IP Library Granted Patent US 11,901,450
Granted Patent B2
US 11,901,450 · App. 17/362,317 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Ferroelectric structure for semiconductor devices

Inventors: Cheng-Ming Lin (Kaohsiung, TW); Sai-Hooi Yeong (Zhubei, TW); Ziwei Fang (Hsinchu, TW); Bo-Feng Young (Taipei, TW); Chi On Chui (Hsinchu, TW); Chih-Yu Chang (NewTaipei, TW); Huang-Lin Chao (Hillsboro, OR)
Assignee: Taiwan Semicondutor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01L29/78391H01L21/0234H01L21/02181H01L21/02356H01L29/40111H01L29/516H01L29/6684H01L29/66795H01L29/7851
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,901,450
App. No.
17/362,317
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device includes a substrate and first and second spacers on the substrate. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack between the first and second spacers. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer having a first portion formed on the substrate and a second portion formed on the first and second spacers. The first portion includes a crystalline material and the second portion comprises an amorphous material. The gate stack further includes a gate electrode on the first and second portions of the gate dielectric layer.

Claims (38)

1. A method, comprising:

forming a pair of opposing spacers on a fin;

depositing an amorphous dielectric layer in an opening between the pair of opposing spacers, comprising:

depositing a first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on the fin; and

depositing a second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on sidewalls of the pair of opposing spacers; and

performing a plasma treatment on the amorphous dielectric layer, wherein the plasma treatment converts the first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer into a crystalline dielectric layer without converting the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the amorphous dielectric layer comprises depositing a hafnium-based oxide material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline dielectric layer comprises a crystalline ferroelectric material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the plasma treatment comprises applying a radio frequency (RF) plasma using argon and ammonia gas mixtures or argon and nitrogen gas mixtures.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the plasma treatment comprises applying an RF plasma on the amorphous dielectric layer anisotropically.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a power of the RF plasma is between about 500 W and about 2500 W.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer extends under the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising depositing a conductive structure in contact with the crystalline dielectric layer and the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer is in contact with the fin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plasma treatment is performed at a temperature between about 500° C. and about 900° C.

11. A method, comprising:

forming a fin;

forming first and second spacers on the fin;

depositing an amorphous dielectric layer on an interface layer, comprising:

depositing a first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on a top surface of the fin; and

depositing a second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on the top surface of the fin and on sidewalls of the first and second spacers; and

performing a plasma treatment on the amorphous dielectric layer, wherein the plasma treatment converts the first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer into a crystalline dielectric layer.

12. A method, comprising:

forming a fin;

forming first and second spacers on the fin;

depositing an amorphous dielectric layer, comprising:

depositing a first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on the fin; and

depositing a second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer on sidewalls of the first and second spacers;

converting, by a plasma treatment on the amorphous layer, the first portion of the amorphous dielectric layer into a crystalline dielectric layer; and

forming a gate electrode on the crystalline dielectric layer and the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the crystalline dielectric layer comprises a crystalline ferroelectric material.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein performing the plasma treatment comprises applying a radio frequency (RF) plasma using argon and ammonia gas mixtures or argon and nitrogen gas mixtures.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming a gate electrode on the crystalline dielectric layer and the second portion of the amorphous dielectric layer.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein depositing the amorphous dielectric layer comprises depositing a hafnium-based oxide material.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein depositing the amorphous dielectric layer comprises depositing a hafnium-based oxide material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the crystalline dielectric layer comprises a crystalline ferroelectric material.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein performing the plasma treatment comprises applying a radio frequency (RF) plasma using argon and ammonia gas mixtures or argon and nitrogen gas mixtures.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein performing the plasma treatment comprises applying the RF plasma on the amorphous dielectric layer anisotropically.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2021
From: LIN, CHENG-MING; YEONG, SAI-HOOI; FANG, ZIWEI; YOUNG, BO-FENG; CHUI, CHI ON; CHANG, CHIH-YU; CHAO, HUANG-LIN
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056708/0524 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16515898 · Jul 18, 2019
Related Publication 20210328065A1 · Oct 21, 2021