Shallow trench isolation formation with spacer-assisted ion implantation

A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit, comprising:

• forming a silicon oxide pad layer on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate or an epitaxial layer formed on the substrate;
• forming a silicon nitride barrier layer having a thickness of about 1000 .ANG. to about 2000 .ANG. and having an upper surface on the silicon oxide pad layer;
• forming a photoresist mask having an opening on the silicon nitride barrier layer;
• etching to remove a portion of the underlying silicon nitride barrier layer to expose a portion of the silicon oxide pad layer and to form an opening in the silicon nitride barrier layer having a substantially vertical wall intersecting the silicon oxide pad layer, the substantially vertical wall having a height of about 1000 .ANG. to about 2000 .ANG.;
• depositing a conformal protective layer of silicon nitride or silicon dioxide derived from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) on the silicon nitride barrier layer and on the exposed portion of silicon oxide pad layer to a thickness of about 200 .ANG. to about 500 .ANG.;
• anisotropically etching the protective layer to form a protective sidewall spacer on the substantially vertical wall of the silicon nitride barrier layer and extending on the silicon oxide pad layer, the protective spacer having a width of about 100 .ANG. to about 500 .ANG.;
• etching to form a trench in the substrate or epitaxial layer, which trench comprises side surfaces intersecting the main surface at edges;
• removing the protective spacer, thereby exposing portions of the main surface proximal to the edges;
• ion implanting boron, arsenic, silicon or phosphorus into the exposed portions of the main surface including the edges, at an energy of about 40 keV or less and at a dosage of up to about 1.times.10.sup.15 atoms cm.sup.-2 ;
• thermally growing a thin silicon oxide liner on the surface layer of the trench, on the edges, on the exposed portions of the main surface and in contact with the silicon oxide pad layer at a temperature of about 850.degree. C. to about 1100.degree. C., wherein the thickness of the silicon oxide liner on the main surface and on the implanted portions proximal to the edges is about 500 .ANG. to about 800 .ANG. greater than that of the remainder of the silicon oxide liner;
• depositing an insulating material to fill the trench and cover the silicon nitride barrier layer, the insulating material comprising silicon dioxide derived from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), silicon dioxide derived from silane by LPCVD, or a high density plasma oxide;
• and
• planarizing by chemical-mechanical polishing such that an upper surface of the insulating material is substantially flush with the upper surface of the barrier nitride layer.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an insulated trench formed in a semiconductor substrate or in an epitaxial layer on the semiconductor substrate, which method comprises:

• forming a pad oxide layer on a main surface of the substrate or epitaxial layer;
• forming a barrier nitride layer having an upper surface on the pad oxide layer;
• forming a mask having an opening on the barrier nitride layer;
• etching to remove a portion of the underlying barrier nitride layer to expose a portion of the pad oxide layer and to form an opening in the barrier nitride layer having a substantially vertical wall intersecting the pad oxide layer;
• depositing a protective layer on the barrier nitride layer and on the exposed portion of the pad oxide layer;
• anisotropically etching the protective layer to form a protective spacer on the substantially vertical wall of the barrier nitride layer and extending on the pad oxide layer;
• etching to form a trench in the substrate or epitaxial layer, which trench has a surface layer comprising side surfaces intersecting the main surface at edges;
• removing the protective spacer, thereby exposing portions of the main surface proximal to the edges;
• forming an oxide liner on the surface layer of the trench, on the edges, on the exposed portions of the main surface and in contact with the pad oxide layer;
• ion implanting impurities through the oxide liner and into a portion of the main surface including the edges, thereby increasing the oxidation rate of the ion implanted portions;
• depositing an insulating material to fill the trench and cover the barrier nitride layer;
• planarizing such that an upper surface of the insulating material is substantially flush with the upper surface of the barrier nitride layer;
• removing the barrier nitride layer and the pad oxide layer;
• and
• growing a gate oxide layer on the main surface and on the edges, the gate oxide layer having a thickness proximal to the edges which is greater than that of the remainder of the gate oxide layer.