U.S. patent application number 16/220565 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-18 for self-aligned cuts in an interconnect structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.. Invention is credited to Guillaume Bouche, Daniel Chanemougame, Lars Liebmann, Lei Sun, Ruilong Xie, Hui Zang.
Application Number | 20200194306 16/220565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 71072832 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200194306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xie; Ruilong ; et
al. |
June 18, 2020 |
SELF-ALIGNED CUTS IN AN INTERCONNECT STRUCTURE
Abstract
Methods for forming a cut between interconnects and structures
with cuts between interconnects. A layer is patterned to form
first, second, and third features having a substantially parallel
alignment with the second feature between the first feature and the
third feature. A sacrificial layer is formed that is arranged
between the first and second features and between the second and
third features. The sacrificial layer is patterned to form a cut
between the first and second features from which a portion of the
sacrificial layer is fully removed and to form a cavity in a
portion of the sacrificial layer between the second and third
features. A dielectric layer is formed inside the cut between the
first and second features. After depositing the section of the
dielectric material and forming the dielectric layer, the
sacrificial layer is removed.
Inventors: |
Xie; Ruilong; (Niskayuna,
NY) ; Zang; Hui; (Guilderland, NY) ; Sun;
Lei; (Altamont, NY) ; Liebmann; Lars;
(Mechanicville, NY) ; Chanemougame; Daniel;
(Niskayuna, NY) ; Bouche; Guillaume; (Albany,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. |
Grand Cayman |
|
KY |
|
|
Family ID: |
71072832 |
Appl. No.: |
16/220565 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 21/02164 20130101;
H01L 21/32133 20130101; H01L 21/76834 20130101; H01L 21/0228
20130101; H01L 21/02178 20130101; H01L 21/31144 20130101; H01L
21/76816 20130101; H01L 21/76897 20130101; H01L 21/02126 20130101;
H01L 21/76832 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 21/768 20060101
H01L021/768; H01L 21/02 20060101 H01L021/02; H01L 21/311 20060101
H01L021/311; H01L 21/3213 20060101 H01L021/3213 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: patterning a layer to form a first feature,
a second feature, and a third feature having a substantially
parallel alignment with the second feature between the first
feature and the third feature; forming a sacrificial layer arranged
between the first feature and the second feature and between the
second feature and the third feature; patterning the sacrificial
layer to form a cut between the first feature and the second
feature from which a first portion of the sacrificial layer is
fully removed and to form a cavity in a second portion of the
sacrificial layer between the second feature and the third feature;
depositing a section of a dielectric material inside the cavity in
the sacrificial layer; forming a first dielectric layer inside the
cut between the first feature and the second feature; and after
depositing the section of the dielectric material and forming the
first dielectric layer, removing the sacrificial layer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein depositing the section of the
dielectric material inside the cavity in the sacrificial layer
further comprises: conformally depositing a second dielectric layer
inside the cut and inside the cavity.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: before forming the
first dielectric layer, removing the second dielectric layer from
the cut with an isotropic etching process, wherein the second
dielectric layer remains in the cavity following the isotropic
etching process.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: after removing the
sacrificial layer, removing the second dielectric layer selective
to the first dielectric layer.
5. The method of claim 2 further comprising: before forming the
first dielectric layer, etching the second dielectric layer with an
anisotropic etching process to form sidewall spacers inside the
cut, wherein the second dielectric layer remains in the cavity
following the anisotropic etching process.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: after removing the
sacrificial layer, removing the second dielectric layer selective
to the first dielectric layer.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein the section of the dielectric
material is a portion of the second dielectric layer.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: after removing the
sacrificial layer, removing the section of the dielectric material
selective to the first dielectric layer.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first feature, the second
feature, and the third feature are patterned using an extreme
ultraviolet lithography process.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the layer is formed on an
interlayer dielectric layer, and the first feature, the second
feature, and the third feature are a plurality of mandrel lines
patterned from the layer.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the mandrel lines alternate with
a plurality of non-mandrel lines exposing the interlayer dielectric
layer, and further comprising: after removing the sacrificial
layer, removing the section of the dielectric material selective to
the first dielectric layer.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: after removing the
section of the dielectric material, patterning the interlayer
dielectric layer with an etching process to form a plurality of
trenches in the interlayer dielectric layer at respective locations
of the non-mandrel lines; and forming a plurality of interconnects
in the trenches in the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the
mandrel lines and the dielectric material in the cut provide an
etch mask during the etching process.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the layer is an interlayer
dielectric layer, and the first feature, the second feature, and
the third feature are a plurality of trenches patterned in the
interlayer dielectric layer.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the interlayer dielectric layer
includes a plurality of lines that alternate with the trenches, and
further comprising: after removing the sacrificial layer, removing
the section of the dielectric material selective to the first
dielectric layer; and forming a plurality of interconnects in the
trenches in the interlayer dielectric layer that are separated by
the lines of the interlayer dielectric layer.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material is
comprised of silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, or titanium oxide,
and the first dielectric layer is comprised of a low-k dielectric
material.
16. The method of claim 1 where the section of the dielectric
material is deposited inside the cavity in the sacrificial layer
before the first dielectric layer is formed inside the cut in the
sacrificial layer.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein patterning the sacrificial layer
comprises: forming an etch mask over the sacrificial layer that
includes an opening that exposes the first portion of the
sacrificial layer between the first feature and the second feature,
and that exposes the second portion of the sacrificial layer
between the second feature and the third feature, wherein the cut
and the cavity are concurrently formed by an etching process at a
location of the opening in the etch mask.
18-20. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to semiconductor device
fabrication and integrated circuits and, more specifically, to
methods for forming a cut between interconnects and structures with
cuts between interconnects.
[0002] A back-end-of-line interconnect structure may be used to
connect device structures, which were fabricated on a substrate
during front-end-of-line processing, with each other and with the
environment external to the chip. Self-aligned multiple patterning
processes used to form an interconnect structure involve linear
mandrels acting as sacrificial features that establish a feature
pitch. Non-mandrel lines are arranged as linear spaces between
sidewall spacers that are formed adjacent to the sidewalls of the
mandrels. After the mandrels are pulled to define mandrel lines,
the sidewall spacers are used as an etch mask to etch a pattern
predicated on the mandrel lines and the non-mandrel lines into an
underlying hardmask. The pattern is subsequently transferred from
the hardmask to an interlayer dielectric layer as trenches in which
the interconnects of the interconnect structure are formed.
[0003] Mandrel cuts may be formed in the mandrels in order to
section the mandrels and define discontinuities between the
different sections. Non-mandrel cuts may also be formed as
discontinuities along non-mandrel lines and may include portions of
the spacer material used to form the sidewall spacers. The mandrel
cuts and non-mandrel cuts are included in the pattern that is
transferred to the hardmask and subsequently transferred from the
hardmask to form the trenches in the interlayer dielectric layer.
The mandrel cuts and non-mandrel cuts appear in the interconnect
structure as adjacent interconnects that are aligned and spaced
apart at their respective ends with a tip-to-tip spacing related to
the dimension of the discontinuity.
[0004] The need for double patterning can be eliminated through the
use of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) patterning, which is capable of
directly patterning a resist. The resist may then be used in
conjunction with an etching process to form a dense sea of narrow
lines and trenches in an interlayer dielectric layer. However, the
formation of cuts in the interconnects formed in the narrow
trenches presents technical challenges with respect to techniques,
as well as materials.
[0005] Improved methods to for forming a cut between interconnects
and structures with cuts are therefore needed.
SUMMARY
[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, a method includes
patterning a layer to form first, second, and third features having
a substantially parallel alignment with the second feature between
the first feature and the third feature. The method further
includes forming a sacrificial layer arranged between the first
feature and the second feature and between the second feature and
the third feature. The method further includes patterning the
sacrificial layer to form a cut between the first feature and the
second feature from which a portion of the sacrificial layer is
fully removed and to form a cavity in a portion of the sacrificial
layer between the second feature and the third feature. A
dielectric layer is formed inside the cut between the first feature
and the second feature. After depositing the section of the
dielectric material and forming the dielectric layer, the
sacrificial layer is removed.
[0007] In an embodiment of the invention, a structure includes an
interlayer dielectric layer an interlayer dielectric layer having a
trench, a first interconnect arranged in the trench in the
interlayer dielectric layer, and a second interconnect arranged in
the trench in the interlayer dielectric layer. The second
interconnect has a lengthwise alignment with the first
interconnect. A section of a dielectric layer is arranged in the
trench in the interlayer dielectric layer between the first
interconnect and the second interconnect. A sidewall spacer is
arranged in the trench in the interlayer dielectric layer between
the section of the dielectric layer and the interlayer dielectric
layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various
embodiments of the invention and, together with a general
description of the invention given above and the detailed
description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the
embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like reference
numerals are used to indicate like features in the various
views.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top view of a structure at an initial
fabrication stage of a processing method in accordance with
embodiments of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line
2-2 in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line
2A-2A in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIGS. 3-10 and 3A-10A are cross-sectional views of the
structure at successive fabrication stages of the processing method
subsequent to the fabrication stage of FIGS. 1, 2, 2A.
[0013] FIGS. 11-19 are cross-sectional views of a structure at
successive fabrication stages of a processing method in accordance
with alternative embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 20-21 are cross-sectional views of a structure at
successive fabrication stages of a processing method in accordance
with alternative embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 2A and in accordance with
embodiments of the invention, an interlayer dielectric layer 10 may
be composed of one or more electrically-insulating dielectric
materials, such as a low-k dielectric material formed using a
siloxane such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS). The
interlayer dielectric layer 10 may be located over a layer 12 that
may include device structures fabricated by front-end-of-line
(FEOL) processing to form an integrated circuit and/or
metallization. The interlayer dielectric layer 10 is patterned to
include trenches 14 that extend to the layer 12. The trenches 14
may be formed by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and etching
processes, and may have a narrow critical dimension of, for
example, 28 nanometers. The trenches 14, which may have a parallel
alignment, are separated by lines 15 of the dielectric material of
the interlayer dielectric layer 10. The dashed boxes in FIG. 1
indicate the locations of cuts relative to the trenches 14 that are
subsequently formed as described hereinbelow.
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 3, 3A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 2, 2A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, a planarizing layer 16
and a hardmask layer 18 are formed over the interlayer dielectric
layer 10. The planarizing layer 16, which has a planar top surface,
may be a spin-on hardmask that is composed of an organic material.
In an embodiment, the organic material contained in the planarizing
layer 16 may be a polymer that is carbon-based. In an embodiment,
the organic material contained in the planarizing layer 16 may be
an organic planarization layer (OPL) material. The planarizing
layer 16 provides gap fill of the trenches 14, and has a thickness
that is sufficient to cover and bury the lines 15 of the interlayer
dielectric layer 10. The planarizing layer 16 may be applied and
etched back, followed by the deposition of the hardmask layer
18.
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 4, 4A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 3, 3A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, the planarizing layer
16 and hardmask layer 18 are patterned to form cuts 20, 22 in the
planarizing layer 16 arranged inside the trenches 14. Each of the
cuts 20, 22 has a length, L, and a width, W. The cut 20 is well
aligned in that the edges of the opening in the planarizing layer
16 are arranged over the lines 15 of the interlayer dielectric
layer 10. The cut 22 is misaligned in that one of the edges of the
opening in the planarizing layer 16 overlaps in part with the
planarizing layer 16 inside an adjacent trench 14 in the interlayer
dielectric layer 10. The result is the formation of a cavity 24 in
the planarizing layer 16 inside the adjacent trench 14. The cavity
24, which is smaller in a width dimension than the cuts 20, 22, is
an artifact of cut formation and represents damage that requires
repair.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 5, 5A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 4, 4A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, a dielectric layer 26
is deposited as a liner that covers, among other things, the
sidewalls of the cuts 20, 22, the planarizing layer 16, and the
layer 12 at the base of the cuts 20, 22. The dielectric layer 26
also fills the cavity 24. For example, due to its small dimensions,
the dielectric layer 26 may pinch off during deposition such that a
section 25 of the dielectric layer 26 fills the cavity 24. The
dielectric layer 26 is a conformal layer that may be composed of a
dielectric material, such as silicon nitride, deposited by atomic
layer deposition. The thickness of the dielectric layer 26 is
limited to avoid pinch-off inside the cuts 20, 22.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 6, 6A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 5, 5A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, the dielectric layer 26
is etched by an etching process to form sidewall spacers 28 inside
the cuts 20, 22. The dielectric layer 26 is removed from the top
surface of the planarizing layer 16 and from the layer 12 at the
base of the cuts 20, 22. The etching process may be an anisotropic
etching process, such as reactive ion etching (RIE), that removes
the material of the dielectric layer 26 selective to the materials
of the planarizing layer 16, the hardmask layer 18, and the
interlayer dielectric layer 10. The section 25 of the dielectric
layer 26 inside the cavity 24 is not removed by the etching
process, and serves to plug the cavity 24 with solid dielectric
material.
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 7, 7A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 6, 6A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, a dielectric layer 30
is deposited and etched back with an etching process such that the
dielectric material fills the cuts 20, 22. The dielectric layer 30
may be composed of an electrically-insulating dielectric material,
such as a low-k dielectric material, deposited by chemical vapor
deposition (CVD). The etching process also removes any remnants of
the dielectric layer 26 over the lines 15 of the interlayer
dielectric layer 10. The sections of the dielectric layer 30 in the
cuts 20, 22 are separated from the lines 15 of the interlayer
dielectric layer 10 by the sidewall spacers 28. The section 25 of
the dielectric layer 26 inside the cavity 24 blocks the dielectric
material of the dielectric layer 30 from depositing inside the
cavity 24.
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 8, 8A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 7, 7A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, the planarizing layer
16 is removed from the trenches 14 in the interlayer dielectric
layer 10 by, for example, ashing with an oxygen plasma. The removal
of the planarizing layer 16 reopens the trenches 14 for subsequent
processing. The section 25 of the dielectric layer 26, which was
arranged in the former cavity 24 in the planarizing layer 16,
remains in one of the trenches 14 following the removal of the
planarizing layer 16.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 9, 9A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 8, 8A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, the section 25 (FIG. 7)
of the dielectric layer 26 formerly in the cavity 24 in the
planarizing layer 16 is removed with an etching process. The
etching process may be, for example, an isotropic wet chemical
etching process that removes the material of the dielectric layer
26 selective to the materials of the interlayer dielectric layer 10
and the dielectric layer 30. As used herein, the terms "selective"
and "selectivity" in reference to a material removal process (e.g.,
etching) denotes that the material removal rate (i.e., etch rate)
for the targeted material is higher than the material removal rate
(i.e., etch rate) for at least another material exposed to the
material removal process. The sections of the sidewall spacers 28
between the dielectric layer 30 in the cuts 20, 22 and the lines 15
of the interlayer dielectric layer 10 may be slightly recessed by
the removal of the section of the dielectric layer 26.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 10, 10A in which like reference
numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 9, 9A and at a subsequent
fabrication stage of the processing method, interconnects 32 are
then formed in the trenches 14 after the section of the dielectric
layer 26 is removed. The primary conductor of the interconnects 32
may be composed of a low-resistivity metal formed using a
deposition process, such as copper or cobalt deposited by, for
example, electroplating or electroless deposition or chemical vapor
deposition. A liner (not shown) composed of titanium, titanium
nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, or a layered combination of
these materials (e.g., a bilayer of tantalum nitride and tantalum)
may be applied to the trenches 14 before filling with a primary
electrical conductor. In an embodiment, the interconnects 32 may be
conductive features located in a metallization level that is the
closest of multiple metallization levels of a back-end-of-line
interconnect structure to device structures in the layer 12, and in
which the interconnects 32 may be connected with the device
structures by contacts in an intervening contact level.
[0024] The sections of the dielectric layer 30 in the cuts 20, 22
within the trenches 14 provide discontinuities at selected
lengthwise locations in the interconnects 32, and are self-aligned
to the interconnects 32 by being formed using the planarizing layer
16 before forming the interconnects 32 in the trenches 14. The
sections of the dielectric layer 30 in the cuts 20, 22 divide the
associated interconnects 32 into sections with the dielectric
material of the dielectric layer 30 arranged in the cut between the
different sections. The sidewall spacers 28 are arranged in the
respective trenches 14 between the interlayer dielectric layer 10
and the sections of the dielectric layer 30 in the cuts 20, 22, but
are absent between the sections of the dielectric layer 30 in the
cuts 20, 22 and the different sections of the divided interconnects
32.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 11 and in accordance with alternative
embodiments of the processing method, mandrel lines 40 may be
formed from a layer of material that is deposited on a top surface
of the interlayer dielectric layer 10 and patterned using EUV
lithography and etching processes. The interlayer dielectric layer
10 is arranged over the layer 12 and may be associated with, for
example, the lowest metallization level in the interconnect
structure. The layer used to form the mandrel lines 40 may be
composed of amorphous silicon (.alpha.-Si), amorphous carbon
(.alpha.-Si), or a spin-on hardmask (SOH). The mandrel lines 40 are
separated by non-mandrel lines 42 that expose strips (i.e.,
portions) of the interlayer dielectric layer 10.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 12 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 11 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the planarizing layer 16 and
hardmask layer 18 are formed over the mandrel lines 40 and layer 12
as previously described. The planarizing layer 16 and hardmask
layer 18 are patterned, as also previously described, to form the
cuts 20, 22 in the planarizing layer 16. The cut 20 exposes one of
the non-mandrel lines 42 and overlaps at its side edges with the
adjacent mandrel lines 40. The cut 22 exposes one of the
non-mandrel lines 42 and overlaps at its side edges with the
adjacent mandrel lines 40, but extends laterally to overlap with an
adjacent non-mandrel line 42 to generate the cavity 24 in the
planarizing layer 16 arranged in this adjacent non-mandrel line 42.
The cavity 24 may extend through the planarizing layer 16 to the
top surface of the interlayer dielectric layer 10.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 13 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 12 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, a dielectric layer 44 is deposited
as a liner that covers, among other things, the sidewalls of the
cuts 20, 22 and the layer 12 at the base of the cuts 20, 22. A
section 43 of the dielectric layer 44 also fills the cavity 24. For
example, due to the small dimensions of the cavity 24, the
dielectric layer 44 may pinch off during its deposition such that
the section 43 fills the cavity 24. The dielectric layer 44 is a
conformal layer that may be composed of a dielectric material, such
as titanium oxide, silicon nitride, or aluminum oxide, deposited by
atomic layer deposition. The thickness of the dielectric layer 44,
while adequate to pinch off inside the cavity 24, is limited to
avoid pinch-off inside the cuts 20, 22.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 14 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 13 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the dielectric layer 44 is etched
by an etching process, such as an isotropic wet chemical etching
process, to fully remove the dielectric layer 44 with the exception
of the section 43 of the dielectric layer 44 inside the cavity 24.
In particular, the dielectric layer 44 is removed from inside the
cuts 20, 22 in the planarizing layer 16. The etching process may
remove the material of the dielectric layer 44 selective to the
materials of the planarizing layer 16, the hardmask layer 18, and
the mandrel lines 40.
[0029] With reference to FIG. 15 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 14 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, sections of a dielectric layer 46
are formed in the spaces inside the cuts 20, 22. The dielectric
layer 46 may be composed of a dielectric material, such as silicon
nitride, deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition
(PEALD) and etched back with an etching process, such as a reactive
ion etching process. The hardmask layer 18 may be removed by the
etching process to expose the planarizing layer 16. The section 43
of the dielectric layer 44 inside the cavity 24 blocks the
dielectric material of the dielectric layer 46 from depositing
inside the cavity 24.
[0030] With reference to FIG. 16 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 15 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the planarizing layer 16 is removed
from the trenches 14 in the interlayer dielectric layer 10 by, for
example, ashing with an oxygen plasma. The removal of the
planarizing layer 16 reopens the non-mandrel lines 42 for
subsequent processing. The section 43 of the dielectric layer 44,
which was arranged in the former cavity 24 in the planarizing layer
16, remains in one of the non-mandrel lines 42 and adjacent to one
of the mandrel lines 40 following the removal of the planarizing
layer 16. The sections of the dielectric layer 46 also remain in
the cuts 20, 22 following the removal of the planarizing layer
16.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 17 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 16 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the section 43 (FIG. 15) of the
dielectric layer 44 formerly in the cavity 24 in the planarizing
layer 16 is removed with an etching process. The etching process
may be, for example, an isotropic wet chemical etching process that
removes the material of the dielectric layer 44 selective to the
materials of the dielectric layer 46 and the mandrel lines 40.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 18 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 17 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the interlayer dielectric layer 41
is etched, after removing the section 43 of the dielectric layer
44, to form trenches 48 using an etching process, such as reactive
ion etching, with the mandrel lines 40 and the sections of the
dielectric layer 44 in the cuts 20, 22 operating as an etch mask.
During the etching process, the sections of the dielectric layer 46
in the cuts 20, 22 function to mask and preserve underlying
sections 50 of the interlayer dielectric layer 10 that divide the
associated interconnects 32 into individual sections.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 19 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 18 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the mandrel lines 40 and the
sections of the dielectric layer 44 may be removed after forming
the trenches 48. Interconnects 32 are subsequently formed in the
trenches 48 as described previously, and the sections 50 of the
interlayer dielectric layer 10 are arranged between disconnected
interconnect sections.
[0034] With reference to FIG. 20 and in accordance with alternative
embodiments of the processing method, the formation of the
dielectric layer 44 may be skipped after the formation of the cuts
20, 22, and the dielectric layer 44 may be deposited, planarized,
and recessed. Sections of the dielectric layer 46 are formed in the
spaces inside the cuts 20, 22, and a section 45 of the dielectric
layer 46 is also formed in the cavity 24 in the planarizing layer
16.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 21 in which like reference numerals
refer to like features in FIG. 20 and at a subsequent fabrication
stage of the processing method, the planarizing layer 16 is
subsequently removed by, for example, plasma ashing, and an
isotropic wet chemical etching process is then used to remove the
section 45 of the dielectric layer 46. The sections of the
dielectric layer 46 in the cuts 20, 22 may be recessed, but not
removed, due to the presence of the surrounding mandrel lines 40.
Processing continues, as described above, to form the trenches 48
in the interlayer dielectric layer 10 and the interconnects 32 in
the trenches 48 with the sections 50 of the interlayer dielectric
layer 10 in the cuts 20, 22 dividing the associated interconnects
32 into individual sections.
[0036] The methods as described above are used in the fabrication
of integrated circuit chips. The resulting integrated circuit chips
can be distributed by the fabricator in raw wafer form (e.g., as a
single wafer that has multiple unpackaged chips), as a bare die, or
in a packaged form. The chip may be integrated with other chips,
discrete circuit elements, and/or other signal processing devices
as part of either an intermediate product or an end product. The
end product can be any product that includes integrated circuit
chips, such as computer products having a central processor or
smartphones.
[0037] References herein to terms modified by language of
approximation, such as "about", "approximately", and
"substantially", are not to be limited to the precise value
specified. The language of approximation may correspond to the
precision of an instrument used to measure the value and, unless
otherwise dependent on the precision of the instrument, may
indicate +/-10% of the stated value(s).
[0038] References herein to terms such as "vertical", "horizontal",
etc. are made by way of example, and not by way of limitation, to
establish a frame of reference. The term "horizontal" as used
herein is defined as a plane parallel to a conventional plane of a
semiconductor substrate, regardless of its actual three-dimensional
spatial orientation. The terms "vertical" and "normal" refer to a
direction perpendicular to the horizontal, as just defined. The
term "lateral" refers to a direction within the horizontal
plane.
[0039] A feature "connected" or "coupled" to or with another
feature may be directly connected or coupled to or with the other
feature or, instead, one or more intervening features may be
present. A feature may be "directly connected" or "directly
coupled" to or with another feature if intervening features are
absent. A feature may be "indirectly connected" or "indirectly
coupled" to or with another feature if at least one intervening
feature is present. A feature "on" or "contacting" another feature
may be directly on or in direct contact with the other feature or,
instead, one or more intervening features may be present. A feature
may be "directly on" or in "direct contact " with another feature
if intervening features are absent. A feature may be "indirectly
on" or in "indirect contact" with another feature if at least one
intervening feature is present.
[0040] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are
not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments
disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope
and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used
herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the
embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement
over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of
ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed
herein.
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