Correlations between deposition conditions and properties of silicon nitride films deposited by an electron-cyclotron-resonance (ECR) plasma CVD have been investigated. BHF etching rate can be minimized, independent of the microwave power, by the control of the flow ratio (SiH
4/N
2) and total flow rate (SiH
4+N
2). The refractive index of the films deposited by these conditions are approximately 2.0. The films deposited at SiH
4 (10 sccm) and N
2 (10 sccm) have an electric breakdown strength of more than 8 MV/cm, a dielectric constant (1 MHz) of 6.4-6.9, and an internal stress of more than 7 × 10
9 dyn/cm
2.
The compressive stress, tensile stress and stress-free films can be successfully deposited by controlling the deposition conditions.
The properties of the annealed films have been also investigated. Internal stress changes little upto an annealing temperature of400°C, but strongly shifts toward the tention above 400°C.
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