IP Library Granted Patent US 10,490,248
Granted Patent B2
US 10,490,248 · App. 15/933,777 · Granted Nov 26, 2019

Magnetic random access memory structure and manufacturing method of the same

Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang (Paya Lebar Crescent, SG); Sheng-Chang Chen (Hsinchu County, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
G11C11/161G11C11/005H01L27/222H01L43/10H01L43/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,490,248
App. No.
15/933,777
Granted
Nov 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a magnetic random access memory structure, including an array region, and a logic region adjacent to the array region. The logic region includes a bottom electrode via, a magnetic tunneling junction layer over the bottom electrode via, a top electrode over the MTJ, a conformable oxide layer over the MTJ and the top electrode, and a silicon oxide layer over the conformable oxide layer. The conformable oxide layer and the silicon oxide layer extend from the array region to the logic region.

Claims (49)

1. A method for manufacturing a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) structure, the method comprising:

forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure in an array region;

forming a protection layer over the MTJ structure in the array region and in a logic region adjacent to the array region;

removing the protection layer in the logic region;

forming a conformable oxide layer in the array region and the logic region;

forming a low-k dielectric layer over the conformable oxide layer in the array region and the logic region;

forming a dielectric stack over the low-k dielectric layer in the array region and the logic region;

forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) over the dielectric stack in the array region and the logic region; and

performing an ARC etch back and stopping the etch at the dielectric stack in the array region and the logic region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ARC etch back stops at a first etch stop layer of the dielectric stack contacting the low-k dielectric layer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

performing a planarization operation over the logic region and the array region thereby exposing the low-k dielectric layer in the array region; and

stopping the planarization operation at the dielectric stack in the logic region.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the planarization operation stops at a second etch stop layer above the first etch stop layer of the dielectric stack.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising simultaneously forming via trenches in the array region and the logic region.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein forming the via trenches in the array region comprises removing a portion of the conformable oxide layer and a portion of the protection layer.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein forming the via trenches in the logic region comprises removing a portion of the conformable oxide layer.

8. A method for manufacturing a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) structure, the method comprising:

forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure in an array region;

forming a protection layer over the MTJ structure in the array region and in a logic region adjacent to the array region;

removing the protection layer in the logic region;

forming a low-k dielectric layer over the array region and the logic region;

forming a dielectric stack over the low-k dielectric layer in the array region and in a logic region adjacent to the array region; and

forming via trenches over the logic region and over the MTJ structure in the array region simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the via trench in the array region reaches a top surface of a top electrode over the MTJ structure.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the via trench in the logic region reaches a top surface of a metal line in the logic region.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming a conformable oxide layer in the array region and the logic region prior to forming the low-k dielectric layer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the via trenches in the array region comprises removing a portion of the conformable oxide layer and a portion of the protection layer.

13. A method for manufacturing a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) structure, the method comprising:

forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure in an array region;

forming a low-k dielectric layer over the MTJ structure in the array region and a logic region adjacent to the array region;

forming a dielectric stack over the low-k dielectric layer in the array region and the logic region, wherein forming the dielectric stack comprises:

forming a first etch stop layer; and

forming a second etch stop layer over the first etch stop layer, wherein the second etch stop layer is different from the first etch stop layer;

forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) over the dielectric stack in the array region and the logic region; and

performing an ARC etch back and stopping the etch at the first etch stop layer in the array region.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

forming a spacer over the MTJ structure;

forming a protection layer over the spacer; and

forming a conformable oxide layer over the logic region and the array region.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising simultaneously forming via trenches in the array region and the logic region after the planarization operation.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming the via trenches in the array region comprises removing a portion of the conformable oxide layer, a portion of the protection layer, and a portion of the spacer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming via trenches in the logic region comprises removing a portion of the conformable oxide layer and a portion of the low-k dielectric layer.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the low-k dielectric layer has a first selectivity;

the first etch stop layer has a second selectivity, wherein the first selectivity is greater than the second selectivity in the ARC etch back operation; and

the second etch stop layer is for a planarization operation over the first etch stop layer, the second etch stop layer has a third selectivity, and the first selectivity is greater than the third selectivity in the planarization operation.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first etch stop layer comprises oxide.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second etch stop layer comprises oxynitrides.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2018
From: CHUANG, HARRY-HAK-LAY; CHEN, SHENG-CHANG
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Reel/Frame 045657/0198 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62593005 · Nov 30, 2017
Related Publication 20190164584A1 · May 30, 2019
Cited By (3)
US 12,274,176 US 12,482,747 US 12,707,897