IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,615,759
Granted Patent B2
US 12,615,759 · App. 18/162,818 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same with multiple gate conductive layers having different characteristics

Inventors: Yu-Cheng Liao (Hefei, CN); Wenjie Liu (Hefei, CN); Joonsuk Moon (Hefei, CN)
Assignee: CXMT Corporation
H10B12/30H10B12/05H10D30/6735
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,615,759
App. No.
18/162,818
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a semiconductor structure and a formation method therefor. The semiconductor structure includes: a gate structure located on a substrate. The gate structure includes at least two gate conductive layers; the at least two gate conductive layers have the same components and different characteristic parameters; and the characteristic parameter includes at least one of thickness, component content or shape.

Claims (45)

1 . A semiconductor structure, comprising:

a gate structure located on a substrate, the gate structure comprising at least two gate conductive layers;

a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer; and

a first semiconductor layer and a first conductor layer, which are located on a surface of the at least two gate conductive layers;

wherein the substrate comprises a source and a drain, wherein at least one of the source or the drain comprises: a first doped region and a second doped region which is located on a surface of the first doped region,

wherein a work function of the second gate dielectric layer is less than a work function of the second doped region; and

the at least two gate conductive layers have same components and different characteristic parameters; and the characteristic parameters comprise at least one of thickness, component content or shape, wherein components in each of the at least two gate conductive layers comprise a nitrogen component and a metal component, and wherein a concentration of the nitrogen component is different in different gate conductive layers.

2 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two gate conductive layers has a preset shape on a first surface and a second surface along a direction of a thickness of the substrate; and the preset shape comprises a planar shape and an arc shape.

3 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second gate dielectric layer is located between the at least two gate conductive layers and the first gate dielectric layer, and the second gate dielectric layer comprises N-type doped silicon carbide.

4 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of gate grooves;

wherein the first gate dielectric layer is located on an inner wall of the gate groove, and the at least two gate conductive layers are located at bottom of the gate grooves with the second gate dielectric layer; and

wherein in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, a size of the at least two gate conductive layers is smaller than a size of the gate groove.

5 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 4 , wherein a work function of the at least two gate conductive layers decreases gradually along the bottom of the gate grooves to top of the gate grooves.

6 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 5 , wherein the first gate dielectric layer located at the bottom of the gate grooves has a first thickness, the first gate dielectric layer located at a side wall of the gate grooves has a second thickness, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

7 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 6 , wherein the second gate dielectric layer located at the bottom of the gate grooves has a third thickness, the second gate dielectric layer located at the side wall of the gate grooves has a fourth thickness, and the fourth thickness is greater than the third thickness.

8 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 7 , wherein the semiconductor structure further comprises a gate insulating layer; and

wherein the gate insulating layer is located on surfaces of the first gate dielectric layer and the at least two gate conductive layers, and a top surface of the gate insulating layer is flush with a top surface of the substrate.

9 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 8 , wherein a doping concentration of the second doped region is greater than a doping concentration of the first doped region.

10 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second gate dielectric layer is located on an upper surface of the substrate and located between the source and the drain; and

wherein the first gate dielectric layer is located between the second gate dielectric layer and the substrate.

11 . The semiconductor structure according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of mutually isolated active columns; and

the first gate dielectric layer, the second gate dielectric layer and the at least two gate conductive layers sequentially cover part of the active columns in a circular manner, and remaining ones of the active columns are used as sources or drains of transistors.

12 . A method for forming the semiconductor structure of claim 1 , comprising:

providing the substrate; and

forming the at least two gate conductive layers on the substrate to form the gate structure.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein before forming the at least two gate conductive layers, the method further comprises:

sequentially forming the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer which is located between the at least two gate conductive layers and the first gate dielectric layer.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein before forming the gate structure, the method further comprises:

doping the substrate to form a first doped region and a second doped region which is located on a surface of the first doped region, wherein a doping concentration of the second doped region is greater than a doping concentration of the first doped region, and

wherein a work function of the second gate dielectric layer is smaller than a work function of the second doped region.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the gate structure is formed in a gate groove of the substrate; and the gate structure comprises at least a first gate conductive layer and a second gate conductive layer, and the gate structure is formed by the following steps:

sequentially etching the second doped region, the first doped region and the substrate to form the gate groove;

sequentially forming the first gate dielectric layer and a second initial gate dielectric layer on an inner wall of the gate groove;

forming a first initial gate conductive layer in the gate groove with the first gate dielectric layer and the second initial gate dielectric layer;

back etching the first initial gate conductive layer to expose part of the second initial gate dielectric layer and form the first gate conductive layer;

forming a second initial gate conductive layer in the gate groove with the first gate conductive layer; and

back etching the second initial gate conductive layer and the second initial gate dielectric layer to expose part of the first gate dielectric layer and form the second gate conductive layer and the second gate dielectric layer.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

forming a gate insulating layer on surfaces of the second gate dielectric layer and the gate conductive layer, wherein a top surface of the gate insulating layer is flush with a top surface of the substrate.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of well regions; the gate structure is formed on a surface of the substrate between two adjacent well regions; and the gate structure comprises at least a first gate conductive layer and a second gate conductive layer, and the gate structure is formed by the following steps:

sequentially forming a first initial gate dielectric layer, a second initial gate dielectric layer, a first initial gate conductive layer and a second initial gate conductive layer on the surface of the substrate from bottom to top; and

sequentially etching the second initial gate conductive layer, the first initial gate conductive layer, the second initial gate dielectric layer, and the first initial gate dielectric layer through a mask with a preset window, to expose the well regions and form the second gate conductive layer, the first gate conductive layer, the second gate dielectric layer, and the first gate dielectric layer.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of mutually isolated active columns and the gate structure comprises at least a first gate conductive layer and a second gate conductive layer, and the gate structure is formed around each of the active columns in the substrate; and the gate structure is formed by the following steps:

sequentially forming a first initial gate dielectric layer, a second initial gate dielectric layer, a first initial gate conductive layer and a second initial gate conductive layer on a side wall of the active columns; and

back etching the first initial gate dielectric layer, the second initial gate dielectric layer, the first initial gate conductive layer and the second initial gate conductive layer, to expose part of the active columns and form the first gate dielectric layer, the second gate dielectric layer, the first gate conductive layer and the second gate conductive layer.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: INNOTRON MEMORY CO., LTD.
To: CXMT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064643/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2023
From: LIAO, YU-CHENG; LIU, WENJIE; MOON, JOONSUK
To: INNOTRON MEMORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063158/0567 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202211045210.3 · Aug 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2022117852 · Sep 8, 2022
Related Publication 20240074143A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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