Patent ID: 7824998

Claim:
A method, comprising the steps of: (a) forming an amorphous carbon layer over a first dielectric layer formed over a substrate by a deposition process including: a flow of C 3 H 6 between about 1,000 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) and about 1,500 sccm; a flow of He between about 400 sccm and about 500 sccm; a radio-frequency (RF) power between about 800 watts and about 1,200 watts; and a pressure between about 3.5 Torr and about 4.5 Torr; (b) forming a second dielectric layer over the amorphous carbon layer; (c) forming an opening within the amorphous carbon layer and second dielectric layer by a first etch process to partially expose a top surface of the first dielectric layer; (d) forming a substantially conformal metal-containing layer over the second dielectric layer and within the opening; (e) forming a photoresist layer on an upper surface of the substantially conformal metal-containing layer and filling the opening; (f) removing an upper portion of the photoresist layer, the second dielectric layer, and a portion of the metal-containing layer; (g) removing a remaining portion of the photoresist layer within the opening; (h) removing the amorphous carbon layer by an oxygen-containing plasma process to expose the top surface of the first dielectric layer after the remaining portion of the photo resist layer has been removed; (i) forming an insulating layer over the metal-containing layer; and (j) forming a second metal-containing layer over the insulating layer to form a capacitor.