IP Library Granted Patent US 12696733
Granted Patent B2
US 12696733 · App. 18/638,436 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Semiconductor device and method of manufacture

Inventors: Jian-Jou Lian (Tainan City, TW); Yao-Wen Hsu (New Taipei City, TW); Neng-Jye Yang (Hsinchu, TW); Li-Min Chen (Zhubei City, TW); Chia-Wei Wu (Miaoli County, TW); Kuan-Lin Chen (New Taipei City, TW); Kuo-Bin Huang (Jhubei City, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
H10P76/204G03F7/094G03F7/20G03F7/32H10P14/6339H10P50/283H10P76/405H10P76/4085G03F7/095H10P50/644
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12696733
App. No.
18/638,436
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. After a patterning of a middle layer, the middle layer is removed. In order to reduce or prevent damage to other underlying layers exposed by the patterning of the middle layer and intervening layers, an inhibitor is included within an etching process in order to inhibit the amount of material removed from the underlying layers.

Claims (36)

1 . A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device, the method comprising:

reacting 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone with titanium oxide located within a spacer material;

removing a portion of the spacer material at a rate of no greater than about 4.2 Å/min; and

depositing a dielectric material in physical contact with a remaining portion of the spacer material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the portion of the spacer material uses an etchant comprising hydrofluoric acid and tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the portion of the spacer material uses an etchant comprising hydrofluoric acid and tetramethylammonium fluoride.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the portion of the spacer material uses an etchant comprising tetramethylammonium hydroxide and tetramethylammonium fluoride.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the tetramethylammonium hydroxide and the tetramethylammonium fluoride are within an etching solution, the tetramethylammonium hydroxide at a concentration of about 0.5%-wt and the tetramethylammonium fluoride at a concentration of about 1.5%-wt.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the etching solution comprises ethylene glycol.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the ethylene glycol has a concentration of between about 10%-wt and about 15%-wt.

8 . A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device, the method comprising:

depositing a mandrel material;

patterning the mandrel material to form a first opening;

lining the first opening with titanium oxide;

forming a second opening directly over the first opening, the second opening having a first depth after the forming the second opening; and

reducing the first depth to a second depth without removing more than about 5.61 Å of the titanium oxide.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

etching the titanium oxide to form spacers adjacent to the mandrel material; and

removing the mandrel material from the spacers.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein during the reducing the first depth the titanium oxide is removed at a rate of about 1.4 Å/min.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the reducing the first depth uses an etching solution, the etching solution comprising 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein prior to the reducing the first depth the second opening has an aspect ratio of between about 0.4 and about 21.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein after the reducing the first depth the second opening has an aspect ratio of between about 0.3 and about 15.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the mandrel material comprises silicon oxide.

15 . A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device, the method comprising:

depositing titanium oxide over a patterned mandrel layer, at least a portion of the titanium oxide extending into openings that extend through the patterned mandrel layer;

depositing a bottom layer, a middle layer, and a photoresist over the titanium oxide;

exposing the titanium oxide through the bottom layer, the middle layer, and the photoresist;

after the exposing, removing the middle layer, wherein the removing the middle layer removes the titanium oxide at a rate of less than about 4.2 Å/min;

patterning the titanium oxide into spacers adjacent to the patterned mandrel layer; and

removing at least a portion of the patterned mandrel layer adjacent to the spacers.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the removing the middle layer removes no more than about 16.81 {acute over (Å)} of the titanium oxide.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the removing the middle layer uses an etchant comprising hydrofluoric acid.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the etchant further comprises tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the etchant further comprises tetramethylammonium fluoride.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the patterned mandrel layer comprises borophosphosilicate tetraethylorthosilicate.