IP Library Granted Patent US 12,727,458
Granted Patent B2
US 12,727,458 · App. 18/338,730 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Integrated circuit structure and manufacturing method thereof

Inventors: Te-Chih Hsiung (Taipei City, TW); Jyun-De Wu (New Taipei City, TW); Peng Wang (Hsinchu, TW); Huan-Just Lin (Hsinchu City, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
H10W20/076H10D30/62H10D30/6219H10W20/056H10W20/069H10W20/0698H10W20/081H10W20/42H10W20/432H10W70/095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,727,458
App. No.
18/338,730
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes forming a source/drain contact over a source/drain region. An ion implantation process is performed to form a doped region in a top of the source/drain contact. After the ion implantation process is performed, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is deposited to cover the doped region of the source/drain contact. The ILD layer is etched to form a via opening exposing the source/drain contact. A source/drain via is filled in the via opening.

Claims (41)

1 . A method comprising:

forming a source/drain contact over a source/drain region;

performing an ion implantation process to form a doped region in a top of the source/drain contact;

after performing the ion implantation process, depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to cover the doped region of the source/drain contact;

etching the ILD layer to form a via opening exposing the source/drain contact and comprising punching through a portion of the doped region of the source/drain contact; and

filling a source/drain via in the via opening.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an annealing process after performing the ion implantation process.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the annealing process is performed prior to forming the ILD layer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a dopant concentration of the doped region decreases as a distance from a top surface of the doped region increases.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the top of the source/drain contact is doped with oxygen ions.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the top of the source/drain contact is doped with germanium, argon, xenon, and/or boron.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

depositing a middle contact etch stop layer to cover the doped region of the source/drain contact prior to depositing the ILD layer.

8 . A method comprising:

forming a gate structure over a substrate;

forming a dielectric cap over the gate structure;

forming a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact over the substrate and on opposite sides of the gate structure;

forming a first doped region in a top of the first source/drain contact;

forming a second doped region in a top of the dielectric cap;

depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to cover the first doped region of the first source/drain contact; and

forming a source/drain via in the ILD layer and electrically connected to the first source/drain contact.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

etching a portion of the first doped region of the first source/drain contact after depositing the ILD layer.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

depositing a middle contact etch stop layer to cover the first doped region of the first source/drain contact prior to depositing the ILD layer.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a dopant depth of the first doped region is in a range from about 1 Angstroms to about 50 Angstroms.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein dopants of the first doped region of the first source/drain contact are oxygen.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second doped region of the dielectric cap is in contact with the first doped region of the first source/drain contact.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a ratio of a depth of the second doped region to a maximal thickness of the dielectric cap is in a range from about 3% to about 60%.

15 . A method comprising:

forming a gate structure over a substrate;

forming a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact over the substrate and on opposite sides of the gate structure;

performing an implantation process to the first source/drain contact to form a doped region in the first source/drain contact, wherein an undoped region of the first source/drain contact is between the doped region and the substrate after performing the implantation process;

depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to cover the doped region of the first source/drain contact;

performing an etching process to form an opening in the ILD layer and expose the doped region; and

forming a source/drain via in the opening and connected to the first source/drain contact, wherein the source/drain via is in contact with the doped region and the undoped region of the first source/drain contact.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein performing the etching process is further to etch a portion of the doped region of the first source/drain contact.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the doped region of the first source/drain contact is thinner than the undoped region of the first source/drain contact.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the doped region of the first source/drain contact comprises oxygen.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a bottom surface of the source/drain via is lower than a top surface of the doped region of the first source/drain contact.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising depositing a middle contact etch stop layer to cover the doped region of the first source/drain contact prior to depositing the ILD layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: HSIUNG, TE-CHIH; WU, JYUN-DE; WANG, PENG; LIN, HUAN-JUST
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 064201/0325 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17211455 · Mar 24, 2021
Provisional Application 63084993 · Sep 29, 2020
Related Publication 20230335435A1 · Oct 19, 2023
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