A method of forming an interlayer dielectric on a semiconductor device is
disclosed. First, a phosphorous doped oxide layer is deposited on the
semiconductor device to fill gaps and provide phosphorous for gettering.
Then, an undoped oxide layer is deposited and planarized using chemical
mechanical polishing (CMP). The undoped oxide layer is denser than the
phosphorous doped oxide layer, so the undoped oxide layer can be polished
more uniformly than the phosphorous doped oxide layer and can serve as a
polish stop for a subsequent tungsten plug polish. Also, the denser
undoped oxide layer serves as a more effective moisture barrier than the
doped oxide layer. Overall fabrication process complexity can be reduced
by performing both oxide depositions in a single operation with no
intervening densification or CMP steps.