Patent · US Expired

Method of forming a metal gate electrode

US6764961B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 2001
Grant dateJul 20, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/32105
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of forming a metal gate electrode on which whiskers are not formed after performing a selective oxidation process and a subsequent heating process. The metal gate electrode is formed by forming a metal gate electrode pattern which is comprised of a polysilicon layer and a metal layer, and performing a selective oxidation process. After the selective oxidation process, the metal gate electrode undergoes a subsequent heating treatment. The selective oxidation process is carried out in a nitrogen containing gas ambient, so that a metal oxide layer is minimally formed on the metal layer. As a result, it is prevented from causing whiskers on the metal layer.

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