Trench isolation process using nitrogen preconditioning to reduce crystal defects

摘要

A method of forming a trench isolation structure in a semiconductor substrate. After etching a trench into the semiconductor substrate, an oxide layer is formed within the trench. The surface of this oxide layer is subject to a nitrogen plasma. Subsequently, another oxide layer is deposited over the nitrogen-rich surface of the first oxide layer. Deposition of this second oxide layer is accomplished by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process primarily using a reactant gas other than ozone.