Abstract:
Methods for partially or substantially filling recesses (e.g., capacitor containers, shallow trenches for formation of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures, etc.) That communicate with a surface of the semiconductor device structure include applying material to a surface of the semiconductor device structure and spreading the material. The thickness of the material covering the surface may be less than (e.g., about half of or less than half of) the depths of the recesses. The surface may remain substantially uncovered by the material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/542,783, filed Apr. 4, 2000, pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to methods for filling containers, trenches, or other recesses of semiconductor device structures during fabrication thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to the use of spin coating techniques to fill containers, trenches, and other recesses of semiconductor device structures. As a specific example, the present invention relates to a method for masking hemispherical grain (HSG) silicon-lined containers of a stacked capacitor structure to facilitate removal of HSG silicon from the surface of a semiconductor device structure including the stacked capacitor structure.  
         [0004]     2. Background of Related Art  
         [0005]     Conventionally, spin-on processes have been used to apply substantially planar layers of material to the surfaces of semiconductor device structures being fabricated upon a wafer of semiconductor material (e.g., a silicon, gallium arsenide, or indium phosphide wafer) or other semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon on insulator (SOI), silicon on glass (SOG), silicon on ceramic (SOC), silicon on sapphire (SOS), or other similar substrate). Consequently, while the portions of a spun-on layer of material over substantially horizontal structures may be substantially planar, the layer of material may not substantially fill or conform to the numerous, minute recesses formed in the semiconductor device structure.  
         [0006]     For example, when it is desirable to mask a container, trench, or other recess of a semiconductor device structure without masking the surface of the semiconductor device structure to which the container, trench, or other recess opens, a mask material is typically applied to the surface of the semiconductor device structure, such as by use of known spin-on processes. As an example,  FIG. 1  illustrates the fabrication of a stacked capacitor structure  10  with conductively doped HSG silicon 16-lined containers  14 . As it is necessary to remove HSG silicon  16  from a surface  12  of an electrical insulator layer  11  (e.g., borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), phosphosilicate glass (PSG), or borosilicate glass (BSG)) of stacked capacitor structure  10  to prevent electrical shorting between adjacent containers  14 , mask material  18 ′ is introduced into containers  14  to facilitate removal of HSG silicon  16  from surface  12 .  
         [0007]     While conventional spin-on processes will force some of the mask material into containers  14 , trenches, or other recesses, these processes typically result in the formation of a relatively thick, but not necessarily planar layer of mask material  18 ′ over surface  12 . Due to various factors, including the surface tension of mask material  18 ′ and the centrifugal forces applied to mask material  18 ′ during the spin-on process, mask material  18 ′ tends to migrate out of the small recesses (e.g., containers  14 ) formed in surface  12 . Thus, the thickness of mask material  18 ′ within a container  14 , trench, or other recess may not be significantly greater than the thickness of mask material  18 ′ covering surface  12 , leaving containers  14  partially unfilled. Once the layer of material has been dispensed onto the semiconductor device structure, it is solidified or cured, such as by known photographic or soft bake processes.  
         [0008]     In order to reduce the thickness of the layer of mask material covering the surface of the semiconductor device structure without substantially decreasing the thickness of the layer of mask material within the recesses, chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes, such as chemical-mechanical polishing techniques, are typically employed. The use of CMP processes is, however, somewhat undesirable since such processes are known to create defects in the surface of the semiconductor device structure. CMP processes are also known to leave debris, or contaminants, which may be trapped in defects in the surface of the semiconductor device structure and which may subsequently cause electrical shorting of a fabricated semiconductor device. For example, if CMP processes are used to remove mask material and at least part of a conductively doped HSG silicon layer from an insulator at the surface of a stacked capacitor structure, conductive silicon particles may be trapped in defects in the surface of the insulator and subsequently cause electrical shorting between adjacent containers of the stacked capacitor. These potentially damaging contaminants may remain even when a chemical removal process, such as a wet or dry etch, follows the CMP process.  
         [0009]     Alternatively, a photoresist may be used as the mask material. Patterning of the photoresist requires several steps in which equipment must be precisely aligned with features, such as the containers of a stacked capacitor structure, fabricated on the semiconductor substrate. Additional handling of the semiconductor device structure is also required when a photoresist is used to mask containers, trenches, or other recesses formed in a semiconductor device structure, which is somewhat undesirable.  
         [0010]     Moreover, when conventional blanket deposition techniques are used to fill the recesses of a semiconductor device structure with a material (e.g., to fill the trenches of a shallow trench isolation structure with an electrical insulator material and to fill dual damascene trenches with a conductive material), the material typically forms a nonplanar layer over the semiconductor device structure. Such material layers typically include valleys located over recesses in the underlying semiconductor device structure and peaks located over other regions of the semiconductor device structure. Chemical-mechanical planarization is an example of a conventional technique for removing such materials from the surface of a semiconductor device structure while leaving these materials within the recesses of the semiconductor device structure. As chemical-mechanical planarization processes typically employ an abrasive pad to mechanically planarize structures, however, the peaks of the material layer may break off in larger than desired pieces and subsequently scratch the surface of the semiconductor device structure, forming defects therein.  
         [0011]     The art does not teach a semiconductor device structure that includes a nonchemical-mechanical planarized material layer that substantially fills a container, trench, or other recess formed in the semiconductor device structure and which does not substantially cover the remainder of a surface of the semiconductor device structure or which includes only a relatively thin layer of material over the remainder of the surface. The art also fails to teach a method for forming a material layer with these features. In addition, the art lacks teaching of a method for reducing the likelihood that peaks of a nonplanar layer of material will damage a surface of a semiconductor device structure during subsequent planarization of the layer of material.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention includes semiconductor device structures with substantially planar surfaces. The semiconductor device structures also include containers, trenches, or other recesses that are filled with a material. The material may also cover adjacent surfaces of the semiconductor device structures. If the material covers surfaces of the semiconductor device structures, the thickness of the material covering the surface is less than the depth of the containers, trenches, or other recesses that are substantially filled with material. Preferably, the thicknesses of material covering the surfaces of the semiconductor device structures are less than about half the depth of the containers, trenches, or other recesses. The surfaces of the material or materials that fill the recesses and that may cover the surfaces of the semiconductor device structures have not, however, been chemical-mechanical planarized to achieve the reduced depth of material outside of the recesses.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductor device structure includes a stacked capacitor structure with a layer of electrically insulative material, or insulator layer, and at least one container recessed or formed in the insulator layer. The insulator layer includes a substantially planar surface, which is referred to herein as the exposed surface of the insulator layer. A layer of electrically conductive material covers the surface of the insulator layer and lines the at least one container. By way of example, the electrically conductive material may be conductively doped hemispherical grain (HSG) silicon. As the stacked capacitor structure would electrically short if the conductive material remained on the surface of the insulator layer between adjacent containers, for the stacked capacitor to function properly, the conductive material must be removed from the surface of the insulator layer prior to completing fabrication of the stacked capacitor but remain within the containers. Thus, this embodiment of the semiconductor device structure includes a substantially planar surface with a nonchemical-mechanical planarized quantity of mask material substantially filling the at least one container. While the mask material may cover regions of the layer of conductive material overlying the surface of the insulator layer, it is preferred that these regions are substantially uncovered by mask material. If mask material does overlie these regions of the layer of conductive material, the thickness of the mask material overlying these regions is less than the depth of the at least one container. Preferably, the thickness of the mask material over these regions of the layer of conductive material is less than about half the depth of the at least one container.  
         [0014]     The mask material may be applied to the semiconductor device structure by known processes and is spread across the surface of the stacked capacitor structure so as to substantially fill the at least one container while leaving a thinner, or no, material layer over regions of the layer of conductive material that overlie the surface of the insulator layer. For example, the mask material may be spread across the surface of the stacked capacitor structure by use of spin-on techniques, wherein the mask material is applied at a first speed, the rate of spinning is decreased to a second speed at which the mask material is permitted to at least partially set up, then the rate of spinning is gradually increased, or ramped up, to a third speed at which a desired, reduced thickness of mask material covering the surface may be obtained. The rate at which the stacked capacitor structure is spun may again be decreased to permit the mask material to further set. An edge bead of mask material may then be removed from the stacked capacitor structure and the stacked capacitor structure spun once again to remove solvents from the mask material.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment of the semiconductor device structure, a mask is disposed over a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a semiconductor substrate with a substantially planar surface and shallow trenches recessed, or formed, in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure has a substantially planar surface, without requiring chemical-mechanical planarization of the surface of the mask. If material of the mask covers the surface of the semiconductor substrate, the thickness of mask material thereover is significantly less than the depths of the shallow trenches. Preferably, the thickness of mask material covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate is less than about half the depths of the trenches. More preferably, the surface of the semiconductor substrate remains substantially uncovered by the mask material. The present embodiment of the semiconductor substrate may also include conductively doped regions continuous with the surface and located between the trenches formed in the semiconductor substrate.  
         [0016]     The shallow trench isolation structure may be formed by known processes. The mask may be formed by applying a quantity of mask material to the shallow trench isolation structure and spreading the mask material over the surface so as to substantially fill each trench thereof. As an example of the manner in which mask material may be spread across the shallow trench isolation structure, the mask material may be spun across the semiconductor substrate at a first speed, the rate of spinning decreased to a second speed to permit the mask material to at least partially set up while remaining in the trenches, then the rate of spinning gradually increased, or ramped up, to a third speed at which a desired, reduced thickness of mask material covering the surface may be obtained. The rate at which the shallow trench isolation structure is spun may again be decreased to permit the mask material to further set. An edge bead of mask material may then be removed from the shallow trench isolation structure and the shallow trench isolation structure spun once again to remove solvents from the mask material. Conductively doped regions of the semiconductor substrate may be formed by exposing the substrate and mask material to a conductivity dopant. The regions of the semiconductor substrate that remain uncovered or that are covered with thinner layers of the mask material (e.g., the surface of the semiconductor substrate) are implanted with the conductivity dopant while regions of the semiconductor substrate that are covered with thicker layers of the mask material (e.g., regions of the semiconductor substrate beneath the trenches) remain substantially undoped.  
         [0017]     Another embodiment of a semiconductor device structure according to the present invention includes a surface with one or more recesses formed therein and a layer of a first material substantially filling each recess and at least partially covering the surface. The layer of first material has a nonplanar surface and may include a valley located substantially over each recess in the semiconductor device structure and one or more peaks located substantially over the surface of the semiconductor device structure. A second material disposed over the layer of first material at least partially fills each of the valleys formed in the layer of first material. The second material has a substantially planar surface that is not further planarized following formation thereof.  
         [0018]     By way of example, the semiconductor device structure may be a shallow trench isolation structure including a semiconductor substrate with a substantially planar surface and trenches recessed, or formed, in the semiconductor substrate. The trenches are filled with a first, electrically insulative material, which is preferably a low dielectric constant, or “low-k,” material, such as a high density plasma (HDP) silicon oxide, or HDP oxide. HDP oxide or another insulative material may be disposed into the trenches by way of known processes, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. As the processes that are used to fill the shallow trenches with the first, insulative material are typically blanket deposition processes, the insulative material may also cover the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The surface of a layer of the first, insulative material blanket deposited over a semiconductor substrate with trenches formed therein is nonplanar.  
         [0019]     As another example of the deposition of a first material over a semiconductor device structure, each recess of the semiconductor device structure may be a dual damascene type trench substantially filled with a first, conductive material. The first, conductive material may be disposed into each dual damascene trench of the semiconductor device structure by known processes, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) (e.g., sputtering) or chemical vapor deposition techniques. Since these processes typically form a layer of material that blankets substantially the entire semiconductor device structure, the first, conductive material may also cover the surface of the semiconductor device structure. When blanket deposited over a semiconductor device structure with trenches formed therein, such layers typically have nonplanar surfaces.  
         [0020]     The second material is preferably a stress buffer material that facilitates planarization of the layer of insulative material without causing substantial defects in either the insulative material or in the surface of the underlying semiconductor substrate. Exemplary materials that are useful as the stress buffer include resins and polymers that may be applied by way of spin-on techniques. The stress buffer has a substantially planar surface and preferably fills the valleys in the layer of insulative material without substantially covering the peaks thereof.  
         [0021]     After the stress buffer material is applied to the semiconductor device structure, it may be spread across the surface of the semiconductor device structure by a spin-on technique that includes spinning the semiconductor device structure at a first speed, decreasing the rate of spinning to a second speed at which the material of the stress buffer within the valleys is permitted to at least partially set, then gradually increasing, or ramping up, the rate of spinning to a third speed at which a desired thickness of stress buffer material covering the surface may be obtained. The rate at which the semiconductor device structure is spun may again be decreased to permit the stress buffer material to further set. An edge bead of stress buffer material may then be removed from the semiconductor device structure and the semiconductor device structure spun once again to remove solvents from the stress buffer material.  
         [0022]     If portions of the first material layer protrude through the second material, all or part of the first material layer may be removed with selectivity over the second material by known processes, such as by use of wet or dry etchants. The protruding portions of the first material layer may be partially removed until a surface of the first material is in substantially the same plane as a surface of the second material. The first and second materials may then be substantially concurrently removed from over the surface of the semiconductor device structure by known chemical-mechanical planarization or etching processes. Following the removal of the first and second materials, the surface of the first material remaining in each recess is preferably substantially flush with the surface of the semiconductor device structure. Alternatively, the first material can be selectively removed to expose the surface of the semiconductor device structure, then the second material removed therefrom.  
         [0023]     If the semiconductor device structure has a substantially planar surface after the second material is disposed thereon, the first and second materials may be substantially concurrently removed by known chemical-mechanical planarization or etching processes to provide a semiconductor device structure with the first material substantially filling the recesses thereof and having a substantially planar surface.  
         [0024]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  (Prior Art) is a cross-sectional representation of a stacked capacitor structure with a surface and containers lined with conductively doped hemispherical grain polysilicon and including a conventionally spun-on layer of mask material thereover;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional representation of a stacked capacitor structure including a layer of mask material substantially filling the containers thereof and having a substantially planar surface;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional representation of the stacked capacitor structure of  FIG. 2 , depicting the mask material and conductively doped hemispherical grain polysilicon removed from over the surface, the containers remaining substantially filled with mask material;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional representation of the stacked capacitor structure of  FIG. 3  with the mask material removed from the containers;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional representation of a shallow trench isolation structure including a semiconductor substrate with a surface and trenches formed in the surface and a layer of mask material that substantially fills the trenches and has a substantially planar surface;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional representation of the shallow trench isolation structure of  FIG. 5  that schematically illustrates doping of portions of the semiconductor substrate that are continuous with the surface and laterally adjacent the trenches without doping of portions of the semiconductor substrate beneath the trenches;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional representation of a shallow trench isolation structure including a nonplanar layer of electrically nonconductive material filling the trenches and overlying the surface thereof and a layer of stress buffer material with a substantially planar surface filling recesses in and overlying the layer of electrically nonconductive material;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional representation of a variation of the shallow trench isolation structure of  FIG. 7 , which includes stress buffer material with a substantially planar surface partially filling recesses in the layer of electrically nonconductive material;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional representation of the shallow trench isolation structure of  FIG. 8 , depicting the layer of electrically nonconductive material partially removed to form a substantially planar surface flush with the surfaces of the stress buffer material in the recesses of the layer;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional representation of the shallow trench isolation structure of  FIG. 9 , illustrating stress buffer material disposed at least partially over the electrically nonconductive material remaining in the trenches;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional representation of the shallow trench isolation structures of  FIGS. 7 and 10 , depicting the electrically nonconductive material within the trenches as having a substantially planar surface that is substantially flush with the surfaces of the semiconductor substrates of the shallow trench isolation structures;  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional representation of a semiconductor device structure including dual damascene trenches recessed in a surface thereof, a nonplanar layer of conductive material substantially filling the trenches and covering the surface of the semiconductor device structure, and a layer of stress buffer material with a substantially planar surface disposed over and filling recesses in the layer of conductive material;  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional representation of a variation of the semiconductor device structure of  FIG. 12 , which includes stress buffer material with a substantially planar surface only partially filling recesses formed in the layer of conductive material;  
         [0038]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional representation of the semiconductor device structure of  FIG. 13 , depicting the layer of conductive material partially removed to form a substantially planar surface flush with the surfaces of the stress buffer material in the recesses of the layer;  
         [0039]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional representation of the semiconductor device structure of  FIG. 14 , illustrating stress buffer material partially disposed at least partially over the conductive material remaining in the trenches; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional representation of the semiconductor structures of  FIGS. 12 and 15 , depicting the conductive material within the trenches as having a substantially planar surface that is substantially flush with the surfaces of the semiconductor device structures. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a semiconductor device structure, in this case a stacked capacitor structure  10 , incorporating teachings of the present invention is illustrated. Stacked capacitor structure  10  includes a surface  12  with containers  14  recessed, or formed, in surface  12 . As illustrated, surface  12  and containers  14  are lined with a layer  16  of conductively doped hemispherical grain silicon. Stacked capacitor structure  10  also includes a mask layer  18  of a polymer material (e.g., polyimide or photoresist) disposed over layer  16 . Mask layer  18  substantially fills containers  14  and has a substantially planar exposed surface  19 . The thickness T of portions of mask layer  18  overlying surface  12  is less than the depth D of containers  14  and, preferably, is less than about half of depth D.  
         [0042]     Stacked capacitor structure  10 , including the conductively doped hemispherical grain silicon layer  16  thereof, may be fabricated by known processes, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,090, issued to Dennison et al. on Sep. 2, 1997, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. Mask layer  18  is formed on stacked capacitor structure  10  by dispensing a mask material onto stacked capacitor structure  10  while spinning the substrate bearing stacked capacitor structure  10  relative to an axis perpendicular to a plane of the substrate bearing stacked capacitor structure  10  at a first speed, which is preferably an optimum speed for forming a substantially homogeneous film from the mask material. When a substantially homogeneous film of mask material has been formed on stacked capacitor structure  10 , the rate at which stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun is decreased to a second speed. The second speed and the duration at which stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun at the second speed permits the mask material to flow into and to begin to set within containers  14  of stacked capacitor structure  10 . The rate of spinning stacked capacitor structure  10  is then gradually increased, or ramped up, to a third speed, which is maintained until a film of mask material covering surface  12  reaches a desired, reduced thickness. The rate at which stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun may again be reduced to further permit the mask material to set. A bead of the mask material formed around the periphery of a substrate (e.g., a wafer) including stacked capacitor structure  10  may be removed by known processes to provide a substantially planar surface over stacked capacitor structure  10 . The substrate including stacked capacitor structure  10  may also be spun again to begin removing solvents from the mask material. Mask layer  18  is then subjected to a soft bake, as known in the art, to substantially remove solvents from the mask material.  
         [0043]     By way of example, when ARCH 895 photoresist is used as the mask material, the substrate bearing stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun at a first speed of about 1,000 rpm until a substantially homogeneous layer is formed (e.g., about one second to about five seconds). The spinning rate is then decreased to about 100 rpm for a period of about five seconds to about ten seconds to allow the photoresist within containers  14  to begin setting. The rate at which stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun is then gradually increased to a third speed of at least about 1,500 rpm until the photoresist covering surface  12  reaches a desired, reduced thickness or until the photoresist is substantially removed from surface  12 . The spin rate is then decreased again, this time to about 50 rpm, for a duration of about 19 to about 50 seconds to permit additional setting, or casting, of the photoresist. Such additional spinning creates a bead of photoresist near an edge of a substrate of which stacked capacitor structure  10  is a part. Known edge bead removal techniques are employed to remove this bead from the edge of the substrate and to provide a substantially planar surface. Any solvent remaining in the photoresist is then substantially removed therefrom by gradually increasing the rate at which stacked capacitor structure  10  is spun to about 5,000 rpm. Mask layer  18  is then subjected to a known soft bake process, preferably at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 150° C. to substantially remove solvents from the photoresist.  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , once a mask layer  18  with a substantially planar surface  19  (see  FIG. 2 ) is formed, the portions of mask layer  18  and of hemispherical grain silicon layer  16  that are located above a plane of surface  12  are removed from stacked capacitor structure  10 . In order to reduce or eliminate the creation of potentially contaminating debris and of surface defects that may be caused by mechanical planarization processes, layers  18  and  16  are removed by known chemical processes, such as dry etch processes or wet etch, or wet dip, processes. For example, mask layer  18  may be selectively removed by use of a known resist strip, then layer  16  removed from surface  12  with a wet etchant that removes silicon with selectivity over the portions of mask layer  18  remaining in containers  14  and over an underlying dielectric layer  15 . As another example, layers  18  and  16  may be substantially concurrently removed with an etchant or combination of etchants that will remove mask layer  18  and hemispherical grain silicon layer  16  at substantially the same rates. Mask material remaining in containers  14  may then be removed by known processes, such as the use of known wet or dry strip materials (e.g., an ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH) dry strip known in the art as a “piranha” strip when the mask material is ARCH 895 or a similar photoresist). This process provides a stacked capacitor structure  10  with conductively doped hemispherical grain silicon  16 -lined containers  14  recessed in a substantially defect- and contaminant-free surface  12  of structure  10  and dielectric layer  15 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Stacked capacitor structure  10  shown in  FIG. 4  may then be processed as known in the art to fabricate a finished stacked capacitor.  
         [0045]     Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another embodiment of a semiconductor device structure, in this instance a shallow trench isolation structure  20 , incorporating teachings of the present invention is illustrated.  FIG. 5  depicts a shallow trench isolation structure  20  that includes a semiconductor substrate  21  formed from silicon, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, or another suitable semiconductor material, and which may be in the form of a wafer or another substrate, such as a silicon-on-glass, silicon-on-sapphire, silicon-on-ceramic, or other silicon-on-insulator type substrate. Semiconductor substrate  21  includes a surface  22  with one or more trenches  24  recessed, or formed, therein. Trenches  24  may be formed in semiconductor substrate  21  by known techniques, such as mask and etch processes. Shallow trench isolation structure  20  also includes a mask layer  28  with a substantially planar surface  29 . Mask layer  28  substantially fills trenches  24  and may also cover surface  22  of semiconductor substrate  21 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the thickness T′ of portions of mask layer  28  overlying surface  22  is less than the depth D′ of trenches  24 . Preferably, thickness T′ is less than about half of depth D′. Alternatively, surface  22  may remain substantially uncovered by mask layer  28 . Mask layer  28  may be formed from a photoresist or other polymer by processes the same as or similar to those described previously herein with reference to the fabrication of mask layer  18  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates the implantation of a conductivity dopant C, such as a known p-type or n-type conductivity dopant (e.g., phosphorus (P), boron (B), arsenic (As), or antimony (Sb)), into shallow trench isolation structure  20  through mask layer  28 . Conductivity dopant C is prevented from passing through the thicker regions of mask layer  28  into regions  25  of semiconductor substrate  21  located at the bottoms of trenches  24 . Conductivity dopant C does, however, pass through thinner areas of mask layer  28  that are located on surface  22  or to exposed areas of surface  22  so as to conductively dope regions  23  of semiconductor substrate  21  continuous with surface  22 , which regions lie laterally adjacent trenches  24 . Once regions  23  have been conductively doped, mask layer  28  may be removed from trenches  24  and surface  22  (if necessary) to facilitate completion of shallow trench isolation structure  20 , as well as the fabrication of semiconductor devices thereon.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-11 , a second shallow trench isolation structure  30  embodiment of a semiconductor device structure according to the present invention is illustrated. With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , shallow trench isolation structure  30  includes a semiconductor substrate  21  with a surface  22  and trenches  24  recessed, or formed in, surface  22 . A layer of electrically nonconductive material, or insulator layer  36 , substantially fills trenches  24  and covers surface  22 . Insulator layer  36  has a nonplanar upper surface  37  and includes valleys  34  located substantially above trenches  24  and peaks  32  located substantially above surface  22 .  
         [0048]     Shallow trench isolation structure  30  may also have a layer  38 ,  38 ′ of stress buffer material, which is also referred to herein as a stress buffer layer, having a substantially planar surface  39 ,  39 ′ disposed at least partially over insulator layer  36 .  FIG. 7  illustrates stress buffer layer  38 , which substantially fills valleys  34  recessed in insulator layer  36  and substantially completely covers peaks  32 . The thickness T″ of regions of stress buffer layer  38  located above peaks  32  is less than the depths D″ of valleys  34 . Thickness T″ is preferably less than about half of depth D″.  FIG. 8  depicts stress buffer layer  38 ′, which does not extend over peaks  32  and which may only partially fill valleys  34 . Stress buffer layers  38 ,  38 ′ are preferably formed from a photoresist or other polymer by processes the same as or similar to those disclosed previously herein with reference to the fabrication of mask layer  18  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0049]     Once a substantially planar surface is formed over shallow trench isolation structure  30 , such as that formed at least partially by surface  39  of stress buffer layer  38  and as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , stress buffer layer  38  and portions of insulator layer  36  located above the plane of surface  22  may be substantially concurrently removed. For example, layers  38  and  36  may be substantially removed by exposure to the same etchant or combination of etchants that will remove stress buffer layer  38  and insulator layer  36  at substantially the same rates to provide the finished shallow trench isolation structure  30  illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Either wet etchants or dry etchants may be used. Preferably, the use of etchants eliminates the formation of imperfections or defects in surface  22  of semiconductor substrate  21 , as well as the possible introduction of contaminants or other debris thereon. Alternatively, known chemical-mechanical planarization processes may be used to substantially concurrently remove stress buffer layer  38  and portions of insulator layer  36  above surface  22 , also providing a finished shallow trench isolation structure  30  such as that illustrated in  FIG. 11 . As stress buffer layer  38  provides a substantially planar surface over shallow trench isolation structure  30 , the likelihood that material of insulator layer  36  will be broken off during the chemical-mechanical planarization process is reduced, thereby reducing the formation of imperfections or defects in surface  22 , as well as the creation of contaminants or other debris, which may occur during chemical-mechanical planarization of a nonplanar surface.  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , stress buffer layer  38 ′ may not provide shallow trench isolation structure  30  with a substantially planar surface. Rather, peaks  32  of insulator layer  36  protrude above surface  39 ′ of stress buffer layer  38 ′. In order to provide a substantially planar surface over shallow trench isolation structure  30 , the portions of peaks  32  that protrude above the plane of surface  39 ′ may be selectively removed, such as by use of selective wet or dry etch processes. The material of peaks  32  that protrudes above the plane of surface  39 ′ is removed at least until a substantially planar surface  31  is formed over shallow trench isolation structure  30 , as depicted in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0051]     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the selective removal of material forming insulator layer  36  may continue until portions of insulator layer  36  located above the plane of surface  22  are substantially removed. As a result, discontinuous quantities of stress buffer layer  38 ′ remain above trenches  24  and the portions of insulator layer  36  remaining therein. Stress buffer layer  38 ′ may be removed mechanically or by use of a wet or dry etchant that will not substantially remove or react with the materials of semiconductor substrate  21  or of the portions of insulator layer  36  remaining within trenches  24 . For example, if a photoresist is used to form stress buffer layer  38 ′, known resist strippers may be used to remove stress buffer layer  38 ′ to form a finished shallow trench isolation structure  30 , such as that illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0052]     Alternatively, once a substantially planar surface  31  has been formed over shallow trench isolation structure  30 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , stress buffer layer  38 ′ and the portions of insulator layer  36  located above the plane of surface  22  may be substantially concurrently removed from above shallow trench isolation structure  30  by use of one or more dry or wet etchants that remove the materials of layers  38 ′ and  36  at substantially the same rates, as known in the art, or by known chemical-mechanical planarization processes to provide the finished shallow trench isolation structure  30  illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0053]     Once a finished shallow trench isolation structure  30 , such as that depicted in  FIG. 11 , has been fabricated, one or more semiconductor devices may then be fabricated on shallow trench isolation structure  30 , as known in the art.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 12-16  illustrate yet another embodiment of a semiconductor device structure  40  that incorporates teachings of the present invention. With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , semiconductor device structure  40  includes dual damascene trenches  44  formed in a surface  42  of an insulator layer  41  thereof. As shown, one or more of trenches  44  may expose a conductively doped region  23  of a semiconductor substrate  21  of semiconductor device structure  40 , which conductively doped region  23  is continuous with a surface  22  of semiconductor substrate  21 . A conductive layer  46  overlies surface  42  and substantially fills trenches  44 . Conductive layer  46  has a nonplanar upper surface  47  that includes valleys  54  located substantially over trenches  44  and peaks  52  located substantially over surface  42 . Insulator layer  41 , trenches  44 , and conductive layer  46 , as well as other structures of semiconductor device structure  40  underlying insulator layer  41  and trenches  44  are each fabricated by known processes, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,657 to Farrar et al. issued on Nov. 9, 1999, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference.  
         [0055]     Semiconductor device structure  40  also includes a layer of stress buffer material, which is also referred to herein as a stress buffer layer  48 ,  48 ′, at least partially covering conductive layer  46  and having a substantially planar surface  49 ,  49 ′.  FIG. 12  illustrates stress buffer layer  48 , which substantially fills valleys  54  recessed in conductive layer  46  and substantially completely covers peaks  52 . The thickness T″′ of regions of stress buffer layer  48  located above peaks  52  is less than the depths D″′ of valleys  54 . Thickness T″′ is preferably less than about half of depth D″′.  FIG. 13  depicts stress buffer layer  48 ′, which does not extend over peaks  52  and which may only partially fill valleys  54 . Stress buffer layers  48 ,  48 ′ are preferably formed from a photoresist or other polymer by processes the same as or similar to those disclosed previously herein with reference to the fabrication of mask layer  18  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0056]     Once a substantially planar surface is formed over semiconductor device structure  40 , such as that formed at least partially by surface  49  of stress buffer layer  48  and as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , stress buffer layer  48  and portions of conductive layer  46  located above the plane of surface  42  may be substantially concurrently removed. For example, layers  48  and  46  may be substantially concurrently removed with an etchant or combination of etchants that will remove stress buffer layer  48  and conductive layer  46  at substantially the same rates to provide the finished semiconductor device structure  40  illustrated in  FIG. 16 . Either wet etchants or dry etchants may be used. Preferably, the use of etchants eliminates the formation of imperfections or defects in surface  42  of insulator layer  41 , as well as the possible introduction of contaminants or other debris thereon. Alternatively, known chemical-mechanical planarization processes may be used to substantially concurrently remove stress buffer layer  48  and portions of conductive layer  46  above surface  42 , also providing a finished semiconductor device structure  40  such as that illustrated in  FIG. 16 . As stress buffer layer  48  provides a substantially planar surface over semiconductor device structure  40 , the likelihood that material of conductive layer  46  will be broken off during the chemical-mechanical planarization process is reduced, thereby reducing the formation of imperfections or defects in surface  42 , as well as the creation of contaminants or other debris, which may occur during chemical-mechanical planarization of a nonplanar surface.  
         [0057]     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , stress buffer layer  48 ′ may not provide semiconductor device structure  40  with a substantially planar surface. Rather, peaks  52  of conductive layer  46  protrude above surface  49 ′ of stress buffer layer  48 ′. In order to provide a substantially planar surface over semiconductor device structure  40 , the portions of peaks  52  that protrude above the plane of surface  49 ′ may be selectively removed, such as by use of selective wet or dry etch processes. The material of peaks  52  that protrudes above the plane of surface  49 ′ is removed at least until a substantially planar surface  51  is formed over semiconductor device structure  40 , as depicted in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 15  illustrates that the selective removal of material forming conductive layer  46  may continue until portions of conductive layer  46  located above the plane of surface  42  are substantially removed therefrom. As a result, discontinuous quantities of stress buffer layer  48 ′ remain above trenches  44  and the portions of conductive layer  46  remaining therein. Stress buffer layer  48 ′ may be removed mechanically or by use of a wet or dry etchant that will not substantially remove or react with the materials of insulator layer  41  or of the portions of conductive layer  46  remaining within trenches  44 . For example, if a photoresist is used to form stress buffer layer  48 ′, known resist strippers may be used to remove stress buffer layer  48 ′ to form a semiconductor device structure  40  such as that illustrated in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0059]     Alternatively, once a substantially planar surface  51  has been formed over semiconductor device structure  40 , as shown in  FIG. 14 , stress buffer layer  48 ′ and the portions of conductive layer  46  located above the plane of surface  42  may be substantially concurrently removed from above semiconductor device structure  40  by use of one or more wet or dry etchants that remove the materials of layers  48 ′ and  46  at substantially the same rates, as known in the art, or by known chemical mechanical planarization processes to provide the semiconductor device structure  40  illustrated in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0060]     Once a semiconductor device structure  40  such as that depicted in  FIG. 16  has been fabricated, further known fabrication processes may be performed.  
         [0061]     Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions and modifications to the invention as disclosed herein which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.