Patent · US Active

Air gap spacer formation for nano-scale semiconductor devices

US9892961B1 · kind B1 · utility

27Cited by
18References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 2016
Grant dateFeb 13, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 9, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76849
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Semiconductor devices having air gap spacers that are formed as part of BEOL or MOL layers of the semiconductor devices are provided, as well as methods for fabricating such air gap spacers. For example, a method comprises forming a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure on a substrate, wherein the first and second metallic structures are disposed adjacent to each other with insulating material disposed between the first and second metallic structures. The insulating material is etched to form a space between the first and second metallic structures. A layer of dielectric material is deposited over the first and second metallic structures using a pinch-off deposition process to form an air gap in the space between the first and second metallic structures, wherein a portion of the air gap extends above an upper surface of at least one of the first metallic structure and the second metallic structure.

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