IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,879,179
Granted Patent B2
US 10,879,179 · App. 16/224,031 · Granted Dec 29, 2020

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Inventors: Yu-Bey Wu (Hsinchu, TW); Dian-Hau Chen (Hsinchu, TW); Jye-Yen Cheng (Taichung, TW); Sheng-Hsuan Wei (Taoyuan, TW); Li-Yu Lee (New Taipei, TW); TaiYang Wu (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
H01L23/5329H01L21/31144H01L21/7682H01L21/76816H01L21/76843H01L23/5222H01L23/5283H01L23/53295H01L21/76832H01L21/76834
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,879,179
App. No.
16/224,031
Granted
Dec 29, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, first recesses are formed in the first dielectric layer. Metal wirings extending is a first direction are formed in the first recesses. A mask layer is formed over the metal wirings and the first dielectric layer, which includes a first opening extending in the first direction and is located above a space between adjacent two metal wirings. A first groove corresponding to the first opening is formed between the adjacent two metal wirings by etching the first dielectric layer using the mask layer as an etching mask. A second dielectric layer is formed so that a first air gap is formed in the first groove. A width of the first opening in a perpendicular direction to the first direction is smaller than a space between the adjacent two metal wirings.

Claims (66)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first interlayer dielectric layer disposed over a substrate;

metal wirings embedded in the first interlayer dielectric layer, the metal wirings extending in a first direction;

a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the metal wirings;

an air gap formed between adjacent two metal wirings; and

a plurality of insulating layers disposed between the first interlayer dielectric layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer, wherein:

a total number of layers of the plurality of insulating layers disposed between an upper surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer is greater than a total number of layers of the plurality of insulating layers between a bottom of the air gap and the first interlayer dielectric layer.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

three insulating layers are disposed between the upper surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer, and

two insulating layers are disposed between the bottom of the air gap and the first interlayer dielectric layer.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the plurality of insulating layers include:

a first insulating layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the metal wirings;

a second insulating layer disposed over the first insulating layer; and

a third insulating layer disposed over the second insulating layer,

the first to third insulating layers are disposed between the upper surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer, and

the second and third insulating layers are disposed between the bottom of the air gap and the first interlayer dielectric layer, and no part of the first insulating layer is disposed between the bottom of the air gap and the first interlayer dielectric layer.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein a bottom of the second insulating layer is closer to the substrate than a bottom of the adjacent two metal wirings.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein:

in a plan view, the first insulating layer includes a slit under which the air gap is disposed, and

the slit has a width smaller than a space between the adjacent two metal wirings in a second direction crossing the first direction.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein upper surfaces of the adjacent two metal wirings are fully covered by the first insulating layer.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the first insulating layer overhangs a space between the adjacent two metal wirings in a cross sectional view.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein an amount of overhang is in a range from 0.5 nm to 2 nm.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein:

the second insulating layer is continuously formed inside the air gap, and

the third insulating layer is continuously formed inside the air gap and defines a boundary of the air gap.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein a top of the air gap is closed by the second interlayer dielectric layer.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the first, second and third insulating layers are made of different materials from each other.

12. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first interlayer dielectric layer disposed over a substrate;

a first metal wiring and a second metal wiring both embedded in the first interlayer dielectric layer and extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction;

an air gap formed between the first metal wiring and the second metal wiring, wherein:

the first metal wiring and the second metal wiring have a reverse trapezoid shape in a cross section along the second direction,

an area between the first metal wiring and the second metal wiring has a trapezoid shape in the cross section, and

the air gap occupies more than ⅔ of the area having the trapezoid shape,

the semiconductor device further comprises:

a first insulating layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the first and second metal wirings; and

a second insulating layer disposed over the first insulating layer; and

the second insulating layer is continuously formed inside the air gap.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third insulating layer disposed over the second insulating layer,

wherein the third insulating layer is continuously formed inside the air gap and defines a boundary of the air gap.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the third insulating layer,

wherein a part of the third insulating layer is not covered by the second interlayer dielectric layer.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 13 , wherein:

the first insulating layer is made of a different material than the second insulating layer,

the first insulating layer is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of SiN, SiCO, SiCN and SiCON,

the second insulating layer is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of SiN, SiCO, SiCN and SiCON, and

the third insulating layer is made or TEOS.

16. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first interlayer dielectric layer disposed over a substrate;

a first metal wiring and a second metal wiring, both embedded in the first interlayer dielectric layer, and extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a first insulating layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer;

a second insulating layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the first insulating layer;

a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the second insulating layer; and

an air gap formed between the first metal wiring, wherein:

the first insulating layer partially covers upper surfaces of the first and second metal wirings, and

a part of the second insulating layer is in direct contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second metal wirings not covered by the first insulating layer.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 16 , wherein the second insulating layer is continuously formed in the air gap and no part of the first insulating layer is disposed in the second air gap.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , further comprising:

a third insulating layer disposed between the second insulating layer and the second interlayer dielectric layer,

wherein the third insulating layer is continuously formed inside the air gap and defines a boundary of the air gap.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein a top of the air gap is closed by the second interlayer dielectric layer.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein a top of the air gap is closed by the second interlayer dielectric layer.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NO CHANGE TO RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 48306 FRAME: 532. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 2, 2019
From: WU, YU-BEY; CHEN, DIAN-HAU; CHENG, JYE-YEN; WEI, SHENG-HSUAN; LEE, LI-YU; WU, TAIYANG
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049103/0409 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2019
From: WU, YU-BEY; CHEN, DIAN-HAU; CHENG, JYE-YEN; WEI, SHENG-HSUAN; LEE, LI-YU; WU, TAIYANG
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048306/0532 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15816843 · Nov 17, 2017
Continuation 15484344 · Apr 11, 2017
Continuation 15157159 · May 17, 2016
Provisional Application 62273387 · Dec 30, 2015
Related Publication 20190157204A1 · May 23, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,374,615