Embodiments described herein relate generally to a non-volatile memory device and a method for manufacturing the same.
A non-volatile memory device includes memory cells that are highly integrated; and interconnects that electrically connect the memory cells to peripheral circuits also are downscaled to match the size of the memory cells. Therefore, even in the case where metal is included in the interconnects of the memory cells, the operation speed of the memory cells may decrease due to the interconnect resistance of the interconnects. Accordingly, an interconnect structure is necessary in which it is possible to reduce the interconnect resistance.
According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first semiconductor body extending in a first direction, an electrode extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a charge storage layer provided between the first semiconductor body and the electrode, and a first insulating layer provided between the electrode and the charge storage layer. The electrode includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The first layer is provided on the first insulating layer and includes tungsten. The second layer is provided on the first layer and includes tungsten nitride. The third layer is provided on the second layer and includes tungsten.
Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The same portions inside the drawings are marked with the same numerals; a detailed description is omitted as appropriate; and the different portions are described. The drawings are schematic or conceptual; and the relationships between the thicknesses and widths of portions, the proportions of sizes between portions, etc., are not necessarily the same as the actual values thereof. The dimensions and/or the proportions may be illustrated differently between the drawings, even in the case where the same portion is illustrated.
There are cases where the dispositions of the components are described using the directions of XYZ axes shown in the drawings. The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. Hereinbelow, the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are described as an X-direction, a Y-direction, and a Z-direction. Also, there are cases where the Z-direction is described as upward and the direction opposite to the Z-direction is described as downward.
The non-volatile memory device 1 is, for example, NAND flash memory. As shown in
As shown in
Multiple electrodes 20 are provided in the memory region MA. The electrodes 20 are, for example, word lines extending in the Y-direction on the multiple semiconductor bodies 10a. The memory cells MC are provided respectively at the intersections between the semiconductor bodies 10a and the electrodes 20. The semiconductor bodies 10a form the channels of the memory cells MC.
As shown in
For example, the semiconductor bodies 10a are electrically connected to the sense amplifier 8 via not-shown bit lines and source lines. For example, the electrodes 20 and the selection gates 30 are electrically connected to the row decoder 7. The row decoder 7 controls, via the selection transistors ST, the ON/OFF of the electrical conduction between the semiconductor body 10a and the bit line and between the semiconductor body 10a and the source line.
For example, the row decoder 7 causes, via the selection transistors ST, the semiconductor body 10a and the sense amplifier 8 to be electrically connected and selectively applies, via the electrodes 20, voltages to the memory cells MC. Thereby, data can be programmed to the selected memory cell. Also, the sense amplifier 8 can read the data stored in the selected memory cell MC.
The structure of the memory cell MC of the non-volatile memory device 1 will now be described with reference to
As shown in
STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) 17 is provided between the memory cells MC adjacent to each other in the Y-direction. The STI 17 electrically isolates the semiconductor bodies 10a adjacent to each other in the Y-direction and electrically insulates the memory cells MC adjacent to each other in the Y-direction.
The insulating layer 40 includes, for example, a first layer 41 that is provided on the insulating layer 16, a second layer 43 that is provided on the first layer 41, and a third layer 45 that is provided on the second layer 43. The first layers 41 are provided to be separated from each other on the charge storage 15. The first layer 41 is, for example, a metal oxide layer such as hafnium silicate (HfSiO), etc. The second layer 41 is an insulating layer including silicon. The third layer 45 is, for example, a metal oxide layer of hafnium silicate, etc.
Also, the first layer 41 can store charge that is injected by passing through the insulating layer 16. Accordingly, the layers including the charge storage layer 15 to the insulating layer 16 and the first layer 41 can be called the charge storage layer. Thereby, the stored charge amount can be increased; and the threshold voltage can be set to be high. For example, such a configuration is advantageous for multi-bit memory cells MC.
The second layer 43 and the third layer 45 extend in the Y-direction along the electrode 20. In other words, the second layer 43 and the third layer 45 are interposed between the electrode 20 and the STI 17. Also, the upper surface of the STI 17 is positioned at a level higher than the upper surface of the charge storage layer 15 and is positioned at the same level as the upper surface of the first layer 41.
The electrode 20 has a three-layer structure including a first layer 21, a second layer 23, and a third layer 25. The first layer 21 is provided on the insulating layer 40 and includes tungsten (W). The first layer 21 is, for example, a tungsten layer or a tungsten nitride (WN) layer. The second layer 23 is, for example, a tungsten nitride layer. The tungsten nitride included in the second layer 23 has a first composition ratio. The tungsten nitride included in the first layer 21 has a second composition ratio that has a smaller proportion of nitrogen atoms than the first composition ratio. The third layer 25 is, for example, a tungsten layer. In the embodiment, by using the electrode 20 having such a structure, the electrical resistance of the electrode 20 is reduced.
For example,
As shown in
For example, a tungsten layer that is formed using sputtering is an aggregate of multiple tungsten particles. Then, the sheet resistance of the tungsten layer decreases as the particle size of the tungsten particles increases. The average particle size of tungsten particles formed on polysilicon is about 3.6 times the average particle size of tungsten particles formed on hafnium silicate. Accordingly, the sheet resistance RA shown in
For example, there is a tendency for the grain size of a tungsten layer formed on a metal oxide layer to be dependent on the crystal orientation of the foundation and to be small. Accordingly, the resistance of an interconnect formed on a metal oxide layer is large compared to the resistance of an interconnect formed on a polysilicon or silicon oxide layer. On the other hand, it is desirable for a metal oxide layer to be included in at least a portion of the insulating layer 40 to reduce the leakage current of the blocking insulating layer in the memory cell MC.
The electrode 20 of the embodiment has a stacked structure including the first layer 21 and the second layer 23 that are provided on the insulating layers, and the third layer 25 that functions as an interconnect. For example, the first layer 21 and the second layer 23 shield the effect of the crystal orientation of the metal oxide layer and increase the grain size of the third layer 25. Thereby, the resistance of the third layer 25 can be reduced.
The characteristics of the electrode 20 are shown in Table 1. These samples 1 to 6 are formed using sputtering on the insulating layer 40 including hafnium silicate.
Samples 1 and 2 include a tungsten layer W1, a tungsten nitride layer WN1, and a tungsten layer W2. The tungsten layer W1 is the first layer 21; and the tungsten nitride layer WN1 is the second layer 23. The tungsten layer W2 is the third layer 25. The layer thickness of W1 of sample 1 is 1.5 nanometers (nm); and the layer thickness of W1 of sample 2 is 3.0 nm.
A sheet resistance R of the electrode 20 is 2.6 Ω/mm2 and 2.8 Ω/mm2 for samples 1 and 2, respectively; and the effects of the hafnium silicate are suppressed for both. However, a threshold voltage Vinv after an erasing voltage of 20 V is applied to the memory cell MC is high, i.e., −4.7 V, for sample 2; that is, it is determined that the erasing of the data is insufficient. As a result, in the case where the tungsten layer is used as the first layer 21, it is favorable for the layer thickness of the tungsten layer to be, for example, 2 nm or less. In the case where the layer thickness of the first layer 21 is, for example, less than 1 nm, it is difficult to shield the effects of the hafnium silicate. Accordingly, in the case where the tungsten layer is used as the first layer 21, it is favorable for the layer thickness of the tungsten layer to be not less than 1 nm and not more than 2 nm.
Samples 3 and 4 include a tungsten nitride layer WN2, a tungsten nitride layer WN3, and a tungsten layer W2. The tungsten nitride layer WN2 is the first layer 21; and the tungsten nitride layer WN3 is the second layer 23. The tungsten layer W2 is the third layer 25. WN3 has the first composition ratio; and WN2 has the second composition ratio having a proportion of nitrogen atoms that is smaller than that of the first composition ratio. The layer thickness of WN2 of sample 3 is 2 nm; and the layer thickness of WN2 of sample 4 is 5 nm.
The sheet resistance R of the electrode 20 is 3.0 Ω/mm2 and 2.7 Ω/mm2 for samples 3 and 4, respectively; and the effects of the hafnium silicate are suppressed for both. Also, the threshold voltage Vinv after the erasing voltage of 20 V is applied to the memory cell MC is −7 V for both. Thereby, it is determined that the erasing of the data also is sufficient.
In the case where the tungsten nitride layer of the first layer 21 is set to be, for example, less than 1 nm, it is difficult to shield the effects of the hafnium silicate. Accordingly, in the case where the tungsten nitride layer is used as the first layer 21, it is favorable for the layer thickness of the tungsten nitride layer to be 1 nm or more. On the other hand, the difficulty of the etching process becomes high in the case where the layer thickness of the tungsten nitride exceeds 5 nm. In other words, the process load becomes large when the total thickness of the electrode 20 becomes thick and the etching time becomes long. Accordingly, in the case where the tungsten layer is used as the first layer 21, it is favorable for the layer thickness of the tungsten layer to be not less than 1 nm and not more than 5 nm. More favorably, the layer thickness is not less than 2 nm and not more than 5 nm.
Samples 5 and 6 include a tungsten nitride layer WN4, a tungsten nitride layer WN5, and a tungsten layer W3. The tungsten nitride layer WN4 is the first layer 21; and the tungsten nitride layer WN5 is the second layer 23. The tungsten layer W3 is the third layer 25. WN5 has the first composition ratio; and WN4 has the second composition ratio having the proportion of nitrogen atoms that is smaller than that of the first composition ratio. The layer thickness of WN4 of sample 5 is 2 nm; and the layer thickness of WN4 of sample 6 is 5 nm.
The first layer 21, the second layer 23, and the third layer 25 of samples 1 to 4 are formed continuously in the same reactor. On the other hand, for samples 5 and 6, the tungsten nitride layers WN4 and WN5 are formed in a reactor separate from that of the tungsten layer W3. In other words, the tungsten nitride layers WN4 and WN5 are exposed to external air prior to forming the tungsten layer W3.
As shown in Table 1, the sheet resistance R of the electrode 20 is 5.9 Ω/mm2 and 5.7 Ω/mm2 for samples 5 and 6, respectively; and it can be said that the effects of the hafnium silicate are not suppressed for either. In other words, it is desirable for the first layer 21, the second layer 23, and the third layer 25 to be formed continuously without being exposed to external air. Also, a metal barrier may be inserted between the electrode 20 and the insulating layer 40. For example, tantalum nitride can be used as the metal barrier.
A method for manufacturing the non-volatile memory device 1 according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The tungsten nitride layer that is included in the second metal layer 123 has the first composition ratio. The tungsten nitride layer that is included in the metal layer 121 has the second composition ratio having the proportion of nitrogen atoms that is smaller than that of the first composition ratio. Also, the first metal layer 121, the second metal layer 123, and the third metal layer 125 are formed using, for example, sputtering or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). For example, the first metal layer 121, the second metal layer 123, and the third metal layer 125 are formed continuously in the same reactor. Also, even in the case where these layers are formed in different reactors, it is desirable for the transfer of the wafer between the reactors to be performed at reduced pressure.
Thereby, the multiple insulating layers 13, the multiple charge storage layers 15, the multiple insulating layers 40, and the multiple electrodes 20 are formed on the semiconductor body 10a. The insulating layers 13 are the insulating layer 101 that is mutually-separated by the trenches 107 and 127. The charge storage layers 15 are the conductive layer 103 that is mutually-separated by the trenches 107 and 127. The insulating layers 16 are the insulating layer 104 that is mutually-separated by the trenches 107 and 127. The first layers 41 of the insulating layers 40 are the insulating layer 105 that is mutually-separated by the trenches 107 and 127. The second layers 43 and the third layers 45 are the insulating layers 113 and 115 that are mutually-separated by the trench 127 and extend in the Y-direction.
The electrodes 20 are separated from each other by the trench 127 and include the first layer 21, the second layer 23, and the third layer 25 extending in the Y-direction. The first metal layer 121 is divided into the first layer 21; the second metal layer 123 is divided into the second layer 23; and the third metal layer 125 is divided into the third layer 25.
A transistor element 3 is formed in the peripheral region PA.
The transistor element 3 includes a gate electrode 50, a gate insulator layer 60, and source/drain regions 70. The gate insulator layer 60 is formed on the semiconductor body 10b. The gate insulator layer 60 is a portion of the insulating layer 101. The gate electrode 50 is formed on the gate insulator layer 60.
For example, the conductive layer 103, the first metal layer 121, the second metal layer 123, and the third metal layer 125 that extend in the X-direction are etched into the configuration of the gate electrode 50. Continuing, the source/drain regions 70 are formed on two sides of the gate electrode 50 in the X-direction. For example, the source/drain regions 70 are formed on the two sides of the gate electrode 50 by performing ion implantation of an n-type impurity into the semiconductor body 10b.
Further, the insulating layer 75 that covers the source/drain regions 70 is formed. Then, contact holes 71a are made from the upper surface of the insulating layer 75 to the source/drain regions 70; and contact plugs 71 are formed inside the contact holes 71a.
The gate electrode 50 includes a first electrode layer (hereinbelow, a conductive layer 51) and a second electrode layer (hereinbelow, a metal layer 53). The conductive layer 51 is a portion of the conductive layer 103 and is formed simultaneously with the charge storage layer 15. The metal layer 53 includes a first layer 55, a second layer 57, and a third layer 59. The first layer 55 is a portion of the first metal layer 121. The second layer 57 is a portion of the second metal layer 123. The third layer 59 is a portion of the third metal layer 125. In other words, the metal layer 53 has the same layer structure as the electrode 20.
In the transistor element 3, the metal layer 53 is formed directly on the conductive layer 51. The first layer 55 and the second layer 57 function as barrier layers; and interactions between the metal layer 53 and the conductive layer 51 are suppressed. For example, in the case where the conductive layer 51 is polysilicon, the reactions between the metal atoms of the third layer 59 and the silicon atoms of the conductive layer 51 (e.g., siliciding) can be suppressed.
As shown in
Comparing
In the embodiment as recited above, the interconnect resistance of the electrode 20 can be reduced by forming the electrode 20 on the blocking insulating layer including the metal oxide layer, where the electrode 20 includes the first layer 55 and the second layer 57 that shield the crystal orientation of the metal oxide layer. Also, the first layer 55 and the second layer 57 function as barrier layers between the conductive layer 51 and the metal layer 53 of the transistor element 3. Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously form the electrode 20 and the gate electrode of the transistor element 3; and the manufacturing processes of the non-volatile memory device 1 are not increased by using the electrode 20.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/132,747 filed on Mar. 13, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62132747 | Mar 2015 | US |