先进工艺设备供应商Novellus开发出了Dense超低k（ULK）薄膜技术，该技术较多孔渗水ULK薄膜技术能获得更高的可靠性。这种薄膜技术采用新颖的单前体，和Novellus面向32nm器件的扩散势垒层相结合，可使有效介电常数减小5%。
    
     Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS), a leading provider of advanced process equipment for the global semiconductor industry, has developed Dense ultra low dielectric constant (ULK) films that provide more reliable device integration compared to porous ULK alternatives. These films are deposited using a novel, single precursor that offers a five percent lower effective dielectric constant (k-effective) when combined with Novellus' diffusion barrier layers for typical 32nm device structures.
    
     Comparison of etch profiles of Novellus Dense ULK and porous ULK showing relatively vertical etch profiles with dense ULK materials. Queue time effects manifesting as voids are also seen in the porous ULK materials.
    
     The integration of ULK materials into a damascene interconnect scheme poses numerous challenges associated with wet clean, chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) and plasma etch. Conventional ULK films are porous in nature and are deposited using two chemicals that include a porogen and a structure former. The porogen is subsequently removed with an ultra-violet thermal processing (UVTP) step. The matrix of interconnected pores created by the UVTP treatment results in a lower dielectric constant, but causes the porous films to be highly susceptible to solvent and moisture absorption. Extra integration steps, such as a thermal bake-out or deposition of a capping layer, are required to retain the integrity of the film. These additional process steps add manufacturing complexity and cost. In contrast, UVTP of Dense ULK films results in increased mechanical strength through the cross-linking of bonds.
    
     Vertically etched structures can be easily obtained when patterning Novellus' Dense ULK film - a direct result of the chemical homogeneity throughout the layer. For the tight line-to-line spacing employed at 32nm, the improved patterning capability translates into higher breakdown voltage and lower leakage currents. Void formation in porous ULK, illustrates the need for control of the queue-time between the CMP and dielectric diffusion barrier process steps. Strict queue-time control is not required for Novellus' less-permeable, Dense ULK films.
    
     "Novellus Dense ULK films enable five percent lower k-effective than porous ULK films without adding complexity to the integration sequence," said Andy Antonelli, technology manager at Novellus' PECVD business unit. "These Dense ULK materials have been designed to enable a reliable, manufacturable solution that is compatible with wet clean, CMP and etch modules."
    
     Posted June 18th, 2009