Abstract: A semiconductor process for fabricating bipolar devices of one type and extendible to include bipolar devices of a second type in the same epi-layer. The process protects selected surfaces of the epi-layer against deleterious processes associated with the formation of future emitter/contact regions for the devices. Subsequently, such emitter/contact regions are formed beneath such protected surfaces and contribute to enhanced device performance. The process also provides improved planarization of an insulating layer on the epi-layer by chemical-mechanical polishing. The planarization in conjunction with a mask formed in the insulating layer facilitates the formation of self-aligned emitter/base regions to appropriate thicknesses for high performance devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved etchant composition and method for the resistivity specific etching of doped silicon films which overlie intrinsic or lightly doped crystal regions. The composition of the etchant is 0.2-6 mole % hydrofluoric acid, 14-28 mole % nitric acid, and 66-86 mole % acetic acid/water. The etchant leaves no silicon residue and provides for controlled etching with an etch stop at the lightly doped or intrinsic region.

Abstract: A method for fabricating polycrystalline silicon resistors is described which includes deposition of a polycrystalline silicon layer of very fine grain size upon an insulator surface, followed by ion implantation of boron equal to or slightly in excess of the solubility limit of the polycrystalline silicon. This ion implantation is normally done using a screen silicon dioxide surface layer. The structure may be annealed at temperatures of between about 800.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. for 15 to 180 minutes to control the grain size of the polycrystalline silicon layer, homogenize the distribution of the boron ions throughout the entire film thickness and to raise the concentration of the boron in the silicon grains to the solid solubility limit. The suitable electrical contacts are now made to the polycrystalline silicon layer to form the resistor.

Abstract: Surface leakage paths on bipolar and FET transistors may be significantly reduced by the presence of a fixed charge in an insulating layer adhered to a semiconductor wafer. The fixed charge consists of ions which are introduced into the insulating layer after all high-temperature process treatments have been performed on the wafer. The ions are introduced into the insulating layer by (1) immersing the wafer in a solution of a suitable metal salt; (2) sandwiching the wafers between carefully cleaned non-immersed wafers and (3) driving the ions to the insulating layer-wafer interface by heating the wafer stacks in a furnace at a preselected temperature. The effective charge level embedded in the insulating layer is sufficient to protect against inversion of the wafer surface due to conductors on the insulating layer having negative potentials exceeding 10 volts and overlying the stored-charge area.