This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0039294, filed on Mar. 24, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Embodiments relate to an integrated circuit device, and more particularly, to an integrated circuit device additionally including a dummy contact in an active region.
Due to characteristics including miniaturization, multi-functionality, and/or low manufacturing cost, semiconductor devices are spotlighted as an important element in the electronics industry. Semiconductor devices may be classified into semiconductor memory devices that store logic data, semiconductor logic devices that operate and process logic data, and hybrid semiconductor devices including memory elements and logic elements.
As the electronics industry is highly developed, demands on the properties of semiconductor devices are gradually increasing. For example, demands for high reliability, high speed, and/or multi-functionality of semiconductor devices are gradually increasing. To satisfy such demanded properties, structures in semiconductor devices are becoming increasingly complex and highly integrated.
According to an aspect of embodiments, there is provided an integrated circuit device including a first conductive pattern disposed on a substrate, a second conductive pattern surrounding a portion of the first conductive pattern and covering a lower portion of a sidewall of the first conductive pattern, an upper insulation structure on the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and an upper conductive pattern penetrating through the upper insulation structure and extending in a vertical direction, wherein the upper conductive pattern includes a main plug portion overlapping the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern in the vertical direction, and a vertical extension extending from a portion of the main plug portion toward the substrate, covering an upper of the upper sidewall of the first conductive pattern, and overlapping the second conductive pattern in the vertical direction, and a dummy contact is formed on a single diffusion break region on the substrate.
According to another aspect of embodiments, there is provided an integrated circuit device including a fin-type active region protruding on the substrate, a source/drain region disposed on the fin-type active region, a gate line extending over the fin-type active region in a direction crossing the fin-type active region, an insulation structure disposed on the source/drain region, a source/drain contact configured to penetrate through the insulation structure in a vertical direction and be connected to the source/drain region, an upper insulation structure disposed on each of the source/drain contact and the gate line, a first upper conductive pattern configured to penetrate through the upper insulation structure in the vertical direction and be connected to the source/drain contact, and a second upper conductive pattern configured to penetrate through the upper insulation structure in the vertical direction and be connected to the gate line, wherein at least one of the source/drain contact and the gate line includes a first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern surrounding a portion of the first conductive pattern and covering a lower portion of a sidewall of the first conductive pattern, at least one of the first upper conductive pattern and the second upper conductive pattern includes a main plug portion overlapping the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern in the vertical direction, and a vertical extension extending from a portion of the main plug portion toward the substrate, covering an upper of the upper sidewall of the first conductive pattern, and overlapping the second conductive pattern in the vertical direction, and a portion of the source/drain region includes a dummy contact.
According to yet another aspect of embodiments, there is provided an integrated circuit device including a fin-type active region extending long in a first horizontal direction on a substrate, at least one nano-sheet disposed over the fin-type active region, a source/drain region facing the at least one nano-sheet in the first horizontal direction, a gate line extending long in a second horizontal direction crossing the first horizontal direction and surrounding the at least one nano-sheet on the fin-type active region, a source/drain contact configured to penetrate through an insulation structure in a vertical direction and be connected to the source/drain region, a via contact configured to penetrate through an upper insulation structure in the vertical direction and be connected to the source/drain contact, and a gate contact configured to penetrate through the upper insulation structure in the vertical direction and be connected to the gate line, wherein the source/drain contact includes a contact plug and a conductive barrier pattern surrounding a portion of the contact plug and covering a lower portion of a sidewall of the contact plug, the via contact includes a first main plug portion overlapping the contact plug and the conductive barrier pattern in the vertical direction and a first vertical extension extending from a portion of the first main plug toward the substrate, covering an upper portion of a sidewall of the contact plug, and overlapping the conductive barrier pattern in the vertical direction, and a dummy contact is formed on a portion of a single diffusion break region or a source/drain region.
Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
A trench T1 defining the plurality of fin-type active regions F1 may be formed in the substrate 102, and the trench T1 may be filled with a device isolation layer 112. The substrate 102 may include a semiconductor, e.g., Si or Ge, or a compound semiconductor, e.g., SiGe, SiC, GaAs, InAs, InGaAs, or InP. The terms “SiGe”, “SiC”, “GaAs”, “InAS”, “InGaAs”, and “InP” as used herein refer to a material composed of elements included in each term and is not a formula representing a stoichiometric relationship. The substrate 102 may include a conductive region, e.g., a well doped with an impurity or a structure doped with an impurity. The device isolation layer 112 may include, e.g., an oxide film, a nitride film, or a combination thereof.
A plurality of gate lines 160 may be arranged on the plurality of fin-type active regions F1. The plurality of gate lines 160 may each extend long (e.g., lengthwise) in a second horizontal direction (Y direction) intersecting with the first horizontal direction (X direction).
In regions where the plurality of fin-type active regions F1 and the plurality of gate lines 160 intersect with each other, the plurality of nano-sheet stacks NSS may be arranged over (e.g., to vertically overlap) the fin top surfaces FT of the plurality of fin-type active regions F1, respectively. The plurality of nano-sheet stacks NSS may each include at least one nano-sheet facing the fin top surface FT at a position spaced apart from the fin top surface FT of the fin-type active region F1 in the vertical direction (Z direction).
As shown in
For example, as illustrated in
The first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 included in the nano-sheet stack NSS may each function as a channel region. According to embodiments, the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 may each have a thickness within a range from about 4 nm to about 6 nm. Here, the thickness of each of the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 refers to a size in the vertical direction (Z direction). According to embodiments, the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 may have substantially the same thickness in the vertical direction (Z direction). According to other embodiments, at least some of the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 may have different thicknesses in the vertical direction (Z direction).
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The plurality of gate lines 160 may each include a metal, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, or a combination thereof. The metal may be at least one of, e.g., Ti, W, Ru, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ni, Co, Pt, Yb, Tb, Dy, Er, and Pd. The metal nitride may be selected from, e.g., TiN and TaN. The metal carbide may be, e.g., TiAlC.
A gate dielectric layer 152 may be disposed between the nano-sheet stack NSS and the gate line 160. According to embodiments, the gate dielectric layer 152 may include a stacked structure of an interfacial dielectric layer and a high-k layer. The interfacial dielectric layer may include a low-k material layer having a dielectric constant of about 9 or less, e.g., a silicon oxide layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, or a combination thereof. According to embodiments, the interfacial dielectric layer may be omitted. The high-k layer may include a material having a higher dielectric constant than that of a silicon oxide layer. For example, the high-k layer may have a dielectric constant from about 10 to about 25. The high-k layer may include, e.g., hafnium oxide.
As shown in
Both, e.g., opposite, sidewalls of each of the gate line 160 and the capping insulation pattern 168 may be covered by an outer insulation spacer 118. The outer insulation spacer 118 may cover both sidewalls of the main gate portion 160M on top surfaces of the plurality of nano-sheet stacks NSS. The outer insulation spacer 118 may be spaced apart from the gate line 160 with the gate dielectric layer 152 therebetween. The outer insulation spacer 118 may include, e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxide, SiCN, SiBN, SION, SiOCN, SiBCN, SiOC, or a combination thereof. The terms “SiCN”, “SiBN”, “SiON”, “SiOCN”, “SiBCN”, and “SiOC” as used herein refer to a material composed of elements included in each term and is not a formula representing a stoichiometric relationship.
A plurality of outer insulation spacers 118 and the plurality of source/drain regions 130 on the substrate 102 may be covered by an insulation liner 142. The insulation liner 142 may include, e.g., silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxide (SiO), SiCN, SiBN, SiON, SiOCN, SiBCN, SiOC, or a combination thereof. According to embodiments, the insulation liner 142 may be omitted. An inter-gate insulation layer 144 may be disposed on the insulation liner 142. The inter-gate insulation layer 144 may include, e.g., a silicon nitride layer, a silicon oxide layer, a SiON layer, a SiOCN layer, or a combination thereof. When the insulation liner 142 is omitted, the inter-gate insulation layer 144 may contact the plurality of source/drain regions 130.
Both sidewalls of each of the plurality of sub-gate portions 160S may be spaced apart from the source/drain region 130 with the gate dielectric layer 152 therebetween. The gate dielectric layer 152 may be disposed between a sub-gate portion 160S included in the gate line 160 and each of the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 and between the sub-gate portion 160S included in the gate line 160 and the source/drain region 130.
The nanosheet stacks NSS are arranged on the fin top surfaces FT of the fin-type active regions F1 in regions where the fin-type active regions F1 and the gate lines 160 intersect each other and may face the fin top surfaces FT of the fin-type active regions F1 at locations spaced apart from the fin-type active regions F1. A plurality of nanosheet transistors may be formed on the substrate 102 at the intersections between the fin-type active regions F1 and the gate lines 160.
Although
The first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 included in the nano-sheet stack NSS may each include a channel region. According to embodiments, the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3 included in the nano-sheet stack NSS may each include a Si layer, a SiGe layer, or a combination thereof.
A metal silicide layer 172 may be formed on the top surface of each of the plurality of source/drain regions 130. The metal silicide layer 172 may include a metal including, e.g., Ti, W, Ru, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ni, Co, Pt, Yb, Tb, Dy, Er, or Pd. For example, the metal silicide layer 172 may include titanium silicide, but is not limited thereto.
The insulation liner 142 and the inter-gate insulation layer 144 may be sequentially arranged on the plurality of source/drain regions 130 and a plurality of metal silicide layers 172. The insulation liner 142 and the inter-gate insulation layer 144 may constitute an insulation structure. According to embodiments, the insulation liner 142 may include, e.g., silicon nitride (SiN), SiCN, SiBN, SION, SiOCN, SiBCN, or a combination thereof. The inter-gate insulation layer 144 may include, e.g., a silicon oxide film.
A plurality of source/drain contacts CA may be respectively arranged on the plurality of source/drain regions 130. The plurality of source/drain contacts CA may each penetrate through the inter-gate insulation layer 144 and the insulation liner 142 in the vertical direction (Z direction) and contact the metal silicide layer 172. The plurality of source/drain contacts CA may be configured to be electrically connectable to the source/drain regions 130 through the metal silicide layer 172. The plurality of source/drain contacts CA may each be spaced apart from the main gate portion 160M in the first horizontal direction (X direction) with the outer insulation spacer 118 therebetween. Here, some of the plurality of source/drain contacts CA may correspond to dummy contacts.
A dummy contact may be disposed adjacent to a gate contact CB. A plurality of dummy contacts may be provided around the gate contact CB. The plurality of dummy contacts may be arranged in a closed loop-like shape surrounding the gate contact CB.
The dummy contact may have the same shape as the gate contact CB when viewed from above. For example, the gate contact CB and the dummy contact may have a rectangular shape or a circular shape, as shown in
The plurality of source/drain contacts CA may each include a contact plug 174 and a conductive barrier pattern 176. In this specification, the contact plug 174 may be referred to as a first conductive pattern and the conductive barrier pattern 176 may be referred to as a second conductive pattern. According to embodiments, the conductive barrier pattern 176 may include a metal, e.g., at least one of molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), ruthenium (Ru), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), aluminum (Al), and combinations thereof. The conductive barrier pattern 176 may include a metal or a metal nitride, e.g., at least one of Ti, Ta, W, TiN, TaN, WN, WCN, TiSiN, TaSiN, WSiN, or a combination thereof.
The contact plug 174 may penetrate through the inter-gate insulation layer 144 and the insulation liner 142 and extend long (e.g., lengthwise) in the vertical direction (Z direction). The conductive barrier pattern 176 may be disposed, e.g., directly, between the metal silicide layer 172 and the contact plug 174. The conductive barrier pattern 176 may have a surface contacting the metal silicide layer 172 and a surface contacting the contact plug 174.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The via contact VP1 may include a main plug portion VPM1 overlapping each of the contact plug 174 and the conductive barrier pattern 176 of the source/drain contact CA in the vertical direction (Z direction), and a vertical extension VPE1 extending from a portion of the main plug portion VPM1 toward the substrate 102. The vertical extension VPE1 of the via contact VP1 may cover upper portions of the sidewalls of the contact plug 174 and overlap the conductive barrier pattern 176 in the vertical direction (Z direction). The main plug portion VPM1 and the vertical extension VPE1 of the via contact VP1 may be integrally connected to each other and include the same material.
The length from the substrate 102 to the top surface of the contact plug 174 below the via contact VP1 in the vertical direction (Z direction) may be greater than the length from the substrate 102 to the uppermost surface of the conductive barrier pattern 176. For example, as shown in
The via contact VP1 may contact portions of the contact plug 174 and the conductive barrier pattern 176. The via contact VP1 may include a portion contacting the top surface of the contact plug 174, a portion contacting the top surface of the conductive barrier pattern 176, and a portion contacting portions of sidewalls of the contact plug 174 not covered by the conductive barrier pattern 176.
The gate contact CB may include a main plug portion VPM2 overlapping the gate line 160 in the vertical direction (Z direction) and a vertical extension VPE2 extending from a portion of the main plug portion VPM2 toward the substrate 102. The main plug portion VPM2 and the vertical extension VPE2 of the gate contact CB may be integrally connected to each other and include the same material.
Referring to
The substrate 210 may have a main surface 210M extending in horizontal directions (X-Y plane-wise direction). The substrate 210 may have substantially the same configuration as that described for the substrate 102 with reference to
The logic cell LC may include a first device region RX1 and a second device region RX2. A plurality of fin-type active regions FA protruding from the substrate 210 may be arranged in the first device region RX1 and the second device region RX2. The fin-type active regions FA may extend parallel to one another in a width-wise direction of the logic cell LC, i.e., in a first horizontal direction (X direction).
As shown in
On the substrate 210, a plurality of gate dielectric layers 232 and a plurality of gate lines GL may extend in the heightwise direction of the logic cell LC (e.g., I the Z direction) crossing the plurality of fin-type active regions FA (i.e., in the second horizontal direction (Y direction)). The plurality of gate dielectric layers 232 and the plurality of gate lines GL may cover the top surface and both sidewalls of each of the fin-type active regions FA, the top surface of the device isolation layer 212, and the top surface of the inter-device isolating insulation layer 214.
A plurality of MOS transistors may be formed along the plurality of gate lines GL in the first device region RX1 and the second device region RX2. The MOS transistors may each be a MOS transistors having a three-dimensional (3D) structure in which channels are formed on top surfaces and both sidewalls of the fin-type active regions FA, respectively. In example embodiments, the first device region RX1 may be an NMOS transistor region, and a plurality of NMOS transistors may be formed in portions of the first device region RX1 where the fin-type active regions FA and the gate lines GL intersect each other. The second device region RX2 may be a PMOS transistor region, and a plurality of PMOS transistors may be formed in portions of the second device region RX2 where the fin-type active regions FA and the gate lines GL intersect each other.
A dummy gate line DGL may extend along a portion of the cell boundary BN extending in the second horizontal direction (Y direction). The dummy gate line DGL may include the same material as the plurality of gate lines GL. The dummy gate line DGL may maintain an electrically floated state during the operation of the integrated circuit device 100, and thus the dummy gate line DGL may function as an electrical isolation region between the logic cell LC and other logic cells around the logic cell LC. The plurality of gate lines GL and a plurality of dummy gate lines DGL may have the same width in the first horizontal direction (X direction) and may be arranged at a constant pitch in the first horizontal direction (X direction).
The plurality of gate dielectric layers 232 may include, e.g., silicon oxide films, high-k layers, or a combination thereof. The high-k layer may include a material having a higher dielectric constant than that of a silicon oxide layer. The high-k layer may include, e.g., a metal oxide or a metal oxynitride. An interfacial layer may be between the fin-type active region FA and a gate dielectric layer 232. The interfacial layer may include, e.g., an oxide film, a nitride film, or an oxynitride film.
The plurality of gate lines GL and the plurality of dummy gate lines DGL may each have a structure in which a metal nitride layer, a metal layer, a conductive capping layer, and a gap-fill metal layer are sequentially stacked. The metal nitride layer and the metal layer may include at least one of, e.g., Ti, Ta, W, Ru, niobium (Nb), Mo, and hafnium (Hf). The gap-fill metal layer may include, e.g., a W layer or an Al layer. The gate lines GL and the dummy gate lines DGL may each include a work function metal-containing layer. The work function metal-containing layer may include at least one metal of, e.g., Ti, W, Ru, Nb, Mo, Hf, nickel (Ni), Co, platinum (Pt), ytterbium (Yb), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), and palladium (Pd). In example embodiments, the plurality of gate lines GL and the plurality of dummy gate lines DGL may each have a stacked structure of, e.g., TiAlC/TiN/W, a stacked structure of TiN/TaN/TiAlC/TiN/W, or a stacked structure of TiN/TaN/TiN/TiAlC/TiN/W.
A plurality of insulation spacers 220 may cover both sidewalls of the plurality of gate lines GL and the plurality of dummy gate lines DGL. The plurality of gate lines GL, the plurality of dummy gate lines DGL, the plurality of gate dielectric layers 232, and the plurality of insulation spacers 220 may be covered by an insulation capping line 240. The insulation capping line 240 and the plurality of insulation spacers 220 may each extend in a line-like shape in the second horizontal direction (Y direction).
The plurality of insulation spacers 220 may each include, e.g., silicon nitride (SiN), SiCN, SiBN, SiON, SiOCN, SiBCN, or a combination thereof. A plurality of insulation capping lines 240 may include, e.g., SiN.
A plurality of recess regions RR may be formed in the top surfaces of the plurality of fin-type active regions FA. A plurality of source/drain regions 230 may be respectively arranged in the plurality of recess regions RR. The gate line GL and a source/drain region 230 may be spaced apart from each other with the gate dielectric layer 232 and an insulation spacer 220 therebetween.
The plurality of source/drain regions 230 may include epitaxial semiconductor layers epitaxially grown from the plurality of recess regions RR. For example, the plurality of source/drain regions 230 may include an epitaxially grown Si layer, an epitaxially grown SiC layer, or a plurality of epitaxially grown SiGe layers. When the first device region RX1 is an NMOS transistor region and the second device region RX2 is a PMOS transistor region, the plurality of source/drain regions 230 in the first device region RX1 may include a Si layer doped with an n-type dopant or a SiC layer doped with an n-type dopant, and the plurality of source/drain regions 230 in the second device region RX2 may include a SiGe layer doped with a p-type dopant. The n-type dopant may be, e.g., at least one of phosphorus (P), arsenic As), and antimony (Sb). The p-type dopant may be, e.g., at least one of boron (B) and gallium (Ga).
According to embodiments, the plurality of source/drain regions 230 in the first device region RX1 and the plurality of source/drain regions 230 in the second device region RX2 may have different shapes and sizes.
A plurality of metal silicide layers 272 may be respectively arranged on the plurality of source/drain regions 230. A metal silicide layer 272 may have the same configuration as the metal silicide layer 172 described with reference to
An insulation liner 246 and an inter-gate insulation layer 248 may be sequentially arranged on the plurality of source/drain regions 230 and the plurality of metal silicide layers 272. The insulation liner 246 and the inter-gate insulation layer 248 may constitute an insulation structure. According to embodiments, the insulation liner 246 may include, e.g., silicon nitride (SiN), SiCN, SiBN, SiON, SiOCN, SiBCN, or a combination thereof. The inter-gate insulation layer 248 may include, e.g., a silicon oxide film.
A plurality of source/drain contacts CA2 may each be configured to penetrate through the inter-gate insulation layer 248 and the insulation liner 246 in the vertical direction (Z direction) and be connected to the source/drain region 230 through the metal silicide layer 272. The source/drain contacts CA2 may be spaced apart from the gate lines GL in the first direction (X direction) across the insulation spacers 220. The plurality of source/drain regions 230 may be connected to via contacts VP2 through the metal silicide layer 272 and the source/drain contacts CA2, respectively.
The plurality of source/drain contacts CA2 may each include a contact plug 274 and a conductive barrier pattern 276 surrounding and contacting the bottom surface and sidewalls of the contact plug 274. Detailed configurations of the contact plug 274 and the conductive barrier pattern 276 are the same as those of the contact plug 174 and the conductive barrier pattern 176 described with reference to
A dummy contact DCB may be disposed adjacent to a gate contact CB2. A plurality of dummy contacts DCB may be provided around the gate contact CB2, e.g., the gate contact CB2 may be positioned between two dummy contacts DCB along at least one of the gate lines GL (
The dummy contact DCB may have the same shape as the gate contact CB2 or the source/drain contact CA2 when viewed from above. For example, the gate contact CB2 and the dummy contact DCB may have a rectangular shape or a circular shape, as shown in
The integrated circuit devices 200a, 200b, and 200c may each include an insulation layer 249 covering top surfaces of the plurality of source/drain contacts CA2 and top surfaces of the plurality of insulation capping lines 240. The plurality of source/drain contacts CA2 may each penetrate through the insulation layer 249 in the vertical direction (Z direction). According to embodiments, the insulation layer 249 may include a silicon oxide film.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
The dummy contact 20 shown in
Referring to
The plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layer 104 and the plurality of nano-sheet semiconductor layers NS may include semiconductor materials having different etch selectivity. For example, the plurality of nano-sheet semiconductor layers NS may include Si layers and the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104 may include SiGe layers. According to embodiments, the Ge concentration in the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104 may be constant. SiGe layers constituting the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104 may have a certain Ge concentration selected within the range from about 5 atomic % to about 60 atomic %, e.g., from about 10 atomic % to about 40 atomic %. The Ge concentration in the SiGe layers constituting the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104 may be variously selected as needed.
Referring to
Referring to
The plurality of dummy gate structures DGS may each be formed to extend long (e.g., lengthwise) in the second horizontal direction (Y direction). The plurality of dummy gate structures DGS may have a structure in which an oxide layer D122, a dummy gate layer D124, and a capping layer D126 are sequentially stacked. For example, the dummy gate layer D124 may include polysilicon and the capping layer D126 may include a silicon nitride.
After forming the plurality of outer insulation spacers 118 covering both (e.g., opposite) sidewalls of each of the plurality of dummy gate structures DGS, portions of the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104 and the plurality of nano-sheet semiconductor layers NS and portions of the fin-type active regions F1 may be etched by using the plurality of dummy gate structures DGS and the plurality of outer insulation spacers 118 as an etching mask, thereby dividing the plurality of nano-sheet semiconductor layers NS into a plurality of nano-sheet stacks NSS and forming the plurality of recesses R1 in the fin-type active regions F1. The plurality of nano-sheet stacks NSS may each include the first nano-sheet N1, the second nano-sheet N2, and the third nano-sheet N3. To form the plurality of recesses R1, etching may be performed using, e.g., dry etching, wet etching, or a combination thereof.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
To selectively remove the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104, a liquid or gaseous etchant may be used. According to embodiments, to selectively remove the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor layers 104, a CH3COOH-based etchant, e.g., an etchant including a mixture of CH3COOH, HNO3, and HF or an etchant including a mixture of CH3COOH, H2O2, and HF, may be used.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
After the source/drain contact hole CAH is formed, the metal silicide layer 172 may be formed on a portion of the source/drain region 130 exposed at the bottom side of the source/drain contact hole CAH. According to embodiments, to form the metal silicide layer 172, a process of forming a metal liner conformally covering the inner wall of the source/drain contact hole CAH and inducing a reaction between the source/drain region 130 and a metal constituting the metal liner by heat-treating the metal liner may be included. After the metal silicide layer 172 is formed, remaining portions of the metal liner may be removed. A portion of the source/drain region 130 may be consumed during the process of forming the metal silicide layer 172. For example, when the metal silicide layer 172 includes a titanium silicide layer, the metal liner may include a Ti layer.
Referring to
Referring to
Due to the increase in integration, the number of stacked gate electrode layers is increasing. Carbon from hydrofluorocarbons, an etching chemical generated during a hole etching process, may be deposited in holes and polymerized to form polymers during etching. Deposition of the polymer may occur adjacent to sidewalls of a hardmask pattern near the upper sidewall of a hole. As the thickness of an insulation layer increases and the amount to be etched during a hole etching process increases, the amount of polymer generated in the hole etching process increases.
A small amount of polymer is formed in a portion with a high hole pattern density, whereas a large amount of polymer is formed in a portion with a low hole pattern density and far from adjacent holes. Since the gate contact CB is disposed in isolation, a thick polymer film is deposited on the upper sidewall of a hole during an etching process of forming the hole, and the entrance of the hole may be blocked by the polymer film, and thus the flow of an etchant into the hole may be blocked. In this case, unless the bottom of the hole is exposed, an open defect problem may occur.
In contrast, according to embodiments described herein, the dummy contact DCB is additionally disposed around, e.g., adjacent to, the gate contact CB (e.g., or the source/drain contact CA). The dummy contact DCB is formed together with the gate contact CB when the gate contact CB is formed (e.g., and/or together with the source/drain contact CA when the source/drain contact CA is formed), so during a hole etching process of forming the gate contact CB, a dummy contact hole may be additionally formed at a location adjacent to the gate contact hole. As such, in a process of filling the gate contact hole with a conductive material, the dummy contact hole may also be filled with the conductive material, thereby forming the gate contact CB and the dummy contact DCB (e.g., and/or the source/drain contact CA) at once, e.g., simultaneously.
Since the pattern density of a gate contact hole forming region is increased by the dummy contact hole, excessive generation of polymer due to a low pattern density during hole etching may be suppressed or substantially minimized, thereby preventing the gate contact hole from being blocked by the polymer. Therefore, since an etchant may be smoothly introduced into the gate contact hole, the opening defect of the gate contact hole may be prevented or substantially minimized. Therefore, a defect that the gate contact CB is not electrically connected due to the open defect of the gate contact hole may be prevented. As such, embodiments provide reduction of dummy yield occurring during formation of a gate via by forming a dummy contact in an active region.
According to embodiments, the dummy contact DCB, the via contact VP1, and the gate contact CB may be formed at the same time, e.g., simultaneously. According to other embodiments, the dummy contact DCB, the via contact VP1, and the gate contact CB may be sequentially formed through separate processes. In this case, the dummy contact DCB and the gate contact CB may be formed after the via contact VP1 is formed first, the dummy contact DCB and the via contact VP1 may be formed after the gate contact CB is formed, or the gate contact CB and the via contact VP1 may be formed after the dummy contact DCB may be formed first.
An example method of manufacturing the integrated circuit device 100 shown in
Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10-2023-0039294 | Mar 2023 | KR | national |