US 6,232,176 B1Grant
Integrated circuitry, DRAM cells, capacitors, and methods of forming integrated circuitry, DRAM cells and capacitors
Issue Date:2001-05-15
•14 Claims
•18 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
The invention includes a number of methods and structures pertaining to integrated circuitry. The invention encompasses a method of forming an integrated circuit comprising: a) forming an insulative material layer over a first node location and a second node location, the insulative material layer having an uppermost surface; and b) forming first and second conductive pedestals extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first and second node locations, the conductive pedestals comprising exposed uppermost surfaces which are above the uppermost surface of the insulative material layer. The invention also encompasses an integrated circuit comprising: a) a first node location and a second node location within a semiconductor substrate; b) a transistor gate electrically connecting the first and second node locations; c) an insulative material layer over the semiconductor substrate, the insulative material layer comprising an uppermost surface; d) a first conductive pedestal extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first node location; e) a second conductive pedestal extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the second node location; f) the conductive pedestals comprising uppermost surfaces which are at a common elevational height relative to one another and are above the uppermost surface of the insulative material layer in a region proximate the pedestals.
Metadata
Assignee
- Micron Technology, Inc.
Inventors
- Kunal R. Parekh
- Angela S. Parekh
Application Information
Application Number:US 09/276,786
Filing Date:1999-03-24
Priority Date:1997-02-11
Art Unit:7
Classifications
IPC:
H01L 218242
Field of Search:
438253438255438396438398
Patent Drawings (18 sheets)
Description
[0002] This patent application is a continuation resulting from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/799,492, which was filed on Feb. 11, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,122.
Technical Field
[0003] This invention pertains to integrated circuitry and to methods of forming integrated circuitry. The invention is thought to have particular significance in application to methods of forming dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell structures, to DRAM cell structures.
Background of the Invention
[0004] A commonly used semiconductor memory device is a DRAM cell. A DRAM cell generally consists of a capacitor coupled through a transistor to a bitline. A continuous challenge in the semiconductor industry is to increase DRAM circuit density. Accordingly, there is a continuous effort to decrease the size of memory cell components.
[0005] Another continuous trend in the semiconductor industry is to minimize processing steps. Accordingly, it is desirable to utilize common steps for the formation of separate DRAM components. For instance, it is desirable to utilize common steps for the formation of the DRAM capacitor structures and the DRAM bitline contacts.
[0006] A semiconductor wafer fragment 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 showing a prior art DRAM array 83. Wafer fragment 10 comprises a semiconductive material 12, field oxide regions 14, and wordlines 24 and 26. Wordlines 24 and 26 comprise a gate oxide layer 16, a polysilicon layer 18, a silicide layer 20 and a silicon oxide layer 22. Silicide layer 20 comprises a refractory metal silicide, such as tungsten silicide, and polysilicon layer 18 typically comprises polysilicon doped with a conductivity enhancing dopant. Nitride spacers 30 are laterally adjacent wordlines 24 and 26.
[0007] Electrical node locations 25, 27 and 29 are between wordlines 24 and 26 and are electrically connected by transistor gates comprised by wordlines 24 and 26. Node locations 25, 27 and 29 are diffusion regions formed within semiconductive material 12.
[0008] A borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) layer 34 is over semiconductive material 12 and wordlines 24 and 26. An oxide layer 32 is provided between BPSG layer 34 and material 12. Oxide layer 32 inhibits diffusion of phosphorus from BPSG layer 34 into underlying materials.
[0009] Conductive pedestals 54, 55 and 56 extend through BPSG layer 34 to node locations 25, 27 and 29, respectively. Capacitor constructions 62 and 64 contact upper surfaces of pedestals 54 and 56, respectively. Capacitor constructions 62 and 64 comprise a storage node layer 66, a dielectric layer 68, and a cell plate layer 70. Dielectric layer 68 comprises an electrically insulative layer, such as silicon nitride. Cell plate layer 70 comprises conductively doped polysilicon, and may alternatively be referred to as a cell layer 70. Storage node layer 66 comprises conductively doped hemispherical grain polysilicon.
[0010] A conductive bitline plug 75 contacts an upper surface of pedestal 55. Bitline plug 75 may comprise, for example, tungsten. Together, bitline plug 75 and pedestal 55 comprise a bitline contact 77.
[0011] A bitline 76 extends over capacitors 62 and 64 and in electrical connection with bitline contact 77. Bitline 76 may comprise, for example, aluminum.
[0012] The capacitors 62 and 64 are electrically connected to bitline contact 77 through transistor gates comprised by wordlines 26. A first DRAM cell 79 comprises capacitor 62 electrically connected to bitline 76 through a wordline 26 and bitline contact 77. A second DRAM cell 81 comprises capacitor 64 electrically connected to bitline 76 through wordline a 26 and bitline contact 77. DRAM array 83 comprises first and second DRAM cells 79 and 81.
Summary of the Invention
[0013] The invention includes a number of methods and structures pertaining to integrated circuit technology, including: methods of forming DRAM memory cell constructions; methods of forming capacitor constructions; methods of forming capacitor and bitline constructions; DRAM memory cell constructions; and capacitor constructions.
[0014] The invention encompasses a method of forming an integrated circuit wherein an insulative material layer having an uppermost surface is formed over a first node location and a second node location, and wherein first and second conductive pedestals are formed extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first and second node locations, respectively. The conductive pedestals has exposed uppermost surfaces above the uppermost surface of the insulative material layer.
[0015] The invention also encompasses an integrated circuit which includes a first node location and a second node location within a semiconductor substrate, the first and second node locations being connectable through a transistor gate and being under an insulative material which has an uppermost surface. The integrated circuit further includes a first conductive pedestal extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first node location and a second conductive pedestal extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the second node location, the conductive pedestals having uppermost surfaces which are substantially at a common elevational height relative to one another and which are above the uppermost surface of the insulative material layer.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor wafer fragment comprising a prior art DRAM cell.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional process view of a semiconductor wafer fragment at preliminary processing step of a processing method of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 5. is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 4.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 5.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 7.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 8.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 9.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 10.
[0028] FIG. 12 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 11.
[0029] FIG. 13 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 12.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 13.
[0031] FIG. 15 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 14.
[0032] FIG. 16 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 15.
[0033] FIG. 17 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 16.
[0034] FIG. 18 is a view of the FIG. 2 wafer fragment at a processing step subsequent to that of FIG. 17.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0035] This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
[0036] A method of forming a DRAM cell of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 2-18. In describing the method, like numerals from the preceding discussion of the prior art are utilized where appropriate, with differences being indicated by the suffix “a” or with different numerals.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, a semiconductor wafer fragment 10ais illustrated at a preliminary step of the present invention. Wafer fragment 10acomprises a semiconductive material 12a, field oxide regions 14a, and a thin gate oxide layer 16a. Over gate oxide layer 16ais formed polysilicon layer 18a, silicide layer 20aand silicon oxide layer 22a. Silicide layer 20acomprises a refractory metal silicide, such as tungsten silicide, and polysilicon layer 18atypically comprises polysilicon doped with a conductivity enhancing dopant. Layers 16a, 18a, 20aand 22acan be formed by conventional methods.
[0038] Referring next to FIG. 3, polysilicon layer 18a, silicide layer 20aand silicon oxide layer 22aare etched to form wordlines 24aand 26a. Such etching can be accomplished by conventional methods. Between wordlines 24aand 26aare defined electrical node locations 25a, 27aand 29a, with wordlines 26acomprising transistor gates which electrically connect node locations 25a, 27a, and 29a. Node locations 25a, 27aand 29aare typically diffusion regions formed within semiconductive material 12aby ion implanting conductivity enhancing dopant into the material 12a. Such ion implanting may occur after patterning wordlines 24aand 26a, utilizing wordlines 24aand 26aas masks. Alternatively, the diffusion regions may be formed prior to deposition of one or more of layers 18a, 20aand 22a(shown in FIG. 2). In yet other alternative methods, the diffusion regions may be formed after formation of doped polysilicon pedestals (such as the pedestals 136, 138 and 140 shown in FIG. 12, and to be described subsequently) by out-diffusion of conductivity enhancing dopant from the pedestals.
[0039] For the above-discussed reasons, defined electrical node locations 25a, 27a, and 29aneed not be electrically conductive at the preliminary step of FIG. 3. Node locations 25a, 27aand 29acould be conductive at the step of FIG. 3 if formed by ion implanting of dopant into semiconductive material 12a. On the other hand, node locations 25a, 27aand 29amay be substantially non-conductive at the preliminary step of FIG. 3 in, for example, embodiments in which node locations 25a, 27aand 29aare ultimately doped by out-diffusion of dopant from a conductively doped pedestal, such as the pedestals of FIG. 12.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a nitride layer 28ais provided over wordlines 24aand 26a, and subsequently etched to form nitride spacers 30alaterally adjacent wordlines 24aand 26a.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, an overlying oxide layer 32ais provided over wordlines 24aand 26a, and a BPSG layer 34ais provided over oxide layer 32a. Overlying oxide layer 32ais typically about 500 Angstroms thick, and BPSG layer 34ais typically about 14,000 Angstroms thick.
[0042] BPSG layer 34ais planarized, for example, by chemical-mechanical polishing to form a planar upper surface 35a. After the planarization, insulative layer 34acomprises a thickness by over the node locations which is preferably about 15,000 Angstroms. A patterned masking layer 100, preferably comprising photoresist, is formed over upper surface 35a.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 7, an anisotropic oxide etch is conducted to form openings 102, 104 and 106 extending into insulative layer 34. Openings 102, 104 and 106 may be referred to as first, second and third openings, respectively. Openings 102, 104 and 106 are over node locations 25a, 27aand 29a, respectively, but do not extend entirely to node locations 25a, 27aand 29a. Instead, openings 102, 104 and 106 comprise bases 108, 110 and 112, respectively, which are above node locations 25a, 27aand 29aby a distance “Y”. Preferably, depth “X” is greater than thickness “Y”. Accordingly, depth “X” is preferably greater than one-half of the original thickness “P” (shown in FIG. 6) of insulative layer 34. As discussed below with reference to FIG. 10, such preferred relative depths of “X” and “Y” permit a blanket etch to extend openings 102, 104 and 106 to node locations 25a, 27aand 29awithout removing layer 34afrom over wordlines 24aor 26a. A preferred depth “X” is from about 7500 Angstroms to about 10,000 Angstroms, and a preferred distance “Y” is from about 5000 Angstroms to about 7500 Angstroms.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 8, photoresist layer 100 (shown in FIG. 7) is removed. Subsequently, a spacer material layer 114 is provided over upper surface 35aof insulative material 34aand within openings 102, 104 and 106. Layer 114 is provided to a thickness which conformably deposits a layer in openings 102, 104 and 106 and thereby narrows openings 102, 104 and 106.
[0045] Layer 114 preferably comprises an insulative material, and may comprise, for example, silicon dioxide or silicon nitride. Layer 114 is preferably formed to a thickness which will narrow a cross-sectional dimension of openings 102, 104 and 106 by about a factor of three. For instance, if openings 102, 104 and 106 comprise a circular shape along a horizontal cross-section, layer 114 will preferably narrow a diameter of the circular shape by about a factor of three. Methods for depositing layer 114 are known to persons of skill in the art, and may comprise, for example, chemical vapor deposition utilizing tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS).
[0046] Referring to FIG. 9, spacer material 114 (shown in FIG. 8) is anisotropically etched to form spacers 116, 118 and 120 within openings 102, 104 and 106, respectively. Spacers 116, 118 and 120 rest upon bases 108, 110 and 112 of openings 102, 104 and 106, respectively, and comprise bottom surfaces 122, 124 and 126, which are above node locations 25a, 27a, and 29a.
[0047] Spacers 116, 118 and 120 appear discontinuous in the shown cross-sectional view of FIG. 9. However, the spacers are preferably not discontinuous. Instead, spacers 116, 118 and 120 preferably extend entirely around inner peripheries of openings 102, 104 and 106 respectively.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 10, a blanket oxide etch is conducted to extend narrowed openings 102, 104 and 106 to node locations 25a, 27aand 29arespectively. The blanket oxide etch also removes insulative layer 34aadjacent openings 102, 104 and 106, and thus forms a new upper surface 128 of layer 34a. Upper surface 128 is below an elevational height of previous upper surface 35a(shown in FIG. 9) of insulative material 34a. The blanket oxide etch will preferably comprise an anisotropic oxide etch. Methods for conducting such anisotropic oxide etch are known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The preferred relative distances of “X” (shown in FIG. 7) and “Y” (shown in FIG. 7), discussed above with reference to FIG. 7, enable the blanket etch to extend openings 102, 104 and 106 to node locations 25a, 27aand 29abefore layer 34ais etched from over wordlines 24aor 26a.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 11, a conductive material layer 129 is provided over insulative material 34aand within openings 102, 104, and 106. Conductive material layer 129 is preferably provided to a thickness of about 12,000 Angstroms, which fills openings 102, 104 and 106. Conductive layer 129 can be formed, for example, by depositing conductively doped polysilicon. An alternative example method of forming conductive layer 129 comprises alternating doped and substantially undoped layers of polysilicon and subsequently distributing dopant throughout the alternating polysilicon layers with a thermal treatment step. To aid in interpretation of this specification and the claims that follow, a doped polysilicon layer is defined as a polysilicon layer comprising greater than about 1×1019atoms/cm3of dopant and a substantially undoped polysilicon layer is defined as a polysilicon layer comprising less than about 1×1019atoms/cm3of dopant. Preferably, a substantially undoped polysilicon layer will have about 0 atoms/cm3of dopant.
[0050] An example method for forming and thermally treating alternating doped and substantially undoped polysilicon layers is as follows. First, a lower conductively doped polysilicon layer is formed to a thickness of about 2,000 Angstroms. Second, a substantially undoped polysilicon layer is formed to a thickness of about 9,000 Angstroms over the lower doped polysilicon layer. Third, an upper doped polysilicon layer is formed to a thickness of about 1,000 Angstroms over the substantially undoped polysilicon layer. Fourth, the alternating doped and undoped polysilicon layers are heated to a temperature of about 1000° C. for a time of greater than about 20 seconds to distribute the conductivity enhancing dopant throughout the alternating polysilicon layers. Preferably, such heating involves a rapid thermal process (RTP) wherein the temperature of the polysilicon layers is ramped to 1000° C. at a rate of greater than 25° C./second.
[0051] After formation of conductive layer 129, a patterned masking layer 130, preferably comprising photoresist, is provided to form exposed portions 132 and masked portions 134 of material 129.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 12, exposed portions 132 of material 129 (shown in FIG. 11) are removed to form isolated conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140. Pedestals 136, 138 and 140 comprise uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146, respectively, and comprise exposed lateral surfaces 148, 150 and 152, respectively. Uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 are all above upper surface 128 of insulative material 34ain the illustrated region about conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140. Also, as the exposed uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 were formed from a common conductive layer 128 (shown in FIG. 11), uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 are at a substantially common elevational height relative to one another.
[0053] The etch to form isolated conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140 preferably comprises an etch selective to the material of layer 129 (shown in FIG. 11) relative to the material of insulative layer 34aand relative to the material of spacers 116, 118 and 120. An example etch for the preferred condition in which conductive material 129 comprises conductively doped polysilicon, insulative material 34acomprises BPSG, and spacers 116, 118 and 120 comprise silicon dioxide, comprises an anisotropic dry polysilicon etch utilizing Cl2, or Cl2/N2.
[0054] As discussed previously, conductive layer 129 (shown in FIG. 11) may comprise alternating layers of doped and undoped polysilicon, and the dopant can be distributed throughout the layers with a subsequent thermal treatment step. Such thermal treatment step can occur either before or after the formation and isolation of pedestals 136, 138 and 140.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 13, a storage node layer 154 is formed over insulative layer 34a, over exposed lateral surfaces 148, 150 and 152, and over uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 of conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140. Storage node layer 154 preferably comprises a rugged polysilicon layer, and most preferably comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of cylindrical grain polysilicon and hemispherical grain polysilicon. The cylindrical grain polysilicon and/or hemispherical grain polysilicon create a surface roughness of storage node layer 154. Storage node layer 154 may be formed by conventional methods.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 14, storage node layer 154 (shown in FIG. 13) is subjected to an isotropic polysilicon etch. Such isotropic polysilicon etch transfers surface roughness from storage node layer 154 to lateral surfaces 148, 150 and 152, and uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 of conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140. The isotropic etch also isolates pedestals 136, 138 and 140 by removing storage node layer 154 from between pedestals 136, 138 and 140. The isotropic etch may, in embodiments which are not shown, transfer surface roughness from storage node layer 154 to upper surface 128 of insulative layer 34a.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 15, a dielectric layer 156 and a cell plate layer 158 are formed over and between conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140. Specifically, dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 extend over lateral surfaces 148, 150 and 152, and over uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 of pedestals 136, 138 and 140.
[0058] Dielectric layer 156 typically comprises an electrically insulative layer, such as silicon nitride or a composite of silicon nitride and silicon oxide. Cell plate layer 158 typically comprises an electrically conductive layer, such as conductively doped polysilicon. Dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 may be formed by conventional methods.
[0059] Pedestal 136, together with dielectric layer 156 and capacitor 158 comprises a first capacitor construction 160. Pedestal 140, together with dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 comprises a second capacitor construction 162. A patterned masking layer 164, preferably comprising photoresist, is formed over first and second capacitor construction 160 and 162. Patterned masking layer 164 masks first and second capacitor constructions 160 and 162 while leaving portions of cell plate layer 158 and dielectric layer 156 exposed between capacitor constructions 160 and 162.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 16, an isotropic etch is conducted to remove the exposed portions of cell plate layer 158 and dielectric layer 156. Removal of cell plate layer 158 electrically isolates pedestal 138 from capacitor constructions 160 and 162.
[0061] After such electrical isolation of pedestal 138, an insulative layer 166 is formed over capacitors 160 and 162, and over pedestal 138. Insulative layer 166 may comprise, for example, BPSG. A patterned masking layer 168, preferably comprising photoresist, is formed over insulative layer 166 to mask portions of insulator 166 over capacitor constructions 160 and 162, and to leave a portion of insulative layer 166 exposed over pedestal 138.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 17, the exposed portion of insulative layer 166 over pedestal 138 is removed to form a bitline plug opening 170 extending through insulative layer 166 to pedestal 138. Bitline plug opening 170 exposes uppermost surface 144 of pedestal 138.
[0063] A bitline plug layer 172 is provided over insulative material 166 and within bitline plug opening 170 to electrically contact the exposed uppermost surface 144 of pedestal 138. A portion of bitline plug layer 172 within opening 170 forms a bitline plug 174. Bitline plug layer 172 may comprise a number of materials known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, including, for example, tungsten.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 18, bitline plug layer 172 is removed from over insulative layer 166. Methods for removing bitline plug layer 172 from over layer 166 may include, for example, chemical mechanical planarization (CMP).
[0065] After removal of bitline plug layer 172 from over insulative layer 166, a bitline 176 is formed in electrical connection with bitline plug 174. Bitline 176 may comprise a number of materials known to persons of ordinary skill in the art, including, for example, aluminum or titanium.
[0066] The final construction of FIG. 18 is a DRAM array comprising a first node location 25a, a second node location 27a, and a third node location 29a. Node locations 25a, 27aand 29aare diffusion regions within a substrate 12a. Node locations 25aand 27aare electrically coupled through a transistor gate of a wordline 26a. Similarly, node locations 27aand 29aare electrically coupled through a transistor gate of a wordline 26a. An insulative layer 34ais over substrate 12aand comprises an uppermost surface 128. First, second and third conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140, respectively, extend through insulative material 34aand in electrical connection with first, second and third node locations 25a, 27aand 29a, respectively.
[0067] Conductive pedestals 136, 138 and 140 comprise uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146, respectively, and comprise lateral surfaces 148, 150 and 152, respectively. Uppermost surfaces 142, 144 and 146 are at a substantially common elevational height relative to one another, and are above uppermost surface 128 of insulative material layer 34a.
[0068] A dielectric layer 156 and a cell plate layer 158 are adjacent uppermost surfaces 142 and 146 of pedestals 136 and 140. Dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 are also adjacent lateral surfaces 148 and 152 of pedestals 136 and 140. Together, pedestal 136, dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 comprise a first capacitor construction 160. Similarly, third pedestal 140, together with dielectric layer 156 and cell plate layer 158 comprises a second capacitor construction 162. First capacitor construction 160 and second capacitor construction 162 are connected to pedestal 138 through wordlines 26a. Pedestal 138 is connected to a bitline 176 through a bitline plug 174. Accordingly, pedestal 138 and bitline plug 174 together comprise a bitline contact 180. The DRAM array of FIG. 18 may be incorporated into monolithic integrated circuitry, such as microprocessor circuitry.
[0069] To aid in interpretation of the claims that follow, the term “semiconductive substrate” is defined to mean any construction comprising semiconductive material, including, but not limited to, bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductive wafer (either alone or in assemblies comprising other material they are on), and semiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials. The term “substrate” refers to any supporting structure, including, but not limited to, the semiconductive substrates described above.
[0070] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
Certificate of Correction present
The claims shown below may not include correction changes. Use the corrected PDF for authoritative text.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of forming an integrated circuit element comprising the following steps:
forming an insulative material layer over a first node location and a second node location, the first and second node locations being electrically connectable through a transistor gate, the insulative layer having an upper surface; and
forming first and second conductive pedestals extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first and second node locations, respectively; the conductive pedestals comprising upper surfaces which are above the upper surface of the insulative material layer in a region about the conductive pedestals and comprising continuous, substantially planar upper surfaces overlying an entirety of the first and second node locations.
2. A method of forming a DRAM array, comprising:
forming an insulative material layer over a first node location, a second node location, and a third node location; the first and second node locations being electrically connected through a first transistor gate, the second and third node locations being electrically connected through a second transistor gate, the insulative material layer having an uppermost surface;
forming first, second and third conductive pedestals extending through the insulative material layer and in electrical connection with the first, second and third node locations, respectively; the conductive pedestals comprising exposed uppermost surfaces and at least one of the conductive pedestals comprising exposed lateral surfaces; at least one of the exposed uppermost surfaces being above the uppermost surface of the insulative material layer;
forming a dielectric layer over the uppermost surfaces of the first and third conductive pedestals;
forming a cell plate layer over the dielectric layer; the dielectric layer, cell plate layer and first pedestal together forming a first capacitor; the dielectric layer, cell plate layer and third pedestal together forming a second capacitor; and
forming a bitline in electrical contact with the second pedestal.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second node location is laterally between the first and third node locations.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the uppermost surfaces of the first, second and third conductive pedestals are substantially at a common elevational height relative to one another.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the insulative material layer comprises an oxide, wherein the first, second and third conductive pedestals comprises polysilicon, and wherein the step of forming first, second and third conductive pedestals comprises:
forming alternating layers of doped and substantially undoped polysilicon;
anisotropically etching the alternating polysilicon layers with an etch selective to oxide; and
thermally treating the doped and substantially undoped polysilicon layers to distribute dopant throughout the alternating polysilicon layers.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the first, second and third conductive pedestals comprise polysilicon, the method further comprising roughening the exposed uppermost and lateral surfaces of the first, second and third conductive pedestals, the roughening comprising forming a rugged polysilicon layer over the exposed uppermost surfaces and lateral surfaces of the first, second and third conductive pedestals.
7. A method of forming a DRAM array, comprising:
forming an insulative material layer over a first node location, a second node location, and a third node location;
forming first, second and third openings in the insulative material layer above the first, second and third node locations, respectively; the first, second, and third openings not extending to the first, second and third node locations;
narrowing the first, second and third openings;
extending the narrowed first, second and third openings to the first, second and third node locations, respectively;
filling the extended first, second and third openings with a conductive material;
patterning the conductive material to form first, second and third conductive pedestals within the first, second and third openings, respectively; the conductive pedestals comprising exposed uppermost surfaces and exposed lateral surfaces; the exposed uppermost surfaces of the first, second and third conductive pedestals being substantially at a common elevational height relative to one another;
forming a dielectric layer over the exposed uppermost surfaces and the exposed lateral surfaces of the conductive pedestals;
forming a cell plate layer over the dielectric layer; the first pedestal together with the dielectric layer and cell plate layer comprising a first capacitor; the third pedestal together with the dielectric layer and cell plate layer comprising a second capacitor; and
forming a bitline in electrical contact with the second pedestal.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the forming the bitline comprises forming the bitline above the first and second capacitors.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the filling of the first, second and third openings comprises forming alternating doped and substantially undoped layers of polysilicon.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the filling of the first, second and third openings comprises forming alternating doped and substantially undoped layers of polysilicon and subsequently distributing the dopant through the alternating polysilicon layers.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the first, second and third conductive pedestals comprise polysilicon, the method further comprising forming a rugged polysilicon layer over the uppermost surfaces and exposed lateral surfaces of the first, second and third polysilicon pedestals.
12. A method of forming a DRAM array comprising the following steps:
defining a first node location, a second node location, and a third node location within a semiconductive substrate; the first and second node locations being electrically connectable through a first transistor gate, the second and third node locations being electrically connectable through a second transistor gate; the first second and third node locations being conductively doped diffusion regions within the semiconductive substrate;
forming an insulative material layer over the first, second and third node locations; the insulative material layer comprising a thickness from the substrate to an uppermost surface of the insulative material layer;
forming first, second and third openings in the insulative material layer above the first, second and third node locations, respectively; the first, second, and third openings not extending entirely to the first, second and third node locations; the first, second and third openings comprising respective first, second and third depths; the first, second and third depths being greater than one-half the thickness of the insulative material layer;
forming spacers within the first, second and third openings to narrow the first, second and third openings;
extending the narrowed first, second and third openings to the first, second and third node locations, respectively;
filling the extended first, second and third openings with a conductive material;
patterning the conductive material to form first, second and third conductive pedestals within the first, second and third openings, respectively; the conductive pedestals comprising exposed uppermost surfaces and exposed lateral surfaces; the exposed uppermost surfaces of the first, second and third conductive pedestals being substantially at a common elevational height relative to one another;
forming a dielectric layer and a cell plate layer over the exposed uppermost surfaces and the exposed lateral surfaces of the conductive pedestals, the first pedestal together with the dielectric layer and cell plate layer comprising a first capacitor, the third pedestal together with the dielectric layer and cell plate layer comprising a second capacitor; and
forming a bitline in electrical contact with the second pedestal.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the spacers comprise an insulative material.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of forming the bitline comprises forming the bitline above the first and second capacitors.
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