Transistor fabrication method

[0002] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/148,751, filed on Nov. 5, 1993.

[0003] This invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits and to methods for their fabrication.

[0004] Semiconductor integrated circuits are often fabricated by creating raised topographic features upon a substrate. Then a dopant species is introduced into the substrate with the raised topographic features serving to mask a portion of the substrate. For example, in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits using field effect transistors (FETS), a gate stack (typically including a gate oxide with an overlying body of polysilicon) is formed upon a silicon substrate. Then a dopant species is introduced into a silicon substrate by diffusion or ion implantation to create the source and drain regions on both sides of the gate stack. As the dopant species is introduced, the gate stack serves as a self-aligned mask shielding the channel under the gate from the dopant species.

[0005] Of course, during the above-described dopant introduction, the gate stack is subjected to the same environment as the to-be-formed source and drain regions are subjected. For example, if ion implantation techniques are employed to create the source and drain, the gate stack is exposed to ion implantation of the same dopant species as the to-be-formed source and drain regions.

[0006] In the past, exposure of the gate stack to ion implantation species has not generally created a problem because the implanted species have been completely absorbed by the gate polysilicon. However, as integrated circuit geometries have continued to shrink, the thickness of gate stacks has also shrunk. If the thickness of the gate is too low relative to the implant dose energy, the implanted species may penetrate through the gate.

[0007] Penetration of the implanted species through the gate is often termed “channeling.” If the energy of the implanted species is great enough and the polysilicon grains are oriented with the direction of the implant species, then the range of implanted species becomes greater than the thickness of the gate stack, and the implanted species may arrive at the gate oxide-silicon interface with enough energy to penetrate into or perhaps through the gate oxide. Thus, channeling depends upon the size and orientation of the polysilicon, as well as the energy of the implant species. A single large grain, if oriented parallel to the implant direction, can permit channeling.

[0008] When channeling occurs, the silicon surface beneath the gate may be inverted, leading to transistor leakage and/or shifts in the threshold voltage. Another adverse affect of channeling is gate oxide degradation. In addition, channeling may cause flat band voltage shifts in polysilicon capacitors in the same integrated circuit. Heretofore, the channeling problem has not posed a serious obstacle to integrated circuit designers because gate stacks in previous generation integrated circuits have been thick enough to prevent channeling.

[0009] These problems are alleviated by the present invention which illustratively includes:

[0010] forming a dielectric layer upon a substrate;

[0011] forming a conductive layer upon the dielectric layer;

[0012] forming a material layer overlying the conductive layer;

[0013] forming a patterned resist upon the material layer;

[0014] at least partially etching the material layer to form a raised feature;

[0015] removing the resist;

[0016] using the raised feature as a mask, anisotropically etching the conductive layer and the dielectric layer, thereby forming a gate;

[0017] forming a source and drain region; and

[0018] removing the mask.

[0019] FIGS. 1-20 are cross-sectional views presenting illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a substrate which may, typically, be silicon, epitaxial silicon, polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or doped silicon. In general, the term substrate refers to a body having a surface upon which other materials may be formed.

[0021] Reference numeral 13 denotes an oxide layer which may typically have a thickness between 30 Å and 300 Å.

[0022] Reference numeral 15 denotes a polysilicon layer which may or may not be doped. The thickness of polysilicon layer 15 is typically desirably between 200 Å and 5000 Å.

[0023] Reference numeral 17 denotes a doped silicon dioxide layer. The thickness of layer 17 is typically desirably between 100 Å and 4000Å.

[0024] Desirably, layer 17 may be formed as a single layer or sometimes as a bilayer. For example, layer 17 may be formed from BPSG having approximately 4% boron and 4% phosphorous by weight. Alternatively, layer 17 may be formed from BPSG, having approximately 1% boron and 5% phosphorus. Furthermore, layer 17 may; be formed from PSG having a doping of approximately 2% or greater phosphorous. Other suitable materials for layer 17 are BPSG, plasma enhanced doped or undoped oxide, spin-on glass, silicon nitride (LPCVD or plasma enhanced CVD), or silicon oxynitride. Generally, layer 17 may be a doped silicon dioxide formed from a variety of precursors such as TEOS, silane, DADBS, etc.

[0025] Layer 17 may be formed as a bilayer, as mentioned above. For example, layer 17 may be one of the forms of doped silicon oxide mentioned above formed over an undoped silicon oxide. Alternatively, layer 17 may be a single silicon oxide layer whose doping gradually increases from bottom to top. Layer 17 may also be a layer of silicon nitride with an underlying layer of silicon oxide which serves as an etch stop during subsequent etching steps.

[0026] Layer 21 is a patterned photoresist layer.

[0027] Turning to FIG. 2, a gate stack is defined, preferably by utilizing patterned photoresist 21 to either partially or completely etch through layer 17. If layer 17 is a bilayer, typically, only the upper layer is etched while photoresist 21 is in place. If layer 17 is a single layer, it may be etched completely.

[0028] In any case, after layer 17 has been subjected to the etch process for an appropriate period of time, resist 21 may be removed and the portion 117 of layer 17 beneath resist 21 may be used as a mask for subsequent etching which ultimately defines gate 23 shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, resist 21 may be permitted to remain in place during the entire etching process. (Removal of resist 21 often provides superior linewidth control.)

[0029] In FIG. 3, after gate 23 is defined, implantation species 25 is directed at gate 23 and substrate 11, forming shallow junctions 27 and 29. (Definition of gate 23 is usually accomplished by dry etching of layers 15 and 17 followed by wet etching of layer 13.) Layer 17 helps to prevent channeling through gate stack 23.

[0030] Turning to FIG. 4, spacers 31 and 33 are formed, preferably, from undoped silicon dioxide by depositing and then anisotropically etching a layer of silicon dioxide. Spacers 31 and 33 abut gate stack 23. Implantation species 35 is directed at gate stack 23 and substrate 11, forming deep junctions 31 and 33.

[0031] Turning to FIG. 5, annealing steps, understood by those skilled in the art, are performed to drive in the combined junctions which, for convenience, are now designated by reference numerals 37 and 39. Next, layer 17 is removed by etching processes with high selectivity to silicon dioxide.

[0032] Wet etching formulas based upon HF tend to attack doped glass more quickly than undoped glass. However, such processes nevertheless do etch undoped glass and may cause undesirable reduction of the bird's beak, leading to transistor leakage.

[0033] Layer 17 may also be removed utilizing NH₄OH/H₂O₂. The use of NH₄OH/H₂O₂is termed an ammonium peroxide (AP) clean. The preferred formfula is eight parts H₂O, two parts H₂O₂(30% concentrated), and one part concentrated NH₄OH at approximately 80° C. Dry etch recipes may also be employed to remove layer 17. P-glass may be removed by unbuffered HF or NH₄OH/H₂O₂.

[0034] If silicon nitride is used as layer 17, it can be removed in hot phosphoric acid or in plasma using chemistries selective to oxide. In such an event a protective oxide layer may be previously formed on top of layer 15 to protect it from an attack by the plasma. Alternately, plasmaless dry etching using gas phase fluorides such as chlorine trifluoride, bromine trifluoride, iodide pentafluoride and xenon difluoride can be used.

[0035] If silicide is not desired upon gate stack 23 or over junctions 37 and 39, conventional processing may begin at this point. For example, a dielectric may be blanket deposited, windows opened to expose junctions 37 and 39, and first level metallization formed.

[0036] Layer 17 has prevented channeling through the gate which consists of layers 13, and 15. Furthermore, layer 17 has been removed without risk of damage to the gate, the substrate, or the field oxide.

[0037] If silicide is desired, either upon gate stack 23 or over junctions 37 and 39, a variety of processing options are available. The next few paragraphs will explain how silicide may be formed upon the gate 23 and junctions 37 and 39.

[0038] Turning to FIG. 6, layer 41 of refractory metal is blanket deposited.

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates that silicide regions 43, 45 and 47 have been formed after heat treatments known to those skilled in the art. No silicide forms upon oxide spacers 31 and 33. Unreacted refractory metal remaining upon spacers 33 and 31 may be removed by methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0040] Alternatively, if it is desired to form a silicide over junctions 37 and 39 without forming a silicide over gate stack 23, a slightly different process may be employed. Starting from FIG. 3, a drive in step is performed to create regions 37 and 39 shown in FIG. 8. However, layer 17 is not removed. After regions 37 and 39 are formed, layer 49 of refractory metal, for example, titanium or cobalt, is deposited.

[0041] After appropriate heat treatment, silicide regions 51 and 55 in FIG. 9 are formed over junctions 37 and 39. No silicide is formed upon gate stack 23, because refractory metal 49 does not react to form a silicide with layer 17. Unreacted refractory metal is removed by methods known to those skilled in the art. Subsquently, layer 17 can be removed to lower the stack height.

[0042] Should it be desired to form a silicided gate without silicided source or drain, the structure of FIG. 10 (which is similar to FIG. 3) is created by the processes described above in the creation of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 10, oxide layer 17 is positioned above conductor 15 and gate oxide 13. Source and drain regions are denoted by reference numerals 27 and 29, respectively. Spacers 200 are formed.

[0043] Next, turning to FIG. 11, the structure of FIG. 10 is subjected to an oxidizing ambient and thermal oxide 57 is grown upon substrate 11, covering source and drain regions 27 and 29.

[0044] In FIG. 12, oxide 17 is removed by techniques described above. Because oxide 17 is doped, it may be singly removed without a risk of damaging thermal oxide 57.

[0045] Turning to FIG. 13, refractory metal layer 59 is deposited on top of conductor 15 and thermal oxide 57. In FIG. 14, the structure has been exposed to a furnace treatment or a rapid thermal anneal process, thereby causing silicidation of polysilicon 15 by refractory metal 59. Silicidation cannot occur over source and drain region 27, 29 because of the presence of oxide 57. Next, the unsilicided refractory metal is removed, leaving only silicide 16 on top of conductor 15.

[0046] Should a silicided gate be desired with silicided source or drains, the procedure initially depicted in FIG. 15 may also be followed. This procedure permits the formation of a silicided gate having, for example, titanium silicide and source/drain regions having a different type of silicide, e.g., cobalt silicide. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 11 denotes a silicon substrate covered by an oxide layer 13 having a typical thickness of 150 Å, a polysilicon layer 15 having a typical thickness of 2000 Å, and a silicide layer 73 having a typical thickness of 1000 Å. Silicide layer 73 is formed by chemical vapor deposition or sputtering. Alternatively, a refractory metal may be deposited and reacted to form a silicide. Doped silicon dioxide layer 17 is deposited upon silicide layer 73. The oxide helps to prevent blistering or lifting of silicide 73 in subsequent processing.

[0047] Turning to FIG. 16, gate 77 is formed utilizing the technique described above.

[0048] The presence of layer 17 upon gate stack 77 serves to protect the silicide from ion implantation. If a spacer 200 is formed, it will protect the silicide in further processing, e.g., HF cleans where the silicide is titanium-silicide.

[0049] In FIG. 17, blanket layer 100 of refractory metal silicide, which may be a different refractory metal than that utilized in silicide 17, is deposited. Refractory metal 100 is reacted by either rapid thermal annealing or furnace heating to form silicide 101 depicted in FIG. 18. Next, oxide 17 is removed. Subsequent processing may include the blanket deposition of a dielectric in the creation of contact openings to the silicided source and drains.

[0050] The present invention may also be employed to form a transistor without a silicided source or drain region. In FIG. 19, a gate having oxide 13, polysilicon conductor 15, and silicon oxide masking layer 17 is formed by the processes described previously. Spacers 200 are formed by the blanket deposition of a dielectric and subsequent anisotropic etching of the dielectric. Ion implantation with dopant species 79 is performed to form gates 81 and 83. The presence of layer 17 serves to protect the gate comprised of polysilicon 15 and 13 and the underlying portion of substrate 11 from channeling. Subsequently, layer 17 is removed by the processes described above, leaving a gate comprised of polysilicon 15 which may, for example, have a thickness of 2000 Å, and oxide 13 which may, for example, have a thickness of 90 Å.