IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,696,523
Granted Patent B2
US 12,696,523 · App. 17/950,512 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device

Inventors: Jangeun Lee (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hyojung Noh (Cheonan-si, KR); Minwoo Song (Seongnam-si, KR); Yongho Ha (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jeongwon Hwang (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H10D84/038H10B12/053H10B12/34H10D62/107H10D84/0144H10D84/0156
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 12,696,523
App. No.
17/950,512
Filed
Sep 22, 2022
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2812
USPC
438/270
Abstract

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes an forming a trench in a substrate, forming a gate dielectric layer on the trench, forming a gate layer on the gate dielectric layer, and annealing the gate dielectric layer and the gate layer, wherein, after the first annealing operation, the gate layer includes a molybdenum-tantalum alloy.

Claims (49)

1 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a trench in a substrate;

forming a gate dielectric layer on the trench;

forming a gate layer on the gate dielectric layer;

performing a first annealing, wherein performing the first annealing anneals the gate dielectric layer and the gate layer,

wherein, after the first annealing, the gate layer comprises a molybdenum-tantalum alloy;

removing an upper portion of the gate layer; and

performing a second annealing, wherein performing the second annealing anneals a lower portion of each of the gate layer and the gate dielectric layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, after performing the first annealing, a width of the trench is greater than an electron mean free path of the gate layer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the width of the trench is greater than or equal to 2 nm and less than or equal to 20 nm.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, after performing the first annealing, a resistivity of the gate layer is 30 μΩ·cm (microohm-centimeter) or less.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a tantalum concentration of the gate layer is greater than or equal to 5 at % and less than or equal to 50 at %.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a figure of merit of the gate layer after the first annealing is 2×10 −16 Ω·m 2 or less, and

the figure of merit of the gate layer is defined by multiplication of a resistivity of the gate layer and an electron mean free path of the gate layer.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an effective work function of the gate layer after the first annealing is 4.5 eV or less.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first annealing is performed at a temperature of greater than or equal to 900° C. and less than or equal to 1200° C.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a positive fixed charge is formed in the gate dielectric layer by the second annealing.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a gas including nitrogen is used in the second annealing.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the gate layer comprises:

forming a tantalum layer on the gate dielectric layer; and

forming a molybdenum layer on the tantalum layer.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the gate layer comprises:

forming a molybdenum layer on the gate dielectric layer; and

forming a tantalum layer on the molybdenum layer.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the gate layer comprises forming a molybdenum-tantalum alloy layer on the gate dielectric layer.

14 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a trench in a substrate;

forming a gate dielectric layer on the trench;

forming a gate layer on the gate dielectric layer;

annealing the gate dielectric layer and the gate layer;

removing an upper portion of the gate layer; and

performing plasma repair processing on a lower portion of each of the gate layer and the gate dielectric layer to repair damage caused by removing the upper portion of the gate layer,

wherein forming the gate layer comprises

forming a first tantalum layer on the gate dielectric layer, and

forming a first molybdenum layer on the first tantalum layer.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first tantalum layer and the first molybdenum layer are at least partially mixed in the annealing.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first tantalum layer reacts with the gate dielectric layer in the annealing.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a positive fixed charge is formed in the gate dielectric layer in the annealing.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the annealing is performed at a temperature, the temperature greater than or equal to 600° C. and less than or equal to 900° C., or greater than or equal to 900° C. and less than or equal to 1200° C.

19 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a trench in a substrate;

forming a gate dielectric layer on the trench;

forming a gate layer on the gate dielectric layer;

annealing the gate dielectric layer and the gate layer;

removing an upper portion of the gate layer; and

performing plasma repair processing on a lower portion of each of the gate layer and the gate dielectric layer to repair damage caused by removing the upper portion of the gate layer,

wherein the forming the gate layer further comprises

forming a first molybdenum layer on the gate dielectric layer, and

forming a first tantalum layer on the first molybdenum layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: LEE, JANGEUN; NOH, HYOJUNG; SONG, MINWOO; HA, YONGHO; HWANG, JEONGWON
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061273/0941 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0174017 · Dec 7, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230178439A1 · Jun 8, 2023
References Cited (28)
US 6653212B1 · Yamanaka · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 8278201B2 · Jang · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8669611B2 · Ng et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9178039B2 · Park et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9553167B2 · Jang · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9780220B2 · Maeda et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10937701B2 · Chang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11004854B2 · Nam · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11075272B2 · Kim · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20050263835A1 · Sakama · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20100019249A1 · Mouli · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20110175176A1 · Frank · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20150194438A1 · Kim · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160107885A1 · Schalberger · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170365679A1 · None · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180342425A1 · Chang · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200135915A1 · Savant · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200243374A1 · Choi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200294865A1 · Cheng · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210391252A1 · Liang · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220285496A1 · Chen · 2022 [cited by examiner]
KR 1020200144179A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
TW I495037B · 2015 [cited by applicant]
Takashi Matsukawa, et al., Dual-Metal-Gate Transistors with Symmetrical Threshold Voltages Using Work-Function-Tuned Ta/Mo Bilayer Metal Gates, 2008, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 2428-2432 (Y… [cited by examiner]
Jenny Hu et al., Effect of Annealing Ambient and Temperature on the Electrical Characteristics of Atomic Layer Deposition Al2O3/In0.53Ga0.47As Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Capacitors and MOSFETs, Feb. 28, 2012, 111, pp. 04… [cited by examiner]
Matsukawa, Takashi et al., ‘Dual-Metal-Gate Transistors with Symmetrical Threshold Voltages Using Work-Function-Tuned Ta/Mo Bilayer Metal Gates’, [cited by applicant]
Taiwanese Office Action issued Sep. 26, 2023, for corresponding Taiwanese Patent Application No. 111137752. [cited by applicant]
Office Action in Korean Appln. No. 10-2021-0174017, mailed on Aug. 8, 2025, 7 pages (with English translation). [cited by applicant]