IR-OBIRCH (Infrared Ray – Optical Beam Induced Resistance Change) is one of the main failure analysis techniques [1] [2] [3] [4]. It is a useful tool to do fault localization on leakage failure cases such as poor Via or contact connection, FEoL or BEoL pattern bridge, and etc. But the real failure sites associated with the above failure mechanisms are not always found at the OBIRCH spot locations. Sometimes the real failure site is far away from the OBIRCH spot and it will result in inconclusive PFA Analysis. Finding the real failure site is what matters the most for fault localization detection. In this paper, we will introduce one case using deep sub-micron process generation which suffers serious high Isb current at wafer donut region. In this case study a BEoL Via poor connection is found far away from the OBIRCH spots. This implies that layout tracing skill and relation investigation among OBIRCH spots are needed for successful failure analysis.

A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based nano-probing system is used in this study to clarify nickel silicide phase beyond process window. According to the nano-probing measurement result and the cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, phenomena of junction leakage along with high resistance and a larger nickel silicide area are observed at failure site at the same time. The type of failure mechanism and in-line process issue caused multiple failure phenomena at failure site will be the major focuses in this paper. Nickel silicide phase transformation from NiSi to NiSi2 is highly suspected by the comparison of sheet resistance and silicon consumption. Consequently, nickel silicide beyond process window could be verified immediately.

A dual beam FIB (Focused Ion Beam) system which provides the ion beam (i-beam) and electron beam (e-beam) function are widely used in semiconductor manufacture for construction analysis and failure cause identification. Although FIB is useful for defect or structure inspection, sometimes, it is still difficult to diagnose the root cause via FIB e-beam image due to resolution limitation especially in products using nano meter scale processes. This restriction will deeply impact the FA analysts for worst site or real failure site judgment. The insufficient e-beam resolution can be overcome by advanced TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) technology, but how can we know if this suspected failure site is a real killer or not when looking at the insufficient e-beam images inside a dual beam tool? Therefore, a novel technique of device measurement by using C-AFM (Conductive Atomic Force Microscope) or Nano-Probing system after cross-sectional (X-S) FIB inspection has been developed based on this requirement. This newly developed technology provides a good chance for the FA analysts to have a device characteristic study before TEM sample preparation. If there is any device characteristic shift by electrical measurement, the following TEM image should show a solid process abnormality with very high confidence. Oppositely, if no device characteristic shift can be measured, FIB milling is suggested to find the real fail site instead of trying TEM inspection directly.

In the field of failure analysis, electrical failures caused by improper implantation are often difficult to debug especially for fully processed products. Familiar implantation failure issues include improper implantation concentration, error doping types, incorrect doping ranges, and etc. Although some FA equipments, such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), spreading resistance probe (SRP) and scanning capacitance microscope (SCM) [1] [2] [3], can do detail or quantitative analysis for these failure issues, most of these FA jobs are time-consuming and have a detection limitation at the size of failure area. This limitation may restrict the FA applications because the failure area is usually small at the fully processed products after fault isolation. In this paper, two examples with improper doping type and concentration will be analyzed by using a newly developed FA method. Instead of using traditional cross-section (X-S) stain method, we utilize a plane-view stain method to compare the doping type and doping concentration between normal and failed regions. With the aid of the plane-view stain method, we can have a quick check at the suspected failure area with improper front-end implantation before specific SCM analysis.