This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-280746, filed Sep. 27, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a surface strap and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, along the progress of semiconductor technologies, in particular, along the progress of microfabrication technologies, the miniaturization and high integration of memory cells have been progressed rapidly, and thereby, problems concerning memory retention property of memory cells have come up to the surface.
For example, in a DRAM in which a memory cell is configured by a MOS type transistor and a capacitor, the capacitor capacity is tend to decrease owing to the decrease of the capacity area accompanying with high integration. As a result, memory contents are read wrongly or software error that the memory contents are destructed by α rays have become problems.
In order to solve the problems, it is important not to decrease the capacitor capacity even if a memory cell is miniaturized.
Consequently, in the DRAM, various efforts have been made conventionally to ensure a sufficient capacitor capacity in order not to deteriorate an information storage function owing to high integration and miniaturization. As a typical example, the adoption of a trench capacitor is known.
As one of the structures for connecting a storage electrode of a trench capacitor and a source/drain of a MOS transistor, a surface strap structure (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 10-50964 and 2000-91520) has been known.
However, in the case of using the surface strap structure, a problem occurs as shown below. This problem is explained with reference to
In
The MOS transistors 85 to 88 in the course of fabrication are ones after the steps of forming a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, an extension, and the spacer 89. In the figure, for simplicity, the gate electrode film and the gate electrode are not distinguished, and the extension is omitted.
The surface strap 91 is formed as below. That is, the surface strap 91 is formed by depositing the polycrystalline silicon layer on the entire surface so as to fill up the opening portion 92, thereafter, etching back the polycrystalline silicon layer by reactive ion etching (RIE) process.
After the step of
The insulating film 93 is used, in a salicide process to be performed later, as a reaction preventing film (salicide block) for preventing the surface of the surface strap 91 from being silicided.
Here, the surface strap 91 is formed by etching back the polycrystalline silicone layer, as described above. Therefore the height (thickness) of the surface strap 91 becomes uneven in the wafer surface.
When the surface of the surface strap 91 is silicided, there occurs the problem that device characteristics such as DRAM retention characteristic are deteriorated.
A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, the insulating film including an opening portion; a surface strap embedded in the opening portion, the surface strap comprising a semiconductor layer; a reaction preventing film provided on the surface strap, the reaction preventing film comprising a material different from that of the insulating film; a storage electrode of a trench capacitor provided in the semiconductor substrate, the storage electrode connecting electrically with the surface strap; and a source/drain region provided on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, the source/drain region connecting electrically with the storage electrode via the surface strap.
A semiconductor device according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate; a surface strap provided on the semiconductor substrate, the surface strap comprising a semiconductor layer; a reaction preventing film provided on the semiconductor substrate, the reaction preventing film covering an upper surface and side surfaces of the surface strap; a storage electrode of a trench capacitor provided in the semiconductor substrate, the storage electrode connecting electrically with the surface strap; and a source/drain region provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, the source/drain region connecting electrically with the storage electrode via the surface strap.
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention comprises forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate comprising a storage electrode and a source/drain region of a trench capacitor, the storage electrode being formed inside of the semiconductor substrate and the source/drain region being formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; exposing an upper surface of the storage electrode by opening an opening portion in the insulating film; forming a semiconductor layer on the insulating film, the semiconductor layer filling up the opening portion; forming a surface strap in the opening portion by etching back the semiconductor layer, the surface strap being embedded in the opening portion up to middle of depth of the opening portion and comprising the semiconductor layer; forming a reaction preventing film to prevent reaction of the surface strap on a region including the insulating film and the opening portion, the reaction preventing film being embedded in the opening portion and comprising a film to be etched at an etching rate which is smaller than that of the insulating film; and removing the reaction preventing film outside of the opening portion by etching back the reaction preventing film and the insulating film under a condition that the etching rate of the reaction preventing film becomes smaller than that of the insulating film.
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to another aspect of the present invention comprises forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate comprising a storage electrode and a source/drain region of a trench capacitor, the storage electrode being formed inside of the semiconductor substrate and the source/drain region being formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; opening an opening portion in the insulating film; forming a semiconductor layer on the insulating film, the semiconductor layer filling up the opening portion; forming a surface strap in the opening portion by etching back the semiconductor layer, the surface strap being embedded in the opening portion up to middle of depth of the opening portion and comprising the semiconductor layer; widening a diameter of the opening portion by etching the insulating film; forming a reaction preventing film to prevent reaction of the surface strap on a region including the insulating film and the opening portion, the reaction preventing film being embedded in the opening portion having the widened diameter and comprising a film to be etched at an etching rate which is smaller than that of the insulating film; and removing the reaction preventing film outside of the opening portion by etching back the reaction preventing film and the insulating film under a condition that the etching rate of the reaction preventing film becomes smaller than that of the insulating film.
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter.
FIGS. 1 to 9 are cross sectional views each showing a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment. More specifically, they are cross sectional views each showing a method of manufacturing an embedded DRAM including a surface strap.
In
The MOS transistors 5 to 8 in the course of fabrication have been already subjected the process of depositing the insulating film 9 to be processed into a spacer (gate side wall insulating film), where a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and an extension are formed. In the figure, for simplicity, the gate electrode film and the gate electrode are not distinguished, and the extension is omitted.
The oxide film based interlayer insulating film 10 is an insulating film containing oxygen, and generally, further contains silicon, and is, for example, an SA-CVD film. The MOS transistor 5 is a MOS transistor for a word line, the MOS transistor 6 is a MOS transistor for a word line, the MOS transistor 7 is a MOS transistor for a passing word line, and the MOS transistor 8 is a logic transfer gate.
Next, as shown in
At the bottom of the opening portion 12, the surface of the silicon substrate 1 corresponding to a part of a region to be a source/drain region and a part of the upper surface of the storage electrode 4 are exposed.
Next, as shown in
Here, since the amount of the polycrystalline silicon layer etched back is uneven in the wafer surface, the height (thickness) of the surface strap 13 becomes uneven in the wafer surface.
Further, the height of the surface strap 13 becomes uneven for the following reason as well. The step of forming the interlayer insulating film 10 includes a step of depositing an insulating film, and a step of planarizing the surface of the insulating film by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process. However, in the step of planarizing, the insulating film is not completely planarized, and the height of the insulating film becomes uneven. The uneven height of the insulating film causes the uneven height of the surface strap 13.
Next, as shown in
Here, the insulating film 14 is an insulating film different from the oxide film based interlayer insulating film 10, and is, for example, a nitride film based insulating film. The nitride film based insulating film is an insulating film containing nitrogen, and generally, further contains silicon, and is, for example, an Si3N4 film. By selecting a nitride film based insulating film such as the Si3N4 film as the insulating film 14, it is possible to etch the insulating film 14 and the interlayer insulating film 10 under a condition that the etching rate of the insulating film 14 becomes smaller than that of the interlayer insulating film 10.
Next, as shown in
The condition for the RIE process at this time is a condition that the etching rate of the insulating film 14 becomes smaller than that of the interlayer insulating film 10. Specifically, a mixed gas containing C4F8, CO and Ar is employed as an etching gas.
By performing etch back under the condition for the RIE process, it is possible to surely make the insulating film 14 left on the surface strap 13 even though there is an uneven height of the surface strap 13 in the wafer surface, and to surely form the salicide block 14 on the surface strap 13.
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Because the surface strap 13 is covered with the salicide block 14 at this time, the surface of the surface strap 13 is not silicided (alloyed).
Thereafter, the known steps continue to complete the DRAM.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to form the salicide block 14 on the surface strap 13 even when there is unevenness in the height of the surface strap 13. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the silicidation of the surface strap 13 during the salicide process which causes the deterioration of device characteristics such as retention.
FIGS. 12 to 17 are cross sectional views each showing a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to a second embodiment. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIGS. 12 to 17, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
First, the steps up to
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
By performing etch back under the condition for the RIE process, it is possible to surely form the salicide block 14 on the surface strap 13 even when there is an uneven height of the surface strap 13 in the wafer surface.
Next, as shown in
At this time, the surface strap 13 is covered with the salicide block 14 formed in self-aligning manner, therefore, it is possible to prevent a medical solution used in the wet process from going into the surface strap 13 and the surface strap 13 from being exposed.
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
At this time, the surface strap 13 is covered with the insulating film (salicide block) 14, therefore, the surface of the surface strap 13 is not silicided.
Thereafter, the known steps continue to complete the DRAM.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to form the salicide block 14 on the surface strap 13 even when there is unevenness in the height of the surface strap 13. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the silicidation of the surface strap 13 during the salicide process which causes the deterioration of device characteristics such as retention.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the salicide block 14 is formed in self-aligning manner, and therefore, no alignment displacement occurs between the salicide block 14 and the surface strap 13. For this reason, in the wet process of removing the interlayer insulating film 10 in
First, the steps up to
Next, as shown in
The condition for the RIE process at this time is a condition that, for example, a mixed gas containing CHF3 and O2 is employed as an etching gas.
Next, as shown in
The condition for the wet process at this time is a condition that, for example, a mixed liquid (BHF) containing NH4F and HF is employed as an etching solution.
Next, in the same manner as in the step shown in
Next, in the same manner as in the step shown in
At this time, the surface strap 13 is covered with the insulating film (salicide block) 14, therefore, the surface of the surface strap 13 is not silicided.
Thereafter, the known steps continue to complete the DRAM.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to form the salicide block 14 on the surface strap 13 even when there is unevenness in the height of the surface strap 13. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the silicidation of the surface strap 13 during the salicide process which causes the deterioration of device characteristics such as retention.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the salicide block 14 is formed in self-aligning manner, and therefore, no alignment displacement occurs between the salicide block 14 and the surface strap 13. For this reason, in the wet step of removing the interlayer insulating film 10 in
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the insulating film 9 is not etched in the step of etching the insulating film 14 (
This is compared with the step in
Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments described above. Although the case of a DRAM has been explained in the above embodiments, the invention may be applied also to, for example, other semiconductor memory devices, and further, to other semiconductor devices than memory devices.
Moreover, the above embodiments have explained the case where the combination of the interlayer insulating film 10 and the insulating film 14 is an oxide film based insulating film and a nitride film-based insulating film. However, other combinations may also be employed. For example, the combinations which allow the etching rate of the insulating film 14 to be smaller than that of interlayer insulating film may be employed.
However, other combinations may also be employed, so long as the etching rate of the insulating film 14 can be made smaller than the etching rate of the interlayer insulating film 10.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-280746 | Sep 2004 | JP | national |