Method for fabricating integrated circuit capacitors

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer capacitor structure in an integrated circuit, including a first electrode constructed by forming at least one layer over a substrate and forming a plate layer over the previous layer(s). A dielectric layer is formed over this first electrode, and a second electrode is established over the dielectric layer by forming a plate layer over the dielectric layer, and forming at least one additional layer over the plate layer. Each layer may serve one or more functions. Also disclosed is a further embodiment including constructing a first electrode by forming at least one layer on a substrate, forming a plate layer over the previous layer(s), and forming a dielectric layer over the first electrode. The resulting structure is then heated, preferably in an oxygen ambient, to oxidize the lower layer. A second electrode can then be formed over the dielectric layer.

Description: The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit fabrication. In particular, the present invention relates to fabrication of capacitors in integrated circuits. In the manufacture of ferroelectric or high dielectric constant capacitors, two single layer electrodes are separated by a dielectric to form the capacitor. Each electrode is made of a single material or composition, such as platinum, aluminum or silver. All components or devices on each integrated circuit must meet several requirements in high volume manufacturing of integrated circuits. Such requirements include good adhesion characteristics, high electrical conductivity, etchability in plasma, etchability in reactive ion etchers, oriented lattice planes for proper dielectric film growth, resistance to oxidation, resistance to diffusion and low cost. The standardly selected materials for capacitor electrodes, platinum, aluminum and silver, may meet some of these requirements, but do not meet all of these requirements in the many different applications of capacitors in integrated circuits. Thus, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a capacitor electrode for integrated circuits which meets all of these requirements. Reference is made to 31st Electronic Component Conference, May 11-13, 1981, Colony Square Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, pages 254-260; R.D. Huttemann et al, "Silicon Tantalum Integrated Circuit Processing" which is directed to a method of integrated circuit processing including the formation of a capacitor having a first electrode of -Ta, a dielectric of tantalum oxide and a counter electrode of Ta 2 N, Ti, Pl and plated gold. Reference is also made to IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 23, no. 12, May 1981, New York, US pages 5373-5374; J.K. Howard: "Capacitor Structure For Bipolar Memory Device" which discloses a capacitor structure for a bipolar memory device in which a first electrode formed on a substrate consists of multiple layers to prevent diffusion between a dielectric of the capacitor and an electrical connecting layer of the electrode, and a counter electrode is formed of aluminium. Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 9, no. 212 (E-339) (1985) 29 August 1985, and JP-A-60 74556 (Fujitsu K.K.) 26 April 1985 similarly discloses a capacitor structure in which a first electrode formed on a substrate comprises multiple layers to prevent reduction of the dielectric constant of the capacitor by preventing diffusion. None of the capacitors disclosed in these documents which all have only one multilayer electrode, meet the object discussed above for a capacitor in an integrated circuit. These and other objects and advantages are achieved by forming a multilayer capacitor structure in an integrated circuit. According to the present invention there is provided a method for fabricating a capacitor on an integrated circuit including the steps of forming first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric material, wherein one of said electrodes is constructed by (a) forming at least one layer, (b) forming a plate layer on said at least one layer, and (c) oxidizing said at least one layer, and wherein said plate layer is adjacent to said dielectric material and the other one of said electrodes is constructed by the steps of: (a) forming a second plate layer, (b) forming at least one further layer, and (c) oxidizing said at least one further layer, wherein said second plate layer is adjacent to said dielectric layer. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 illustrates a sectional view of a capacitor constructed according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 illustrates a sectional view of a second embodiment of a capacitor embodying the present invention, in partially constructed form; and FIGURE 3 illustrates a sectional view of the same capacitor shown in FIGURE 3, still in partially completed form, but in a step of construction subsequent to FIGURE 2. Referring to Figure 1, a general illustration of one capacitor according to this invention is shown, in sectional view. It is customary to construct integrated circuit capacitors on substrates, and the illustrated and described embodiments are along these lines. It will be understood, though, that the multiple layer invention can find applicability in other capacitor orientations. Thus, for illustrative purposes, a multilayer capacitor, shown generally at 10, is built on a substrate 12 of an integrated circuit device. Capacitor 10 generally comprises a first or bottom electrode 14, a dielectric 16 and a second or top electrode 18 as is known in the art. Both the bottom electrode 14 and the top electrode 18 are constructed of multiple layers according to this invention. In general, as illustrated in Figure 1, bottom electrode 14 is constructed, for example, of four distinct layers of materials, each layer serving a diffferent function. It is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is merely an example of one capacitor according to this invention, and a greater or lesser number of layers in each electrode will be in keeping with this invention. A first layer 20 of bottom electrode 14 preferably comprises an adhesion layer. Layer 20 promotes adhesion of bottom electrode 14, and hence entire capacitor 10, to substrate 12. On top of adhesion layer 20, a second layer 22 is formed. Second layer 22 preferably comprises a diffusion barrier. The diffusion barrier layer 22, as is known in the art, prevents an upper or further layer of material from diffusing or migrating into the lower layers, by hillocks for example, thus causing unintended electrical paths and impurities in the lower layers. A third layer 24 may be an electrical contact layer, which electrically connects capacitor 10 to other devices and components on the integrated circuit. A fourth layer 26 may be formed over the other layers in bottom electrode 14. Layer 26 may be a plate layer which provides the electrode or plate function as usually found in a capacitor. In this embodiment, layer 26 may also provide a nucleation layer, as will be explained infra , for dielectric growth. Continuing in the upward direction through the Figure 1 capacitor, dielectric 16 is grown, deposited or otherwise established on first or bottom electrode 14, as is known in the art. A second or top electrode 18 may be constructed of multiple layers on top of dielectric layer 16, and the structure of the second electrode 18 can be similar to the layering structure of the first electrode 14, but in mirror image. That is to say, bottom layer 30 of electrode 18 may be a plate layer formed over dielectric 16. A second layer 32 of second electrode 18 may be formed over the plate layer 30. This second layer 32 of the second electrode may be a diffusion barrier, as is known in the art and discussed supra in connection with layer 22 of the bottom electrode. A third layer 34 of the second or top electrode 18 may be formed over layer 32. Layer 34 may be, for example, a second electrical contact forming a circuit or connection with other components or devices situated nearby (or elsewhere) on the integrated circuit. Further layers of the integrated circuit may then be formed on capacitor 10, as is known in the art. Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, a further embodiment of this invention is shown, whereby a multilayer structure is created by a controlled chemical reaction of the deposited layers. A partially completed capacitor according to this embodiment of the invention is shown in section in Figure 2, generally at 210. The capacitor 210 of this embodiment is built on a substrate 212, and includes a first or bottom electrode 214, a dielectric 216 thereover and an upper electrode, not shown in this figure. The deposition of material in this embodiment is preferably performed in one pump down. In this embodiment, a first layer of titanium 220 may be deposited by a means known in the art onto the substrate 212. The first layer of titanium 220 is preferably 0.15 microns (all thicknesses of this embodiment may also vary approximately +100% to -50%). A second layer 226 of platinum is deposited over the first layer 220 to a preferred thickness of 0.05 microns. A dielectric layer 216 is next deposited on the platinum second layer 226. Turning now to Figure 3, the structure thus formed in Figure 2 is heated in an oxygen ambient to approximately 750 degrees Centigrade. As a result, the titanium first layer 200 in Figure 3 becomes titanium dioxide 220A in Figure 4. The substrate 212A, the platinum second layer 226A and the dielectric layer 216 remain relatively unaffected by this step, as illustrated in Figure 3. A top or second electrode is then formed in an identical or similar manner. The oxidation of the titanium layer 220 of Figure 2 results in an improvement in adhesion of the platinum and lowered film stress. Other layers may be added to the multilayer electrode of this embodiment, depending on the circuit, connections required, etc. Thus, it will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiments, both layers of a capacitor on an integrated circuit are formed of two or more distinct layers, each layer performing one or more functions. Of course, it is not required that both electrodes be so formed, as a given application may call for only one electrode to be multiply-layered according to this invention.

Claims: A method for fabricating a capacitor on an integrated circuit including the steps of forming first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric material, wherein one of said electrodes is constructed by (a) forming at least one layer, (b) forming a plate layer on said at least one layer, and (c) oxidizing said at least one layer, and wherein said plate layer is adjacent to said dielectric material and the other one of said electrodes is constructed by the steps of: (a) forming a second plate layer, (b) forming at least one further layer, and (c) oxidizing said at least one further layer, wherein said second plate layer is adjacent to said dielectric layer. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer or said at least one further layer or both comprise titanium. The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plate layers comprise platinum.

Inventors: LARSON WILLIAM L, LARSON, WILLIAM L.
Applicants: RAMTRON INT CORP, RAMTRON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H01L29
IPC codes: H01L27, H01L29, H01L21