Patent Abstract:
An integrated circuit capacitor includes a metal plug in a dielectric layer adjacent a substrate. The metal plug has at least one topographical defect in an uppermost surface portion thereof. A lower metal electrode overlies the dielectric layer and the metal plug. The lower metal electrode includes, in stacked relation, a metal layer, a lower metal nitride layer, an aluminum layer, and an upper metal nitride layer. A capacitor dielectric layer overlies the lower metal electrode, and an upper metal electrode overlies the capacitor dielectric layer. An advantage of this structure is that the stack of metal layers of the lower metal electrode, will prevent undesired defects at the surface of the metal plug from adversely effecting device reliability or manufacturing yield.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is based upon prior filed copending provisional application Serial No. 60/115,532 filed Jan. 12, 1999. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, and, more particularly, to a capacitor.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Capacitors are used extensively in electronic devices for storing an electric charge. A capacitor includes two conductive plates or electrodes separated by an insulator. The capacitance, or amount of charge held by the capacitor per applied voltage, depends upon the area of the plates, the distance between them, and the dielectric value of the insulator. Capacitors may be formed within a semiconductor device, such as, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or an embedded DRAM.  
           [0004]    As semiconductor memory devices become more highly integrated, the area occupied by the capacitor of a DRAM storage cell is reduced, thus decreasing the capacitance of the capacitor due to a smaller electrode surface area. However, a relatively large capacitance is desired to prevent loss of stored information. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the cell dimensions and yet obtain a high capacitance, which achieves both high cell integration and reliable operation.  
           [0005]    Instead of forming the capacitor on the substrate surface, capacitors are also formed above the substrate, i.e., they are stacked above the substrate. The surface area of the substrate can then be used for forming transistors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,493 to Lee discloses a capacitor formed above a tungsten plug. The tungsten plug interfaces with an interconnection line, thus allowing different layers formed above the substrate to be connected. Such plugs may be anchored or tapered to secure the plug in the dielectric layer.  
           [0006]    Current 0.25 and 0.2 micron semiconductor technology uses metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitors that are formed above tungsten plugs. However, these plugs can have surface defects such as seams, recesses, bulges or other topographical features which may cause MOM capacitor reliability and yield problems. For example, when the dielectric adjacent the tungsten plug is polished during a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step, the resulting tungsten plug may protrude or bulge upwardly above the dielectric layer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an integrated circuit capacitor with metal electrodes and with increased reliability of the capacitor.  
           [0008]    This and other advantages, features and objects in accordance with the present invention are provided by an integrated circuit capacitor including a metal plug in a dielectric layer adjacent a substrate, with the metal plug having at least one topographical defect in an uppermost surface portion thereof. A lower metal electrode overlies the dielectric layer and the metal plug. The lower metal electrode preferably comprises, in stacked relation, a metal layer, a lower metal nitride layer, an aluminum layer, and an upper metal nitride layer. A capacitor dielectric layer overlies the lower metal electrode, and an upper metal electrode overlies the capacitor dielectric layer. An advantage of this structure is that the stack of metal layers of the lower metal electrode, will prevent undesired defects at the surface of the metal plug from adversely effecting device reliability or manufacturing yield. The aluminum and metal nitride layers may also desirably provide an etch stop layer to facilitate manufacturing.  
           [0009]    The metal plug preferably comprises tungsten, and the at least one topographical defect may include at least one of a recess, a seam and a bulge. The metal layer of the lower metal electrode preferably comprises a refractory metal such as titanium. Each of the lower and upper metal nitride layers of the lower metal electrode preferably comprises a refractory metal nitride, such as titanium nitride. Also, the upper metal electrode may comprise, in stacked relation, a lower metal nitride layer, an aluminum layer, and an upper metal nitride layer. Each of the lower and upper metal nitride layers of the upper metal electrode may also comprise titanium nitride.  
           [0010]    The advantages, features and objects in accordance with the present invention are also provided by a method of making an integrated circuit capacitor including the steps of forming a dielectric layer adjacent a substrate and forming a metal plug in the dielectric layer. The forming of the metal plug creates at least one undesirable topographical defect in an uppermost surface portion of the metal plug. The method further includes the step of forming a lower metal electrode overlying the dielectric layer and the metal plug. The lower metal electrode may comprise, in stacked relation, a metal layer, a lower metal nitride layer, an aluminum layer, and an upper metal nitride layer. A capacitor dielectric layer is formed over the lower metal electrode, and an upper metal electrode is formed over the capacitor dielectric layer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an integrated circuit capacitor in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 2, 3 and  7 - 9  are cross-sectional views illustrating the process steps for forming a capacitor in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  4 - 6  are enlarged cross-sectional views illustrating examples of possible defects in the surface of the metal plug of the capacitor in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated in the figures for clarity.  
         [0015]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, the integrated circuit MOM capacitor  20  including multilevel metal electrodes  36 ,  40  above a metal plug  32 , is now described. The integrated circuit capacitor  20  is formed above a substrate  24  with an interconnect line  26  adjacent the substrate, and a dielectric layer  28  is on the interconnection line. The plug  32  is disposed in the dielectric layer  28 . The capacitor  20  includes lower and upper multilevel metal electrodes  36 ,  40  and a capacitor dielectric layer  38  therebetween. The lower metal electrode  36  contacts the metal plug  32 . The second or capacitor dielectric layer  38  overlies the lower metal electrode  36 , and the upper metal electrode  40  overlies the second dielectric layer.  
         [0016]    The lower metal electrode  36  includes multiple metal layers  52 - 58  in stacked relation. The stack includes a first metal layer  52  and preferably is formed of titanium. The first metal nitride layer  54  is preferably formed of a refractory metal nitride, such as titanium nitride. Layer  56  is a first aluminum layer and layer  58  is a second metal nitride layer also preferably formed of titanium nitride. Also, the upper metal electrode  40  also illustratively includes multiple metal layers  62 - 66  in stacked relation. Layer  62  is a third metal nitride layer and preferably is formed of a refractory metal nitride such as titanium nitride. Layer  64  is a second aluminum layer and layer  66  is a fourth metal nitride layer also preferably formed of titanium nitride.  
         [0017]    The capacitor dielectric layer  38  overlies the lower metal electrode  36  and is formed from any suitable dielectric, e.g., silicon dioxide, silicon nitride and/or any material or alloy of material having a suitably large dielectric constant. Other suitable materials include tantalum pentoxide and barium strontium titantate, for example.  
         [0018]    As will be described in more detail below, an advantage of this structure is that the stack of metal layers  52 - 58  of the lower metal electrode  36 , will compensate for undesired defects at the surface of the metal plug  32 . The stack will increase integrated circuit device yield, reduce MOM capacitor leakage and thus increase the reliability of the MOM capacitor  20 . Additionally, as will also be described below, the first aluminum layer  56  and the second metal nitride layer  58  are used as an etch stop when patterning and etching the capacitor dielectric layer  38 . Furthermore, the second aluminum layer  64  and the fourth metal nitride layer  66  can be used as an etch stop for a subsequent via etch.  
         [0019]    The interconnect line  26  may include a multilayer interconnect formed on an insulating layer  42 . The insulating layer  42  is formed on or above the semiconductor substrate  24 . The semiconductor substrate  24  may include a plurality of active devices, such as transistors, which are connected together into functional circuits by the interconnect line  26 . The multilayer interconnect may include a conductive capping layer, a bulk conductor, and an electromigration barrier layer (not shown) as would readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Additionally, an anti-reflective coating (ARC), such as titanium nitride, may be formed on the interconnect line  26 .  
         [0020]    The integrated capacitor  20  is electrically connected to the interconnect line  26  by the metal plug  32 . The metal plug  32  preferably includes tungsten or any suitable, electrically conductive material such as aluminum, titanium or titanium nitride.  
         [0021]    A method for making the integrated circuit MOM capacitor  20  including the multilevel metal electrodes  36 ,  40  above a metal plug  32 , as described above, will now be further discussed with reference to FIGS.  2 - 9 . Referring to FIG. 2, the semiconductor substrate  24  is preferably silicon, or may be silicon or a polysilicon layer or structure formed on the substrate. A plurality of devices, such as transistors (not shown), are formed in the substrate  24  using well known techniques. Next, the dielectric layer  42 , such as a doped or undoped silicon dioxide, is formed over the substrate  24  with well known techniques, such as thermal growth or deposition.  
         [0022]    Next, the interconnection line  26  is formed on the dielectric layer  42 . As an example, an approximately 450 nm thick aluminum alloy layer comprising approximately 1% copper may be formed on a titanum layer using well known techniques, such as sputtering. An aluminum alloy layer has low resistivity and is readily procured; however, other low resistance materials may be used as a bulk conductor in the interconnect line  26 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. As discussed above, the interconnect line  26  may be a multilayer interconnect as would readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Additionally, an anti-reflective coating (ARC), such as titanium nitride, may be formed on the interconnect line  26 .  
         [0023]    The dielectric layer  28 , such as a doped silicon dioxide, is formed over the interconnect line  26 . Any well known technique can be used to form the dielectric layer  28 , such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Referring to FIG. 3, a photoresist layer (not shown) is formed and patterned over the dielectric layer  28  using well known photolithography techniques to define the location where a via hole  50  is to be formed. Next, the exposed portions of the dielectric layer  28  are etched. The via hole  50  is etched until the interconnect line  26  is exposed. In one embodiment, a directional reactive ion etch (RIE) is used to form the via hole  50 . The via hole  50  could be etched using standard etch conditions. Typical etchants are C 4 F 8 /CO/Ar/O 2  mixtures.  
         [0024]    The via hole  50  is filled with a conductive material, preferably tungsten, using well known techniques for forming the metal plug  32 . Prior to forming the plug  32 , a nucleation layer, such as titanium nitride or tantalum nitride, may be sputter deposited on the side walls of the via hole  50 , as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also, a thin adhesion/barrier layer, such as titanium or titanium nitride can be blanket deposited into the via hole  50  using well known techniques such as sputtering. The conductive material is deposited into the via hole  50  until the via hole  50  is filled. A chemical-mechanical polishing technique may be used to etch back the adhesion/barrier metals and any conductive material deposited on the dielectric layer  28 . Alternatively, a metal layer may be deposited on the interconnect line  26  and then patterned and etched to form the metal plug  32 . Here, the dielectric layer  28  would then be formed over the metal plug  32 .  
         [0025]    The dielectric layer  28  is preferably planarized at this time by chemical-mechanical polishing or etch back to form a planar top surface. The resulting thickness of the dielectric layer  28  should be thick enough after planarization to provide adequate electrical isolation of the interconnect line  26  from a subsequent level of metallization. For example, an approximate thickness of 400 to 600 nm provides suitable isolation.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIGS.  4 - 6 , after the formation of the metal plug  32  and the dielectric layer  28 , defects d may be exist at the surface of the metal plug  32 . For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a seam or recess d may exist at the boundary of the metal plug  32  and the dielectric layer  28 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, a bulge or hump d may be formed at the boundary of the metal plug  32  and the dielectric layer  28  from over polishing of the dielectric layer  28 . These defects such as seams, recesses, bulges or other topographical features would typically cause MOM capacitor reliability and yield problems.  
         [0027]    The lower metal electrode  36  of the capacitor  20  is formed by depositing electrically conductive metal layers  52 - 58  on the dielectric layer  28  and the metal plug  32 , as illustrated in FIG. 7. The lower metal electrode  36  is selectively formed by an appropriate technique, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Other methods of depositing the lower metal electrode  36  may include sputtering, reactive sputter etching (RSE), and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The lower electrode  36  includes multiple metal layers  52 - 58  in stacked relation to each other. Layer  52  acts as a seed layer and is a first metal layer preferably formed of titanium. Layer  54  is a first metal nitride layer and preferably is formed of a refractory metal nitride such as titanium nitride. Layer  56  is a first aluminum layer and layer  58  is a second metal nitride layer also preferably formed of titanium nitride.  
         [0028]    The capacitor dielectric layer  38  is selectively formed over the lower metal electrode  36  using an appropriate technique. The capacitor dielectric layer  38  may be deposited using CVD or any of the other techniques referenced with respect to depositing the lower metal electrode  36 . As shown in FIG. 7, a photoresist layer or mask M 1  is formed and patterned over the capacitor dielectric layer  38  using well known photolithography techniques before an etching step is performed. The first aluminum layer  56  and the second metal nitride layer  58  are used as an etch stop when patterning and etching the capacitor dielectric layer  38 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 8, the upper metal electrode  40  is then deposited by CVD, for example. Other methods of depositing the upper metal electrode  40  include physical vapor deposition (PVD), sputtering, reactive sputter etching (RSE), and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The upper metal electrode  40  includes multiple metal layers  62 - 66  formed in stacked relation. Layer  62  is a third metal nitride layer and preferably is formed of a refractory metal nitride, such as titanium nitride. Layer  64  is a second aluminum layer and layer  66  is a fourth metal nitride layer also preferably formed of titanium nitride. Here, the second aluminum layer  64  is relatively thinner that the first aluminum layer  56  of the lower metal electrode  36 . The second aluminum layer  64  and the fourth metal nitride layer  66  of the second metal electrode  40  act as an etch stop for a subsequent via etch.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 9, the multilevel metal electrodes  36  and  40  are patterned with a photoresist layer or mask M 2  formed over the stack of metal layers  52 - 58 ,  62 - 66  using well known photolithography techniques. The multilevel metal electrodes  36  and  40  are then etched to form the capacitor  20 . The MOM capacitor  20  thus includes the lower and upper electrodes  36 ,  40  and the second dielectric layer  38  therebetween, as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    An advantage of this method is that the stack of metal layers  52 - 58  of the lower metal electrode  36 , will compensate for defects d at the surface of the metal plug  32 . This will increase device yield, reduce MOM capacitor leakage and thus increase the reliability of the MOM capacitor  20 . Additionally, as described, the first aluminum layer  56  and the second metal nitride layer  58  can be used as an etch stop when patterning and etching the capacitor dielectric layer  38 . Furthermore, the second aluminum layer  64  and the fourth metal nitride layer  66  can be used as an etch stop for a subsequent via etch.  
         [0032]    In another embodiment, after the capacitor dielectric layer  38  is deposited as described above with reference to FIG. 7, the stack of metal layers  6266  of the upper metal electrode  40  are deposited over the capacitor dielectric  38  and the lower electrode  36 . The stack of metal layers  62 - 66  of the upper metal electrode  40  are then patterned and etched using the capacitor dielectric layer  38  as an etch stop. Then the capacitor dielectric layer  38  and the stack of metal layers  52 - 58  of the lower metal electrode  36  are patterned and etched. Here, the second aluminum layer  64  may have about the same thickness as the first aluminum layer  56 .  
         [0033]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7