Anneal sequence for high-κ film property optimization

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e)(1) of provisional application No. 60/347,331 filed Jan. 10, 2002.

[0003] The invention is generally related to the field of forming high dielectric constant (high-κ) films in semiconductor devices and more specifically to forming high-κ gate dielectrics.

[0004] As semiconductor devices have scaled to smaller and smaller dimensions, the gate dielectric thickness has continued to shrink. Although further scaling of devices is still possible, scaling of the gate dielectric thickness has almost reached its practical limit with the conventional gate dielectric material, silicon dioxide. Further scaling of silicon dioxide gate dielectric thickness will involve a host of problems: extremely thin layers allow for large leakage currents due to direct tunneling through the oxide. Because such layers are formed literally from a few layers of atoms, exacting process control is required to repeatably produce such layers. Uniformity of coverage is also critical because device parameters may change dramatically based on the presence or absence of even a single monolayer of dielectric material. Finally, such thin layers form poor diffusion barriers to impurities.

[0005] Realizing the limitations of silicon dioxide, researchers have searched for alternative dielectric materials which can be formed in a thicker layer than silicon dioxide and yet still produce the same field effect performance. This performance is often expressed as “equivalent oxide thickness”: although the alternative material layer may be thick, it has the equivalent effect of a much thinner layer of silicon dioxide (commonly called simply “oxide”). In some instances, silicon dioxide has been replaced with a SiON. However, even higher-K dielectrics will soon be needed. Some films currently being investigated include deposited oxides or nitrides such as HfSiO, HfSiON, AlON, and AlZrO. Manufacturable processes for incorporating these materials are needed.

[0006] In the drawings:

[0007] FIGS. 1-4 are cross-sectional diagrams of a high-κ gate dielectric formed according to an embodiment of the invention at various stages of fabrication; and

[0008] FIG. 5 is a graph of a C-V curve for a capacitor having a high-κ gate dielectric formed under various anneal conditions.

[0009] High-κ dielectric films currently being considered to replace SiON are typically deposited oxides or nitrides such as HfSiO, HfSiON, AlON, or AlZrO. Deposition techniques such as CVD (chemical vapor deposition), PVD (physical vapor deposition), ALD (atomic layer deposition), and MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) may be used to form these films. The macroscopic composition (e.g., metal:Si ratio) of the films is reasonably easy to control during fabrication, but the defect content (e.g., point defects like oxygen vacancies) is usually not. Additionally, depending upon the deposition type and precursor materials used, unwanted species such as C, CH, OH, CO₃, etc. can be incorporated into the film. Both point defects as well as unwanted impurities are detrimental to the electrical properties of the dielectric film. Finally, the films may not be fully densified.

[0010] Because of the presence of defects after deposition, it is generally desirable to use an oxidizing ambient anneal in order to improve the film properties after deposition. This anneal can have the effects of reducing defects and ensuring that the film has the correct amount of oxygen. Additionally, for CVD films, this oxidation anneal can help to remove carbon and/or OH from the film. This effect is expected to result in reduced leakage currents and possibly improved interface characteristics. However, this oxidizing anneal can also cause the growth of a lower dielectric-constant layer (primarily made up of SiO₂) between the high-κ gate material and the Si substrate. Low temperature oxidizing anneals avoid increases in the EOT (effective oxide thickness) but does not allow for densification. Non-oxidizing (e.g., Ar, He or N₂) high temperature anneals allow for densification but typically do not heal defects or adjust for non-stoiciometry.

[0011] The current invention provides a means to use the oxidation anneals to heal defects and improve the film properties while at the same time preventing the formation of unwanted lower dielectric constant interface layers. An embodiment of the invention uses a two-step anneal wherein the first step is a high temperature anneal in a non-oxidizing ambient and the second step is a low temperature oxidizing anneal.

[0012] The invention will now be described in conjunction with a method for forming a MOSFET transistor. Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor body 100 is processed through the formation of isolation structures 102. A high-κ gate dielectric 104 is formed at the surface of semiconductor body 100. High-κ dielectric 104 may, for example, comprise a deposited metal-nitride, metal-oxide or metal-oxynitride such as MN, MO, MON. MStO, MSiN, MSiON, MAIO, MAIN, MAION, MAISIO, MAISIN, or MAISION, where M Is Zr, Hf, La, Y, GD, Eu, Pr, or Ce. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,291,886 issued Sep. 18, 2001, 6,291,867 issued Sep. 18, 2001, 6,020,243 issued Feb. 1, 2000, and 6,013,553 issued Jan. 11, 2000, assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated and Incorporated herein by reference, describe processes for forming Zr or Hf oxynitride and silicon-oxynitride gate dielectrics.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, high-κ gate dielectric 104 is subjected to a first anneal. The first anneal occurs in a non-oxidizing ambient 106. The non-oxidizing ambient 106 may, for example, comprise N₂. Other inert ambients such as Ar or He may alternatively be used. The first anneal is a higher temperature anneal, preferably in the range of 700° C. to 1100° C. As an example, the first anneal may be performed at 1000° C. in a N₂ambient for 60 sec. The purpose of the first anneal is to densify the high-κ gate dielectric 104.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, high-κ dielectric 104 is subjected to a second (mild oxidation) anneal to heal the film and interface defects. The second anneal occurs in an oxidizing ambient 108. The oxidizing ambient 108 may, for example, comprise O₂. Other examples include N₂O, NO, ozone, UV O₂, and H₂O₂. The second anneal is a lower temperature anneal and may be a thermal anneal, with or without UV exposure, or a low temperature plasma process. The lower temperature is not greater than that of the first anneal (e.g., room temperature to 1000° C.). The temperature, time and pressure of the second anneal are chosen so as not to significantly increase the EOT. Reduced pressure is helpful in avoiding oxide growth (increased EOT). With reduced pressures, higher temperatures can be used. The oxidizer partial pressure may be in the range of mTorr to 1 atm. For example, the second anneal may be performed at 700° C. in O₂for 60 sec at 1 Torr.

[0015] The first and second anneals may be separate processes or run as two steps within one recipe. For example, depending on the anneal tool configuration, this dual anneal sequence could be done in a single processing run with a multistep annealing recipe.

[0016] After the first and second anneals, a gate electrode material 110 is deposited over the high-κ gate dielectric 104, as shown in FIG. 4. Processing then continues by patterning and etching to form the gate electrode, forming the source/drain junction regions, forming interconnects and packaging the device.

[0017] Table I below shows the EOT and leakage current for various anneals: no anneal (NONE); high temperature non-oxidizing anneal only (1000° C. N₂); low temperature oxidizing anneal only at reduced pressure (700° C. O₂1 Torr); and two step anneal (1000° C. N₂+700° C. O₂1 Torr). The two step anneal according to the embodiment of the invention results in lower leakage current than the unannealed case and reduced leakage current at the same EOT compared to the N₂anneal only case. The two-step anneal also maintains lower EOT than the single O₂anneal case.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a C-V curve for the four conditions of Table I. There is a significant hump and stretchout for the unannealed and O₂single anneal. This is due to interface traps, there is a significant reduction in the hump and stretchout for the N₂only anneal, but the best CV curve is for the two-step anneal sequence. The two-step anneal shows the least hump and stretchout due to interface traps.

[0019] While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.