Patent · US Expired

Directional CVD process with optimized etchback

US6335261B1 · kind B1 · utility

163Cited by
23References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2000
Grant dateJan 1, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/32136
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is described for filling a high-aspect-ratio feature, in which compatible deposition and etching steps are performed in a sequence. The feature is formed as an opening in a substrate having a surface; a fill material is deposited at the bottom of the feature and on the surface of the substrate; deposition on the surface adjacent the feature causes formation of an overhang structure partially blocking the opening. The fill material is then reacted with a reactant to form a solid reaction product having a greater specific volume than the fill material. The overhang structure is thus converted into a reaction product structure blocking the opening. The reaction product (including the reaction product structure) is then desorbed, thereby exposing unreacted fill material at the bottom of the feature. The depositing and reacting steps may be repeated, with a final depositing step to fill the feature. Each sequence of depositing, reacting and desorbing reduces the aspect ratio of the feature.

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