INTERCONNECTION STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME
20260040935 ยท 2026-02-05
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H10W20/435
ELECTRICITY
H10W20/057
ELECTRICITY
H10D99/00
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01L21/768
ELECTRICITY
H01L23/522
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
Provided are an interconnection structure and a method of forming the same. The interconnection structure includes a substrate, including a lower voltage device region and a higher voltage device region; a first dielectric layer, located on the substrate in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; an under-layer interconnection structure, located in the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a second dielectric layer, located on the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a first via plug and a first metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region; and a U-shaped high k (dielectric constant) layer and a second metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region.
Claims
1. An interconnection structure, comprising: a substrate, comprising a lower voltage device region and a higher voltage device region; a first dielectric layer, located on the substrate in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; an under-layer interconnection structure, located in the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a second dielectric layer, located on the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a first via plug and a first metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region; and a U-shaped high k layer and a second metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region, wherein the U-shaped high k layer surrounds a bottom surface and sidewalls of the second metal layer, and a bottom surface of the U-shaped high k layer and a bottom surface of the first metal layer are at a same level in a stacking direction.
2. The interconnection structure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprising the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region is the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a medium-voltage device, the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a high-voltage device, or the substrate comprising a medium-voltage device and a high-voltage device.
3. The interconnection structure according to claim 2, wherein a voltage operating range of the low-voltage device is 5V or less, a voltage operating range of the medium-voltage device is 6V to 10V, and a voltage operating range of the high-voltage device is 20V or more.
4. The interconnection structure according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the second metal layer.
5. The interconnection structure according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is 7 to 10, and the U-shaped high k layer comprises SIN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite.
6. A method of forming an interconnection structure, comprising: providing a substrate, comprising a lower voltage device region and a higher voltage device region; forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming an under-layer interconnection structure in the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming a first trench and a second trench in the second dielectric layer, wherein the first trench is located in the lower voltage device region, and the second trench is in the higher voltage device region; forming a U-shaped high k layer on a bottom surface and sidewalls of the second trench; etching a bottom of the first trench to form a first via exposing the under-layer interconnection structure; and filling the first via, the first trench, and the second trench with a conductive material to respectively form a first via plug, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer, wherein a bottom surface of the U-shaped high k layer and a bottom surface of the first metal layer are at a same level in a stacking direction.
7. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 6, wherein the substrate comprising the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region is the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a medium-voltage device, the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a high-voltage device, or the substrate comprising a medium-voltage device and a high-voltage device, a voltage operating range of the low-voltage device is 5V or less, a voltage operating range of the medium-voltage device is 6V to 10V, and a voltage operating range of the high-voltage device is 20V or more.
8. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 6, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the second metal layer.
9. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 6, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is 7 to 10, and the U-shaped high k layer comprises SiN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite.
10. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 6, wherein the step of forming the U-shaped high k layer on the bottom surface and the sidewalls of the second trench comprises: conformally forming a high k layer on the first trench and the second trench; removing the high k layer on the second trench; after the conductive material is filled into the first via, the first trench, and the second trench, performing a comprehensive planarization step to remove the high k layer on the second dielectric layer so as to form the U-shaped high k layer.
11. An interconnection structure, comprising: a substrate, comprising a lower voltage device region and a higher voltage device region; a first dielectric layer, located on the substrate in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; an under-layer interconnection structure, located in the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a second dielectric layer, located on the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; a first via plug and a first metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region; and a U-shaped high k layer and a second metal layer, located in the second dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region, wherein the U-shaped high k layer surrounds a bottom surface and sidewalls of the second metal layer, and a bottom surface of the U-shaped high k layer is higher than a bottom surface of the first metal layer in a stacking direction.
12. The interconnection structure according to claim 11, wherein the substrate comprising the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region is the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a medium-voltage device, the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a high-voltage device, or the substrate comprising a medium-voltage device and a high-voltage device.
13. The interconnection structure according to claim 12, wherein a voltage operating range of the low-voltage device is 5V or less, a voltage operating range of the medium-voltage device is 6V to 10V, and a voltage operating range of the high-voltage device is 20V or more.
14. The interconnection structure according to claim 11, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the second metal layer.
15. The interconnection structure according to claim 11, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is 7 to 10, and the U-shaped high k layer comprises SiN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite.
16. A method of forming an interconnection structure, comprising: providing a substrate, comprising a lower voltage device region and a higher voltage device region; forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming an under-layer interconnection structure in the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region; forming an elongated via in the second dielectric layer in the lower voltage device region; removing the second dielectric layer around an upper half part of the elongated via to form a first via and a first trench located above the first via; forming a second trench in the second dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region; forming a U-shaped high k layer on a bottom surface and sidewalls of the second trench; and filling the first via, the first trench, and the second trench with a conductive material to respectively form a first via plug, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer, wherein a bottom surface of the U-shaped high k layer is higher than a bottom surface of the second metal layer in a stacking direction.
17. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 16, wherein the substrate comprising the lower voltage device region and the higher voltage device region is the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a medium-voltage device, the substrate comprising a low-voltage device and a high-voltage device, or the substrate comprising a medium-voltage device and a high-voltage device, a voltage operating range of the low-voltage device is 5V or less, a voltage operating range of the medium-voltage device is 6V to 10V, and a voltage operating range of the high-voltage device is 20V or more.
18. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 16, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the second metal layer.
19. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 16, wherein a dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer is 7 to 10, and the U-shaped high k layer comprises 5 SiN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite.
20. The method of forming the interconnection structure according to claim 16, wherein the step of forming the U-shaped high k layer on the bottom surface and the sidewalls of the second trench comprises: conformally forming a high k layer on the first trench, the first via, and the second trench; removing the high k layer on the second trench and the first via; after the conductive material is filled into the first via, the first trench, and the second trench, performing a comprehensive planarization step to remove the high k layer on the second dielectric layer so as to form the U-shaped high k layer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029]
[0030]
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The disclosure will be described more comprehensively below with reference to the drawings of the present embodiment. However, the disclosure may also be implemented in various forms, and shall not be limited to the embodiments described herein. For the sake of clarity, thicknesses of layers and regions in the drawings are enlarged. The same or similar reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements, and the following paragraphs will not repeat them one by one.
[0032] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on or connected to another element, it may be directly on or connected to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. If an element is referred to as being directly on or directly connected to another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, connection may refer to both physical and/or electrical connections, and electrical connection or coupling may refer to the presence of other elements between two elements.
[0033] As used herein, about, approximately, or substantially includes the stated value and the average within an acceptable deviation of the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, taking into account the measurement in question and the specific amount of measurement-related error (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, about may mean within one or a plurality of standard deviations of the stated value, or within 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%. Furthermore, as used herein, about, approximately, or substantially may encompass an acceptable range of deviation or standard deviation depending on optical properties, etching properties or other properties, and one standard deviation does not apply to all properties.
[0034] The wording used herein is used only to illustrate exemplary embodiments, but not to limit the disclosure. In this case, a singular form includes a plural form unless otherwise explained in the context.
[0035] The method of forming an interconnection structure mainly described in the disclosure includes various steps, such as deposition processes (e.g., physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), sputtering, etc.), removal processes (e.g., wet etching, dry etching, chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), etc.), and/or patterning processes (e.g., lithography/etching), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0036]
[0037] First, referring to an interconnection structure 10 of
[0038] The substrate 100 may include various semiconductor structures formed by various semiconductor front-end-of-line (FEOL) processes.
[0039] Moreover, the lower voltage device region A and the higher voltage device region B are relative concepts. For example, the substrate 100 may include a low-voltage device and a medium-voltage device, or the substrate 100 may include a low-voltage device and a high-voltage device, or the substrate 100 may include a medium-voltage device and a high-voltage device.
[0040] A voltage operating range of the high-voltage device may be 20V or more, a voltage operating range of the medium-voltage device may be 6V to 10V, and a voltage operating range of the low-voltage device may be 5V or less.
[0041] Continuing to refer to
[0042] The first dielectric layer 110 may use various dielectric materials as required, such as nitride (e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride), carbide (e.g., silicon carbide), SiCN, oxide (e.g., silicon oxide), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), borosilicate glass (BSG), phosphoric silicate glass (PSG), borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), low dielectric constant oxide (e.g., carbon doped oxide, SiCOH), or some other suitable dielectric materials.
[0043] The under-layer interconnection structure 120 may include a through-via plug 122A and a metal layer 124A in the lower voltage device region A, and a through-via plug 122B and a metal layer 124B in the higher voltage device region B. In
[0044] The above-mentioned through-via plug 122A, metal layer 124A, through-via plug 122B, and metal layer 124B may be formed of various conductive materials, such as tantalum, titanium, copper, tungsten, aluminum, or some other suitable conductive materials.
[0045] Continuing to refer to
[0046] Furthermore, one or more interlayer dielectric layers may be formed between the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 130 for the purpose of etching the upper layer or protecting the lower layer, such as a first interlayer dielectric layer 132 shown in
[0047] The second dielectric layer 130, the first interlayer dielectric layer 132, and the second interlayer dielectric layer 134 are as described above for the first dielectric layer 110 and may use various dielectric materials as required, such as nitride (e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride), carbide (for example, silicon carbide), SiCN, oxide (e.g. silicon oxide), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), borosilicate glass (BSG), phosphoric silicate glass (PSG), borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), low dielectric constant oxide (e.g., carbon doped oxide, SiCOH), or some other suitable dielectric materials. In other embodiments, the second interlayer dielectric layer 134 may include a material with a dielectric constant less than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide (e.g., about 3.9). In other embodiments, ultra low-k (ULK) dielectric materials having a dielectric constant less than about 2.6 may be included. For example, but not limited thereto, the first interlayer dielectric layer 132, the second interlayer dielectric layer 134, and the second dielectric layer 130 may be SiCN, TEOS, or ultra low-k materials in order. The ultra low-k material may be, for example, porous silicon dioxide material or the like.
[0048] Next, refer to
[0049] Refer to both
[0050] During the formation of the U-shaped high k layer 154, a first via plug 142A and a first metal layer 144A in the lower voltage device region A will be formed at the same time, as shown in the formation method of
[0051] Refer first to
[0052] Next, as shown in
[0053] Next, as shown in
[0054] Then, the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2 are filled with a conductive material, such as tantalum, titanium, copper, tungsten, aluminum, or some other suitable conductive materials, to electrically connect with the under-layer interconnection structure 120; for example, copper is filled into the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2.
[0055] Then, a comprehensive planarization process is performed on the entire interconnection structure 10. For example, methods such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) are used to remove the excess conductive material, the high k layer 152, and the hardmask 162, so that the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2 filled with the conductive material respectively form the first via plug 142A, the first metal layer 144A, and a second metal layer 144B, and the high k layer 152 is formed in the higher voltage device region B as the U-shaped high k layer 154 surrounding a bottom surface 144BB and sidewalls 144BS of the second metal layer 144B as shown in
[0056] As shown in
[0057] A dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer 154 is higher than a dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer 130. For example, the U-shaped high k layer 154 has a dielectric constant of about 7 to 10, and the second dielectric layer 130 has a dielectric constant of about 3.1 to 3.9, but the disclosure is not limited to these values.
[0058] Moreover, the U-shaped high k layer 154 may include high k dielectric materials such as HfO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, HfZrO, Ta.sub.2O.sub.3, HfSiO.sub.4, ZrO.sub.2, ZrSiO.sub.2, LaO, AlO, ZrO, TiO, Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, BaZrO, HfLaO, HfSiO, LaSiO, AlSiO, HfTaO, HfTIO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SIN, SION, SiCN, or HfOx composite whose dielectric constant is greater than silicon oxide, with SiN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite being preferred, and may be formed by methods such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) process or metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0059] Since the U-shaped high k layer 154 located in the higher voltage device region B surrounds the bottom surface 144BB and the sidewalls 144BS of the second metal layer 144B, it may make the overall dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region B have higher voltage withstand capability and improve the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) thereof. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to use the processing method in the conventional technology where the additional multi-layer interconnection structures such as metal layers/metal plugs/dielectric layers are added in the higher voltage device A to increase the thickness of the dielectric layer so as to withstand a higher voltage; that is to say, the disclosure forms the U-shaped high k layer 154 in the higher voltage device region B to surround the bottom surface 144BB and the sidewalls 144BS of the second metal layer 144B, so as to improve the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) thereof, and at the same time, reduce the need to form additional multi-layer interconnection structures such as metal layers/metal plugs/dielectric layers in order to withstand the voltage requirements of higher voltage devices, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing time.
[0060]
[0061] The first embodiment of the disclosure (
[0062] First, refer to
[0063] Referring to
[0064] Then, as shown in
[0065] In some embodiments, as shown in
[0066] Then, as shown in
[0067] Next, as shown in
[0068] Next, as shown in
[0069] The step of exposing the under-layer interconnection structure 120 in the second embodiment (as shown in
[0070] Then, the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2 are filled with the conductive material, such as tantalum, titanium, copper, tungsten, aluminum, or some other suitable conductive materials, to electrically connected with the under-layer interconnection structure 120; for example, copper is filled into the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2.
[0071] Then, a comprehensive planarization process is performed on an entire interconnection structure 20. For example, methods such as chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) are used to remove the excess conductive material, the high k layer 252, and the hardmask 262, so that the first via V1, the first trench T1, and the second trench T2 filled with the conductive material respectively form a first via plug 242A, a first metal layer 244A, and a second metal layer 244B, and the high k layer 252 is formed in the higher voltage device region B as a U-shaped high k layer 254 surrounding a bottom surface 244BB and sidewalls 244BS of the second metal layer 244B as shown in
[0072] As shown in
[0073] A dielectric constant of the U-shaped high k layer 254 is higher than a dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer 230. For example, the U-shaped high k layer 254 has a dielectric constant of about 7 to 10, and the second dielectric layer 230 has a dielectric constant of about 3.1 to 3.9, but the disclosure is not limited to these values.
[0074] Moreover, the U-shaped high k layer 254 may include high k dielectric materials such as HfO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, HfZrO, Ta.sub.2O.sub.3, HfSiO.sub.4, ZrO.sub.2, ZrSiO.sub.2, LaO, AlO, ZrO, TiO, Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, BaZrO, HfLaO, HfSiO, LaSiO, AlSiO, HfTaO, HfTiO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SIN, SION, SiCN, or HfOx composite whose dielectric constant is greater than silicon oxide, with SIN, SiON, SiCN, or HfOx composite being preferred, and may be formed by methods such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) process or metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0075] Like the first embodiment of the disclosure, since the U-shaped high k layer 254 located in the higher voltage device region B surrounds the bottom surface 244BB and sidewalls 244BS of the second metal layer 244B, it may make the overall dielectric layer in the higher voltage device region B have higher voltage withstand capability and improve the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) thereof. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to use the processing method in the conventional technology where the additional multi-layer interconnection structures such as metal layers/metal plugs/dielectric layers are added in the higher voltage device A to increase the thickness of the dielectric layer so as to withstand a higher voltage; that is to say, the disclosure forms the U-shaped high k layer 254 in the higher voltage device region B to surround the bottom surface 244BB and the sidewalls 244BS of the second metal layer 244B, so as to improve the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) thereof, and at the same time, reduce the need to form additional multi-layer interconnection structures such as metal layers/metal plugs/dielectric layers in order to withstand the voltage requirements of higher voltage devices, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and the manufacturing time.
[0076] Although the disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments above, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure will be defined in the appended claims.