IP Library Granted Patent US 9,490,347
Granted Patent B2
US 9,490,347 · App. 14/925,741 · Granted Nov 8, 2016

Capping dielectric structures for transistor gates

Inventors: Aaron W. Rosenbaum (Portland, OR); Din-How Mei (Portland, OR); Sameer S. Pradhan (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H01L29/66795H01L21/0217H01L21/02167H01L21/02274H01L21/28008H01L21/28247H01L29/6656H01L29/66545H01L29/785H01L21/76897H01L2029/7858
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,490,347
App. No.
14/925,741
Granted
Nov 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic transistors, including non-planar transistors, for microelectronic devices. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation a recessed gate electrode capped by a substantially void-free dielectric capping dielectric structure which may be formed with a high density plasma process.

Claims (39)

1. A method of fabricating a transistor gate, comprising:

forming a pair of gate spacers;

forming a gate electrode disposed between and contacting the pair of gate spacers;

removing a portion of the gate electrode to form a recess;

high density plasma depositing a capping dielectric structure within the recess on a top surface of the recessed gate electrode and between the pair of gate spacers;

forming a source/drain region;

forming at least one dielectric material over the source/drain region, the non-planar transistor gate spacers, and the capping dielectric structure; and

forming a contact opening through the at least one dielectric material to expose at least a portion of the source/drain region and which removes a portion of the capping dielectric structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon nitride capping dielectric structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon carbide capping dielectric structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure at a temperature between about 300° C. and 600° C.

5. A method comprising:

forming a non-planar transistor fin;

forming a pair of non-planar transistor gate spacers adjacent the sacrificial non-planar transistor fin;

depositing conductive gate material between and contacting the non-planar transistor gate spacers;

removing a portion of the conductive gate material to form a recess between the non-planar transistor gate spacers;

forming a capping dielectric structure within the recess by high density plasma depositing a dielectric material;

forming a source/drain region;

forming at least one dielectric material over the source/drain region, the non-planar transistor gate spacers, and the capping dielectric structure; and

forming a contact opening through the at least one dielectric material to expose at least a portion of the source/drain region and which removes a portion of the capping dielectric structure.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon nitride capping dielectric structure.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon carbide capping dielectric structure.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure at a temperature between about 300° C. and 600° C.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising forming a gate dielectric adjacent the non-planar transistor fin.

10. A method comprising:

forming a sacrificial non-planar transistor gate over a non-planar transistor fin;

depositing a dielectric material layer over the sacrificial non-planar transistor gate and the non-planar transistor fin;

forming non-planar transistor gate spacers from a portion of the dielectric material layer adjacent the sacrificial non-planar transistor gate;

forming a source/drain region;

removing the sacrificial non-planar transistor gate to form a gate trench between the non-planar transistor gate spacers and expose a portion of the non-planar transistor fin;

forming a gate dielectric adjacent the non-planar transistor fin within the gate trench;

depositing conductive gate material within the gate trench;

removing a portion of the conductive gate material to form a recess between the non-planar transistor gate spacers;

forming a capping dielectric structure within the recess by high density plasma depositing a dielectric material;

forming at least one dielectric material over the source/drain region, the non-planar transistor gate spacers, and the capping dielectric structure; and

forming a contact opening through the at least one dielectric material to expose at least a portion of the source/drain region and which removes a portion of the capping dielectric structure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon nitride capping dielectric structure.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing a silicon carbide capping dielectric structure.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure comprises high density plasma depositing the capping dielectric structure at a temperature between about 300° C. and 600° C.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2025
From: DAEDALUS PRIME LLC
To: MEDIATEK INC.
Reel/Frame 073948/0951 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: DAEDALUS PRIME LLC
Reel/Frame 060392/0594 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13992598
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