IP Library Granted Patent US 12700539
Granted Patent B2
US 12700539 · App. 18/311,934 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Vertically-stacked interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor for sub-20 nm pitch

Inventors: Hsueh-Chung Chen (Cohoes, NY); Chih-Chao Yang (Glenmont, NY)
Assignee: International Businesss Machines Corporation
H01G4/005H01G4/10H10D1/716H01G4/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12700539
App. No.
18/311,934
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Forming a vertically stacked interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes forming a first set of connecting vias within a first dielectric layer disposed above a semiconductor substrate followed by deposition of a first conductive material above the first dielectric layer, the first conductive material fills the first set of connecting vias. A top portion of the first conductive material is patterned to form a first set of interdigitated electrodes. A remaining portion of the first conductive material below the first set of interdigitated electrodes includes a first metal plate. An insulating layer is conformally deposited above the first conductive material for electrically separating the first set of interdigitated electrodes and the first metal plate.

Claims (23)

1 . A method of forming an interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor, comprising:

forming a first set of connecting via openings within a dielectric layer disposed above a semiconductor substrate;

depositing a first conductive material to form:

a bottom portion of the first conductive material including bottom conductive vias formed in the via openings,

a middle portion of the first conductive material in contact with the bottom conductive vias and the dielectric layer, the middle potion formed as a first metal plate, and

a top portion of the first conductive material in contact with the middle portion;

patterning the top portion of the first conductive material to form a first set of interdigitated electrodes, wherein the first set of interdigitated electrodes extend upward from a top surface of the metal plate, and the bottom conductive vias extend downward from a bottom surface of the metal plate; and

conformally depositing an insulating layer above the first conductive material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

depositing a second conductive material above the insulating layer, wherein the depositing the second conductive material forms a second set of interdigitated electrodes interleaved with the first set of interdigitated electrodes; and

patterning a top portion of the second conductive material to form a second set of conductive vias, a remaining portion of the second conductive material below the second set of conductive vias comprising a second metal plate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of conductive vias electrically connects the first metal plate to underlying structures disposed in the semiconductor substrate.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of interdigitated electrodes are in electrical communication with the first metal plate for increasing a charge collecting surface area of the interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the second set of interdigitated electrodes are in electrical communication with the second metal plate for further increasing the charge collecting surface area of the interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second set of conductive vias electrically connects the second metal plate to subsequently formed structures.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive material comprises at least one of cobalt, ruthenium, aluminum, titanium, and tungsten.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second conductive material comprises at least one of cobalt, ruthenium, aluminum, titanium, and tungsten.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a high-k dielectric material.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the high-k dielectric material comprises at least one of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first set of interdigitated electrodes and the second set of interdigitated electrodes have an aspect ratio of at least 1:1 for increasing a total capacitance of the metal-insulator-metal capacitor structure.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second insulating layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate and below the first set of conductive vias.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second insulating layer comprises nitrogen-doped silicon carbide.