IP Library Granted Patent US 12,283,613
Granted Patent B2
US 12,283,613 · App. 18/418,678 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Gate structures in transistors and method of forming same

Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee (Hsinchu, TW); Cheng-Lung Hung (Hsinchu, TW); Chi On Chui (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01L29/401H01L21/28088H01L21/28176H01L21/823842H01L27/092H01L29/0673H01L29/42392H01L29/4966H01L29/517H01L29/66742H01L29/66787H01L29/78696H01L21/823807
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,283,613
App. No.
18/418,678
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. The gate electrode includes a first work function metal; a second work function metal over the first work function metal; and a first metal residue at an interface between the first work function metal and the second work function metal, wherein the first metal residue has a metal element that is different than a metal element of the first work function metal.

Claims (43)

1. A device comprising:

a first semiconductor structure;

a second semiconductor structure over the first semiconductor structure;

a first high-k gate dielectric around the first semiconductor structure;

a second high-k gate dielectric around the second semiconductor structure, wherein the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric each comprise fluorine; and

a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics, wherein the gate electrode comprises:

a first work function metal, wherein the first work function metal comprises fluorine;

a second work function metal over the first work function metal; and

a tungsten residue between the first work function metal and the second work function metal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first work function metal comprises a higher concentration of fluorine than the second work function metal.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first work function metal and the second work function metal are the same conductivity type.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first work function metal and the second work function metal are each p-type.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first high-k gate dielectric further comprises hafnium oxide, and wherein a ratio of fluorine to hafnium in the first high-k gate dielectric is in a range of 0.015 to 0.2.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of tungsten to hafnium in a region between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure is less than 0.1.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the tungsten residue comprises a plurality of discrete tungsten regions.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the gate electrode further comprises:

an adhesion layer over the second work function metal; and

a fill metal over the adhesion layer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second work function metal is free of fluorine.

10. A transistor comprising:

a first nanostructure over a semiconductor substrate;

a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure;

a gate dielectric surrounding the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, wherein the gate dielectric comprises hafnium and fluorine; and

a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, wherein the gate electrode comprises:

a p-type work function material; and

discrete pockets of tungsten embedded in the p-type work function material.

11. The transistor of claim 10 , wherein the p-type work function material is a multi-layer structure comprising:

a first p-type work function metal layer; and

a second p-type work function metal layer, wherein the discrete pockets of tungsten are disposed between the first p-type work function metal layer and the second p-type work function metal layer.

12. The transistor of claim 10 , wherein the p-type work function material comprises fluorine.

13. The transistor of claim 12 , wherein the p-type work function material comprises a first region having a higher concentration of fluorine than the second region of the p-type work function material, wherein the discrete pockets of tungsten are disposed between the first region and the second region.

14. The transistor of claim 10 , wherein the gate electrode further comprises:

an adhesion layer over the p-type work function material; and

a fill metal over the adhesion layer.

15. The transistor of claim 10 , wherein a combination of the gate dielectric and the p-type work function material completely fills a region spanning from the first nanostructure to the second nanostructure.

16. A method comprising:

depositing a first p-type work function metal over a gate dielectric;

performing a fluorine treatment on the first p-type work function metal, wherein the fluorine treatment comprises flowing a precursor that comprises fluorine and a metal, and wherein fluorine from the fluorine treatment diffuses into the gate dielectric; and

after performing the fluorine treatment, depositing a second p-type work function metal over the first p-type work function metal, wherein the fluorine treatment forms a residue of the metal that is disposed between the first p-type work function metal and the second p-type work function metal.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the metal is tungsten, nickel, titanium, or tantalum.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fluorine treatment further comprises not flowing a chemical that triggers a reduction oxidation reaction with the precursor.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fluorine treatment is performed at a temperature in a range of 250° C. to 475° C.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein depositing the second p-type work function metal comprises depositing the second p-type work function metal until it seams together between a first nanostructure and a second nanostructure, wherein the gate dielectric surrounds the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 17854244 · Jun 30, 2022
Continuation 17084357 · Oct 29, 2020
Provisional Application 63066362 · Aug 17, 2020
Related Publication 20240162303A1 · May 16, 2024
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