IP Library Granted Patent US 9,659,818
Granted Patent B1
US 9,659,818 · App. 15/336,859 · Granted May 23, 2017

Forming self-aligned dual patterning mandrel and non-mandrel interconnects

Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger (Rhinebeck, NY); Carl Radens (LaGrangeville, NY); John Zhang (Altamont, NY)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
H01L21/76883H01L21/0337H01L21/76852H01L21/76897H01L29/6653H01L29/6656
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,659,818
App. No.
15/336,859
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method for forming conductive lines on a substrate includes depositing a layer of mandrel material on a substrate and removing portions of the layer of mandrel material to form a first mandrel having a first length, a portion of the first mandrel has sloped sidewalls, a second mandrel having a second length, the second mandrel having an outwardly facing sloped sidewall, and a third mandrel having the second length, the third mandrel having an outwardly facing sloped sidewall, the first length is greater than the second length, the first mandrel is arranged between the second mandrel and the third mandrel. A spacer is formed along non-sloped sidewalls of the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the third mandrel. The first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the third, mandrel, and exposed portions of the substrate are removed to form cavities. The cavities are filled with a conductive material.

Claims (48)

1. A method for forming conductive lines on a substrate, the method comprising:

depositing a layer of mandrel material on a substrate;

removing portions of the layer of mandrel material to form a first mandrel having a first length and a second mandrel having a second length, the first length is greater than the second length;

forming a first spacer with a first spacer material along sidewalls of the first mandrel and the second mandrel, the first spacer defining a gap between the first mandrel and the second mandrel;

depositing a layer of a second spacer material over the first spacer, the substrate, the gap, and the first mandrel and the second mandrel;

removing portions of the second spacer material to expose portions of the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the first spacer, and form a second spacer in the gap;

removing the first mandrel and the second mandrel to expose portions of the substrate;

removing exposed portions of the substrate to form cavities;

removing the first spacer and the second spacer; and

filling the cavities with a conductive material.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing portions of the conductive material to form conductive lines in the cavities.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the removing portions of the conductive material includes a planarization process.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the layer of mandrel material includes an amorphous semiconductor material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer material includes a nitride material and the second spacer material includes an oxide material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the first spacer includes:

depositing the first spacer material over the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the substrate; and

removing portions of the first spacer material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes an insulator material.

8. A method for forming conductive lines on a substrate, the method comprising:

depositing a layer of mandrel material on a substrate;

removing portions of the layer of mandrel material to form a first mandrel having a first length, a portion of the first mandrel has sloped sidewalls, a second mandrel having a second length, the second mandrel having an outwardly facing sloped sidewall, and a third mandrel having the second length, the third mandrel having an outwardly facing sloped sidewall, the first length is greater than the second length, the first mandrel is arranged between the second mandrel and the third mandrel

forming a spacer along non-sloped sidewalls of the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the third mandrel;

removing the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the third, mandrel;

removing exposed portions of the substrate to form cavities; and

filling the cavities with a conductive material.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing portions of the conductive material to form conductive lines in the cavities.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the removing portions of the conductive material includes a planarization process.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the layer of mandrel material includes an amorphous semiconductor material.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first spacer material includes a nitride material and the second spacer material includes an oxide material.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the forming the first spacer includes:

depositing the first spacer material over the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the substrate; and

removing portions of the first spacer material.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the substrate includes an insulator material.

15. A method for forming conductive lines on a substrate, the method comprising:

depositing a layer of conductive material on a substrate;

removing portions of the layer of conductive material to form a first mandrel having a first length and a second mandrel having a second length, the first length is greater than the second length;

forming a first spacer with a first spacer material along sidewalls of the first mandrel and the second mandrel, the first spacer defining a gap between the first mandrel and the second mandrel;

depositing a layer of a second spacer material over the first spacer, the substrate, the gap, and the first mandrel and the second mandrel;

removing portions of the second spacer material to expose portions of the first mandrel, the second mandrel, and the first spacer, and form a second spacer in the gap;

depositing a second layer of conductive material over the substrate;

removing portions of the second layer of conductive material to expose portions of the first spacer and the second spacer;

removing the first spacer and the second spacer to expose portions of the substrate; and

depositing a fill material on exposed portions of the substrate.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the layer of mandrel material includes an amorphous semiconductor material.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first spacer material includes a nitride material and the second spacer material includes an oxide material.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fill material includes a semiconductor material.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fill material includes an insulator material.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the layer of conductive material is similar to the second layer of conductive material.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2020
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ELPIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 052644/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: CLEVENGER, LAWRENCE A.; RADENS, CARL; ZHANG, JOHN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040158/0111 →