Patent · US Expired

Multi-layer silicon nitride deposition method for forming low oxidation temperature thermally oxidized silicon nitride/silicon oxide (no) layer

US6017791A · kind A · utility

57Cited by
12References
15Claims
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Key dates

Filing dateNov 10, 1997
Grant dateJan 25, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/954
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a silicon nitride/silicon oxide (NO) layer within a microelectronics fabrication, and the microelectronics fabrication having the silicon nitride/silicon oxide (NO) layer formed therein. There is first provided a substrate employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed over the substrate a first silicon nitride layer through a first deposition method. There is then formed upon the first silicon nitride layer a second silicon nitride layer through a second deposition method. Finally, there is annealed thermally in an oxidizing environment the first silicon nitride layer and the second silicon nitride layer to form therefrom a silicon nitride/silicon oxide (NO) layer. The silicon nitride/silicon oxide (NO) layer may be formed with optimized resistivity properties at a reduced thermal annealing temperature and/or a reduced thermal annealing exposure time in comparison with an otherwise equivalent silicon nitride/silicon oxide (NO) layer formed through thermal annealing a single silicon nitride layer of thickness equivalent to the thickness of the first silicon nitride layer plus the thickness of the second silicon nitride layer. When formed u…

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