IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,183,580
Granted Patent B2
US 11,183,580 · App. 16/676,057 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Structure and formation method of semiconductor device with metal gate stack

Inventors: Jung-Hao Chang (Taichung, TW); Li-Te Lin (Hsinchu, TW); Pinyen Lin (Rochester, NY)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01L29/66545H01L21/823821H01L27/0924H01L29/4966H01L29/513H01L29/66795H01L29/785H01L29/517
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,183,580
App. No.
16/676,057
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and forming spacer elements over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method also includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess between the spacer elements and forming a metal gate stack in the recess. The method further includes etching back the metal gate stack while the metal gate stack is kept at a temperature that is in a range from about 20 degrees C. to about 55 degrees C. In addition, the method includes forming a protection element over the metal gate stack after etching back the metal gate stack.

Claims (32)

1. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising:

forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate;

forming spacer elements over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack;

removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess between the spacer elements;

forming a metal gate stack in the recess;

etching back the metal gate stack while the metal gate stack is kept at a temperature that is in a range from about 20 degrees C. to about 55 degrees C., wherein the metal gate stack is etched back using a dry etching process, and a reaction gas mixture used in the dry etching process comprises a first halogen-containing gas, a second halogen-containing gas, and an inert gas, wherein the first halogen-containing gas has a first molecular weight, the second halogen-containing gas has a second molecular weight, and the second molecular weight is greater than the first molecular weight; and

forming a protection element over the metal gate stack after etching back the metal gate stack.

2. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature is in a range from about 45 degrees C. to about 50 degrees C.

3. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first halogen-containing gas comprises Cl 2 , F 2 , or a combination thereof.

4. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second halogen-containing gas comprises BCl 3 , SiCl 4 , or a combination thereof.

5. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reaction gas mixture used in the dry etching process further comprises an oxygen-containing gas.

6. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises O 2 , O 3 , NO, NO 2 , or a combination thereof.

7. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas is provided at a first flow rate, the second halogen-containing gas is provided at a second flow rate, and a ratio of the first flow rate to the second flow rate is in a range from about 0.05 to about 0.6.

8. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising exciting the reaction gas mixture to generate plasma.

9. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the etching back of the metal gate stack forms an opening over the metal gate stack, and a bottom of the opening is higher than a bottom of the metal gate stack.

10. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising:

forming a metal gate stack over a semiconductor substrate;

removing an upper portion of the metal gate stack using an etching process while the metal gate stack is kept at a temperature that is in a range from about 20 degrees C. to about 55 degrees C., wherein a reaction gas mixture used in the etching process comprises a first halogen-containing gas and a second halogen-containing gas, the first halogen-containing gas has a first molecular weight, the second halogen-containing gas has a second molecular weight, the second molecular weight is greater than the first molecular weight, the first halogen-containing gas is provided at a first flow rate, the second halogen-containing gas is provided at a second flow rate, and the first flow rate is faster than the second flow rate; and

forming a protection element over the metal gate stack after the upper portion of the metal gate stack is removed.

11. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the reaction gas mixture further comprises an oxygen-containing gas.

12. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second halogen-containing gas comprises BCl 3 .

13. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises O 2 .

14. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas is provided at a third flow rate, and a ratio of the third flow rate to the second flow rate is in a range from about 0.05 to about 0.6.

15. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising:

forming a metal gate stack over a semiconductor substrate;

removing an upper portion of the metal gate stack using an etching process while the metal gate stack is kept at a temperature that is lower than about 55 degrees C., wherein a reaction gas mixture used in the etching process comprises a first halogen-containing gas and a second halogen-containing gas, the first halogen-containing gas has a first molecular weight, the second halogen-containing gas has a second molecular weight, and the second molecular weight is greater than the first molecular weight; and

forming a protection element over the metal gate stack after the upper portion of the metal gate stack is etched.

16. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first halogen-containing gas is provided at a first flow rate, the second halogen-containing gas is provided at a second flow rate, and the first flow rate is different than the second flow rate.

17. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first flow rate is faster than the second flow rate.

18. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the reaction gas mixture used in the etching process further comprises an oxygen-containing gas.

19. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas is provided at a third flow rate, and a ratio of the third flow rate to the second flow rate is in a range from about 0.05 to about 0.6.

20. The method for forming a semiconductor device structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the removal of the upper portion of the metal gate stack forms an opening over the metal gate stack, and a bottom of the opening is higher than a bottom of the metal gate stack.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: CHANG, JUNG-HAO; LIN, LI-TE; LIN, PINYEN
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050947/0041 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62854519 · May 30, 2019
Related Publication 20200381535A1 · Dec 3, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,293,916