• Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2003

Recent ULSI and multilevel structure trends in microelectronic devices minimize the line width down to a quarter micron and below, which results in the high current densities in thin film interconnections. Under high current densities, an EM(electromigration) induced failure becomes one of the critical problems in a microelectronic device. This study is to improve thin film interconnection materials by investigating the EM characteristics in PSG(phosphosilicate glass)/SiO$_2$ passivated Al-l%Si thin film interconnections. Straight line patterns, wide and narrow link type patterns, and meander type patterns, etc. were fabricated by a standard photholithography process. The main results are as follows. The current crowding effects result in the decrease of the lifetime in thin film interconnections. The electric field effects accelerate the decrease of lifetime in the double-layered thin film interconnections. The lifetime of interconnections also depends upon the current conditions of P.D.C.(pulsed direct current) frequencies applied at the same duty factor.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.92-95
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• 1997

Because of the novel characteristics such as chemical stability, hardness, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity, diamond-like carbon (DLC) film is a suitable material for the passivation layers. For this purpose, using the PECVD, DLC films were synthesized at room temperature. The adhesion and the hardness of the DLC films deposited on Si an SiO2 substrate were measured. The resistivity of 5.3$\times$$10^8$$\Omega$.cm was measured by automatic spreading resistance probe analysis method. The thermal conductivities of different DLC films were measured and compared with that of phospho silicate glass (PSG) film which is commonly used as passivation layers. The thermal conductivity of DLC film was improved by increasing hydrogen flow rate up to 90 sccm and was better than that of PSG film. The patterning techniques of the DLC film developed using the RIE and the lift-off method to form 5$\mu\textrm{m}$ line. Finally, the thermal characteristics of the power transistor with the DLC film as passiviation layer was analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 1995

절연보호막에 따른 AI-1%Si 박막배선의 평균수명(MTF, Mean-Time-to-Failure) 및 electromigration에 대한 저항성, 즉 활성화에너지(Q)변화 등을 측정 비교하였다. 박막배선은 $5000\AA$두께로 열산화막 처리된 p-Si(100)기판위에 $7000\AA$의 AI-1%Si을 증착한 후 photolithography 공정으로 형성시켰다. Electromigration test를 위한 박막배선은 $3\mu$m의 폭과 $400\mu$m, $1600\mu$m의 두 가지 길이를 가지며 절연보호막 효과를 알아보기 위해 그 위에 $3000\AA$의 두께로 SiO2, PSG, Si3N4등 절연보호막을 APCVD 및 PECVD를 이용하여 각각 증착시켰다. 가속화 실험을 위해 인가된 전류밀도는 4.5X106A/cm2이었고 180, 210, $240^{\circ}C$온도에서 d.c. 인가 후의 저항변화를 측정하여 평균수명을 구한 후 Black 방정식을 이용하여 활성화에너지를 측정하였다. AI-1%Si 박막배선에서 electromigration에 대한 활성화에너지값은 $400\mu$m길이의 경우 0.44eV(nonpassivated), 0.45eV(Si3N4 passivated), 0.50 eV(PSG passivated), 그리고 0.66 eV(SiO2 passivated)로 각각 측정되었다. $1600\mu$m 길이의 AI-1%Si 박막배선 실험에서도 같은 절연보호막 효과가 관찰되었다. 따라서 SiO2, PSG, Si3N4등 절연보호막은 AI-1%Si 박막배선에서의 electromigration에 대한 저항력을 높여 결함방지효과를 보이며 수명을 향상시킨다. SiO2의 절연보호막의 경우가 AI-1%Si 박막배선의 electromigration에 대한 가장 강한 저항력을 보이며 평균수명도 높게 나타났다.