Patent · US Expired

Method for forming local interconnects using chlorine bearing agents

US4863559A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 1988
Grant dateSep 5, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76895
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for etching titanium nitride local interconnects is disclosed. A layer of titanium nitride is formed as a by-product of the formation of titanium silicide by direct reaction; this layer of titanium nitride is present over the titanium silicide layer, as well as over insulators such as oxide. A plasma etch using CCl.sub.4 as the etchant is used to etch the titanium nitride anisotropically, and selectively relative to the titanium silicide due to the passivation of the titanium silicide surface by the carbon atoms of the CCl.sub.4. Excess chlorine concentration may be reduced, further reducing the undesired etching of the titanium silicide, by providing a consumable power electrode, or by introducing chlorine scavenger gases into the reactor. The plasma may be ignited by exposing the gases to a mercury/argon light source, photodetaching electrons from the anions in the gas.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.