A method is provided for fabricating a nitride layer of the semiconductor integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate in a processing chamber. Source gases are applied to the processing chamber and a first nitride layer is deposited over the semiconductor substrate according to the source gases. The source gases are discontinued and the processing chamber is pumped out. Source gases are again applied to the processing chamber and a second nitride layer is deposited upon the first nitride layer according to the applied source gases. The first and second nitride layers form a combined nitride layer. Four alternate embodiments are set forth. In the first embodiment a predetermined amount of time is waited between the pumpout of the processing chamber and the deposition of the second nitride layer. The amount of time can be approximately ten minutes. In the second embodiment, the processing chamber is purged with nitrogen gas prior to depositing the second nitride layer. The purge can extend for between two minutes and sixty minutes. In the third embodiment the processing chamber is purged with nitrous oxide prior to depositing the second nitride layer. In the fourth embodiment the processing chamber is purged with nitrous oxide and an oxide layer is formed upon the first nitride layer prior to depositing the second nitride layer. In each of the embodiments the first nitride layer can be between 20% and 80% of the total combined thickness of the first and second nitride layers.
A semiconductor device process for forming a multilayered nitride structure. The nitride is used as either isolation or as part of a dielectric structure. The deposition rate for the nitride is varied to form a multilayered structure with stress accommodation at the interface between sub-layers in the multilayer structure. In addition, the sub-layered structure reduces pin-holes and microcracks in the nitride film and improves the overall uniformity in thickness of the final nitride film.
A method for forming upon a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication a silicon nitride dielectric layer with attenuated defects and inhomogeneities. There is provided one or more substrates. There is then provided a reactor tube which is part of an apparatus suitable for providing various gases at elevated temperatures. There is then purged the reactor tube with an inert gas in a low temperature cycle purge (LTCP) step at a temperature below deposition temperature. There is then placed the substrate(s) within a reactor tube. There is then deposited a silicon nitride dielectric layer upon the substrate(s), employing silane and ammonia gases employing a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method. There is then purged the reaction tube at a temperature below the deposition temperature, followed by removal of the substrate carrier with attenuated formation of particulates and inhomogeneities within and about the silicon nitride layer and reaction tube.
A method of making a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor element is formed, an interlayer insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating barrier layer, formed on the interlayer insulating film by plasma nitriding, for preventing diffusion of a metal constituting a wiring layer, a conductive barrier layer, formed on the insulating barrier layer, for preventing diffusion of the metal, and a wiring layer formed of the metal on the conductive barrier layer. A bottom portion of the wiring layer is protected by the conductive barrier layer and the insulating barrier layer. Therefore, the diffusion of the metal constituting the wiring layer can be surely prevented.
The present invention discloses a method for forming a layer of nitrogen and silicon containing material on a substrate by first providing a heated substrate and then flowing a gas which has silicon and nitrogen atoms but no carbon atoms in the same molecule over said heated substrate at a pressure of not higher than 500 Torr, such that a layer of nitrogen and silicon containing material is formed on the surface. The present invention is further directed to a composite structure that includes a substrate and a layer of material containing nitrogen and silicon but not carbon overlying the substrate for stopping chemical species from reaching the substrate. The present invention is further directed to a structure that includes a semiconducting substrate, a gate insulator on the substrate, a nitrogen-rich layer on top of the gate insulator, and a gate electrode on the nitrogen-rich layer, wherein the nitrogen-rich layer blocks diffusion of contaminating species from the gate electrode to the gate insulator.
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor element is formed, an interlayer insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating barrier layer, formed on the interlayer insulating film by plasma nitriding, for preventing diffusion of a metal constituting a wiring layer, a conductive barrier layer, formed on the insulating barrier layer, for preventing diffusion of the metal, and a wiring layer formed of the metal on the conductive barrier layer. A bottom portion of the wiring layer is protected by the conductive barrier layer and the insulating barrier layer. Therefore, the diffusion of the metal constituting the wiring layer can be surely prevented.
