Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device; and more particularly to a method for isolating device elements. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTS 
   In general, isolation (ISO) process of device elements has been proceeded by a typical method for isolating device elements such as a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) and a profiled grove isolation (PGI). Through the above methods, a field insulation layer is formed on a predetermined portion of a substrate, so that a field region limiting a reacted region is formed. 
   The LOCOS method for isolating device elements forms a nitride layer which is an oxide masks limiting the reacted region on the substrate. Then, the nitride layer is subjected to a patterning through a photolithography method, thereby exposing a predetermined portion of the substrate. Thereafter, the exposed substrate is oxidized and then the field oxide layer used as a device elements isolation region is formed. 
   There are advantages of the LOCOS method. The LOCOS method uses a very simple process and isolates both large and small areas simultaneously. However, an effective surface of source/drain region is decreased due to a bird&#39;s beak caused by a side oxidation, which expands a width of a device isolation region. In addition, while forming the field oxide layer, a cohesive power is concentrated on an edge of an oxide layer due to a difference of a coefficient of heat expansion. Therefore, a critical defect is taken place on the silicon substrate causing a serious problem of leaking an electric current. 
   Recently, as a degree of integration of a semiconductor device has been increased, a design rule has been decreased. Accordingly, a size of the semiconductor device and a size of a device isolation layer isolating device elements also have been decreased as much scale as the design rule has been decreased. Therefore, the typical method of isolating device elements such as the LOCOS and the PGI reaches a limitation to be applied. 
   In order to solve the above problems, a shallow trench isolation (STI) method is introduced. A nitride layer having a good substrate and a good etch selective ratio is formed on the substrate. Then, the nitride layer is subjected to the patterning through the photolithography method to be used as a hard mask. Next, the substrate is subjected to a dry etching process by a predetermined depth with use of the nitride layer pattern as the hard mask. Then, a trench is formed on the substrate. Afterwards, an insulation layer is filled into the trench and then, a field insulation layer filled in the trench is formed through a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. 
     FIGS. 1A to 1D  are cross-section views illustrating a method for isolating device elements with use of a conventional STI. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1A , a pad oxide layer  12  and a pad nitride layer  13  are formed on the substrate  11 . Then, a mask (not shown) for isolating device elements is formed on the pad nitride layer  13 . 
   Next, the pad nitride layer  13  is etched back with use of the mask (not shown) for isolating device elements as an etch mask and the mask (not shown) for isolating device elements is removed, thereafter. Then, the pad oxide layer is etched back with use of the pad nitride layer  13  as the etch mask, thereby exposing a surface of the substrate  11 . A formation of the trench  14  is formed by etching back the exposed substrate  11  in a predetermined depth. 
   Next, a wall oxide layer  15  is formed through a wall oxidation process on sidewalls and a bottom. 
   Next, a liner nitride layer  16  and a gap-fill insulation layer  17  are sequentially deposited in the wall oxide layer  15  and the trench  14 . Afterwards, the gap-fill insulation layer  17  is applied to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process until a surface of the pad nitride layer is exposed. At this time, a portion of the liner nitride layer  16  above the pad nitride layer  13  is also polished. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1B , the pad nitride layer  13  is removed with use of a phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) solution. At this time, the liner nitride layer  16  which is a nitride-based layer is partially removed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1C , the pad oxide layer  12  is removed through a pre-cleaning process. Then, a screen oxide layer for implanting ions to control a threshold voltage control is formed. While this pre-cleaning process is applied, a plurality of moats M which is lower than the reacted region are taken place on top corners (TC) of the trench  14 . The plurality of moats M are taken place because a part of the wall oxidation layer is damaged while the pre-cleaning process for removing the pad oxide layer  12 . A depth of the plurality of moats M gets much deeper passing through a subsequent a screen oxide layer formation process performed before a formation of gate electrodes, a pre-cleaning process and a gate oxide layer formation process performed before the gate oxide layer formation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1D , a screen oxide layer  18  is formed by oxidizing the substrate exposed after the pad oxide layer  12 . However, although the screen oxide layer  18  is formed, the plurality of moats M are not removed. Then, during the pre-cleaning process before the formation of the gate oxide layer for removing the screen oxide layer, the plurality of moats M get much deeper. 
   Table 1 shows a depth of the plurality of moats based on each step of the process of the conventional method. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               ISO Etch 
               Trench Top Corner 
               90° 
               90° 
             
             
                 
                 
               CF 4 /O 2   
               No 
               Yes 
             
             
                 
                 
               O 2 /N 2   
               Yes 
               No 
             
             
                 
               Wall 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               30″ 
               30″ 
             
             
                 
               Oxidation 
               Layer Thickness 
               80 Å 
               80 Å 
             
             
                 
               Screen 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               50:1 HF 
               50:1 HF 
             
             
                 
               Oxidation 
               Layer Thickness 
               50 Å 
               50 Å 
             
             
                 
               Gate 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               HF 50″ 
               HF 50″ 
             
             
                 
               oxidation 
               Layer Thickness 
               100 Å 
               100 Å 
             
             
                 
               Moat 
               Depth 
               102 Å 
               133 Å 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   According to Table 1, ‘ISO Etch’ means a pad nitride layer etching process and a trench etching process. ‘LET’, i.e., light etch treatment and ‘O 2 /N 2 ’, means an etching process additionally etching back the trench. 
   During the trench etching process, an angle of the top corner (TC) should be 90° and then, the above etching process is performed. During the gate oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for 50 seconds with use of a hydrogen fluoride (HF), resulting in a formation of the gate oxide layer with a thickness of 100 Å. 
   During a screen oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for 130 seconds with use of the HF solution diluted in a ratio of 50 parts of water to 1 part of the HF and a screen oxide layer is formed with thickness of 50 Å. In this case, the depth of the plurality of moats M is 102 Å which is very deep. That is, after the screen oxidation pre-cleaning process, the wall oxide layer is located under the reacted regions. And according to the conventional method, the depth of the plurality of moats M after the screen oxidation formation is measured from approximately 100 Å to approximately 160 Å. 
   However, the conventional method shows some problems. 
   First, a shape of the top corner (TC) of the trench  14  after the dry etching process for forming the trench  14  is very steep; thereby lowering the threshold voltage of a transistor as voltages is relatively concentrated in the top corners (TC) of the trench  14 . 
   Secondly, if the shape of the top corners (TC) of the trench  14  is very steep, it is not avoidable forming the plurality of moats M. Also, due to the plurality of moats M, a undesirable polysilicon layer is still remained on the plurality of moats M after performing the dry etching process and depositing the polysilicon layer for forming the subsequent gate electrodes, thereby, causing bridge formation between the adjoined gate electrodes. 
   Thirdly, in accordance with the conventional method, it is difficult to control the depth of the plurality of moats M less than 100 Å due to a limitation of a subsequent wet cleaning process similar to the pre-cleaning process performed after the trench formation. 
   Fourthly, a threshold voltage shift is taken place due to excessive formation of the plurality of moats M making the depth of the plurality of moats M deeper. The above threshold voltage shift results in a critical defect in product efficiency. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device capable of preventing a depth of a plurality of moats M from getting deeper as preventing lowering a threshold voltage by forming a round shape of a top corner of a trench. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming a pad pattern by sequentially stacking a pad oxide layer and a pad nitride layer on a substrate; forming a trench by etching process to an exposed surface of the substrate by using the pad pattern as a mask; filling an insulation layer for isolating device elements filled into the trench; removing the pad nitride layer; performing a pre-cleaning process for removing the pad oxide layer; selectively recessing the surface of the substrate to remove a plurality of moats M taken place after removing the pad oxide layer; and forming a screen oxide layer on the surface of the substrate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become better understood with respect to the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1A to 1D  are cross-section views illustrating a method for isolating device elements with use of a conventional shallow trench isolation (STI). 
       FIGS. 2A to 2H  are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a trench-shaped layer for isolating device elements in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a trench-shaped layer for isolating device elements in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIGS. 2A to 2H  are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a trench shaped layer for isolating device elements in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A , a pad oxide layer  22  and a pad nitride layer  23  are sequentially formed on a silicon substrate  21 . Herein, the pad nitride layer  23  serves a role of an etch barrier layer later and a polishing stop layer during a subsequent chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. Preferably, the pad oxide layer  22  should be a silicon oxide (SiO 2 ) layer with a thickness ranging from 50 Å to 300 Å and the pad nitride layer  23  should be a silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) layer with a thickness ranging from 300 Å to 1000 Å. 
   Next, an anti-reflection layer  24  is formed on the pad nitride layer  23 . Herein, the anti-reflection layer  24  being made up of the silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) layer is used for an easy performance of a subsequent photolithography process. 
   Next, a photoresist layer is formed on the anti-reflection layer  24 . Then, a photoresist layer pattern  25  defining a device elements isolation region by patterning with use of a photo-exposure process and a developing process is formed. Afterwards, the anti-reflection layer  24 , the pad nitride layer  23  and the pad oxide layer  22  are sequentially etched back with use of the photoresist layer pattern  25  as an etch mask. The above etching processes are proceeded in a pad nitride etching equipment with steps of etching the anti-reflection layer; etching the pad nitride layer; and excessively etching the pad nitride layer. 
   First, a step of etching the anti-reflection layer with use of the photoresist pattern  25  as the etch mask uses a mixed gas, i.e., mixing trifluoromethane (CHF 3 ), tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ), argon (Ar) and oxygen (O 2 ), and determines an etch stop point with an end of point (EOP), i.e., a point that discontinues the etching process. For instance, if a process recipe is closely examined, CHF 3  ranging from approximately 10 sccm to approximately 30 sccm, CF 4  ranging from approximately 20 sccm to approximately 30 sccm, O 2  ranging from approximately 5 sccm to 20 sccm, or a mixed gas of the above etching gases is used as an etch gas. When using the mixed gas, CF 4  has the most infinite amount of the mixed gas. 
   Next, the exposed pad nitride layer  23  after etching back the anti-reflection layer  24  is subjected to the etching process. The same etch gases used for etching back the anti-reflection layer  24  is also used for this etching process. For instance, if a process recipe is closely examined, CHF 3  ranging from approximately 5 sccm to approximately 30 sccm, CF 4  ranging from approximately 5 sccm to approximately 15 sccm, O 2  ranging from approximately 0 sccm to approximately 10 sccm, or a mixed gas of the above etching gases is used as an etch gas. When using the mixed gas, CHF 3  has the most infinite amount of the mixed gas. When etching back the pad nitride layer  23 , the pad oxide layer  22  beneath the pad nitride layer  23  is also etched back. 
   Next, the excessive etching process of the pad nitride layer  23  is proceeded. The excessive etching process is for removing a defect such as a silicon spot produced on the silicon substrate  21  after etching back the pad nitride layer  23  and the pad oxide layer  22 . The excessive etching process uses a mixed gas of CF 4 , Ar and O 2 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2B , as illustrated in the above, the pad nitride layer  23  is subjected to the etching process and then, the photoresist layer pattern  25  and the anti-reflection layer  24  are applied to a stripping process. At this time, the striping process is performed with use of oxygen plasma. 
   Next, the silicon substrate  21  is etched back with use of the pad nitride layer  23  as the etch mask, thereby forming a trench  26 . A process forming the trench  26  by etching the silicon substrate  21  is consisted of four steps. The first step is to control a round angle of top corners of the trench  26  by etching back a surface of the silicon substrate with use of hydrogen bromide (HBr). The second step is to remove a natural oxide layer. The third step is to perform the etching back process to the silicon substrate  21  as much as determined. The last step is to remove a gas used in the third step. The above steps are proceeded in the silicon etching equipment. 
   As for the first step, the etching process is performed with use of the etch gas including a gas having HBr of 40 sccm or the above etching process can be proceeded by adding helium (He). As for the second step, the etching process is proceeded with use of a mixed gas of CF 4  and He. The third step is a main etching process forming the trench  26 . In this step, the etching process is performed with use of a mixed gas of hydrogen bromide (HBr) and chlorine (Cl 2 ). For instance, the etching process of the third step is performed with use of a mixed gas, i.e., mixing HBr, Cl 2 , O 2 , and He. Lastly, the etching process of the fourth step uses a mixed gas, i.e., mixing CF 4 , O 2 , Ar and He, to remove a chlorine gas of a chamber atmosphere during the third step. 
   As illustrated in the above, the top corners of the trench  26  have round angles ranging from 45° to 90° after the etching process is applied to form the trench  26 . 
   Next, referring to  FIG. 2C , the etching process additionally etching the trench  26  is proceeded. For instance, a LET (light etch treatment), CF 4 /O 2  plasma treatment or O 2 /N 2  plasma is proceeded. At this time, a microwave down stream plasma method is commonly applied to the above etching process. After the above etching process, the angles of the top corners will be ranged from 55° to 85°. 
   As an etch damage layer produced while etching the trench  26  is removed and the rounding angles of the top corners are limited to ranges from 55° to 85° through the above etching process. For instance, the etching process applied with the microwave down stream plasma method has a property of more etching the top corners which is more salient relative to the sidewall of the trench  26  close to a right angle. Therefore, the etching process applied with the microwave down stream plasma method can make the top corners after formation of the trench  26  more round. 
   The CF 4 /O 2  plasma treatment or O 2 /N 2  plasma treatment applied for the etching process additionally etching the trench  26  can control the round angles of the top corners of the trench  26  identically. However, the CF 4 /O 2  plasma treatment reduces a width of the reacted regions compared to the O 2 /N 2  plasma treatment. For instance, in case of that the etching process additionally etching the trench is performed with use of the CF 4 /O 2  plasma treatment, the width of the reacted region ranges from 1100 Å to 1200 Å. However, in case of that the etching process additionally etching the trench is performed with use of the O 2 /N 2  plasma treatment, the width of the reacted region range is more than 1200 Å. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2D , a wall oxide layer  27  is formed with a thickness ranging from 60 Å to 120 Å on the sidewall of the trench  26  through performing the wall oxidation process. At this time, the wall oxidation process is proceeded through a dry oxidation at a temperature ranging form 900° C. to 1000° C. The dry oxidation more oxidizes the top corners compared to a wet oxidation, thereby forming more round top corners. 
   Next, a liner nitride layer  28  is deposited in the sidewall of the trench  26 . Until filling in the trench  26  with the liner nitride layer  28 , a gap-fill insulation layer of high density plasma is deposited. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2E , the gap-fill insulation layer is planarized until a surface of the pad nitride layer  23  is exposed through the CMP. 
   Subsequently, the pad nitride layer  23  is removed with use of a wet solution such as a phosphate (H 3 PO 4 ). At this time, the pad oxide layer  23  and the wall oxide layer  27  have an etch selective ratio towards the phosphate. Therefore, the pad oxide layer  23  and the wall oxide layer  27  are not etched back. However, the liner nitride layer  28  which is a nitride-based layer is partially etched back. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2F , the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for removing the pad oxide layer  22  before implanting the threshold voltage ions. At this time, the pad oxide layer  22  is removed with use of the HF solution diluted with water in a ratio of approximately 50 to 300 parts of water to approximately 1 part of the HF to expose the surface of the substrate except for the trench  26 . 
   The plurality of moats M are still produced after removing the pad oxide layer  22 . The present invention uses the wet etching process subjected to the substrate exposed after removing the pad oxide layer  22  to remove the plurality of moats M. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2G , the surface of the substrate  21  with the plurality of moats M is selectively recessed, thereby forming the surface of the substrate  21  without the plurality of moats M. Reference numeral  21 A and  21 B denote the surface of the substrate with and without the plurality of moats M, respectively. 
   The recessing process applied to the above substrate  21  proceeds with use of the wet etching process. At this time, the wet etching process uses an etch solution that selectively etches back only silicon composing the substrate  21  instead of etching back the liner nitride layer  28 , the gap-fill insulation layer  29  and the wall oxide layer  27 . 
   For instance, the substrate  21  is dipped into a bath containing the hot solution of standard clean (SC)-1 solution, i.e., a mixed solution of ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and water (H 2 O) in a preferable ratio of 1 to 5 to 50. At this time, a temperature of the SC-1 solution should be from 25° C. to 100° C. and a dipping time should be 3 minutes to 20 minutes. 
   As illustrated in the above, the present invention uses the wet etching process using the SC-1 solution when the recessing process for removing the plurality of moats. However, the dry etching process can be used to remove the plurality of moats M. In case of using the dry etching process, a degree of uniformity is decreased and an additional process for removing a damage on the substrate caused by the plasma is required. 
   Furthermore, the present invention makes the surface of the substrate smooth without any flexure after applying the wet etching process. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2H , the screen oxide layer  30  is formed with a thickness ranging from 50 Å to 70 Å at a temperature ranging from 750° C. to 1100° C. through the dry oxidation process. Afterwards, impurities for controlling the threshold voltage is ion implanted. 
   As a following process, the screen oxide layer  30  is removed, the pre-cleaning process before the gate oxide layer process and the gate oxide layer process are employed. At this time, because the depth of the plurality of the moats M is already low the depth of the plurality of the moats M is prevented from getting deeper when forming the gate oxide layer. 
   On the other hand, the gate oxide layer is formed with a temperature ranging from 850° C. to 1000° C. through the dry oxidation process similar to a formation of the screen oxide layer  30 . If the screen oxide layer  30  and the gate oxide layer are formed through the dry oxidation process, the top corners of the trench become more round. 
   As illustrated in the above, in case of employing the etching process for forming the gate electrodes after depositing the polysilicon layer on the gate oxide layer under a condition of forming the plurality of moats is minimized, remaining the undesirable polysilicon layer on the plurality of moats M is prevented. 
   Table 2 shows a depth of the plurality of moats based on each step of the process of the present invention. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
               TABLE 2 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               ISO Etch 
               Trench Top Corner 
               90° 
               90° 
             
             
                 
                 
               CF 4 /O 2   
               No 
               Yes 
             
             
                 
                 
               O 2 /N 2   
               Yes 
               No 
             
             
                 
               Wall Oxidation 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               30″ 
               30″ 
             
             
                 
                 
               Layer Thickness 
               80 Å 
               80 Å 
             
             
                 
               Screen 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               50:1 HF 
               50:1 HF 
             
             
                 
               Oxidation 
               Layer Thickness 
               50 Å 
               50 Å 
             
             
                 
               Gate oxidation 
               Pre-Cleaning 
               HF 50″ 
               HF 50″ 
             
             
                 
                 
               Layer Thickness 
               100 Å 
               100 Å 
             
             
                 
               Moat 
               Depth 
               68 Å 
               69 Å 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   According to Table 2, ‘ISO Etch’ means a pad nitride layer etching process and a trench etching process. ‘LET’ and ‘O 2 /N 2 ’ mean an after-etching process additionally etching the trench. 
   During the trench etching process, an angle of the top corner TC should be 90° and then, the above etching process is performed. During the gate oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for 50 seconds with use of a hydrogen fluoride (HF), resulting in a formation of the gate oxide layer with a thickness of 100 Å. 
   During the screen oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for 250 seconds with use of the HF solution diluted with water in a ratio of 99 parts of water to 1 part of the HF and is subsequently proceeded for 10 minutes with use of the hot SC-1 solution. Then the screen oxide layer is formed with a thickness of 50 Å. In this case, the depth of the plurality of moats M is approximately 68 Å which is much thinner than that of the conventional method. The reason why the depth of the plurality of moats M of the present invention is much thinner because the plurality of moats M are removed by recessing the silicon substrate with use of the hot SC-1 solution during the pre-cleaning process performed before the formation of the screen oxide layer. 
   Although not shown in Table 2, during the wall oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is employed for 75 seconds and during the screen oxidation process, the pre-cleaning process is proceeded for 250 seconds with use of the HF solution diluted with water in a ratio of 99 parts of water to 1 part of the HF and is subsequently proceeded for 10 minutes with use of the hot SC-1 solution. In this case, the depth of the plurality of moats M are measured 36 Å which is very thin. 
   In accordance with the present invention, if the screen oxidation process is performed with use of mixture of the HF and the hot SC-1 solution and a running time of the pre-cleaning process is appropriately adjusted, the depth of the plurality of the moats M can be thin with a thickness ranging from 30 Å to 70 Å. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a point which the plurality of the moats M begins to form after the pre-cleaning process before forming the screen oxide layer has a plus value. However, in accordance with the conventional method, a point which the plurality of the moats begins to form after the pre-cleaning process before forming the screen oxide layer has a minus value. Therefore, it is not avoidable having a thick plurality of the moats M. 
   As a result, the present invention prevents the plurality of moats M from getting thicker when forming the screen oxide layer by recessing the silicon substrate after removing the pad oxide layer. 
   Based on the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent lowering the threshold voltages of the transistor by making the top corners of the trench round by performing the after-etching process after etching the trench. 
   Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to improve the use of the semiconductor device by lowering the depth of the plurality of the moats M less than 100 Å by performing the recessing process for removing the plurality of the moats M after removing the pad oxide layer. 
   The present application contains subject matter related to the Korean patent application No. KR 2004-0032773, filed in the Korean Patent Office on May, 10, 2004 the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: h