Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 89122540, filed Oct. 26, 2000. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing the multi-level interconnects of an integrated circuit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual damascene manufacturing process. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Dual damascene process is a technique of forming vias and interconnects for connecting devices in an integrated circuit. The dual damascene process includes forming an insulation layer over a substrate. After planarizing the upper surface of the insulation layer, the insulation layer is etched according to predetermined metal wiring pattern and positions of vias. Ultimately, trenches and via openings are formed. Subsequently, metallic material is deposited into the trenches and the openings to form a metallic layer, thereby forming metallic conductive wires and vias concurrently. Finally, chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is conducted to planarize device surface. 
     The dual damascene process can prevent overlay errors and process bias problems caused by forming the vias and then the metallic conductive wires in a conventional photolithography. Since vias and interconnects formed by a dual damascene process has greater reliability, most semiconductor manufacturers prefer the process over other processes especially for producing highly integrated circuits. 
     FIGS. 1A through 1C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the progression of steps for fabricating a conventional dual damascene structure. 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, a dielectric layer  104  is formed over a substrate  100  having a metallic layer  102  therein. A patterned photoresist layer  106  that exposes a portion of the dielectric layer  104  is formed over the dielectric layer  104 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1B, a portion of the dielectric layer  104  is removed using the patterned photoresist layer  106  (as shown in FIG. 1A) as a mask until a portion of the metallic layer  102  is exposed. The dielectric layer  104  is thereby converted into a dielectric layer  104   a  with a via opening  108  therein. The patterned photoresist layer  106  is removed and then another patterned photoresist layer  110  is formed over the substrate  100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1C, a portion of the dielectric layer  104   a  is removed using the patterned photoresist layer  110  (as shown in FIG. 1B) as a mask. Ultimately, the dielectric layer  104   a  is converted into a dielectric layer  104   b  having both a via opening  108  and a conductive wire trench  112 . The via opening  108  and the conductive wire trench  112  together constitute a dual damascene opening  114 . Finally, the patterned photoresist layer  110  is also removed. 
     In the conventional dual damascene process, altogether two patterned photoresist layers has to be formed so that two photolithographic and etching processes and two photoresist removal steps have to be executed as well. In addition, some photoresist residue of the second patterned photoresist layer  110  may still cling to the interior of the via opening  108 . Hence, electrical properties of the conductive material subsequently deposited into the via opening  108  may be affected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating a dual damascene structural opening in a dielectric layer above a substrate. A first photoresist layer having a first opening therein is formed over the dielectric layer. The first opening exposes the dielectric layer at a position where a via is desired. A buffer layer is formed over the first photoresist layer. A second photoresist layer having a second opening therein is formed over the first photoresist layer. The second opening exposes the area where a conductive wire is desired. The first opening and the second opening together form a metallic interconnect structure. Using the first and the second photoresist layer as a mask, a dual damascene structural opening that includes a via opening and a conductive wire trench is formed in the dielectric layer. 
     According to this invention, a first photoresist layer having a pattern of via openings and a second photoresist layer having a pattern of conductive wire trenches are sequentially formed over the dielectric layer. The first and the second photoresist layer are then used as an etching mask in the production of a dual damascene opening in the dielectric layer. 
     Since metal interconnect structures (dual damascene opening structure) are directly formed in the two photoresist layers, only one etching operation and one photoresist removal are required after a dual damascene opening is formed in the dielectric layer. Hence, the fabrication process is very much simplified. 
     In addition, a buffer layer is formed between the first and the second photoresist layer. Since the buffer layer has hydrophilic property, pattern on the first photoresist layer is unaffected by the formation of the second photoresist layer. Moreover, the hydrophilic buffer layer not covered by the second photoresist layer can be removed by developer and cleaning agent when processing the second photoresist layer. 
     Furthermore, by controlling the etching selectivity between the photoresist layer and the dielectric layer and thickness of the photoresist layer, a dual damascene structure is easily formed with or without an etching stop layer. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIGS. 1A through 1C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the progression of steps for fabricating a conventional dual damascene structure; and 
     FIGS. 2A through 2C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the progression of steps for fabricating a dual damascene structure according to a first preferred embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the progression of steps for fabricating a dual damascene structure according to a first preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 2A, a dielectric layer  204  is formed over a substrate  200  having a conductive layer  202  therein. Preferably, an etching stop layer  204   a  is formed inside the dielectric layer  204 . The etching stop layer  204   a  is a silicon nitride layer or a silicon oxynitride layer (Si x O y N z ) formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition. The silicon oxynitride layer can serve as an anti-reflection layer for deep ultraviolet (UV) light. The dielectric layer  204  can be silicon oxide layer, preferably a silk or coral layer. The dielectric layer  204  is formed by chemical vapor deposition, for example. 
     A first photoresist layer  210  is formed over the dielectric layer  204 . The first photoresist layer  210  can be a positive photoresist or negative photoresist layer. However, since negative photoresist has a greater adhesive strength than positive photoresist with respect to low dielectric constant material, a negative photoresist is preferably formed over the dielectric layer  204 . 
     The first photoresist layer  210  is soft baked so that solvent within the photoresist material is vaporized away. Ultimately, adhesive strength of the photoresist is increased and selectivity between exposed and non-exposed photoresist after development is enhanced. A photo-exposure operation is conducted to transfer a via opening pattern to the first photoresist layer  210 . 
     A post exposure baking of the first photoresist layer  210  is carried out and then the first photoresist layer  210  is developed to form a lower opening  210   a  in the first photoresist layer  210 . If a negative photoresist material is used to form the first photoresist layer  210 , photoresist material will only be retained in the light-exposed regions after chemical development. Because negative photoresist has a higher etching selectivity than positive photoresist relative to the dielectric layer, a thinner negative photoresist, for example, between 0.2 to 0.3 μm, may be used. This has a positive benefit on the resolution and process window of the development process. 
     A buffer layer  211  is formed over the first photoresist layer  210 . The buffer layer  211  is a hydrophilic anti-reflection coating or has a hydrophilic chemical structure. 
     As shown in FIG. 2B, a second photoresist layer  212  is formed directly over the buffer layer  211 . The second photoresist layer  212  is soft baked and then another photo-exposure operation is conducted to transfer a conductive trench pattern to the second photoresist layer  212 . A post exposure baking is conducted and then the second photoresist layer  212  is chemically developed to form an upper opening  212   a  in the second photoresist layer  212 . Since the buffer layer  211  has hydrophilic property, the portion of the buffer layer  211  not covered by the second photoresist layer  212  is removed when the second photoresist layer  212  is developed and rinsed. The upper opening  212   a  and the lower opening  210   a  together form a metallic interconnect structure  213 . The second photoresist layer  212  can be a positive photoresist layer or a negative photoresist layer. 
     Since the buffer layer  211  is interposed between the first photoresist layer  210  and the second photoresist layer  212 , the buffer layer  211  can act as a medium for intermixing of the photoresist materials. 
     According to the present invention, the etching selectivity of the first photoresist layer  210  relative to the dielectric layer  204  is adjusted so that the etching rate of the dielectric layer  204  is higher than the first photoresist layer  210 . Consequently, a portion of the dielectric layer  204 , the first photoresist layer  210  and the second photoresist layer  212  are removed. The dielectric layer  204 , the first photoresist layer  210  and the second photoresist layer  212  can be removed, for example, by performing anisotropic etching. Ultimately, the metallic interconnect structure  213 , in other words, the lower opening  210   a  pattern on the first photoresist layer  210  and the upper opening  212   a  pattern on the second photoresist layer  212 , is transferred to the dielectric layer  204 , as shown in FIG.  2 C. Therefore, corresponding via opening  214   a  and conductive wire trench  214   b  are formed in the dielectric layer  204 . The via opening  214   a  and the conductive wire trench  214   b  together form a dual damascene opening, as shown in FIG.  2 C. In addition, the via opening  214   a  exposes a portion of the conductive layer  202 . The dielectric layer  204  is also transformed into a dielectric layer  205  having a dual damascene opening  214 . In the subsequent step, the first photoresist layer  210  and the second photoresist layer  212  are removed. 
     To etch out a structure shown in FIG. 2C, the etching stop layer  204   a  formed inside the dielectric layer  204  is preferably used if a higher process window is desired. Alternatively, if an etching stop layer is absent from the dielectric layer  204 , etching can be controlled by fine tuning the thickness of the first photoresist layer  210  and the second photoresist layer  212 . 
     In this invention, a second patterned photoresist layer is formed over a separating buffer layer, which in turn is formed over a first patterned photoresist layer. In other words, a photoresist layer having an upper opening and a lower opening, which constitutes a metallic interconnect pattern  213 , is formed over the dielectric layer  204 . Thus, through some adjustment of the etching selectivity ratio, only one etching step is required to transfer the metallic interconnect pattern  213  in the photoresist to the dielectric layer  204  and form a dual damascene opening  214 . Since only one etching step is required, manufacturing the dual damascene structure is greatly simplified. In addition, by controlling the etching selectivity ratio between the photoresist layer and the dielectric layer, thickness of the interconnects within the dielectric layer can be adjusted. Moreover, a dual damascene opening is formed in the dielectric layer by a single etching operation even if the etching stop layer inside the dielectric layer is missing. 
     In addition, a buffer layer is formed between the first and the second photoresist layer. Since the buffer layer has hydrophilic property, pattern on the first photoresist layer is unaffected by the formation of the second photoresist layer. Moreover, the hydrophilic buffer layer not covered by the second photoresist layer can be removed by developer and cleaning agent when processing the second photoresist layer. 
     In conclusion, the advantages of the invention includes the following: 
     1. To form the dual damascene via, deposition of the photoresist material and exposure of the photoresist layer can be conducted sequentially. Only one etching operation and one photoresist removal process is required. Therefore, the manufacturing process is greatly simplified. 
     2. By controlling the selectivity ratio between the photoresist layer and the dielectric layer and thickness of the photoresist layer, thickness of the interconnects inside the dielectric layer can be adjusted. Moreover, the dual damascene structure can be formed in the absence of an etching stop layer inside the dielectric layer. 
     3. Since negative photoresist has a higher etching selectivity relative to the dielectric layer than positive photoresist, a thin negative photoresist layer can be used. A thin negative photoresist layer has the benefit of increasing resolution and process window of the development process. Furthermore, using a thin negative photoresist layer leaves behind fewer residues especially when the aspect ratio is large. 
     4. By forming a buffer layer between the first and the second photoresist layer, pattern on the first photoresist layer is little affected by the formation of the second photoresist layer. Moreover, the hydrophilic property of the buffer layer enables its removal by various agents when the second photoresist layer is developed. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 5