Optimized TaCN thin film diffusion barrier for copper metallization

[0002] (1) Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a method of barrier layer formation in the fabrication of integrated circuits, and more particularly, to a method of forming an optimized tantalum carbide nitride barrier layer to prevent copper diffusion in the manufacture of integrated circuits.

[0004] (2) Description of the Prior Art

[0005] In a common application for integrated circuit fabrication, a contact/via opening is etched through an insulating layer to an underlying conductive area to which electrical contact is to be made. A barrier layer, typically titanium nitride, is formed within the contact/via opening. A conducting layer material, typically tungsten, is deposited within the contact/via opening. As device sizes continue to shrink, these typical materials are no longer adequate. Because of its lower bulk resistivity, Copper (Cu) metallization is the future technology for feature sizes of 0.18 microns and below. Cu metallization requires a robust diffusion barrier to prevent the copper from diffusing through the active junctions.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,394 to Iguchi et al discloses a barrier layer that may comprise TaN, TaC, or TaNC. U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,400 to Murakami et al discloses a barrier layer comprising TaC or TaNC. While these two patents disclose a TaNC barrier layer, they do not specify the optimal nitrogen concentration within the film which will maximize simultaneously the barrier properties and low electrical resistivity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,750 to Hoshino shows a Ta or TaN barrier layer. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,587 to Merchant et al and 6,028,359 to Merchant et al teach barrier layers of TaC, TaN, or TaB.

[0007] A principal object of the present invention is to provide an effective and very manufacturable method of forming a robust barrier layer in a copper metallization process in the fabrication of integrated circuit devices.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for forming a tantalum carbide nitride barrier layer that will prevent copper diffusion in the fabrication of integrated circuit devices.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a method for forming a tantalum carbide nitride diffusion barrier layer having optimized nitrogen concentration for improved thermal stability.

[0010] In accordance with the objects of this invention a new method of forming a tantalum carbide nitride diffusion barrier layer having optimized nitrogen concentration for improved thermal stability is achieved. A contact region is provided in a substrate. A via is opened through an insulating layer to the contact region. A tantalum carbide nitride barrier layer is deposited within the via wherein the tantalum carbide nitride layer has an optimized nitrogen content of between about 17% and 24% atomic percentage. A layer of copper is deposited overlying the tantalum carbide nitride barrier layer to complete copper metallization in the fabrication of an integrated circuit device.

[0011] In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this description, there is shown:

[0012] FIGS. 1 through 4 schematically illustrate in cross-sectional representation a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIGS. 5athrough 5fgraphically illustrate SIMS depth profiles of various barrier layer structures.

[0014] FIG. 6 graphically illustrates X-ray diffraction patterns of various barrier layer structures.

[0015] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a portion of a partially completed integrated circuit device. There is shown a semiconductor substrate 10, preferably composed of monocrystalline silicon. Semiconductor devices structures may be formed in and on the semiconductor substrate and covered with an insulating layer. The semiconductor device structures and the insulating layer thereover are represented by layer 12 in FIG. 1. 14 is a region to be contacted by the copper metallization process of the present invention. For example, 14 may be a source/drain region or a gate electrode, or a first level of metallization. A single damascene process will be illustrated in the drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing figures, but is applicable to any application in which copper metallization is used.

[0016] An insulating layer 20, composed of silicon dioxide, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), borosilicate glass (BSG), phosphosilicate glass (PSG), or the like, is deposited over the surface of the substrate to a thickness of between about 5000 to 9000 Angstroms and preferably planarized.

[0017] A contact/via opening or a damascene opening 22 is etched through the insulating layer 20 to contact region 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Copper can diffuse into the insulating layer adjacent to the contact opening. Therefore, a diffusion barrier layer must be deposited within the opening 22 before it is filled with copper. The diffusion barrier layer must be able to prevent copper diffusion especially at increased temperatures. Thus, the thermal stability of the diffusion barrier is critical. The inventors have found that the thermal stability of a tantalum carbide nitride layer with an optimized nitrogen concentration is superior to the thermal stability of a TaCN layer with excessive nitrogen content or TaC (without nitrogen doping).

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, a tantalum carbide nitride diffusion barrier layer 26 is deposited over the insulating layer and within the opening 22. The TaCN layer is sputter deposited to a thickness of between about 5 and 100 nanometers. Nitrogen is added to TaC during sputtering. The sputtering process comprises reactive sputtering of a TaC target in a gas mixture of Ar and nitrogen. The N₂/Ar flow ratio varies from 0/24 to 6/24 sccm. Pressure is maintained at between about 5 and 10 mtorr, and preferably about 7.6 mtorr. Prior to deposition, the sputtering system is evacuated to a base pressure of about 5×10⁻⁷torr or below. The inventors have discovered that a nitrogen concentration optimized to be in the range of 17% to 24% atomic percentage provides the robust copper diffusion barrier of the present invention. A nitrogen to Argon flow rate ratio of (1.5-2.5):24 provides this optimized nitrogen concentration. Most preferably, a N₂to Ar flow ratio of 2:24, which is equivalent to a 22% atomic percentage nitrogen concentration, provides the optimal diffusion barrier layer.

[0019] Table 1 illustrates the experimental results of optimizing the nitrogen content of a TaCN barrier layer. N₂to Ar flow ratios and the resulting nitrogen concentration (atomic percentage) are shown. For each concentration, the resistivity was measured in micro-ohms per centimeter. The failure temperature was also measured in degrees Celsius. The failure temperature is defined as the thermal annealing temperature that renders all annealed Cu/barrier/p⁺n diodes with leakage currents higher than 1×10⁻⁷Angstroms/cm².

[0020] The Table shows that the maximum stable temperature occurs for the barrier layer having 22% nitrogen atomic percentage.

[0021] FIGS. 5athrough 5fshow SIMS depth profiles of annealed Cu/barrier/Si structures. The structures were annealed at 650° C. FIG. 5ashows a barrier layer of TaC and FIG. 5fshows a barrier layer of TaN. It can be seen in these two figures that the copper has penetrated the TaC and TaN barrier layers. FIGS. 5bthrough 5eshow TaCN barrier layers formed by varying the N₂to Ar flow ratio in the range of 1.5/24 to 2.5/24. It can be seen in these four figures that the copper does not penetrate the TaCN barrier.

[0022] FIG. 6 is an X-ray difraction graph of Cu/TaCN/Si structures after 850° C. annealing in N₂for 30 minutes. The barrier thickness is 60 nm. The TaCN sample (2/24) has the best barrier property. All other samples show the signal of copper silicide peaks (Cu₃Si), an indication that copper has penetrated through the barrier and reacted with the silicon.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, a layer of copper 28 is sputter deposited over the barrier layer to fill the contact/via opening. Or, a copper seed layer is deposited by physical or chemical vapor deposition followed by electro-chemical deposition of copper to fill a deep via hole. Copper diffusion into the dielectric layer 20 is prevented by the improved TaCN diffusion barrier layer of the present invention.

[0024] The copper layer and the barrier layer are patterned to form the desired electrical contact. Processing continues as is conventional in the art to complete fabrication of the integrated circuit. The process of the present invention can be used at any level of metallization.

[0025] The process of the invention results in an effective and very manufacturable tantalum carbide nitride diffusion barrier for copper metallization. The optimized nitrogen concentration of the TaCN barrier layer of the present invention provides maximum thermal stability.

[0026] While the 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 the invention.