The present disclosure relates to a substrate processing method and a substrate processing apparatus.
A capacitor of a semiconductor layer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed by interposing a dielectric film between an upper electrode and a lower electrode. The dielectric film includes a film formed by alternately stacking hafnium oxide and titanium oxide at an atomic layer level.
An aspect of the present disclosure provides a technology of reducing a leakage current of a high-dielectric film.
A substrate processing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: (A) preparing a substrate, on which a high-dielectric film having a higher permittivity than a SiO2 film is formed; (B) supplying, to the substrate, a metal solution containing a second metal element having a higher electronegativity or a lower valence than a first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film; and (C) forming a doping layer, in which the first metal element has been substituted with the second metal element, on a surface of the high-dielectric film.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a leakage current of a high-dielectric film may be reduced.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the respective drawings, the same or corresponding components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.
First, prior to describing a substrate processing method according to the present embodiment, a substrate 10 obtained by using the substrate processing method is described with reference to
The semiconductor substrate 11 is, for example, a silicon wafer. The silicon wafer may contain a p-type dopant such as phosphorus or an n-type dopant such as boron. The semiconductor substrate 11 may be a compound semiconductor wafer. The compound semiconductor wafer is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a GaAs wafer, a SiC wafer, a GaN wafer, or an InP wafer.
The first electrode 12 and the second electrode 15 are each, for example, a conductive film such as a TiN film. The TiN film is formed by, for example, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. When the semiconductor substrate 11 contains a dopant, the first electrode 12 may be a portion of the semiconductor substrate 11.
The high-dielectric film 13 has a higher permittivity than an SiO2 film. The high-dielectric film 13 includes, for example, a zirconium oxide film or a hafnium oxide film. The high-dielectric film 13 is formed by, for example, the ALD method or the CVD method. The high-dielectric film 13 has a single-layer structure in the present embodiment, but may have a multiple-layer structure. The high-dielectric film 13 having the multi-layer structure is configured with, for example, ZrO2 film/Al2O3 film/ZrO2 film, ZrO2 film/Al2O3 film, or HfO2 film/Al2O3 film. The high-dielectric film 13 having the multi-layer structure may include a zirconium oxide film or a hafnium oxide film at the uppermost layer where the doping layer 14 is formed.
The substrate processing method according to the present embodiment includes forming the doping layer 14 on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13, as described later, before forming the second electrode 15 on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13. The doping layer 14 is a so-called monolayer. As described in detail later, by forming the doping layer 14, the Schottky barrier may be modulated, so that the leakage current may be reduced while suppressing the increase in film thickness of the high-dielectric film 13.
Next, the substrate processing method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
Step S101 includes preparing the substrate 10. The preparing of the substrate 10 includes, for example, carrying the substrate 10 into a substrate processing apparatus 20 (see
Step S102 includes restoring the oxygen vacancies 13a in the high-dielectric film 13 with an oxidant, before forming the doping layer 14. An oxidizing chemical liquid is used as the oxidant. The oxidizing chemical liquid is, for example, ozone water, SC1 (an aqueous solution containing ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide), hydrogen peroxide water, or SPM (an aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide). As illustrated in
Step S102 above includes, for example, ejecting the oxidizing chemical liquid onto the surface of the high-dielectric film 13 from a nozzle disposed above the substrate 10, in a state where the substrate 10 is held horizontally with the high-dielectric film 13 facing upward, to form a liquid film of the oxidizing chemical liquid thereon. At that time, the substrate 10 may be rotated. Further, the nozzle may scan the substrate 10 in the radial direction. The nozzle may be a two-fluid nozzle, and may supply a mist of the oxidizing chemical liquid to the substrate 10. The oxidizing chemical liquid is recovered by a cup 26 (see
Step S102 above may include immersing the substrate 10 in the oxidizing chemical liquid stored in a processing tank. In the case of immersing the substrate 10 in the oxidizing chemical liquid, a plurality of substrates 10 may be collectively processed.
Step S103 includes supplying a metal solution, which contains a second metal element having a higher electronegativity or a lower valence than a first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film 13, to the substrate 10. As illustrated in
As described above, the metal solution contains the second metal element that has the higher electronegativity or the lower valence than the first metal element. The second metal element may have the higher electronegativity and the lower valence than the first metal element. As described below, by substituting the first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film 13 with the second metal element contained in the metal solution, dipoles may be formed on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13.
The second metal element includes one or more selected from, for example, Co, Ni, Mo, W, V, Cr, and Nb. From the viewpoint of the substitutability with the first metal element, it is preferable that the second metal element has a small difference in ionic radius from the first metal element. Accordingly, the second metal element includes one or more selected from Co, Ni, and Nb. Co, Ni, and Nb have a small difference in ionic radius from Zr and Hf. The second metal element illustrated in
The metal solution is, for example, an aqueous solution of an inorganic acid salt containing the second metal element. The inorganic acid salt is not particularly limited, but is, for example, sulfate, nitrate, or nitrate.
The metal solution may include an organic solvent having an excellent hydration property to improve the wettability with the high-dielectric film 13. As for the organic solvent, for example, IPA or acetone is used. By improving the wettability of the metal solution, the rate for substituting the first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film 13 with the second metal element contained in the metal solution may be improved.
Step S103 above includes, for example, ejecting the metal solution from the nozzle disposed above the substrate 10 onto the surface of the high-dielectric film 13, in a state where the substrate 10 is held horizontally with the high-dielectric film 13 facing upward, to form the liquid film of the metal solution. At that time, the substrate 10 may be rotated. Further, the nozzle may scan the substrate 10 in the radial direction. The nozzle may be a two-fluid nozzle, and may supply a mist of the metal solution to the substrate 10. The metal solution is recovered by the cup 26 (see
Further, step S103 above may include immersing the substrate 10 in the metal solution stored in the processing tank. When the substrate 10 is immersed in the metal solution, a plurality of substrates 10 may be collectively processed.
Step S104 includes forming the doping layer 14, in which the first metal element has been substituted with the second metal element, on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13. As illustrated in
As described above, the second metal element has the higher electronegativity or the lower valence than the first metal element. Accordingly, dipoles may be formed on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13 as illustrated in
The surface density of the second metal element on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13 is, for example, 1×10 atoms/cm2 or more and 1×1015 atoms/cm2 or less. The surface density of the second metal element is measured by a secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), or a total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis method.
When the surface density of the second metal element on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13 falls within a desired range, a post-cleaning such as a rinsing may not be performed after step S104. When the second metal element is excessive, the post-cleaning is performed.
As described above, however, step S104 includes substituting the first metal element contained in the high-dielectric film 13 with the second metal element having the higher electronegativity or the lower valence than the first metal element. As a result, new oxygen vacancies 13a may be generated as illustrated in
Step S105 includes restoring the oxygen vacancies 13a in the high-dielectric film 13 with an oxidant, after forming the doping layer 14. As for the oxidant, the oxidizing chemical liquid is used as in step S102 above, and the oxidizing chemical liquid is supplied to the substrate 10. As illustrated in
Further, the oxidizing chemical liquid may be supplied to the substrate 10 simultaneously with the supply of the metal solution. That is, the formation of the doping layer 14 (step S104) and the restoration of the oxygen vacancies 13a (step S102 or S105) may be performed simultaneously.
The restoration of the oxygen vacancies 13a is a wet process in the present embodiment, but may be a dry process. For example, step S105 may include restoring the oxygen vacancies 13a in the high-dielectric film 13 by heating the substrate 10 in an atmosphere containing oxygen gas, after forming the doping layer 14. The temperature for heating the substrate 10 is, for example, 80° C. to 500° C., preferably 100° C. to 350° C. Most of the atmosphere may be an inert gas such as nitrogen gas as long as the atmosphere contains oxygen gas. The atmosphere may be the air atmosphere.
Further, step S105 may include restoring the oxygen vacancies 13a in the high-dielectric film 13 by irradiating the substrate 10 with a UV light in the atmosphere containing oxygen gas, after forming the doping layer 14. The irradiation with the UV light produces ozone, and the ozone restores the oxygen vacancies 13a. The wavelength of the UV light is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 172 nm or 365 nm.
Further, step S105 may include a plurality of processes for restoring the oxygen vacancies 13a. The combination of the processes is not particularly limited.
Step S106 includes cleaning the substrate 10. For example, step S106 includes cleaning the back surface (e.g., the lower surface) of the substrate 10 opposite to the doping layer 14, or the bevel of the substrate 10 with a cleaning liquid, to remove the second metal element adhering to the back surface or the bevel. Both the back surface and the bevel may be cleaned. The cleaning liquid includes an inorganic acid. The cleaning liquid is, for example, hydrofluoric acid, dilute hydrochloric acid, SC2 (an aqueous solution containing hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide), SPM, or royal water. The second metal element may be prevented from adhering to a transfer device that transfers the substrate 10.
Step S106 above includes, for example, ejecting the cleaning liquid from a nozzle disposed below the substrate 10, in a state where the substrate 10 is held horizontally with the high-dielectric film 13 facing upward. At that time, the substrate 10 may be rotated. The nozzle may be a two-fluid nozzle, and a mist of the cleaning liquid may be supplied to the substrate 10. The cleaning liquid is recovered by the cup 26 (see
Step S107 includes drying the substrate 10. The method of drying the substrate 10 is, for example, a spin drying, a supercritical drying, or the Marangoni drying. The drying methods use an organic solvent such as IPA. Compared to pure water, the organic solvent may reduce the surface tension acting on the substrate surface, which may suppress a pattern collapse on the substrate surface. The organic solvent is supplied in a liquid or gas state to the substrate 10. For example, nitrogen gas may be supplied to the substrate 10, together with the organic solvent. In the supercritical drying, the substrate 10 is dried by substituting the liquid film of the organic solvent formed in advance on the upper surface of the substrate 10 with a supercritical fluid.
Before drying the substrate 10, the substrate 10 may be subjected to a water repelling with a water repellent, to reduce the surface tension of the organic solvent that acts on the substrate surface. The water repellent is not particularly limited, but is, for example, (trimethylsilyl)dimethylamine (N,N-dimethyltrimethylsilylamine:TMSDMA) or hexamethyldisilazane (1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane:HMDS).
Step S108 includes carrying the substrate 10 out from the substrate processing apparatus 20. Then, the second electrode 15 is formed on the doping layer 14 of the substrate 10.
The substrate processing method may further include steps other than the steps illustrated in
Next, experimental data will be described with reference to, for example, Table 1. Table 1 represents process conditions of Examples 1 to 8. In Examples 1 to 8, a TiN film, a ZrO2 film, and a TiN film were formed in this order on a silicon wafer under the same process conditions, except for the process conditions represented in Table 1. The film thickness of the ZrO2 film was 5 nm. Example 1 is a Comparative Example, and Examples 2 to 8 are Examples of the present disclosure.
In the “Doping Process” of Table 1, the substrate was immersed in an aqueous solution containing 10 mass ppm of Co ions for 30 minutes, before forming the TiN film on the surface of the ZrO2 film, and subsequently, dried by compressed air. In the “Pre-Processing,” after the formation of the ZrO2 film and before the doping process, SPM was supplied to the surface of the ZrO2 film for 1 minute, and subsequently, DHF (dilute hydrofluoric acid) was supplied thereto for 1 minute. SPM with a mass ratio of 6:1 between sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2SO4:H2O2=6:1) was used. DHF with a mass ratio of 1:100 between hydrofluoric acid and water (H2O2:H2O=1:100) was used. In the first post-processing, after the doping process and before the formation of the TiN film, the substrate was subjected to a heating process at 100° C. in the air atmosphere. In the second post-processing, after the doping process and before the formation of the TiN film, the substrate was immersed in hydrogen peroxide water for 10 seconds, and subsequently, dried by compressed air. Hydrogen peroxide water containing 1.5 mass % of H2O2 was used.
In each of Examples 1 through 8, 60 specimens were prepared under the process conditions represented in Table 1. As illustrated in
As confirmed from
As confirmed from
Next, a substrate processing method according to a modification will be described with reference to
Step S201 includes supplying an organic solvent having a polarity to the substrate. The organic solvent having the polarity includes, for example, a carbonyl compound or an amine compound. The carbonyl compound is not particularly limited, but is, for example, acetone, formaldehyde, or cyclohexanone. The amine compound is not particularly limited, but is, for example, triethylamine or trimethylamine.
Step S201 above includes, for example, ejecting the organic solvent from the nozzle disposed above the substrate 10 onto the surface of the high-dielectric film 13, in a state where the substrate 10 is held horizontally with the high-dielectric film 13 facing upward, to form the liquid film of the organic solvent. At that time, the substrate 10 may be rotated. Further, the nozzle may scan the substrate 10 in the radial direction. The nozzle may be a two-fluid nozzle, and may supply a mist of the organic solvent to the substrate 10. The organic solvent is recovered by the cup 26 (see
Further, step S201 above may include immersing the substrate 10 in the organic solvent stored in the processing tank. When the substrate 10 is immersed in the organic solvent, a plurality of substrates 10 may be collectively processed. The organic solvent may be supplied in a gas state, rather than the liquid state, to the substrate 10.
Step S202 includes adsorbing the organic solvent onto the surface of the high-dielectric film 13 to form an adsorption layer containing the organic solvent. When the carbonyl compound is supplied as the organic solvent, the carbonyl groups adsorb onto the surface of the high-dielectric film 13, thereby forming an adsorption layer 16 as illustrated in
With the formation of the adsorption layer 16, dipoles are formed on the surface of the high-dielectric film 13. As a result, as in the case where the doping layer 14 is formed instead of the adsorption layer 16, the Schottky barrier may be modulated as indicated by the arrow A1 in
Next, experimental data will be described with reference to, for example, Table 2. Table 2 represents experimental results of Examples 1 and 9. In Example 9, a TiN film, a ZrO2 film, and a TiN film were formed in this order on a silicon wafer under the same conditions as those in Example 2, except that an “adsorption process” was performed instead of the “doping process.” In the adsorption process, the substrate was immersed in acetone for 30 seconds, and subsequently, dried with compressed air. Example 1 is a Comparative Example, and Example 9 is an Example of the present disclosure.
As confirmed from Table 2, in Example 9, the adsorption process is performed unlike Example 1, so that the leakage current may be reduced as compared to Example 1. Specifically, in Example 9, the median value of the leakage current is reduced to about ⅖ of the reference value.
Next, the substrate processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
The liquid supply mechanism 25 includes a nozzle 251 that ejects the processing liquid. The nozzle 251 ejects the processing liquid from above onto the substrate 10 held by the chuck 23. The processing liquid is supplied to the center of the rotating substrate 10 in the radial direction, and spreads radially over the entire substrate 10 by the centrifugal force, thereby forming a liquid film. The number of nozzles 251 is one or more. A plurality of nozzles 251 may eject a plurality of types of processing liquid, or a single nozzle 251 may eject a plurality of types of processing liquid.
The plurality of types of processing liquid may include, for example, the oxidizing chemical liquid used in step S102 or S105, the metal solution used in steps S103 and S104, the cleaning liquid used in step S106, and the organic solvent used in step S201. The liquid supply mechanism 25 corresponds to a liquid supply unit or an organic solvent supply unit described in the claims.
The liquid supply mechanism 25 has a flow path for supplying a processing liquid toward the nozzles 251 for each processing liquid. Further, the liquid supply mechanism 25 includes a flow rate meter, a flow rate controller, and an opening/closing valve in the middle of the flow path. The flow rate meter measures the flow rate of the processing liquid. The flow rate controller controls the flow rate of the processing liquid. The opening/closing valve opens/closes the flow path.
Further, the liquid supply mechanism 25 includes a nozzle drive unit 252 that moves the nozzle 251. The nozzle drive unit 252 moves the nozzle 251 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the center line of the rotation of the chuck 23. The nozzle drive unit 252 may move the nozzle 251 in the vertical direction. While the nozzle 251 ejects a liquid to the substrate surface, the nozzle drive unit 252 may move the nozzle 251 in the radial direction of the substrate surface.
The cup 26 accommodates the substrate 10 held by chuck 23, and recovers the processing liquid expelled from the rotating substrate 10. A drain pipe 261 and an exhaust pipe 262 are provided at the bottom of the cup 26. The drain pipe 261 discharges a liquid stored in the cup 26. The exhaust pipe 262 discharges a gas inside the cup 26. The cup 26 does not rotate along with the chuck 23, but may rotate along with the chuck 23.
The control unit 29 is, for example, a computer, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 291 and a storage medium 292 such as a memory. The storage medium 292 stores programs for controlling various processes performed in the substrate processing apparatus 20. The control unit 29 controls the operation of the substrate processing apparatus 20 by causing the CPU 291 to execute the programs stored in the storage medium 292, so as to implement the substrate processing method illustrated in
While the embodiments of the substrate processing method and the substrate processing apparatus according to the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Various changes, modification, substitution, addition, deletion, and combination may be made within the scope described in the claims. Such changes, modification, substitution, addition, deletion, and combination also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.
This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-018133, filed on Feb. 8, 2021, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-018133 | Feb 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2022/003513 | 1/31/2022 | WO |