Patent · US Active

Method of forming replacement metal gate with borderless contact and structure thereof

US8084311B1 · kind B1 · utility

36Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 2010
Grant dateDec 27, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/926
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming borderless contact for transistor in a replacement metal gate process. The method includes forming a gate on top of a substrate and forming spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the gate; lowering height of the spacers to expose a top portion of the sidewalls of the gate; depositing an etch-stop layer covering the spacers and the upper portion of the sidewalls of the gate; making an opening at a level that is above the spacers and in the upper portion of the sidewalls to expose the gate; and replacing material of the gate from the opening with a new gate material thereby forming a replacement gate. The method further creates a via opening in an inter-level dielectric layer surrounding the gate and spacers, with the via opening exposing the etch-stop layer; removing the etch-stop layer and fill the via opening with a metal material to form borderless contact.

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