IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,297,441
Granted Patent B2
US 10,297,441 · App. 15/674,108 · Granted May 21, 2019

Low-temperature atomic layer deposition of boron nitride and BN structures

Inventors: Steven Wolf (San Diego, CA); Mary Edmonds (San Diego, CA); Andrew C. Kummel (San Diego, CA); Srinivas D. Nemani (Sunnyvale, CA); Ellie Y. Yieh (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
H01L21/02205C23C16/342C23C16/45527C23C16/45553C23C16/46H01L21/0228H01L21/02112H01L21/02175H01L29/513H01L29/517H01L29/518
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,297,441
App. No.
15/674,108
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of the disclosure include a BN ALD process at low temperatures using a reactive nitrogen precursor, such as thermal N 2 H 4 , and a boron containing precursor, which allows for the deposition of ultra thin (less than 5 nm) films with precise thickness and composition control. Methods are self-limiting and provide saturating atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a boron nitride (BN) layer on various semiconductors and metallic substrates.

Claims (18)

1. A method for atomic layer deposition (ALD) of boron nitride, the method comprising:

placing a 2-dimensional semiconductor substrate in an ALD reactor, the 2-dimensional semiconductor substrate comprising highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG);

heating the substrate to a deposition temperature of about 350° C. or less; and

sequentially exposing the substrate to a reactive nitrogen containing precursor and a boron containing precursor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reactive nitrogen containing precursor comprises hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the boron containing precursor comprises one of BCl 3 , BBr 3 , BF 3 , B 2 H 6 , borazine (BH) 3 (NH) 3 , tris(dimethylamino)borane (TDMAB) and organometallic boron compounds.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boron containing precursor comprises one of BCl 3 , BBr 3 , BF 3 , B 2 H 6 , borazine (BH) 3 (NH) 3 , tris(dimethylamino) borane (TDMAB) and organometallic boron compounds.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a metal interconnect.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sequential exposures at ˜350° C. or less followed by a plurality of sequential exposures at ˜400° C.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein ˜350° C. or less comprises temperatures below 350° C. sufficient to react the nitrogen containing precursor and a boron containing precursor.

9. A semiconductor device, the device comprising:

a 2-dimensional semiconductor substrate comprising highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG);

a thin, uniform and pin-hole free interfacial layer of boron nitride; and

a dielectric deposited on the interfacial layer.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric comprises one of Al 2 0 3 , Hf 0 2 , Zr 0 2 , or HfZrO.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric is a gate oxide material.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the layer of boron nitride has a thickness of approximately 0.5 nm.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2018
From: KUMMEL, ANDREW; WOLF, STEVEN; EDMONDS, MARY
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 047804/0739 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2017
From: NEMANI, SRINIVAS D.; YIEH, ELLIE Y.
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043980/0199 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62372052 · Aug 8, 2016
Related Publication 20180040476A1 · Feb 8, 2018