Papers by Author: Werner Boullart

Abstract: In this paper we review the effects of the plasma descum steps used in current process flows for the fabrication of Cu interconnects embedded in polymer, paying particular attention to polymer residues that are not easily removed in a gentle oxygen only plasma.

Abstract: The most advanced technology nodes require ultra shallow extension implants (low energy) which are very vulnerable to ash related substrate oxidation, silicon and dopant loss, which can result in a dramatic increase of the source/drain resistance and shifted transistor threshold voltages. A robust post extension ion implant ash process is required in order to meet cleanliness, near zero Si loss and dopant loss specifications. This paper discusses a performance comparison between fluorine-free, reducing and oxidizing, ash chemistries and “as implanted – no strip” process conditions, for both state-of-the-art nMOS and pMOS implanted fin resistors. Fluorine-free processes were chosen since earlier experiments with fluorine containing plasma strips exhibited almost a 10x increase in sheet resistance in the worse case.

Abstract: The compatibility of chemical solutions with different pH is studied on microporous silica-based (SiOCH) and mesoporous methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ) based low-k materials. The surface and bulk properties of as-deposited and O2/CF4 plasma-treated low-k films have been studied after several wet treatments.