IP Library Granted Patent US 7,316,973
Granted Patent B2
US 7,316,973 · App. 11/002,706 · Granted Jan 8, 2008

Method for fabricating semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,316,973
App. No.
11/002,706
Granted
Jan 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device capable of preventing bridge formation caused by damages to a capacitor oxide structure including a phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer and a tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) layer during a wet cleaning process. The method includes the steps of: forming a PSG layer on a substrate; forming a capping layer on the PSG layer; forming a TEOS layer on the capping layer; selectively etching the TEOS layer, the capping layer and the PSG layer to form a plurality of openings exposing predetermined portions of the substrate; cleaning the openings; forming a conductive layer on the openings; and removing the conductive layer until the TEOS layer is exposed, so that the conductive layer is isolated for each opening.

Claims (21)

1. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

forming a phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer over a substrate where elements are already formed;

forming a capping layer on the PSG layer;

forming a tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) layer on the capping layer;

selectively etching the TEOS layer, the capping layer and the PSG layer to form a plurality of openings exposing predetermined portions of the substrate;

cleaning the openings;

forming a conductive layer on the openings; and

removing the conductive layer until the TEOS layer is exposed, so that the conductive layer is isolated for each opening, wherein the capping layer is formed to prevent phosphorus from diffusing out from the PSG layer to the TEOS layer due to a difference in a phosphorus concentration gradient.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness that is approximately 1/19 to approximately 1/9 of that of the PSG layer.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness ranging from approximately 100 Å to approximately 500 Å.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness ranging from approximately 100 Å to approximately 500 Å.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the capping layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), undoped silicate glass (USG) and PSG containing phosphorus of which concentration ranges from approximately 1% by volume to approximately 11% by volume.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the capping layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of BPSG, USG and PSG containing phosphorus of which concentration ranges from approximately 1% by volume to approximately 11% by volume.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the TEOS layer is formed by employing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of isolated storage node contact plugs is further formed between the substrate and the PSG layer.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness that is approximately 1/9 to approximately 1/9 of that of the PSG layer.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness ranging from approximately 100 Å to approximately 500 Å.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the capping layer has a thickness ranging from approximately 100 Å to approximately 500 Å.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the capping layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of BPSG, USG and PSG containing phosphorus of which concentration ranges from approximately 1% by volume to approximately 11% by volume.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the capping layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of BPSG, USG and PSG containing phosphorus of which concentration ranges from approximately 1% by volume to approximately 11% by volume.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the TEOS layer is formed by employing a PECVD method.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 057857 FRAME: 0189. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064742/0108 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 057857/0189 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054371/0884 →
RELEASE OF U.S. PATENT AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 047645/0424 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046900/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 036159/0386 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033707/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 276 INC.
Reel/Frame 033484/0344 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: 658868 N.B. INC.
To: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0547 →
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) - SHORT FORM Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: 658276 N.B. LTD.; 658868 N.B. INC.; MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 027512/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2011
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: 658868 N.B. INC.
Reel/Frame 027234/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2004
From: ROH, JAI-SUN
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 016053/0993 →