Patent · US Expired

Cobalt silicidation using tungsten nitride capping layer

US6083817A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 1999
Grant dateJul 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/902
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A substantially inert capping layer of tungsten nitride is deposited on cobalt layers prior to silicidation, thereby avoiding any substantial interaction with cobalt. The tungsten nitride capping layer also functions as a diffusion barrier preventing oxygen from reaching the silicidation area. The resulting cobalt silicides layer exhibit lower resistivity than those formed employing a titanium capping layer. Embodiments include rapid thermal annealing to initially form a layer of cobalt monosilicide consuming a portion of the cobalt layer, removing the tungsten nitride and unreacted cobalt layer, and rapid thermal annealing again to convert the cobalt monosilicide layer to a low resistivity layer of cobalt disilicide.

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