Method of forming a metal silicide layer on a source/drain region of a MOSFET device

[0002] (1) Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to methods used to fabricate semiconductor devices, and more specifically to a method used to form a metal silicide layer on a source/drain region of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, (MOSFET).

[0004] (2) Description of Prior Art

[0005] The semiconductor industry is continually striving to improve the performance of semiconductor devices. This objective has in part been satisfied via micro-miniaturization, or the ability to fabricate semiconductor devices with sub-micron features. Advances in specific fabrication disciplines such as photolithography and dry etching have allowed the attainment of devices with sub-micron features to be realized. Sub-micron regions result in areas of decreased capacitance, when compared to counterparts fabricated with larger features, thus reducing the capacitance component of the device RC delay. In addition the resistance component of the RC factor has in part been addressed via resistance decreases in word line and bit line resistance, via the use of metal silicide layers on gate structures as well as on source/drain regions. One method of forming metal silicide layers on these regions has been via use of a Self-ALIgned metal siliCIDE, (salicide), procedure, in which a blanket metal is deposited, annealed to form metal silicide on regions in which the metal layer overlaid silicon, (top surface of gate structure and source/drain region), followed by the removal of unreacted metal from insulator surfaces, such as insulator spacers located on the sides of the gate structure. However one problem encountered with the salicide procedure is the inability to completely remove unreacted metal from the insulator spacers, resulting in gate to substrate leakage or shorts. In addition prolonged anneal cycles, used to insure salicide reaction can result in the formation of metal silicide ribbons on the surface of the insulator spacers, extending from the gate structure to source/drain regions, again resulting in yield loss in terms of gate to substrate leakage or shorts.

[0006] The present invention will describe a procedure for forming metal silicide on source/drain regions via implantation of metal ions, only into the source/drain region, thus eliminating the risk of forming ribbons, or leaving unreacted metal, on the sides of the insulator spacers, sometimes encountered with the salicide procedure. Prior art, such as Fazan et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,700, describe a method of forming a metal silicide layer on a blanket polysilicon layer, prior to defining the metal silicide—polysilicon gate structure. That prior art however does not describe this present invention in which metal silicide is formed only on a source/drain region, via implantation of metal ions, only into the source/drain region.

[0007] It is an object of this invention to form a metal silicide layer only on a source/drain region of a MOSFET device.

[0008] It is another object of this invention to implant metal ions into a source/drain region of a MOSFET device.

[0009] It is yet another object of this invention to perform an anneal cycle to form metal silicide on the source/drain region, via reaction of the implanted metal ions and silicon, available from the source/drain region.

[0010] It is still yet another object of this invention to selectively remove unreacted metal ions from the surface of the metal silicide layer.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention a method of forming metal silicide on a source/drain region of a MOSFET device, is described. After formation of a silicon dioxide gate insulator layer, a polysilicon or polycide layer is deposited, followed by the deposition of a dielectric layer. Definition of a gate structure, capped with the dielectric layer, is followed by formation of a lightly doped source/drain, (LDD) region, in a region of the semiconductor substrate not covered by the capped gate structure. After formation of insulator spacers on the sides of the capped, gate structure, a heavily doped source/drain region is formed in a region of the semiconductor substrate not covered by the capped gate structure or by the insulator spacers. Metal ions are next implanted into the heavily doped source/drain region, followed by an anneal procedure, used to form the desired metal silicide layer. Unreacted metal ions are then selectively removed from the top surface of the metal silicide layer. An optional second anneal cycle can next be performed to create a lower resistance phase of the metal silicide layer.

[0012] The object and other advantages of this invention are best described in the preferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawings that include:

[0013] FIGS. 1-4, which schematically, in cross-sectional style, describe key stages of fabrication used to form a metal silicide layer on a source/drain region of a MOSFET device, featuring implantation of metal ions into the source/drain region.

[0014] The method of forming a metal silicide layer on a MOSFET source/drain region, featuring implanted metal ions, used for the metal component of the silicide layer, will now be described in detail. A P type, semiconductor substrate 1, comprised with single crystalline silicon, with a <100> crystallographic orientation, is used and schematically shown in FIG. 1. A silicon dioxide, gate insulator layer 2, is thermally grown, to a thickness between about 50 to 300 Angstroms, in an oxygen-steam ambient, at a temperature between about 800 to 1200° C. A polysilicon layer 3, is next deposited via low pressure chemical vapor deposition, (LPCVD), procedures, to a thickness between about 500 to 3500 Angstroms. Polysilicon layer 3, can be doped in situ, during deposition, via the addition of arsine, or phosphine, to a silane ambient, or polysilicon layer 3, can be deposited intrinsically then doped via implantation of arsenic or phosphorous ions. If desired a polycide layer, comprised of an overlying tungsten silicide layer, and an underlying polysilicon layer, can be used to replace more resistive polysilicon layer 3. This is accomplished via deposition of the underlying polysilicon layer, at a thickness between about 500 to 2000 Angstroms, via LPCVD procedures, followed by the deposition of an overlying tungsten silicide layer, again obtained using LPCVD procedures, to a thickness between about 500 to 1500 Angstroms. The underlying polysilicon layer again can be doped in situ, during deposition, or deposited intrinsically then doped via ion implantation procedures. Dielectric layer 4, comprised of either silicon oxide, or silicon nitride, is next deposited via LPCVD or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), procedures, to a thickness between about 300 to 2000 Angstroms. The result of these procedures are schematically shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] A photoresist shape, not shown in the drawings, is next used as an etch mask to allow an anisotropic, reactive ion etch (RIE), procedure to define capped gate structure 10, comprised of dielectric layer 4, on polysilicon or polycide layer 3. The RIE procedure is performed using CF₄or CHF₃as an etchant for dielectric layer 4, while SF₆or Cl₂is used to pattern polysilicon or polycide layer 3. Removal of the photoresist shape, used as a mask for definition of capped gate structure 10, is accomplished via plasma oxygen ashing and careful wet cleans, with a buffered hydrofluoric component of the wet cleans, removing the portion of silicon dioxide gate insulator layer 2, not covered by the capped gate structure. A lightly doped source/drain (LDD), region 5, is next formed in regions of semiconductor substrate 1, not covered by capped gate structure 10, via implantation of arsenic or phosphorous ions, at an energy between about 20 to 60 KeV, and at a dose between about 1E13 to 1E14 atoms/cm². The result of these procedures is schematically shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] Insulator spacers 6, are next formed on the sides of capped gate structure 10. This is accomplished by deposition of an insulator layer such as silicon oxide, or silicon nitride, at a thickness between about 500 to 3000 Angstroms, using either LPCVD or PECVD procedures. An anisotropic RIE procedure, using either CF₄or CHF₃as an etchant, is used to create insulator spacers 6, located on the sides of capped gate structure 10. Heavily doped source/drain region 7, is next formed in regions of semiconductor substrate 1, not covered by capped gate structure 10, or by insulator spacers 6, via implantation of arsenic or phosphorous ions, at an energy between about 30 to 70 KeV, and at a dose between about 1E14 to 1E15 atoms/cm². The results of these procedures is schematically shown in FIG. 2. Although this invention is shown as applied to an N channel, MOSFET device, it can also be applied to a P channel, MOSFET device, by formation of an N well region in the semiconductor substrate, and the formation of P type LDD and P type heavily doped source/drain regions, in the N well region of the P channel, MOSFET device.

[0017] The method of forming metal silicide on a source/drain region, via implantation of metal ions, is next addressed and schematically shown in FIGS. 3-4. A blanket ion implantation procedure is performed placing metal ions 8, into a top portion of heavily doped source/drain region 7. This is schematically shown in FIG. 3. Dielectric layer 4, prevents implantation of metal ions 8, into the polysilicon or polycide component of capped gate structure 10. Metal ions 8, can be chosen from a group that includes titanium, tantalum, platinum, palladium, cobalt and nickel.

[0018] An anneal procedure is next employed to allow reaction of metal ions 8, and heavily doped source/drain region 7, resulting in the selective formation of metal silicide layer 9, at a thickness between about 30 to 1000 Angstroms, on heavily doped source/drain region 7. The conditions used for the anneal cycle are dependent on the metal ion used, and can be performed using conventional furnace procedures, or using rapid thermal anneal (RTA), procedures, in an nitrogen ambient. Selective removal of any unreacted metal ions, still remaining on the top surface of metal silicide layer 9, is next performed using a solution comprised of H₂O₂—NH₄OH—H₂O, at a temperature between about 60 to 100° C. If lower source/drain resistance is desired a second RTA procedure can be performed to convert metal silicide layer 9, to a lower resistance phase. This procedure using metal implantation as a component of the metal silicide formation reduces the risk of substrate, (source/drain), to gate shorts, sometimes encountered using the procedure in which the metal layer is deposited, with subsequent unreacted metal, or metal silicide ribbons, having to be removed from the insulator spacer to prevent substrate to gate leakage or shorts.

[0019] While this 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 this invention.