistors are formed which are more resistant to punchthrough than in prior art BiCMOS processes. The use of vertical contact openings in glass overlying the metal contact layer enables tungsten plugs to be formed in a manner which increases packing density over conventional processes. In the foregoing description, specific times, temperatures, thicknesses, and the like, have been described to enable a more complete understanding of the invention. It should be appreciated, however, that these details were provided to illustrate the process, not to limit it.

Claims: A method of fabricating complementary conductivity-type buried layers (24, 28) in a silicon semiconductor substrate (10) having a surface, the method comprising: defining a silicon nitride mask (15) on the surface of a silicon dioxide layer (12) formed on the entire surface of the substrate to expose regions (19, 20, 21) where a first conductivity-type impurity is desired, implanting first conductivity-type impurity in the exposed regions into the substrate, removing the silicon dioxide in said exposed regions and in regions (25) beneath the silicon nitride mask adjacent the periphery of the regions doped with first conductivity-type impurity, to thereby expose the substrate, oxidizing the substrate to form a thick layer (27) of silicon dioxide over all exposed portions of the substrate, removing the silicon nitride mask, and introducing a second conductivity-type impurity of opposite conductivity type to the first impurity into the substrate except where the substrate is overlaid by the thick layer of silicon dioxide. A method of fabricating complementary conductivity-type buried layers in a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the method comprising: defining a mask of a silicon nitride layer on a silicon dioxide layer on the surface of the substrate to expose regions of the substrate where a first conductivity-type impurity is desired; implanting first conductivity-type impurity into the exposed regions of the substrate; removing portions of the silicon dioxide beneath the silicon nitride adjacent the periphery of the regions doped with first conductivity-type impurity, to thereby expose additional regions of the substrate; oxidizing the substrate to form a thick layer of silicon dioxide over all exposed portions of the substrate, removing all silicon nitride; and introducing a second conductivity-type impurity of opposite conductivity type to the first impurity into the substrate except where the substrate is overlaid by the thick layer of silicon dioxide. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the step of removing silicon dioxide comprises isotropically etching the silicon dioxide in said exposed regions and beneath said silicon nitride mask. The method of one of the preceding claims wherein the step of removing the silicon nitride mask comprises etching of the silicon nitride. The method of one of the preceding claims followed by the steps of removing all silicon dioxide from the surface of the substrate and forming a layer (30) of epitaxial silicon on the surface of the substrate. The method of claim 5 followed by a step of masking and doping the epitaxial silicon layer with second conductivity-type impurity in regions (36) corresponding to the regions (28) of the substrate doped with second conductivity-type impurity. The method of claim 6 followed by a step of masking the epitaxial silicon layer to define regions (39) thereof to be doped with first conductivity-type impurity which regions correspond to the regions (24) the substrate doped with first conductivity-type impurity. The method of claim 7 followed by a step of anisotropically etching to expose the epitaxial silicon layer in regions where field isolation regions are to be formed. The method of claim 8 followed by a step of forming regions of spacer material (44) on the sides of the regions of epitaxial silicon exposed by said etching. The method of claim 9 followed by a step of oxidizing the exposed portions of the epitaxial silicon to form field isolation regions. A method of making a pair of complementary bipolar transistors and a pair of complementary field effect transistors comprising: forming first and second buried layers in a semiconductor substrate by a method as defined in claim 10, each of the buried layers being formed adjacent an upper surface of the substrate, and each being of specified conductivity type; depositing a layer of polycrystalline silicon (50) on a layer of gate oxide on the epitaxial silicon to form at least one gate of a P-channel field effect transistor and at least one gate of an N-channel field effect transistor; in a single step, doping the active base region (49b) of the PNP bipolar device and the lightly doped drain region (49a) of the N-channel field effect transistor; in another single step doping a base contact region (55c) of one of the bipolar devices, the collector contact region (55b) of the complementary bipolar device and the corresponding conductivity-type sources and drains (55a) of one of the field effect transistors; and in another single step, doping a collector contact (60c) of one of the bipolar transistors, the base contact (60b) of the complementary bipolar transistor and corresponding conductivity-type sources and drains (60a) of one of the field effect transistors.

Inventors: BASTANI BAMDAD, LAGE CRAIG S, SMALL JAMES E, BASTANI, BAMDAD, LAGE, CRAIG S., SMALL, JAMES E.
Applicants: NAT SEMICONDUCTOR CORP, NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H01L21
IPC codes: H01L21, H01L27