IP Library Granted Patent US 7,709,374
Granted Patent B2
US 7,709,374 · App. 12/179,379 · Granted May 4, 2010

Fabrication method for memory device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,709,374
App. No.
12/179,379
Granted
May 4, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides a method for fabricating a memory device. At first, a substrate having a plurality of gate electrode stacks and a source/drain region is provided, and a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on the substrate and cover the gate electrode stacks. A portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to form a sacrificial plug between the gate electrode stacks, and then a filling layer is formed over the substrate. Next, the sacrificial plug is removed, and a contact hole is formed. A clean step with a solution containing ammonia is carried out. The barrier layer at the bottom of the contact hole is removed, and a metal plug is then formed in the contact hole to electrically contact with the source/drain region.

Claims (23)

1. A method for fabricating a memory device, comprising:

providing a substrate having a plurality of gate electrode stacks formed thereon and a doped region formed in the substrate between the gate electrode stacks;

depositing a barrier layer on the substrate and the gate electrode stacks;

forming a polysilicon sacrificial layer over the barrier layer;

removing a portion of the polysilicon sacrificial layer to form a polysilicon sacrificial plug between the gate electrode stacks;

forming a filling layer over the substrate between the gate electrode stacks;

removing the polysilicon sacrificial plug to form a contact hole;

performing a cleaning step with a solution containing ammonia for further removing the residue of the removed polysilicon sacrificial plug remained in the contact hole;

removing a portion of the barrier layer to expose the doped region; and

forming a metal plug in the contact hole to contact with the doped region.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is formed by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low pressure chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition process.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polysilicon sacrificial layer is formed by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low pressure chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition process.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein forming the polysilicon sacrificial plug comprises:

forming a hard mask layer on the polysilicon sacrificial layer; and

removing the portion of the polysilicon sacrificial layer;

removing the hard mask layer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polysilicon sacrificial layer is removed by an anisotropic etching process.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein after the polysilicon sacrificial plug is removed, the method further comprises forming a diffusion barrier layer over the substrate.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the filling layer is formed by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition process.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein after the filling layer is formed, the method further comprises performing a densification step.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein after the filling layer is formed, the further comprises performing a planarization step.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the filling layer is flattened by a chemical mechanical polishing process.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaning step with the solution containing ammonia is performed by a single wafer clean tool.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041820/0815 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 041675/0105 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2008
From: CHEN, WEN-HSIANG; HSIAO, HEIN-YU
To: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 021302/0068 →