IP Library Granted Patent US 10,283,524
Granted Patent B1
US 10,283,524 · App. 15/848,612 · Granted May 7, 2019

Methods of filling horizontally-extending openings of integrated assemblies

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,283,524
App. No.
15/848,612
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated structure. An assembly is formed to include a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels have insulative material, and the second levels have voids which extend horizontally. The assembly includes channel material structures extending through the stack. A first metal-containing material is deposited within the voids to partially fill the voids. The deposited first metal-containing material is etched to remove some of the first metal-containing material from within the partially-filled voids. Second metal-containing material is then deposited to fill the voids.

Claims (13)

1. A method of forming an integrated structure, comprising:

forming an assembly to include a vertical stack of alternating first and second levels; the first levels being horizontally-extending insulative levels and comprising insulative material; the second levels comprising voids between the horizontally-extending insulative levels; the assembly including channel material structures extending through the stack; the voids having peripheral regions lined with a conductive seed material;

growing a first material along the conductive seed material to partially fill the voids;

etching the first material to remove some of the first material from within the voids; and

growing a second material over the first material to fill the voids.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is a same composition as the second material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second materials are different compositions relative to one another.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second materials comprise one or more of tungsten, titanium, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel and molybdenum.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second materials comprise tungsten.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the etching of the first material utilizes one or more of phosphoric acid, acetic acid and nitric acid.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the etching of the first material is conducted at a temperature within a range of from about 60° C. to about 100° C.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the etching of the first material utilizes a combination of phosphoric acid, acetic acid and nitric acid.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the filled voids comprise wordline levels of a three-dimensional NAND memory array.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050716/0678 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 7 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 6, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045267/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2017
From: GREENLEE, JORDAN D.; CARTER, CHET E.; HOWDER, COLLIN; MELDRIM, JOHN MARK; MCTEER, EVERETT A.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 044449/0052 →