1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a micromechanical structure, and more particularly, to a method of preventing peeling between sacrificial silicon layers in the microelectromechanical structure (MEMS) process.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of silane (SiH4) as a main reaction gas to deposit sacrificial silicon layers is a common step in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and MEMS. MEMS have found applications in inertial measurement, pressure sensing, thermal measurement, micro-fluidics, optics, and radio frequency communications, and the range of applications for these structures continues to grow. One example of such a structure is a reflective spatial light modulator, which is a device consisting of a planar array of electrostatically deflectable mirrors, each microscopic in size. The device is used as a micro-display system for high resolution and large screen projection. The sacrificial silicon layer in such a device is the layer over which the mirror material is deposited. Once the mirror structure is formed, the sacrificial silicon layer is removed to leave gaps below the mirrors and microhinge along one edge of each mirror to join the mirror to the remainder of the structure. The gap and the microhinge provide the mirror with the freedom of movement needed for its deflection. Devices of this type are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,356,378, 6,396,619 and 6,529,310.
The success of a manufacturing procedure for structures involving sacrificial silicon layers depends on the interface adhesion therebetween. The thickness and lateral dimensions of the layers, and in the case of the deflectable mirror structures, the width of the gap and the integrity of the microhinges, are all critical to achieve uniform microstructure properties and a high yield of defect-free product. One of the critical factors is the interface quality between the sacrificial silicon layers. Performance, uniformity and yield can all be improved with increases in the interface adhesion between the sacrificial silicon layers. Hereinafter, parts of a traditional micromirror structure process will be described, with reference to
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In U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,256, Huibers et al disclose a deflectable spatial light modulator (SLM). The method describes formation of silicon nitride or silicon dioxide mirror elements and the underlying polysilicon sacrificial layer serving as a support to be removed in subsequent etching. Nevertheless, the method does not eliminate the peeling issue in the sacrificial silicon layer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,619, Huibers et al disclose a deflectable spatial light modulator (SLM). The sacrificial material layer can be silicon or polymer. Nevertheless, the method does not teach how to solve the peeling issue of the sacrificial silicon layer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,864, Patel et al disclose a procedure of etching sacrificial silicon layers for the manufacture of MEMS. The method, utilizing noble gas fluorides or halogen fluorides as etchant gases, exhibits greater selectivity toward the silicon portion relative to other portions of the microstructure by incorporating non-etchant gaseous additives in the etchant gas. Nevertheless, this method does not eliminate peeling in the sacrificial silicon layer.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a micromechanical structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of preventing peeling between sacrificial silicon layers in a MEMS process.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a micromirror structure.
In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides a method of preventing peeling between two silicon layers. A first layer having a first silicon material is provided. By performing a hydrogen treatment on the first layer, an H-treated silicon surface with Si—H bonds is formed on the first layer. A second layer having a second silicon material is formed on the H-treated silicon surface.
The present invention also provides a method of forming a micromirror structure. A first sacrificial silicon layer is formed on a substrate. A mirror plate is formed on part of the first sacrificial silicon layer and byproducts are created. An inert gas sputtering is performed on the mirror plate and the first sacrificial silicon layer to remove the byproducts. A hydrogen treatment is performed on the first sacrificial silicon layer to form an H-treated silicon surface thereon. A second sacrificial silicon layer is formed over the mirror plate and the first sacrificial silicon layer. At least one hole is formed to penetrate the second sacrificial silicon layer, the mirror plate and the first sacrificial silicon layer. The hole is filled with a conductive material to define a mirror support structure attached to the mirror plate and the substrate. The first and second sacrificial layers are removed to release the mirror plate.
The present invention also provides another method of forming a micromirror structure. A first sacrificial silicon layer is formed on a substrate. A mirror plate is formed on part of the first sacrificial layer and byproducts are created. Inert gas sputtering is performed on the mirror plate and the first sacrificial silicon layer to remove the byproducts. A hydrogen treatment is performed on the first sacrificial silicon layer to form an H-treated silicon surface thereon. A second sacrificial silicon layer is formed over the first sacrificial layer and the mirror plate. The first and second sacrificial silicon layers are partially etched to create an opening exposing a portion of the mirror plate and at least one hole exposing a portion of the substrate. The opening and the hole are filled with a conductive material to define a mirror support structure attached to the mirror plate and the substrate. The first and second sacrificial silicon layers are removed to release the mirror plate.
The present invention improves on the background art in that the first sacrificial silicon layer is performed by a hydrogen treatment to form an H-treated silicon surface thereon. Thus, the second sacrificial silicon layer can be securely deposited on the first sacrificial silicon layer without peeling, thereby increasing manufacturing yield and ameliorating the disadvantages of the background art.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIGS. 2A˜2F are cross-sectional views, according to one method of manufacturing a MEMS device of the present invention; and
FIGS. 3A˜3F illustrate perspective views of a portion of a substrate, according to another method of manufacturing a MEMS device of the present invention.
A silicon process proposed by this invention, used to preventing peeling between two (lower and upper) sacrificial silicon layers in the fabrication of MEMS, comprises a hydrogen treatment performed on a lower sacrificial silicon layer to form an H-treated silicon surface thereon. By means of the H-treated silicon surface, the upper sacrificial silicon layer can be securely deposited on the lower sacrificial silicon layer without peeling. The lower sacrificial silicon layer can be an amorphous silicon or crystalline silicon layer. The upper sacrificial silicon layer can be amorphous or crystalline silicon. In one example, the hydrogen treatment is a hydrogen (H) plasma treatment. In another example, the hydrogen treatment is a HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) vapor treatment. When the hydrogen plasma treatment is employed, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise an RF power of 50˜300 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 200˜2000 sccm, an operating temperature of 300˜400° C., an operating time of 30˜90 sec and an operating pressure of 0.1˜10 torr. Preferably, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise a RF power of 200 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 600 sccm, an operating temperature of 320° C., an operating time of 60 sec and an operating pressure of 0.8 torr. In addition, the hydrogen plasma treatment and the deposition of the upper sacrificial silicon layer can be preformed in the same processing chamber. When the HF vapor treatment is employed, the HF vapor uses HF (49 wt %) with a ratio of H2O: HF=30:1˜70:1 and an operating time of 60 sec or less. Preferably, the HF vapor uses HF (49 wt %) with a ratio of H2O: HF=50:1.
The inventors find hydrogen ions are more absorptive of Si atoms than other environmental and atmospheric impurities such as N and O ions. That is, the hydrogen treatment substitutes Si—H bonds for Si dangling bonds on the surface of the lower sacrificial silicon layer before depositing the upper sacrificial silicon layer. Thus, the dangling Si bonds are resistant to atmospheric impurities, and have improved impurity absorption resistance on the interface of the lower sacrificial silicon layer. Since the reaction gas for depositing silicon is silane (SiH4), the above Si—H bonds can be replaced with strong covalent Si—Si bonds during deposition (i.e. CVD). Therefore, the upper sacrificial silicon layer can be securely deposited on the lower sacrificial silicon layer without peeling.
The inventor provides experimental results. The lower sacrificial silicon layer with H-treated silicon surface is disposed in the atmosphere for 12 hours, and the upper sacrificial silicon layer also can be securely deposited on the lower sacrificial silicon layer without peeling. A sample, performed with a heat-treatment at 400° C., comprising the lower sacrificial silicon layer with H-treated silicon surface and the upper sacrificial silicon layer resulted in no peeling.
Accordingly, it has been verified that the additional hydrogen treatment can improve the interface adhesion between the lower and upper sacrificial silicon layers. In addition, the hydrogen treatment and the deposition of sacrificial silicon layer can be performed in the same processing chamber, or with the same equipment.
The present method is well suited for the MEMS process. A wide variety of MEMS devices can be made in accordance with the present invention, including microsensors, microvalves, micromirrors for optical scanning, microscopy, spectroscopy, maskless lithography, projection displays and optical switching, etc. The examples demonstrated below are micromirrors; however any of these or other MEMS devices can be made in accordance with the methods and materials of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A˜2F are cross-sectional views of one method of manufacturing a MEMS device according to the present invention.
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A demonstrative example of the hydrogen treatment 240 is herein described, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In one example, the hydrogen treatment is a hydrogen (H) plasma treatment. In another example, the hydrogen treatment is a HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) vapor treatment. When the hydrogen plasma treatment is employed, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise an RF power of 50˜300 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 200˜2000 sccm, an operating temperature of 300˜400° C., an operating time of 30˜90 sec and an operating pressure of 0.1˜10 torr. Preferably, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise an RF power of 200 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 600 sccm, an operating temperature of 320° C., an operating time of 60 sec and an operating pressure of 0.8 torr. More preferably, the hydrogen plasma treatment 240 and the deposition of the second sacrificial silicon layer 250 (shown in
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FIGS. 3A˜3F illustrate perspective views of a portion of a substrate, according to another method of manufacturing a MEMS device of the present invention.
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A demonstrative example of the hydrogen treatment 340 is herein described, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In one example, the hydrogen treatment is a hydrogen (H) plasma treatment. In another example, the hydrogen treatment is a HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) vapor treatment. When the hydrogen plasma treatment is employed, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise an RF power of 50-300 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 200˜2000 sccm, an operating temperature of 300˜400° C., an operating time of 30˜90 sec and an operating pressure of 0.1˜10 torr. Preferably, the operational conditions of the hydrogen plasma treatment comprise an RF power of 200 Watts, a hydrogen gas flow of 600 sccm, an operating temperature of 320° C., an operating time of 60 sec and an operating pressure of 0.8 torr. More preferably, the hydrogen plasma treatment 340 and the deposition of the second sacrificial silicon layer 350 (shown in
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The resulting micromirror structure is ready to be sandwiched with a semiconductor substrate having electrodes and electronic circuitry therein to form a light valve device. The process for forming the semiconductor substrate for actuation of the micromirror structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,256, and is therefore not discussed herein to avoid obscuring aspects of the present invention.
Thus, the present invention provides a method of preventing peeling between sacrificial silicon layers in the MEMS process. The present method uses the hydrogen treatment (e.g. the H plasma treatment) to form an H-treated surface on the lower sacrificial silicon layer before depositing the upper sacrificial silicon layer. Thus, the upper sacrificial silicon layer can be securely deposited on the lower sacrificial silicon layer without peeling, thereby increasing manufacturing yield, eliminating contamination and ameliorating the disadvantages of the background art.
Finally, while the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.