Abstract: A process for transferring a thin film includes forming a layer of inclusions to create traps for gaseous compounds. The inclusions can be in the form of one or more implanted regions that function as confinement layers configured to trap implanted species. Further, the inclusions can be in the form of one or more layers deposited by a chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth, ion sputtering, or a stressed region or layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes. The inclusions can also be a region formed by heat treatment of an initial support or by heat treatment of a layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes, or by etching cavities in a layer. In a subsequent step, gaseous compounds are introduced into the layer of inclusions to form micro-cavities that form a fracture plane along which the thin film can be separated from a remainder of the substrate.

Abstract: A process for transferring a thin film includes forming a layer of inclusions to create traps for gaseous compounds. The inclusions can be in the form of one or more implanted regions that function as confinement layers configured to trap implanted species. Further, the inclusions can be in the form of one or more layers deposited by a chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth, ion sputtering, or a stressed region or layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes. The inclusions can also be a region formed by heat treatment of an initial support or by heat treatment of a layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes, or by etching cavities in a layer. In a subsequent step, gaseous compounds are introduced into the layer of inclusions to form micro-cavities that form a fracture plane along which the thin film can be separated from a remainder of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a bond between a first and a second substrate. The process includes preparing surfaces of the substrates to be assembled, and attaching the surfaces to form an assembly of these two surfaces, by direct molecular bonding. The assembly is then heat treated, which includes maintaining the temperature within the range of 50° C. to 100° C. for at least one hour.

Abstract: A method for determining a minimum tension compensation stress which will have a membrane of a thickness of less than or equal to one micrometer, secured to a frame, having, in the absence of any external stress, a desired deflection. The membrane can be made as planar as possible in absence of any external stress, and its thickness can be less than or equal to one micrometer.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a film made out of a first material on a polymer support, said method comprising bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, thereby defining a bonding interface between said first wafer and said second wafer, at least one of said first and second wafers comprising a layer of said first material situated in proximity to said bonding interface, in said first wafer, hollowing out a cavity, said cavity comprising a bottom parallel to said bonding interface that defines, in said first wafer, a bottom zone at a controlled distance relative to said second wafer, forming, in said cavity, a polymer layer on a thickness controlled from a bottom thereof to obtain a combined wafer portion, said combined wafer portion comprising a bottom zone formed by said polymer layer on said bottom and a peripheral zone, and eliminating said second wafer on a major portion of a thickness thereof, thereby releasing, beneath said polymer layer, a film comprising said layer of said first material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a stacked structure comprising at least one thin layer bonding to a target substrate, comprising the following steps: a) formation of a thin layer starting from an initial substrate, the thin layer having a free face called the first contact face, b) putting the first contact face into bonding contact with a face of an intermediate support, the structure obtained being compatible with later thinning of the initial substrate, c) thinning of the said initial substrate to expose a free face of the thin layer called the second contact face and opposite the first contact face, d) putting a face of the target substrate into bonding contact with at least part of the second contact face, the structure obtained being compatible with later removal of all or some of the intermediate support, e) removal of at least part of the intermediate support in order to obtain the said stacked structure.

Abstract: A process for transferring a thin film includes forming a layer of inclusions to create traps for gaseous compounds. The inclusions can be in the form of one or more implanted regions that function as confinement layers configured to trap implanted species. Further, the inclusions can be in the form of one or more layers deposited by a chemical vapor deposition, epitaxial growth, ion sputtering, or a stressed region or layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes. The inclusions can also be a region formed by heat treatment of an initial support or by heat treatment of a layer formed by any of the aforementioned processes, or by etching cavities in a layer. In a subsequent step, gaseous compounds are introduced into the layer of inclusions to form micro-cavities that form a fracture plane along which the thin film can be separated from a remainder of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for transferring a thin layer of monocrystalline silicon from a free face of a monocrystalline silicon donor substrate having a thickness greater than that of the thin layer includes implanting ions through the free face to form a buried brittle layer in the silicon, using a polymer layer, bonding the donor substrate, by the free face, to a receiver substrate, and fracturing the thin layer from the donor substrate at the buried brittle layer by thermal fracture processing, and selecting conditions of implantation such that a thickness of the thin layer is smaller than 10 micrometers, and a thickness of the polymer layer is below a critical threshold defined as a function of energy and dose of the implantation, the critical threshold being less than or equal to the lesser of 500 nanometers and the thin layer's thickness.

Abstract: A method of making a complex microelectronic structure by assembling two substrates through two respective linking surfaces, the structure being designed to be dissociated at a separation zone. Prior to assembly, in producing a state difference in the tangential stresses between the two surfaces to be assembled, the state difference is selected so as to produce in the assembled structure a predetermined stress state at the time of dissociation.

Abstract: Adhesion by molecular bonding of two free surfaces of first and second substrates, for example formed by monocrystalline silicon wafers, comprises at least successively: a cleaning step of the two free surfaces with hydrofluoric acid in vapor phase to make the two free surfaces hydrophobic, a rinsing step of said free surfaces with deionized water with a time less than or equal to 30 seconds a step of bringing said free surfaces into contact.

Abstract: A method for trimming a structure obtained by bonding a first wafer to a second waver on contact faces and thinning the first waver, wherein at least either the first wafer or the second wafer is chamfered and thus exposes the edge of the contact face of the first wafer, wherein the trimming concerns the first wafer. The method includes a) selecting the second wafer from among wafers with a resistance to a chemical etching planned in b) that is sufficient with respect to the first wafer to allow b) to be carried out; b) after bonding the first wafer to the second wafer, chemical etching the edge of the first wafer to form in the first wafer a pedestal resting entirely on the contact face of the second wafer and supporting the remaining of the first wafer; and c) thinning the first wafer until the pedestal is reached and attacked, to provide a thinned part of the first wafer.

Abstract: Two plates, each comprising a thin layer of silicon or silicon oxide at a surface thereof, are bonded by subjecting the thin layer of at least one of the plates to a surface treatment step forming a silicon oxynitride superficial thin film with a thickness of less than 5nm. The thin film is performed with a nitrogen-based plasma generated by an inductively coupled plasma source. Furthermore, a potential difference applied between the plasma and a substrate holder supporting said plate during the surface treatment step is less than 50 V, advantageously less than 15 V and preferably zero. This enables a defect-free bonding interface to be obtained irrespective of a temperature of any heat treatment carried out after a contacting step between the respective thin layers of the two plates.

Abstract: A heterojunction photovoltaic cell includes at least one crystalline silicon oxide film directly placed onto one of the front or rear faces of a crystalline silicon substrate, between said substrate and a layer of amorphous or microcrystalline silicon. The thin film is intended to enable the passivation of said face of the substrate. The thin film is more particularly obtained by radically oxidizing a surface portion of the substrate, before depositing the layer of amorphous silicon. Moreover, a thin layer of intrinsic or microdoped amorphous silicon can be placed between said think film and the layer of amorphous or microcrystalline silicon.

Abstract: A method for producing of at least one photovoltaic cell includes successively the anisotropic etching of a surface of a crystalline silicon substrate and the isotropic etching treatment of said surface. The isotropic etching treatment includes at least two successive operations respectively consisting in forming a silicon oxide thin film with a controlled average thickness, ranging between 10 nm and 500 nm and in removing said thin film thus-formed. The operation consisting in forming a silicon oxide thin film on the face of the substrate is carried out by a thermally activated dry oxidation. Such a method makes it possible to improve the surface quality of the surface of the substrate once said surface is etched in an anisotropic way.

Abstract: A method of separating a structure including a fragile zone delimiting two substructures to be separated, where at least one plane blade is advanced in a separation plane corresponding to a median plane of the fragile zone, from an entry edge of the structure in a direction of advance toward an exit edge of the structure, so as to cause progressive separation of the two substructures, and where the inclination of the blade in the separation plane is varied relative to the direction of advance.

Abstract: A process of transferring a layer of a first material from a first substrate, having defects in a zone close to the surface, onto a host substrate made of a second material includes a step of thinning the first substrate in order to form a first thinned substrate, an ion or atom implantation in the first substrate in order to form an implantation plane therein, delimiting the layer to be transferred, and a transfer of the layer onto the host substrate by fracturing the substrate along the implantation plane.

Abstract: A device for separation of a stack in two distinct parts, including a first part, a second part and a zone of weakness between the first and second parts, and an insertion zone located at the periphery of the stack at or close to the zone of weakness, extending over all or part of the periphery of the stack. The device includes at least one separator capable of penetrating into the insertion zone along a penetration distance until coming into contact with the first part of the stack at at least one first contact point located at the periphery of the stack, and coming into contact with the second part of the stack at at least one second contact point located at the periphery of the stack. The device also includes drive means for making the separator penetrate into the insertion zone as far as the penetration distance and for applying a relative movement between the separator and the stack.

Abstract: A method for making a stack of at least two stages of circuits, each stage including a substrate and at least one component and metallic connections formed in or on this substrate, the assembly of a stage to be transferred onto a previous stage including: a) ionic implantation in the substrate of the stage to be transferred through at least part of the components, so as to form a weakened zone, b) formation of metallic connections of the components, c) transfer and assembly of some of this substrate onto the previous stage, and d) a step to thin the transferred part of the substrate by fracture along the weakened zone.

Abstract: Method for producing nanostructures comprising: a step of providing a substrate (100) having a buried barrier layer (2) and above said barrier layer (2) a crystalline film (5) provided with a network of crystalline defects and/or stress fields (12) in a crystalline zone (13), one or several steps of attacking the substrate (100), of which a preferential attack either of the crystalline defects and/or the stress fields, or the crystalline zone (13) between the crystalline defects and/or the stress fields, said attack steps enabling the barrier layer (2) to be laid bared locally and protrusions (7) to be formed on a nanometric scale, separated from each other by hollows (7.1) having a base located in the barrier layer, the protrusions leading to nanostructures (7, 8).

Abstract: A process for fabricating an acoustic wave resonator comprising a suspended membrane comprising a piezoelectric material layer, comprises the following steps: production of a first stack comprising at least one layer of first piezoelectric material on the surface of a first substrate; production of a second stack comprising at least one second substrate; production of at least one non-bonding initiating zone by deposition or creation of particles of controlled sizes leaving the surface of one of said stacks endowed locally with projecting nanostructures before a subsequent bonding step; direct bonding of said two stacks creating a blister between the stacks, due to the presence of the non-bonding initiating zone; and, thinning of the first stack to eliminate at least the first substrate.