This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0111136 filed on Sep. 2, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of forming a wiring structure.
When a wiring structure including a via and a wiring is formed, a photolithography process for forming the via and a photolithography processes substantially the same as or similar to those for forming the wiring may be independently performed. Thus, misalignment may occur between the via and the wiring.
Example embodiments provide an enhanced method of forming a wiring structure.
According to example embodiments of the inventive concepts, in a method of forming a wiring structure, i) a first wiring may be formed on a substrate. ii) First and second light sensitive insulation layers may be sequentially formed or stacked on the substrate and on the first wiring, and the first and second light sensitive insulation layers may be reactive to light of different first and second wavelength ranges, respectively. iii) A first exposing process may be performed using the light of the first wavelength range to form a first exposed portion in the first light sensitive insulation layer. iv) A second exposing process may be performed using the light of the second wavelength range to form a second exposed portion in the second light sensitive insulation layer. v) The first and second exposed portions may be removed by performing a developing process on the first and second light sensitive insulation layers to form a hole and an opening, respectively. The hole may extend through the first light sensitive insulation layer to the first wiring, and the opening may extend through the second light sensitive insulation layer to the hole. vi) A conductive layer may be formed in the hole and in the opening to form a first via and a second wiring in the hole and the opening, respectively. In some embodiments, ii) to vi) may be performed to form a second via and a third wiring on the second wiring.
According to example embodiments of the inventive concepts, in a method of forming a wiring structure, a first wiring, a first light sensitive insulation layer and a second light sensitive insulation layer may be sequentially formed or stacked on a substrate. First and second exposing processes may be performed on the first and second light sensitive insulation layers to form first and second exposed portions in the first and second light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The first and second exposed portions may be removed by performing a first developing process on the first and second light sensitive insulation layers to form a first hole and a first opening, respectively, extending through the first and second light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The first hole and the first opening may be connected to one another. A first via and a second wiring may be formed in the first hole and the first opening, respectively. Third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers may be sequentially formed or stacked on the second wiring. Third and fourth exposing processes may be performed on the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers to form third and fourth exposed portions in the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The third and fourth exposed portions may be removed by performing a second developing process on the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers to form a second hole and a second opening, respectively, extending through the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The second hole and the second opening may be connected to one another. A second via and a third wiring may be formed in the second hole and the second opening, respectively.
According to example embodiments of the inventive concepts, in a method of forming a wiring structure, a first wiring may be formed on a substrate. First and second light sensitive insulation layers may be sequentially stacked on the substrate and on the first wiring, and the first and second light sensitive insulation layers may be reactive to light of different first and second wavelength ranges, respectively. First and second exposing processes may be performed on the first and second light sensitive insulation layers to form first and second exposed portions in the first and second light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The first and second exposing processes may be performed using the light of the different first and second wavelength ranges, respectively. The first and second exposed portions may be removed by performing a first developing process on the first and second light sensitive insulation layers to form a first hole and a first opening, respectively, extending through the first and second light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The first hole and the first opening may be connected to one another. A first plating process may be performed to form a first conductive layer in the first hole and in the first opening. The first conductive layer may be planarized to form a first via and a second wiring in the first hole and in the first opening, respectively. Third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers may be sequentially formed or stacked on the second wiring and the second light sensitive insulation layer, and the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers may be reactive to light of different third and fourth wavelength ranges, respectively. Third and fourth exposing processes may be performed on the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers to form third and fourth exposed portions in the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The third and fourth exposing processes may be performed using the light of the different third and fourth wavelength ranges, respectively. The third and fourth exposed portions may be removed by performing a second developing process on the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers to form a second hole and a second opening, respectively, extending through the third and fourth light sensitive insulation layers, respectively. The second hole and the second opening may be connected to one another. A second plating process may be performed to form a second conductive layer in the second hole and in the second opening. The second conductive layer may be planarized to form a second via and a third wiring in the second hole and in the second opening, respectively.
In the method of forming the wiring structure, light sensitive insulation layers having different reaction wavelength ranges may be stacked, and respective exposing processes may be performed using lights of different wavelength ranges with the same exposing equipment. Thus, the respective exposing processes may be performed using the same alignment key, so that misalignment may not occur.
Additionally, the hole and the opening may be simultaneously formed by one (e.g., a single) developing process, so that misalignment between the via and the wiring in the hole and the opening, which may occur due to the deformation of the light sensitive insulation layers during the developing process, may be reduced.
The above and other aspects and features of the inventive concepts will become readily understood from detail descriptions that follow, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” and/or “third” may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second or third element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of inventive concepts. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated elements, but do not preclude the presence of additional elements. The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. When an element or layer is described as “directly on” another element or layer, no intervening elements or layers are present.
As described herein, two directions among horizontal directions substantially parallel to an upper surface of a substrate may be referred to as first and second directions D1 and D2, respectively, and a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate may be referred to as a third direction D3.
Particularly,
Referring to
The substrate 100 may include a semiconductor material, e.g., silicon, germanium, silicon-germanium, etc., or III-V group compounds, e.g., GaP, GaAs, GaSb, etc. In an example embodiment, the substrate 100 may be a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate or a germanium-on-insulator (GOI) substrate.
For example, the first wiring 110 may extend in the first direction D1 on the substrate 100, and a plurality of first wirings 110 may be spaced apart from each other in the second direction D2. However, the inventive concept may not be limited thereto, and the first wirings 110 may have various layouts.
The first wiring 110 may include a conductive material, e.g., a metal, a metal nitride, a metal silicide, etc.
In example embodiments, each of the first and second light sensing insulation layers 120 and 130 may include a polymer resin, e.g., photo imageable dielectric (PID).
In example embodiments, the first and second light sensing or light sensitive insulation layers 120 and 130 may be reactive or configured to react (e.g., to change one or more material properties thereof) in response to light having different wavelengths, respectively. That is, a first wavelength range of light (to which the first light sensing insulation layer 120 may be photosensitive or may mainly react) and a second wavelength range of light (to which the second light sensing insulation layer 130 may be photosensitive or may mainly react) may be different from each other. The different first and second wavelength ranges may be overlapping, or may be non-overlapping.
For example, each of the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range may include one of a peak wavelength of 436 nm of a g-line, a peak wavelength of 405 nm of an h-line, and a peak wavelength of 365 nm of an i-line. In an example embodiment, the first wavelength range may include 365 nm and the second wavelength range may include 405 nm. However, embodiments described herein are not limited thereto.
Referring to
That is, a light or a laser may be emitted from a light source onto the first and second light sensing insulation layers 120 and 130 with a first photomask including a pattern having a shape of a first via 152 (refer to
In an example embodiment, the light source may be a mercury lamp. Alternatively, the light source/drain may be an LED.
In example embodiments, the light source may emit a light having the first wavelength range to which the first light sensing insulation layer 120 may mainly react, and thus the second light sensing insulation layer 130 may not react to the light, while the first light sensing insulation layer 120 may react to the light to be cured.
If the light source is a mercury lamp, a light emitted from the mercury lamp may be filtered into one of a g-line, an h-line and an i-line, e.g., the i-line by using a first band-pass filter that may block or prevent passage of light of a given wavelength range.
In example embodiments, the first exposed portion 125 may be formed on each of the first wirings 110, and a plurality of first exposed portions 125 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction D1. However, the inventive concept may not be limited thereto.
Referring to
That is, a light or a laser may be emitted from the light source onto the first and second light sensing insulation layers 120 and 130 with a second photomask including a pattern having a shape of a second wiring 154 (refer to
In example embodiments, the light source may emit a light having the second wavelength range to which the second light sensing insulation layer 130 may mainly react, and thus the first light sensing insulation layer 120 may not react to the light, while the second light sensing insulation layer 130 may react to the light to be cured.
If the light source is a mercury lamp, a light emitted from the mercury lamp may be filtered into one of a g-line, an h-line and an i-line, e.g., the h-line by using a second band-pass filter that may blocking a light of a given wavelength range.
In example embodiments, the second exposed portion 135 may be formed on the first exposed portion 125, and may extend in the first direction D1 or in the second direction D2.
Referring to
That is, a developing solution may be spread on the first and second light sensing insulation layers 120 and 130 so that the first and second exposed portions 125 and 135 may be removed.
The first hole 127 that may be formed by the first developing process may partially expose an upper surface of the first wiring 110, and a plurality of first holes 127 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction D1 on each of the first wirings 110. Additionally, the first opening 137 may be connected to the first hole 127, and may partially expose an upper surface of the first light sensing insulation layer 120. The first opening 137 may extend in the first direction D1 or in the second direction D2.
Referring to
The first seed layer 140 may include a metal, e.g., copper, aluminum, etc.
Referring to
In example embodiments, the first conductive layer 150 may fill the first hole 127 and the first opening 137, and may be further formed on the upper surface of the second light sensing insulation layer 130.
The first plating process may include, e.g., an electroplating process and an electroless plating process, and the first conductive layer 150 may include a metal, e.g., a copper, aluminum, etc.
Referring to
In example embodiments, the first planarization process may include a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, a grinding process, an etch back process, etc.
By the first planarization process, the first conductive layer 150 may be transformed into the first via 152 filling the first hole 127 and the second wiring 154 filling the first opening 137.
In example embodiments, the first via 152 may contact the upper surface of the first wiring 110, and a plurality of first vias 152 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction D1 on each of the first wirings 110. The second wiring 154 may contact the first via 152, and may extend in the first direction D1 or in the second direction D2 on the first light sensing insulation layer 120.
Referring to
Thus, third and fourth light sensing insulation layers 160 and 170 may be sequentially stacked on the second light sensing insulation layer 130 and the second wiring 154, third and fourth exposing processes may be performed on the third and fourth light sensing insulation layers 160 and 170, respectively, and a second developing process may be performed on the third and fourth light sensing insulation layers 160 and 170, so that a second hole and a second opening may be formed through the third and fourth light sensing insulation layers 160 and 170, respectively, to be connected with each other. The second hole may expose the upper surface of the second wiring 154.
A second seed layer may be formed on the upper surface of the second wiring 154 exposed by the second hole, on sidewalls of the second hole and the second opening, and on an upper surface of the fourth light sensing insulation layer 170 outside the second opening, a second plating process may be performed on the second seed layer to form a second conductive layer, and a second planarization process may be performed on the second conductive layer to form a second via 182 and a third wiring 184 in the second hole and the second opening, respectively.
In example embodiments, the second via 182 may contact the upper surface of the second opening 154, and a plurality of second vias 182 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction D1 or in the second direction D2. Additionally, the third wiring 184 may extend in the first direction D1 or in the second direction D2 to commonly contact upper surfaces of the second vias 182.
The wiring structure may be formed by the above processes.
As illustrated above, the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 may not be independently formed, but may be formed by the same photolithography process.
For example, if a light sensing insulation layer is formed, an exposing process and a developing process are performed on the light sensing insulation layer to form the first hole 127, a photoresist layer is formed, an exposing process and a developing process are performed on the photoresist layer to form the first opening 137, and the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 are formed in the first hole 127 and the first opening 137, respectively, the photolithography process including the exposing process and the developing process may be performed twice.
Thus, an alignment key for forming the first hole 127 and an alignment key for forming the first opening 137 are different from each other, so that the possibility or likelihood of misalignment between the photolithography processes may increase. Additionally, the light sensing insulation layer and/or the photoresist layer may be deformed during the developing process so that the alignment between the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 may be deteriorated.
However, in example embodiments, the first and second light sensitive insulation layers 120 and 130 that are reactive to different wavelength ranges from each other may be stacked, and the first and second exposing processes may be performed by the same exposing equipment but using light having the different wavelength ranges, so that the first and second exposing processes may be performed using the same alignment keys to prevent the misalignment between the first and second exposing processes.
Additionally, the first hole 127 and the first opening 137 may be simultaneously formed by one exposing process and/or during a same developing process, so that the misalignment between the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 that may occur due to the deformation of the first and second light sensing insulation layers 120 and 130 during the developing process may be reduced.
The photolithography process including the first and second exposing processes and the first developing process may be performed on the first wiring 110 to form the first hole 127 and the first opening 137, the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 may be formed in the first hole 127 and the first opening 137, respectively, the photolithography process including the third and fourth exposing processes and the second developing process may be performed on the second wiring 154 to form the second hole and the second opening, and the second via 182 and the third wiring 184 may be formed in the second hole and the second opening, respectively, however, the inventive concept may not be limited thereto.
For example, only one photolithography process may be performed to form a wiring structure including the first wiring 110, the first via 152 and the second wiring 154 sequentially stacked in the third direction D3, or photolithography processes may be performed more than twice to form a wiring structure including wirings and vias alternately and repeatedly stacked in the third direction D3.
While the present inventive concepts have been shown and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present inventive concepts as set forth by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2022-0111136 | Sep 2022 | KR | national |