Gradient oxidation and etch for pvd metal as bottom liner in bottom up gap fill

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a gap-fill in semiconductor devices are provided. The method includes forming a metal seed layer on an exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate has features in the form of trenches or vias formed in a top surface of the substrate, the features having sidewalls and a bottom surface extending between the sidewalls. A gradient oxidation process is performed to oxidize exposed portions of the metal seed layer to form a metal oxide, wherein the gradient oxidation process preferentially oxidizes a field region of the substrate over the bottom surface of the features. An etch back process removes or reduces the oxidized portion of the seed layer. A metal gap-fill process fills or partially fills the features with a gap fill material.

1 . A method of filling a feature on a substrate, the method comprising:
 forming a metal seed layer on an exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate has features in the form of trenches or vias formed in a top surface of the substrate, the features having sidewalls and a bottom surface extending between the sidewalls;   performing a gradient oxidation process to oxidize exposed portions of the metal seed layer to form a metal oxide, wherein the gradient oxidation process preferentially oxidizes a field region of the substrate over the bottom surface of the features,   performing an etch back process to remove or reduce the oxidized portion of the seed layer; and   performing a metal gap-fill process to fill or partially fill the features with a gap fill material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seed layer is a molybdenum-containing layer, the metal oxide is molybdenum oxide, and the metal gap fill material contains molybdenum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an overhang portion of the seed layer extending into an opening of one or more features formed along the field region of the substrate, and the overhang portion is preferentially oxidized relative to the metal seed layer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the gradient oxidation process and the etch back process are performed in two separate chambers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 forming a liner layer on the exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the seed layer is formed on the liner layer and the liner layer extends into the features.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 repeating the oxidation process and etch back process on the substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the seed layer is removed from the field region and the overhang portion. 
     
     
         8 . A method of filling a feature formed on a substrate, the method comprising:
 depositing a molybdenum-containing layer over an exposed surface of a substrate, wherein
 the substrate comprises a plurality of features formed in a top surface of the substrate, 
 each of the plurality of features having a sidewall surface and a bottom surface, and 
 the deposited molybdenum-containing layer is formed over the top surface of the substrate, and the sidewall surface and bottom surface of the plurality of features; 
   exposing the exposed surface of the substrate to a gradient oxidizing process, wherein the gradient oxidizing process forms oxidized regions of the molybdenum-containing;   preferentially etching the oxidized regions of the deposited molybdenum-containing layer, wherein after preferentially etching the oxidized regions, a first portion of the deposited molybdenum-containing layer remains on the bottom surface in each of the plurality of features and a second portion of the deposited molybdenum-containing layer remains on the sidewall surface in each of the plurality of features; and   filling the features with a second molybdenum layer, wherein filling the features with the second molybdenum layer comprises growing the second molybdenum layer from the second portion of the deposited molybdenum-containing layer on the sidewall surface and the first portion of the deposited molybdenum-containing layer on the bottom surface in each of the features.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein an overhang portion of the seed extending into an opening of one or more features formed along the top surface of a substrate, and the overhang portion is preferentially oxidized relative to the metal seed layer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the gradient oxidation process and the etch back process are performed in two separate chambers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 forming a liner layer on the exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the liner layer is formed on the seed layer and the liner layer extends into the features.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 repeating the step of oxidation process and etch back process on the substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the seed layer is removed from the top surface and the overhang portion. 
     
     
         14 . A cluster tool for filling a feature on a substrate, the cluster tool comprising:
 a first process chamber, comprising:
 an oxygen source that is fluidly coupled to a processing region of the first process chamber, wherein the oxygen source is configured to deliver an oxygen-containing gas to the processing region; 
 a first flow control valve that is configured to control the flow of oxygen-containing gas provided from the oxygen source to the processing region; 
 an etching gas source that is fluidly coupled to the processing region of the first process chamber, wherein the etching gas source is configured to deliver an etching gas to the processing region; 
 a third flow control valve that is configured to control the flow of the etching gas provided from the etching gas source to the processing region; and 
 an inductively coupled plasma source that is configured to generate a plasma in the processing region, wherein the plasma comprises the oxygen-containing gas; and 
   a controller that is configured to:   form a metal seed layer on an exposed surface of a substrate, wherein the substrate has features in the form of trenches or vias formed in a top surface of the substrate, the features having sidewalls and a bottom surface extending between the sidewalls;   perform a gradient oxidation process to oxidize exposed portions of the metal seed layer to form a metal oxide, wherein the gradient oxidation process preferentially oxidizes a field region of the substrate over the bottom surface of the features,   perform an etch back process to remove or reduce the oxidized portion of the seed layer; and   perform a molybdenum gap-fill process to fill or partially fill the features with a gap fill material.   
     
     
         15 . The cluster tool of  claim 14 , wherein the seed layer is a molybdenum-containing layer and the metal oxide is molybdenum oxide. 
     
     
         16 . The cluster tool of  claim 15 , wherein an overhang portion of the seed layer obstructs or blocks top openings of one or more features formed along the field region of a substrate, and the overhang portion is preferentially oxidized. 
     
     
         17 . The cluster tool of  claim 16 , wherein the gradient oxidation process and the etch back process are performed in two separate chambers. 
     
     
         18 . The cluster tool of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 form a liner layer on an exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the seed layer is formed on the liner layer and the liner layer extends into the features.   
     
     
         19 . The cluster tool of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 repeat the step of oxidation process and etch back process on the substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The cluster tool of  claim 19 , wherein the seed layer is removed from the field region and the overhang portion.