Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to the fabrication of dielectric layers for semiconductor devices and more particularly to a method for forming an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers using spin-on-glass (SOG) for sub-half-micron semiconductor devices. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Semiconductor elements are continuously being miniaturized in order to make circuits smaller, faster, and less expensive. However this miniaturization creates may challenges. High quality dielectric layers between conductive lines in semiconductor devices is a critical necessity for the submicron feature sized era in the manufacture of integrated circuits. These high quality dielectric layers are required over conductive lines, such as polysilicon gates on the substrate surface (e.g., interlevel dielectric) and such as metal lines over the substrate (e.g. interlevel dielectric). VLSI devices require miniaturization of interconnects, etc., interconnection spaces, resulting in increase in steps formed on the surface of a substrate. This is a particular problem when spacing between conductive lines is less than 0.15 μm. 
     The manufacturing requirements of intermetal dielectric layers in sub-half micron semiconductor devices include: (1) voidless fill of narrow trenches (gaps) between conductors (metal lines), (2) surface being planar for successful patterning and etching of the new blanket metal deposition, (3) stable with respect to water transport and (4) exhibiting a net compressive stress. 
     Practitioners have improved planarization methods. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,105 (Matsumura) describes a planarization method for IMD using PESiO2, O3-TEOS, SOG, etchback and PESiO2. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,900 (Yang) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,076 (Moghadan) show planarization methods. Product literature from Allied Signal Inc, Advance microelectronics materials, 3500 Garrett Drive, Santa Clara Calif. 9554-2827 (phone 408-562-0330), describe Accuspin® 418 Flowable SOP (X-18), and Accuglass T-11 Series SOG-(111, 211, 211). 
     However these methods can be further improved to meet the above mentioned requirements and overcome the above mentioned shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating an intermetal dielectric layer that includes spin-on-glass layers that fill gaps less than 0.15 μm between conductive lines and eliminates the poison via problem. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating an intermetal dielectric layer that allows the use of thick barrier layers over metal lines while filling gaps less than 0.15 μm and maintains a low dielectric constant to improve RC delay. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for fabrication an intermetal dielectric layer that includes an improved SOG process that provides superior gap filling properties as well as maintains a low dielectric constant. 
     To accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an interlevel dielectric layer for a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming spaced conductive lines  14  over a semiconductor structure including a substrate. Next, a first conformal silicon oxide layer is formed by PECVD-SiH 4  over the spaced conductive lines and over the semiconductor structure. The spaced conductive lines  14  coated with the barrier layer  16  having gaps  15  therebetween. 
     In an important step, a novel first spin-on-glass (SOG) layer  18  is formed over the first silicon oxide layer. It is critical that the invention&#39;s first spin-on-glass has a superior gap filling coverage and has the reflow property as heated at proper temperatures. After the reflow process, it is critical that the first SOG layer  18  does not remain over the metal lines but fills the valleys  15  between the metal lines. See FIGS. 1 and 5B. A reflow is performed by heating the first spin-on-glass layer so that all of first SOG layer  18  over the spaced metal lines  16  flows in to the gaps between the metal lines. 
     Subsequently, a second silicon oxide layer  24  is preferably deposited using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)-SiH 4  process over the first silicon oxide layer  16  and over the first spin-on-glass layer  18  in the gaps  15 . A second spin-on-glass layer  28  (“Planarizing” SOG) is then formed over the second silicon oxide layer  24 . An etchback is performed by etching back and removing the entire second spin on glass layer and portions the second silicon oxide layer. Lastly, an insulating cap layer  30  is formed over the second silicon oxide layer. The insulating cap layer formed of silicon oxide and silicon nitride. 
     The invention has the following key features: 
     A key feature of the invention is the novel 1st SOG layer  18  that has reflow properties so that the SOG fills gaps between metal lines &gt;0.15 μm. Only traces of or No 1st SOG layer  18  remains above the metal lines  15  after reflow. See FIG.  1 . 
     The Invention&#39;s 1st SOG layer  18  is a new use specifically for Allied Signal Accuspin 418 SOP and HSG-2209S-R7 organic spin-on-glasses. 
     The first  18  and second SOG layers  28  have different coating functions and properties. The first SOG layer fills tight (&gt;or equal to 0.1 μm) gaps  15  in between the metal lines  14 , and does not remain on top of the metal lines  14 . The second SOG layer is a “planarizing “sacrificial layer for etch back planarization. The second SOG layer does not have the reflow property of the first SOG layer. 
     The second SOG layer  28  is removed in an etched back to planarized the underlying SiO 2  layer  24 . 
     The present invention provides an improved interlevel (or intermetal) dielectric layer. The present invention provides an intermetal dielectric layer  16   18   24   30  that allows the use of thick barrier layers  16  over metal lines  14  while filling gaps  15  less than 0.15 μm. The excellent gap filling properties of the novel first SOG layer  18  allow the gaps to be filled without thinning the barrier layers  16 . The first SOG layer  18  maintains a low dielectric constant to improve RC delay. Moreover, by removing the entire 2nd spin-on-glass layer  28  over the via, the poison via problem is eliminated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features and advantages of a semiconductor device according to the present invention and further details of a process of fabricating such a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar or corresponding elements, regions and portions and in which: 
     FIGS. 1 through 4 are cross sectional views for illustrating a method for manufacturing the interlevel dielectric layer for a semiconductor device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5A shows a SOG layer as spun on the structure before reflow. 
     FIG. 5B shows the effect of reflow (heating) the invention&#39;s superior gap fill 1st SOG layer  18 . All the SOG  18  flows from over the metal lines  14  into the gaps  15 . 
     FIG. 5C shows conventional SOG  118  that reflows but still has a portion of SOG remaining over the metal lines  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention provides a method of forming interlevel dielectric layer that provides: good gap coverage at gap  15  spaces at 0.10 μm and wider, low dielectric constant, eliminates the poison via problem and is simple to manufacture. 
     The process of the invention is summarized in the table below: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Summary of the Process of the invention 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Fig 
                 Step 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 form spaced metal lines 14 over a substrate 
               
               
                 1 
                 form a first conformal Silicon oxide layer 16 (Barrier layer) PE-SIH4 - 2000Å 
               
               
                 1 
                   KEY STEP  form  a first SOG (e.g., Aligned signal 218)  1900Å - that fills in valleys 
               
               
                   
                 15 between metal lines 14 but does not leave much thickness on the top of the metal 
               
               
                   
                 lines.) 
               
               
                 1 
                 reflow (heat &amp; cure) the first SOG layer 18 (GAP FILLING SOG) 
               
               
                   
                 
                   ♦ reflow process does not leave any of the 1st SOG layer over the top to the 
                 
               
               
                   
                   metal line   
               
               
                   
                 and a thickness 17 in the gaps between the metal lines 14 in a range of between about 
               
               
                   
                 1000 and 3000 Å 
               
               
                 2 
                 form a second oxide layer 24 (PE-SiH 4  7000Å) over the 1st SOG layer 18 and the 
               
               
                   
                 first conformal Silicon oxide layer 16 
               
               
                 2 
                 form a second SOG layer 28 (e.g., allied signal 211-2000Å) (Planarizing SOG) 
               
               
                 2 
                 cure the second SOG layer 28 at 430° C. 30 min 
               
               
                 3 
                 etch back the second SOG layer (5000Å) 
               
               
                 4 
                 form an insulating cap layer (SiO 2  or SiN) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As shown in FIG. 1, a semiconductor structure  12   10  is provided. The semiconductor structure  10   12  includes a semiconductor substrate  10  on and in which various semiconductor devices are formed, such as source, drains, gate electrodes, transistors, capacitors, bits lines, conductive lines, dielectric layers, etc. Layers  10   12  shown in the figures include (but not show) all possible semiconductor devices formed under conductive layers, such as FETs, capacitors, insulating and conducting layers. 
     Spaced conductive lines  14  (e.g., patterns, Al metal lines) formed over the semiconductor structure  12  including a substrate  10 . The spaced conductive lines  14  are preferably Al alloy metal lines. Metal lines composed of Al alloy have strict barrier layer  16  thickness requirements that drive small gap (about 0.1 to 0.2 μm gaps) that require the used of the invention&#39;s novel 1st SOG layer  18 . 
     Next, a first conformal silicon oxide layer (barrier layer)  16  is formed over the spaced conductive lines and over the semiconductor structure. The first conformal silicon oxide layer does not fill or close any gaps beneath the spaced conductive lines  14 . The first silicon oxide layer  16  can be formed by a PECVD-SiH 4 , or TEOS process. The first silicon oxide layer  16  preferably has a thickness in a range of between about 500 and 2000 Å. 
     The spaced conductive lines  14  (covered with a barrier layer  16 ) have gaps  15  (i.e., valleys) therebetween. The gaps  15  represent the space (valleys) between the barrier layer surfaces  16 . The narrowest gaps  15  (on the substrate) preferably have a width greater than 0.10 and more preferably greater than 0.15 μm and preferably have a narrow gap widths  15  between about 0.15 μm and 0.5 μm. The gap widths can vary across the substrate and there is no maximum width. It can be seen in the Figs that the gaps  15  are smaller than the actual spacing between the metal lines  14  by 2 times the thickness of the barrier layer  16 . 
     In an important step, a novel first spin-on-glass (SOG) layer is formed over the first silicon oxide layer  16 . It is critical that the first SOG layer must have the property of reflowing when heated so that the first SOG layer does not remain over the metal lines  14  where the gap  15  between the metal lines/barrier layers  16  is greater than 0.10 μm and more preferably greater than 0.15 μm is more preferably between 0.15 and 0.30 μM. The first spin of glass is preferably composed a material selected from the group consisting of: Hitachi Chemical HSG-2209S-R7 (Hitachi Chemical, LTD., Shinjuku-Mitsui Bldg., 2-1-1, Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 163-0449, Japan ), Allied Signal type 218 spin-on-glass and Allied Signal ACCUSPIN X18 spin-on-glass. (Allied Signal inc., Advanced Microelectronics Material, 3500 Garrett Drive, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054-2827, US phone 408-562-0300). 
     The 1st SOG layer preferably has the following solute parameters that give the require 0.15 μm gap fill properties: Viscosity between about 2.80 and 2.9 cP (25° C.), % solids between 20 and 22% (130° C., 4 hrs), Flash point=59 and 61° F. (based on ethanol). 
     The first spin-on-glass layer is preferably reflowed (baked &amp; cured) at temperature in a range of about 400 and 450° C. (tgt=430° C.) for a time in a range of about 10 and 200 minutes and more preferably between about 20 and 40 minutes (tgt=30 min). Specifically for Allied Signal Inc., ACCUSPIN® 418 Flowable SOP, the inventors have found that it fills gaps down to 0.1 μm. This contrasts with Allied Signal&#39;s published statement that ACCUSPIN 418® Flowable SOP fills 0.15 μm gaps. The invention&#39;s method is a new use for Accuspin 418 Flowable SOP. 
     The invention&#39;s 1st SOG is not etched back, in contrast conventional processes, to remove the SOG layer from over the metal lines  14 . This increases yield be not subjecting the metal lines  14  to plasma damage from etchback processes. 
     FIGS. 5A,  5 B and  5 C show the differences between the invention&#39;s first SOG layer  18  and standard SOG  118 . FIG. 5A shows metal lines  14  and the first conformal silicon oxide layer  16 . The metal lines  14  have gaps  15  therebetween. FIG. 5A shows a SOG layer  118  as spun on the structure. Both standard SOG and the invention&#39;s superior gap filling SOG layer  18  have the shape after spin on as shown in FIG.  5 A&#39;s SOG layer  18 . 
     FIG. 5B shows the effect of reflow (heating) the invention&#39;s superior gap fill layer  18 . All the SOG  18  flows from over the metal lines  14  into the gaps  15 . In contrast, FIG. 5C shows conventional SOG  118  that reflows but still has a portion with at thickness  119  (&gt;50 Å) remaining over the metal lines  14 . A major difference between the invention and the prior art is that the invention specifies that the first SOG layer  18  have the superior gap fill property to flow into gaps 0.15 μm and larger and not have any thickness remain over the metal lines  14 , (e.g., high points). 
     The first spin-on-glass layer can be formed by dispensing a first spin-on-glass solute preferably of Allied Signal type ACCUSPIN® 418 flowable SOP and type X18 spin-on-glass and spinning said first spin-on-glass solute at a speed in a range of about 2000 and 5000 rpm for a time in a range of about 0.5 and 3.0 min, and curing the first spin-on-glass solute at a temp in a range of about 150 and 300 C° for a time in a range of about 10 and 200 min. The first spin-on-glass layer preferably has a thickness in a range of between about 1000 and 3000 Å. 
     An optional wet or dry etch back can be performed to ensure all 1st SOG layer  18  (trace amounts with thickness between 1 and 50 Å) is removed from over metal lines. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, a second silicon oxide layer  24  is deposited over the first silicon oxide layer and over the first spin-on-glass layer in the gaps. The second silicon oxide layer  24  can be formed using PECVD-SiH4, or TEOS process and is preferably formed using a PECVD-SiH4 process. The second silicon oxide layer preferably has a thickness in a range of between about 3000 and 10,000 Å (tgt=7000 Å). 
     Still referring to FIG. 2, a second spin-on-glass layer  28  is formed over the second silicon oxide layer. The second spin on-glass layer can be formed using a “planarizing SOG”. A planarizing SOG layer does not fill gaps but forms a flat planar top surface. Examples of acceptable second SOG layers are: AlliedSignal&#39;s Accuglass®T-11 Series SOG, models 111, 211, or 311. 
     The second spin-on-glass layer can be optionally cured at temperature in a range of about 200 and 450° C. (tgt=430° C.) for a time in a range of about 10 and 200 minutes (tgt=30 min). The curing provides stability. 
     The second spin on glass layer preferably has a thickness in a range of between about 1000 and 5000 Å(tgt=2000 Å) and more preferably of about 2000 Å. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, an etchback is performed by etching back and removing all the second spin on glass layer  28  and portions the second silicon oxide layer  24  to remove a total thickness of about 1000 to 7000 Å(tgt.=5000 Å). The etch back is preferably a dry etch process, such as CF 4  or CHF 3 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 4, an insulating cap layer  30  is preferably formed over the second silicon oxide layer. The insulating cap layer is preferably formed of silicon oxide or silicon nitride (SiN). The insulating cap layer  30  preferably has a thickness in a range of about 1000 and 5000 Å and more preferably a thickness of about 3000 Å. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Process Flow of the inter metal dielectric (IMD) layer of the present 
               
               
                 invention 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Layer 
                 Material 
                 Parameter 
                 Low 
                 target 
                 High 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1st silicon 
                 oxide 
                 thickness 
                 500 Å 
                 2000 Å 
                 2000 
               
               
                 oxide layer - 
                   
                 (Å) 
               
               
                 PE-SiH4 
               
               
                 1st SOG layer 
                 Allied signal 
                 thickness 
                 1000 Å 
                 1900 Å 
                 2000 
               
               
                 GAP FILL 
                 218 
                 (Å) 
               
               
                   
                 Hitachi 
                 thickness 
                 1000 Å 
                   
                 2000 Å 
               
               
                   
                 HSG- 
                 (Å) 
               
               
                   
                 2209S-R9 
               
               
                 1st SOG layer 
                   
                 temp 
                   
                 at 430° C. 
               
               
                 18 curing 
                   
                   
                   
                 for 30 min 
               
               
                 2nd silicon 
                   
                 thickness 
                 3000 
                 7000 Å 
                 10,000 
               
               
                 oxide layer 24 
                   
                 (Å) 
               
               
                 PE-SiH 4   
               
               
                 2nd SOG layer 
                 Allied signal 
                 thickness 
                 1000 
                 2000 
                 3000 
               
               
                 28 
                 211 
                 (Å) 
               
               
                 “planarizing” 
               
               
                 SOG curing at 
               
               
                 T = 430° C. for 
               
               
                 ˜30 minutes 
               
               
                 Etch back of 
                 SOG 
                 thickness 
                 1000 
                 3000 
                 5000 
               
               
                 SOG layer 
                   
                 (Å) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Benefits of the Invention 
     Current conventional SOG planarization processes have not adequately filled gaps less than 0.15 μm (or 0.1 μm) between conductive lines  14 . One comprise to get around this non-gap filling problem is to reduce the thickness of the barrier layer  16 . However, if the barrier layer  16  thickness is reduced too much, the metal lines  14  can be damaged by subsequent plasma etch back processes. 
     Another problem with current SOG processes is the poison via problem where SOG  118  is left exposed in the vias over the metal lines  14 . This can be caused by an improper partial SOG etchback where SOG is left in the via area. Many sidewall via spacers processes have been proposed, but these add process complexity and cost to the product. Moreover, to eliminate the poison via problem, it has been suggested to replace the spin-on-glass layer other layers formed of other materials, such as silicon oxide deposited by high density plasma (HDP) chemical vapor deposition (CVD). However, SOG has a lower dielectric constant than these other materials which reduces RC delay times for sub 0.35 μm products. SOG has a dielectric constant of about 3 compared the PE-oxide dielectric constant of about 4. 
     Compared to the conventional SOG processes, the invention has the following key features: 
     A key feature of the invention is the novel 1st SOG layer  18  that has reflow properties so that the SOG fills gaps between metal lines &gt;0.15 μm. No 1st SOG layer  18  remains above the metal lines  15  after reflow. See FIG.  1 . 
     The Invention&#39;s 1st SOG layer  18  is a new use specifically for Allied Signal Accuspin 418 SOP and HSG-2209S-R7 organic spin-on-glasses. 
     The first  18  and second SOG layers have different coating functions and properties. The first SOG layer fills in between the metal lines, and does not remain on top of the metal lines. The second SOG layer does not have the reflow property. The second SOG layer is a sacrificial layer for etch back planarization. 
     The second SOG layer  28  is removed in an etched back to planarized the underlying SiO 2  layer  24 . 
     It should be will understood by one skilled in the art that by including additional process step not described in this embodiment, other types of devices can also be included on the substrate. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5