Patent Abstract:
Embodiments described herein generally relate to forming a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor structure is formed herein. The method includes exposing an oxide layer of the semiconductor structure, depositing a polysilicon layer on the semiconductor structure, filling a first gap formed by exposing the oxide layer, depositing a hard mask on the polysilicon layer, selectively removing the hard mask and the polysilicon layer, depositing an oxide layer on the semiconductor structure, filling a second gap formed by selectively removing the hard mask and polysilicon layer, exposing the polysilicon layer deposited on the semiconductor structure, selectively removing the polysilicon layer from the first gap, and selectively removing an etch stop layer from a surface of a contact in the semiconductor structure.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/294,776 filed Feb. 12, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Embodiments described herein relate to a semiconductor device and a method for forming the same. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Reliably producing sub-half micron and smaller features is one of the key technology challenges for next generation very large scale integration (VLSI) and ultra large-scale integration (ULSI) of semiconductor devices. However, as the limits of circuit technology are pushed, the shrinking dimensions of VLSI and ULSI technology have placed additional demands on processing capabilities. Reliable formation of gate structures on the substrate is important to VLSI and ULSI success and to the continued effort to increase circuit density and quality of individual substrates and die. 
     As circuit densities increase for next generation devices, the widths of interconnects, such as vias, trenches, contacts, gate structures and other features, as well as the dielectric materials therebetween, decrease to 45 nm and 32 nm dimensions, whereas the thickness of the dielectric layers remain substantially constant, with the result of increasing the aspect ratios of the features. In order to enable fabrication of next generation devices and structures, three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips is often utilized to improve performance of the transistors. By arranging transistors in three dimensions instead of conventional two dimensions, multiple transistors may be placed in the integrated circuits (ICs) very close to each other. Three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips reduces wire lengths and keeps wiring delay low. In manufacturing three dimensional (3D) stacking of semiconductor chips, stair-like structures are often utilized to allow multiple interconnection structures to be disposed thereon, forming high-density of vertical transistor devices. 
     Thus, there is a need for improved integrated circuits (i.e., semiconductor devices) and method for manufacturing the same. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments described herein generally relate to forming a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor structure is formed herein. The method includes exposing an oxide layer of the semiconductor structure, depositing a polysilicon layer on the semiconductor structure, filling a first gap formed by exposing the oxide layer, depositing a hard mask on the polysilicon layer, selectively removing the hard mask and the polysilicon layer, depositing an oxide layer on the semiconductor structure, filling a second gap formed by selectively removing the hard mask and polysilicon layer, exposing the polysilicon layer deposited on the semiconductor structure, selectively removing the polysilicon layer from the first gap using a fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor, and selectively removing an etch stop layer from a surface of a contact in the semiconductor structure, using a fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor 
     In another embodiment, a semiconductor structure is disclosed herein. The semiconductor structure includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact includes a top surface and a second surface. The top surface and the second surface are exposed such that a metal layer may contact the top surface and the second surface of the contact. 
     In another embodiment, another method of forming a semiconductor structure is disclosed herein. The method includes forming a plurality of wrap-around contacts by selectively removing a polysilicon layer and an etch stop layer from the semiconductor structure using a fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor exposing a top surface and a bottom surface of a contact in the semiconductor structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a method of forming a semiconductor structure, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A-2L  illustrates cross-sectional views of a semiconductor structure at different stages of the method of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     For clarity, identical reference numerals have been used, where applicable, to designate identical elements that are common between figures. Additionally, elements of one embodiment may be advantageously adapted for utilization in other embodiments described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a method  100  of forming a semiconductor structure, according to one embodiment.  FIGS. 2A-2L  illustrate cross-sectional views of a semiconductor structure  200  at different stages of the method  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates a semiconductor structure  200 , according to one embodiment. The semiconductor structure  200  includes a silicon layer  204 . A shallow trench isolation (STI) oxide  206  may be formed in the silicon layer  204 . A metal gate  208  may be disposed on the STI oxide  206 . The metal gate  208  may be formed from suitable metals, such as titanium nitride and titanium aluminide, among others, and dielectric materials, such as hafnium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide. A low-k (LK) spacer  210  may be deposited over the metal gate  208 . A contact etch stop layer (CESL)  212  is deposited over the LK spacer  210 . The CESL  212  may be an oxide or SiN. A pre-metal deposition (PMD) layer  214  may be deposited over the CESL  212 . For example, the PMD layer  214  may be formed from a dielectric material. For example, the PMD layer  214  may be formed from an oxide, for example, deposited using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. A self-alignment contact (SAC) layer  216  may be formed on the PMD layer  214 . The SAC layer  216  may be formed from SiN. 
     The method begins at block  102 . At block  102 , the PMD layer  214  is exposed by removing a portion of the SAC layer  216 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or etch back procedure may be used to expose the PMD layer  214 . 
     At block  104 , the PMD oxide layer  214  is selectively removed from the semiconductor structure  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . The PMD oxide layer  214  may be removed using a low-energy etch process. The etch process is selective to preferentially remove the PMD oxide layer  214  relative to CESL  212 . The low-energy etch process used to remove PMD oxide layer  214  does not substantially damage the sidewalls of the trench formed by the removal of the PMD oxide layer  214 , thus maintaining good sidewall profiles and excellent dimensional control. For example, the PMD oxide layer  214  may be removed using fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor. The fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and the hydrogen-containing precursor form a remote plasma by applying RF power to the plasma region. For example, an RF power between about 10 Watts (W) and about 2000 W may be applied to the plasma region. The temperature of the semiconductor structure during the etching operation may be greater than or about 0° C. The pressure within the substrate processing region may be above or about 0.05 Torr and below or about 100 Torr. The PMD oxide layer  214  may be removed in a Frontier™ chamber, commercially available from Applied Materials, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. Removal of the PMD oxide layer  214  forms a trench defined by a gap  218 . 
     At block  106 , polysilicon  220  is deposited on the semiconductor structure  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . The polysilicon  220  is deposited on the SAC layer  216  and fills the gap  218  formed in block  104 . 
     At block  108 , a hard mask  222  is formed on the polysilicon  220 , as shown in  FIG. 2E . The hard mask  222  may be formed from a carbon containing material, such as tantalum containing material, a tantalum nitride containing material, a titanium containing material, a titanium nitride containing material, a tungsten containing material, a tungsten nitride containing material, and combinations and mixtures thereof 
     At block  110 , the hard mask  222  and the polysilicon  220  are selectively removed, as shown in  FIG. 2F . For example, the hard mask  222  and the polysilicon  220  are selectively removed by reactive ion etch (RIE) process. For example, the hard mask  222  may be moved to a C3® chamber, commercially available from Applied Materials, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. Removing the hard mask  222  and the polysilicon  220  forms a gap  224  in the semiconductor structure  200 . 
     At block  112 , an oxide layer  226  is deposited on the semiconductor structure  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2G . The oxide layer  226  fills the gap  224  formed in block  110 . The oxide layer  226  may be deposited using a flowable CVD (FCVD) process. For example, the oxide layer  226  may be deposited in an FCVD system such as the Producer® Eterna™ FCVD™ system, commercially available from Applied Materials, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. The oxide layer  226  may be comprised of TEOS. 
     At block  114 , the polysilicon layer  220  is exposed, as shown in  FIG. 2H . The polysilicon layer  220  is exposed by removing the oxide layer  226  deposited in block  112 . The oxide layer  226  may be removed through a CMP or etch back process. 
     At block  116 , the polysilicon layer  220  is selectively removed from the semiconductor structure  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2I . The polysilicon layer  220  may be removed using a low-energy etch process. The etch process is selective to preferentially remove the polysilicon layer  220  relative to CESL  212 . The low-energy etch process used to remove the polysilicon layer  220  does not substantially damage the sidewalls of the trench formed by the removal of the polysilicon layer  220 , thus maintaining good sidewall profiles and excellent dimensional control. For example, the polysilicon layer  220  may be removed using fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor. The fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and the hydrogen-containing precursor form a remote plasma by applying RF power to the plasma region. For example, an RF power between about 10 W and about 2000 W may be applied to the plasma region. The temperature of the semiconductor structure during the etching operation may be greater than or about 0° C. The pressure within the substrate processing region may be above or about 0.05 Torr and below or about 100 Torr. The PMD oxide layer  214  may be removed in the Frontier™ chamber. Removal of the polysilicon layer  220  forms a trench defined by a gap  228  in the semiconductor structure  200 . 
     At block  118 , the CESL  212  is selectively removed from the semiconductor structure  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2J . The CESL  212  may be removed using a low-energy etch process. The etch process is selective to preferentially remove the CESL  212  relative to the contacts  230 . The low-energy etch process used to remove the CESL  212  does not substantially damage the sidewalls of the trench formed by the removal of CESL  212 , thus maintaining good sidewall profiles and excellent dimensional control. For example, the CESL  212  may be removed using fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor. The fluorine or chlorine-containing precursor and the hydrogen-containing precursor form a remote plasma by applying RF power to the plasma region. For example, an RF power between about 10 W and about 2000 W may be applied to the plasma region. The temperature of the semiconductor structure during the etching operation may be greater than or about 0° C. The pressure within the substrate processing region may be above or about 0.05 Torr and below or about 100 Torr. The CESL  212  may be removed in the Frontier™ chamber. Removal of the CESL  212  fully exposes contacts  230  in the structure  200 . The use of the gentle etch process allows the CESL  212  to be removed both on top of and under the contacts  230 . This results in a wrap-around contact. The wrap-around contact increases the surface area of the contacts  230 . The increased surface area reduces the resistance of the contacts  230 . 
     At block  120 , the gap  228  formed by the removal of the PMD oxide layer  214  in block  116  and the CESL  212  in block  118  is filled with a metal layer  232 , as shown in  FIG. 2K . The metal layer  232  filling gap  228  may be TiN, W, Co, or other suitable metal. 
     At block  122 , the metal layer  236  is etched, as shown in  FIG. 2L . The metal layer  232  may be etched to expose the SAC layer  216 . 
     Using a low-energy etch process instead of a reactive ion etch process eliminates epi SiGe, SiP, or SiC loss during the reactive ion etch processes. The low-energy etch process also eliminates a contact etch SAC margin issue. All that is needed is a think SiN protective layer. The low-energy process minimizes the SiN sidewall loss due to the high selectivity of the process. The low-energy process results in easier integration for “wrap around contacts” in the semiconductor structure. 
     While the foregoing is directed to specific embodiments, other and further embodiments may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7