Novellus Systems,
Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) is a leading provider of advanced process equipment
for the global semiconductor industry, has developed the IONX XL (eXtended Life)
Ta(N) barrier process for the 3x/2xnm memory node, based on Novellus' PVD Hollow
Cathode Magnetron (HCM) deposition technology.
Ten years after the introduction of copper metallization for logic device manufacturing,
Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) copper barrier-seed and copper electrochemical
deposition (ECD) are now being used for the production of DRAM and Flash memory
chips. The memory transition from aluminum metallization to copper interconnects
is being driven by the technological challenges associated with device scaling
and the need to reduce memory chip manufacturing cost.
One of the key components of a copper memory interconnect is the PVD tantalum
nitride (Ta(N)) barrier layer that provides the necessary copper diffusion resistance,
as well as wettability for the subsequent copper seed layer. For memory manufacturers,
the challenge comes with depositing this barrier film in advanced device structures
that can possess up to 30 percent smaller critical dimensions (CD) than those
found in logic applications. For these aggressive geometries, planar PVD is
limited by shadowing effects that can cause incomplete film coverage due to
overhang at the top corner of the trench or via, in turn leading to inadequate
copper fill and yield loss. Some planar PVD barrier solutions are investigating
the incorporation of more expensive CVD layers to mitigate these effects. Compounding
these challenges is the fact that Ta(N) barriers also need to be very thin (less
than 120 Angstrom in the field) in order to minimize the volume fraction of
high resistivity Ta(N) relative to low resistivity copper within the feature.
This PVD-only barrier process deposits high quality films with excellent step
coverage for high aspect ratio memory structures. The conformal Ta(N) films
deposited with this technology are the result of an increased plasma density
and more effective control of the ionized flux that reaches the wafer surface.
The figure shows a thin, highly conformal IONX XL Ta(N) barrier layer deposited
into a 3xnm memory device trench with no top corner overhang. Not only does
this robust copper barrier process meet the technical challenges of advanced
memory, but it also results in a 40 percent reduction in the tantalum Cost of
Consumables (CoC) compared to competitive market offerings. A 100,000 wafer-starts-per-month
memory megafab using two levels of metal can save approximately $1M a year in
consumable costs through more efficient utilization of the tantalum target material.
"As memory technology transitions to copper interconnects, the 3x/2xnm
device dimensions are placing stringent technical and cost requirements on the
Ta(N) barrier layer," said Dr. Wai-Fan Yau, general manager for Novellus'
Integrated Metals Business Unit. "The new IONX XL barrier film meets these
advanced technical demands and also provides a significant reduction in consumable
costs."
Posted May 27th, 2009