With Lattice Constant Mismatch (e.g., With Buffer Layer To Accommodate Mismatch) Patents (Class 257/190)
  • Patent number: 8853740
    Abstract: A strained silicon channel semiconductor structure comprises a substrate having an upper surface, a gate structure formed on the upper surface, at least one recess formed in the substrate at lateral sides of the gate structure, wherein the recess has at least one sidewall which has an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall concaved in the direction to the gate structure, and the included angle between the upper sidewall and horizontal plane ranges between 54.5°-90°, and an epitaxial layer filled into the two recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chan-Lon Yang, Ted Ming-Lang Guo, Chin-I Liao, Chin-Cheng Chien, Shu-Yen Chan, Chun-Yuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20140291725
    Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; and a compound semiconductor lamination structure formed over the substrate, the compound semiconductor lamination structure including a buffer layer containing an impurity, and an active layer formed over the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tetsuro Ishiguro, NORIKAZU NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140291726
    Abstract: Trench-confined selective epitaxial growth process in which epitaxial growth of a semiconductor device layer proceeds within the confines of a trench. In embodiments, a trench is fabricated to include a pristine, planar semiconductor seeding surface disposed at the bottom of the trench. Semiconductor regions around the seeding surface may be recessed relative to the seeding surface with Isolation dielectric disposed there on to surround the semiconductor seeding layer and form the trench. In embodiments to form the trench, a sacrificial hardmask fin may be covered in dielectric which is then planarized to expose the hardmask fin, which is then removed to expose the seeding surface. A semiconductor device layer is formed from the seeding surface through selective heteroepitaxy. In embodiments, non-planar devices are formed from the semiconductor device layer by recessing a top surface of the isolation dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Ravi Pillarisetty, Seung Hoon SUNG, Niti GOEL, Jack T. KAVALIEROS, Sansaptak DASGUPTA, Van H. LE, Willy RACHMADY, Marko RADOSAVLJEVIC, Gilbert DEWEY, Han Wui THEN, Niloy MUKHERJEE, Matthew V. METZ, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 8847279
    Abstract: Lattice-mismatched epitaxial films formed proximate non-crystalline sidewalls. Embodiments of the invention include formation of facets that direct dislocations in the films to the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Bai, Ji-Soo Park, Anthony J. Lochtefeld
  • Patent number: 8847236
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes: a silicon substrate; a monocrystalline silicon carbide film formed on a surface of the silicon substrate; and a stress relieving film formed on the surface of the silicon substrate opposite from the side on which the monocrystalline silicon carbide film is formed, and that relieves stress in the silicon substrate by applying compressional stress to the silicon substrate surface on which the stress relieving film is formed, wherein a plurality of spaces is present in the monocrystalline silicon carbide film in portions on the side of the silicon substrate and along the interface between the monocrystalline silicon carbide film and the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukimune Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140284660
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer includes the steps of forming, on a first principal surface of a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer different in kind from the substrate, and removing, by etching, a part of the compound semiconductor layer. The part of the compound semiconductor layer is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the first principal surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Ryohei MAKINO, Takao KUMADA, Masaharu EDO, Keishi TAKAKI
  • Publication number: 20140264441
    Abstract: The semiconductor device has a barrier layer formed on a channel layer, an n type diffusion preventing layer formed on the barrier layer and containing aluminum, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the diffusion preventing layer. The semiconductor device further has a p type cap layer formed on the diffusion preventing layer sandwiched between the source electrode and the drain electrode and a gate electrode formed on the cap layer. The diffusion preventing layer has an aluminum composition ratio greater than the aluminum composition ratio of the barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro MURASE
  • Publication number: 20140264438
    Abstract: Various heterostructures and methods of forming heterostructures are disclosed. A structure includes a substrate, a template layer, a barrier layer, and a device layer. The substrate comprises a first crystalline material. The template layer comprises a second crystalline material, and the second crystalline material is lattice mismatched to the first crystalline material. The template layer is over and adjoins the first crystalline material, and the template layer is at least partially disposed in an opening of a dielectric material. The barrier layer comprises a third crystalline material, and the third crystalline material is a binary III-V compound semiconductor. The barrier layer is over the template layer. The device layer comprises a fourth crystalline material, and the device layer is over the barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Christopher Holland, Georgios Vellianitis, Richard Kenneth Oxland, Krishna Kumar Bhuwalka, Gerben Doornbos
  • Publication number: 20140264439
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, at least a first N-type germanium (Ge) structure and at least a first P-type Ge structure. The first N-type Ge structure is formed on the substrate and has two end parts and at least a first central part bonded between the two end parts thereof. The first central part is floated over the substrate, and a side surface of the first central part is a {111} Ge crystallographic surface. The first P-type Ge structure is formed on the substrate and has two end parts and at least a second central part bonded between the two end parts thereof. The side surface of the second central part is a {110} Ge crystallographic surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Chee-Wee Liu, Yen-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20140264442
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate, forming spacers adjoining opposite sidewalls of the gate stack, forming a sacrificial layer adjoining the spacers, removing a portion of the sacrificial layer, removing a portion of the spacers to form a recess cavity below the left spacers. Then, a strain feature is formed in the recess cavity. The disclosed method provides an improved method by providing a space between the spacer and the substrate for forming the strained feature, therefore, to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Lien Huang
  • Publication number: 20140264440
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a method and a device to achieve a strained channel. A volume of a source or drain recess is controlled by a performing an etch of a substrate to produce a recess. An anisotropic etch stop layer is then formed by doping a bottom surface of the recess with a boron-containing dopant, which distorts the crystalline structure of the bottom surface. An anisotropic etch of the recess is then performed. The anisotropic etch stop layer resists anisotropic etching such that the recess comprises a substantially flat bottom surface after the anisotropic etch. The source or drain recess is then filled with a stress-inducing material to produce a strained channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Hsuing Chen, Ling-Sung Wang, Chi-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 8835983
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor wafer includes a silicon substrate, a lower strain relaxation layer provided on the silicon substrate, an intermediate layer provided on the lower strain relaxation layer, an upper strain relaxation layer provided on the intermediate layer, and a functional layer provided on the upper strain relaxation layer. The intermediate layer includes a first lower layer, a first doped layer provided on the first lower layer, and a first upper layer provided on the first doped layer. The first doped layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first lower layer and contains an impurity of 1×1018 cm?3 or more and less than 1×1021 cm?3. The first upper layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first doped layer and larger than that of the first lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hung Hung, Tomonari Shioda, Jongil Hwang, Naoharu Sugiyama, Shinya Nunoue
  • Patent number: 8836081
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices or structures include forming structures of a semiconductor material overlying a layer of a compliant material, subsequently changing the viscosity of the compliant material to relax the semiconductor material structures, and utilizing the relaxed semiconductor material structures as a seed layer in forming a continuous layer of relaxed semiconductor material. In some embodiments, the layer of semiconductor material may comprise a III-V type semiconductor material, such as, for example, indium gallium nitride. Novel intermediate structures are formed during such methods. Engineered substrates include a continuous layer of semiconductor material having a relaxed lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Chantal Arena
  • Patent number: 8835906
    Abstract: A sensor includes: a base wafer containing silicon; a seed member provided directly or indirectly on the base wafer; and a photothermal absorber that is made of a Group 3-5 compound semiconductor lattice-matching or pseudo lattice-matching the seed member and being capable of generating a carrier upon absorbing light or heat, where the photothermal absorber outputs an electric signal in response to incident light to be introduced into the photothermal absorber or heat to be applied to the photothermal absorber. A semiconductor wafer includes: a base wafer containing silicon; a seed member provided directly or indirectly on the base wafer; and a photothermal absorber that is made of a Group 3-5 compound semiconductor lattice-matching or pseudo lattice-matching the seed member and being capable of generating a carrier upon absorbing light or heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Masahiko Hata, Tomoyuki Takada, Sadanori Yamanaka, Taro Itatani
  • Patent number: 8835982
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device and method for manufacturing the integrated circuit device is disclosed. The disclosed method provides a processing for forming improved lightly doped source/drain features and source/drain features in the semiconductor device. Semiconductor device with the improved lightly doped source/drain features and source/drain features may prevent or reduce defects and achieve high strain effect. In at least one embodiment, the lightly doped source/drain features and source/drain features comprises the same semiconductor material formed by epitaxial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsz-Mei Kwok, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Kuan-Yu Chen, Hsien-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 8835267
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A strained material is formed in a cavity of a substrate and adjacent to an isolation structure in the substrate. The strained material has a corner above the surface of the substrate. The disclosed method provides an improved method for forming the strained material adjacent to the isolation structure with an increased portion in the cavity of a substrate to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance. In an embodiment, the improved formation method is achieved using an etching process to redistribute the strained material by removing at least a portion of the corner to be located in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Ming-Hua Yu, Tze-Liang Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Pang-Yen Tsai, Lilly Su, Yi-Hung Lin, Yu-Hung Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140252366
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a semiconductor buffer structure overlying the substrate. The semiconductor buffer structure includes a semiconductor body of a gallium nitride material, and a stack of strain compensation layers. The stack of strain compensation layers includes a layer of a first semiconductor material with an in-plane lattice constant that is smaller than a lattice constant of the semiconductor body, and a layer of a second semiconductor material with an in-plane lattice constant that is greater than the lattice constant of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: IQE RF, LLC
    Inventor: Xiang Gao
  • Patent number: 8829567
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures having a first layer including an n-type III-V semiconductor material and a second layer including an M(InP)(InGaAs) alloy, wherein M is selected from Ni, Pt, Pd, Co, Ti, Zr, Y, Mo, Ru, Ir, Sb, In, Dy, Tb, Er, Yb, and Te, and combinations thereof, are disclosed. The semiconductor structures have a substantially planar interface between the first and second layers. Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures, and methods of reducing interface roughness and/or sheet resistance of a contact are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sematech, Inc.
    Inventors: Rinus Tek Po Lee, Tae Woo Kim, Man Hoi Wong, Richard Hill
  • Patent number: 8828781
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices are produced using a minimally modified standard process flow by forming lateral P-I-N light-sensitive diodes on silicon islands that are isolated laterally by trenches performed by RIE, and from an underlying support substrate by porous silicon regions. P+ and N+ doped regions are formed in a P? epitaxial layer, trenches are etched through the epitaxial layer into a P+ substrate, a protective layer (e.g., SiN) is formed on the trench walls, and then porous silicon is formed (e.g., using HF solution) in the trenches that grows laterally through the P+ substrate and merges under the island. The method is either utilized to form low-cost embedded photovoltaic arrays on CMOS IC devices, or the devices are separated from the P+ substrate by etching through the porous silicon to produce low-cost, high voltage solar arrays for solar energy sources, e.g., solar concentrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Tower Semiconductor Ltd., Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.
    Inventors: Yakov Roizin, Evgeny Pikhay, Irit Chen-Zamero, Ora Eli, Micha Asscher, Amir Saar
  • Patent number: 8828825
    Abstract: The likelihood of forming silicon germanium abnormal growths, which can be undesirably formed on the gate electrode of a strained-channel PMOS transistor at the same time that silicon germanium source and drain regions are formed, is substantially reduced by using protection materials that reduce the likelihood that the gate electrode is exposed during the formation of the silicon germanium source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, James Joseph Chambers
  • Publication number: 20140246695
    Abstract: The invention relates to an isolation structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary isolation structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a trench; a strained material in the trench, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; an oxide layer of the strained material over the strained material; a high-k dielectric layer over the oxide layer; and a dielectric layer over the high-k dielectric layer filling the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
  • Publication number: 20140246679
    Abstract: III-N material grown on a buffer on a silicon substrate includes a single crystal electrically insulating buffer positioned on a silicon substrate. The single crystal buffer includes rare earth aluminum nitride substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate, i.e. a lattice co-incidence between REAlN and Si better than a 5:4 ratio. A layer of single crystal III-N material is positioned on the surface of the buffer and substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Publication number: 20140246696
    Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including N-channel transistors with strain-inducing embedded source and drain semiconductor regions, N-channel transistor performance may be enhanced by selectively growing embedded pure silicon source and drain regions in cavities exposing the silicon/germanium layer of a Si/SiGe-substrate, wherein the silicon layer of the Si/SiGe-substrate may exhibit a strong bi-axial tensile strain. The bi-axial tensile strain may improve both electron and hole mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Flachowsky, Roman Boschke, Ralf Illgen
  • Patent number: 8823141
    Abstract: The semiconductor wafer includes: a base wafer; and an inhibition layer that is disposed on the base wafer as one piece or to be separate portions from each other, and inhibits growth of a crystal of a compound semiconductor, where the inhibition layer has a plurality of first opening regions that have a plurality of openings penetrating the inhibition layer and leading to the base wafer, each of the plurality of first opening regions includes therein a plurality of first openings disposed in the same arrangement, some of the plurality of first openings are first element forming openings each provided with a first compound semiconductor on which an electronic element is to be formed, and the other of the plurality of first openings are first dummy openings in which no electronic element is to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takada, Masahiko Hata, Sadanori Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8823056
    Abstract: Dislocation pile-ups in compositionally graded semiconductor layers are reduced or eliminated, thereby leading to increased semiconductor device yield and manufacturability. This is accomplished by introducing a semiconductor layer having a plurality of threading dislocations distributed substantially uniformly across its surface as a starting layer and/or at least one intermediate layer during growth and relaxation of the compositionally graded layer. The semiconductor layer may include a seed layer disposed proximal to the surface of the semiconductor layer and having the threading dislocations uniformly distributed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Leitz, Christopher J. Vineis, Richard Westhoff, Vicky Yang, Matthew T. Currie
  • Patent number: 8823055
    Abstract: A method of forming a template on a silicon substrate includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate. The method further includes epitaxially depositing a layer of rare earth oxide on the surface of the silicon substrate. The rare earth oxide being substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate. The method further includes forming an aluminum oxide layer on the rare earth oxide, the aluminum oxide being substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the rare earth oxide and epitaxially depositing a layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) on the aluminum oxide layer substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Translucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Michael Lebby, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Publication number: 20140239345
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to a CMOS device having (1) an NMOS channel of silicon material selectively deposited on a first area of a graded silicon germanium substrate such that the selectively deposited silicon material experiences a tensile strain caused by the lattice spacing of the silicon material being smaller than the lattice spacing of the graded silicon germanium substrate material at the first area, and (2) a PMOS channel of silicon germanium material selectively deposited on a second area of the substrate such that the selectively deposited silicon germanium material experiences a compressive strain caused by the lattice spacing of the selectively deposited silicon germanium material being larger than the lattice spacing of the graded silicon germanium substrate material at the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boyan BOYANOV, Anand S. MURTHY, Brian S. DOYLE, Robert S. CHAU
  • Patent number: 8816392
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate on an insulating layer; and a second gate that is located on the insulating layer and is embedded at least partially in the semiconductor substrate. A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises: forming a semiconductor substrate on an insulating layer; forming a void within the semiconductor substrate, with the insulating layer being exposed by the void; and forming a second gate, with the void being filled with at least one part of the second gate. It facilitates the reduction of the short channel effects, resistances of the source and drain regions, and parasitic capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huilong Zhu, Qingqing Liang
  • Publication number: 20140231871
    Abstract: An apparatus including a device including a channel material having a first lattice structure on a well of a well material having a matched lattice structure in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure. A method including forming a trench in a buffer material; forming an n-type well material in the trench, the n-type well material having a lattice structure that is different than a lattice structure of the buffer material; and forming an n-type transistor. A system including a computer including a processor including complimentary metal oxide semiconductor circuitry including an n-type transistor including a channel material, the channel material having a first lattice structure on a well disposed in a buffer material having a second lattice structure that is different than the first lattice structure, the n-type transistor coupled to a p-type transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Niti Goel, Ravi Pillarisetty, Niloy Mukherjee, Robert S. Chau, Willy Rachmady, Matthew V. Metz, Van H. Le, Jack T. Kavalieros, Marko Radosavljevic, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Gilbert Dewey, Seung Hoon Sung
  • Patent number: 8809908
    Abstract: A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved. Provided is a semiconductor wafer comprising an Si wafer; a Ge layer that is crystal-grown on the wafer and shaped as an isolated island; a buffer layer that is crystal-grown on the Ge layer and is a group 3-5 compound semiconductor layer containing P; and a functional layer that is crystal-grown on the buffer layer. The Ge layer may be shaped as an island having a size that does not exceed double a distance moved by crystal defects as a result of annealing the Ge layer at a certain temperature for a certain time. The Ge layer may be shaped as an island having a size for which stress due to a difference relative to a thermal expansion coefficient of Si, which is material of the wafer, does not cause crystal defects when the Ge layer is annealed at a certain temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takada, Sadanori Yamanaka, Masahiko Hata
  • Publication number: 20140225160
    Abstract: An SOI wafer contains a compressively stressed buried insulator structure. In one example, the stressed buried insulator (BOX) may be formed on a host wafer by forming silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers so that the silicon nitride layer is compressively stressed. Wafer bonding provides the surface silicon layer over the stressed insulator layer. Preferred implementations of the invention form MOS transistors by etching isolation trenches into a preferred SOI substrate having a stressed BOX structure to define transistor active areas on the surface of the SOI substrate. Most preferably the trenches are formed deep enough to penetrate through the stressed BOX structure and some distance into the underlying silicon portion of the substrate. The overlying silicon active regions will have tensile stress induced due to elastic edge relaxation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Acorn Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Clifton, R Stockton Gaines
  • Patent number: 8803194
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided comprising a substrate and a epitaxial layer formed over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer comprises B; and one or more element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf and Al and has a thickness greater than 50 nm. Further, methods for integrating Group III nitrides onto a substrate comprising, forming an epitaxial buffer layer of a diboride of Zr, Hf, Al, or mixtures thereof, over a substrate; and forming a Group III nitride layer over the buffer layer, are provided which serve to thermally decouple the buffer layer from the underlying substrate, thereby greatly reducing the strain induced in the semiconductor structures upon fabrication and/or operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona Acting for and on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: John Kouvetakis, Radek Roucka
  • Patent number: 8803195
    Abstract: The present nanomembrane structures include a multilayer film comprising a single-crystalline layer of semiconductor material disposed between two other single-crystalline layers of semiconductor material. A plurality of holes extending through the nanomembrane are at least partially, and preferably entirely, filled with a filler material which is also a semiconductor, but which differs from the nanomembrane semiconductor materials in composition, crystal orientation, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Max G. Lagally, Shelley A. Scott, Donald E. Savage
  • Patent number: 8796695
    Abstract: A Multi-Gate Field-Effect Transistor includes a fin-shaped structure, a gate structure, at least an epitaxial structure and a gradient cap layer. The fin-shaped structure is located on a substrate. The gate structure is disposed across a part of the fin-shaped structure and the substrate. The epitaxial structure is located on the fin-shaped structure beside the gate structure. The gradient cap layer is located on each of the epitaxial structures. The gradient cap layer is a compound semiconductor, and the concentration of one of the ingredients of the compound semiconductor has a gradient distribution decreasing from bottom to top. Moreover, the present invention also provides a Multi-Gate Field-Effect Transistor process forming said Multi-Gate Field-Effect Transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chin-I Liao, Chia-Lin Hsu, Ming-Yen Li, Yung-Lun Hsieh, Chien-Hao Chen, Bo-Syuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8796081
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided, comprising: a Si substrate; a porous structure layer formed on the Si substrate, in which the porous structure layer has a flat surface and comprises a Si1-xGex layer with low Ge content; and a Ge-containing layer formed on the porous structure layer, in which the Ge containing layer comprises a Ge layer or a Si1-yGey layer with high Ge content and x?y. Further, a method for forming the semiconductor structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Jun Xu, Lei Guo
  • Patent number: 8796734
    Abstract: Fabrication of monolithic lattice-mismatched semiconductor heterostructures with limited area regions having upper portions substantially exhausted of threading dislocations, as well as fabrication of semiconductor devices based on such lattice-mismatched heterostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Lochtefeld, Matthew T. Currie, Zhiyuan Cheng, James Fiorenza, Glyn Braithwaite, Thomas A. Langdo
  • Publication number: 20140209862
    Abstract: Provided is a Group III nitride epitaxial substrate that can suppress the occurrence of breakage during a device formation process and a method for manufacturing the same. A Group III nitride epitaxial substrate according to the present invention includes a Si substrate, an initial layer in contact with the Si substrate, and a superlattice laminate, formed on the initial layer, including a plurality of sets of laminates, each of the laminates including, in order, a first layer made of AlGaN with an Al composition ratio greater than 0.5 and 1 or less and a second layer made of AlGaN with an Al composition ratio greater than 0 and 0.5 or less. The Al composition ratio of the second layer progressively decreases with distance from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: DOWA ELECTRONICS MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ikuta, Tomohiko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20140209976
    Abstract: A transistor and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The transistor includes a first epitaxial layer, a channel layer, a gate structure and an impurity region. The first epitaxial layer on a substrate includes a silicon-germanium-tin (SixGe1-x-ySny) single crystal having a lattice constant greater than a lattice constant of a germanium (Ge) single crystal. The channel layer is disposed adjacent to the first epitaxial layer. The channel layer includes the germanium single crystal. The gate structure is disposed on the channel layer. The impurity region is disposed at an upper portion of the channel layer adjacent to the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Jae Yang, Sang-Su KIM, Jung-Dal CHOI, Sung-Gi HUR
  • Publication number: 20140209975
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first buffer layer formed on a substrate; a second buffer layer formed on a portion of the first buffer layer; a third buffer layer formed on the first buffer layer and the second buffer layer; a first semiconductor layer formed on the third buffer layer; a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode that are formed on the second semiconductor layer, wherein the second buffer layer is composed of a material with higher resistivity than the first semiconductor layer; and the second buffer layer is formed in a region immediately below and between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Youichi KAMADA
  • Publication number: 20140203326
    Abstract: Methods of forming hetero-layers with reduced surface roughness and bulk defect density on non-native surfaces and the devices formed thereby are described. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate having a top surface with a lattice constant and depositing a first layer on the top surface of the substrate. The first layer has a top surface with a lattice constant that is different from the first lattice constant of the top surface of the substrate. The first layer is annealed and polished to form a polished surface. A second layer is then deposited above the polished surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Niloy Mukherjee, Matthew V. Metz, james m. Powers, Van H. Le, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Mark R. Lemay, Marko Radosavljevic, Niti Goel
  • Patent number: 8785907
    Abstract: An embodiment includes depositing a material onto a substrate where the material includes a different lattice constant than the substrate (e.g., III-V or IV epitaxial (EPI) material on a Si substrate). An embodiment includes an EPI layer formed within a trench having walls that narrow as the trench extends upwards. An embodiment includes an EPI layer formed within a trench using multiple growth temperatures. A defect barrier, formed in the EPI layer when the temperature changes, contains defects within the trench and below the defect barrier. The EPI layer above the defect barrier and within the trench is relatively defect free. An embodiment includes an EPI layer annealed within a trench to induce defect annihilation. An embodiment includes an EPI superlattice formed within a trench and covered with a relatively defect free EPI layer (that is still included in the trench). Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Niti Goel, Niloy Mukherjee, Seung Hoon Sung, Van H. Le, Matthew V. Metz, Jack T. Kavalieros, Ravi Pillarisetty, Sanaz K. Gardner, Sansaptak Dasgupta, Willy Rachmady, Benjamin Chu-Kung, Marko Radosavljevic, Gilbert Dewey, Marc C. French, Jessica Kachian, Satyarth Suri, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 8779475
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate, an insulating isolation layer formed on the substrate, a first active region layer and a second active region layer formed in the insulating isolation layer, characterized in that the carrier mobility of the first active region layer and/or second active region layer is higher than that of the substrate. In accordance with the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof in the present invention, an active region formed of a material different from that of the substrate is used, the carrier mobility in the channel region is enhanced, thereby the device response speed is substantially improved and the device performance is enhanced greatly. Furthermore, unlike the existing STI manufacturing process, for the present invention, an STI is formed first, and then filling is performed to form an active region, thus avoiding the problem of generation of holes in STI, and improving the device reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Guilei Wang, Chunlong Li, Chao Zhao
  • Patent number: 8779469
    Abstract: Doped wells, gate stacks, and embedded source and drain regions are formed on, or in, a semiconductor substrate, followed by formation of shallow trenches in the semiconductor substrate. The shallow trenches can be formed by forming a planarized material layer over the doped wells, the gate stacks, and the embedded source and drain regions; patterning the planarized material layer; and transferring the pattern in the planarized material layer into the gate stacks, embedded source and drain regions, and the doped wells. The shallow trenches are filled with a dielectric material to form shallow trench isolation structures. Alternately, the shallow trenches can be formed by applying a photoresist over the doped wells, the gate stacks, and the embedded source and drain regions, and subsequently etching exposed portions of the underlying structures. After removal of the photoresist, shallow trench isolation structures can be formed by filling the shallow trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Greene, Yue Liang, Xiaojun Yu
  • Patent number: 8779554
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a channel region of a transistor over the semiconductor substrate. The channel region includes a semiconductor material. An air gap is disposed under and aligned to the channel region, with a bottom surface of the channel region exposed to the air gap. Insulation regions are disposed on opposite sides of the air gap, wherein a bottom surface of the channel region is higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions. A gate dielectric of the transistor is disposed on a top surface and sidewalls of the channel region. A gate electrode of the transistor is over the gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Georgios Vellianitis, Mark van Dal, Blandine Duriez
  • Patent number: 8779468
    Abstract: A nitride semiconductor structure including a silicon substrate, a nucleation layer, a discontinuous defect blocking layer, a buffer layer and a nitride semiconductor layer is provided. The nucleation layer disposed on the silicon substrate, wherein the nucleation layer has a defect density d1. A portion of the nucleation layer is covered by the discontinuous defect blocking layer. The buffer layer is disposed on the discontinuous defect blocking layer and a portion of the nucleation layer that is not covered by the discontinuous defect blocking layer. The nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the buffer layer. A ratio of a defect density d2 of the nitride semiconductor layer to the defect density d1 of the nucleation layer is less than or equal to about 0.5, at a location where about 1 micrometer above the interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yen-Hsiang Fang, Chien-Pin Lu, Chen-Zi Liao, Rong Xuan, Yi-Keng Fu, Chih-Wei Hu, Hsun-Chih Liu
  • Publication number: 20140191285
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having epitaxial structures includes a gate structure positioned on a substrate, epitaxial structures formed in the substrate at two sides of the gate structure, and an undoped cap layer formed on the epitaxial structures. The epitaxial structures include a dopant. The epitaxial structures and the undoped cap layer include a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant and a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant. The second lattice constant is larger than the first lattice constant. The second semiconductor material in the epitaxial structure includes a first concentration and the second semiconductor material in the undoped cap layer includes a second concentration. The second concentration is lower than the first concentration, and is upwardly decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chin-I Liao, Teng-Chun Hsuan, I-Ming Lai, Chin-Cheng Chien
  • Publication number: 20140191283
    Abstract: A patterned substrate is provided having at least two mesa surface portions, and a recessed surface located beneath and positioned between the at least two mesa surface portions. A Group III nitride material is grown atop the mesa surface portions of the patterned substrate and atop the recessed surface. Growth of the Group III nitride material is continued merging the Group III nitride material that is grown atop the mesa surface portions. When the Group III nitride material located atop the mesa surface portions merge, the Group III nitride material growth on the recessed surface ceases. The merged Group III nitride material forms a first Group III nitride material structure, and the Group III nitride material formed in the recessed surface forms a second material structure. The first and second material structures are disjoined from each other and are separated by an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Can Bayram, Devendra K. Sadana, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Publication number: 20140191284
    Abstract: A patterned substrate is provided having at least two mesa surface portions, and a recessed surface located beneath and positioned between the at least two mesa surface portions. A Group III nitride material is grown atop the mesa surface portions of the patterned substrate and atop the recessed surface. Growth of the Group III nitride material is continued merging the Group III nitride material that is grown atop the mesa surface portions. When the Group III nitride material located atop the mesa surface portions merge, the Group III nitride material growth on the recessed surface ceases. The merged Group III nitride material forms a first Group III nitride material structure, and the Group III nitride material formed in the recessed surface forms a second material structure. The first and second material structures are disjoined from each other and are separated by an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Can Bayram, Devendra K. Sadana, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 8772757
    Abstract: Light emitting devices and methods of fabricating light emitting devices that emit at wavelengths less than 360 nm with wall plug efficiencies of at least than 4% are provided. Wall plug efficiencies may be at least 5% or at least 6%. Light emitting devices and methods of fabricating light emitting devices that emit at wavelengths less than 345 nm with wall plug efficiencies of at least than 2% are also provided. Light emitting devices and methods of fabricating light emitting devices that emit at wavelengths less than 330 nm with wall plug efficiencies of at least than 0.4% are provided. Light emitting devices and methods of fabricating light emitting devices having a peak output wavelength of not greater than 360 nm and an output power of at least 5 mW, having a peak output wavelength of 345 nm or less and an output power of at least 3 mW and/or a peak output wavelength of 330 nm or less and an output power of at least 0.3 mW at a current density of less than about 0.35 ?A/?m2 are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: David Todd Emerson, Michael John Bergmann, Amber Abare, Kevin Haberern
  • Patent number: 8772830
    Abstract: A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved. Provided is a semiconductor wafer comprising an Si wafer; an inhibiting layer that is formed on the wafer and that inhibits crystal growth, the inhibiting layer including a covering region that covers a portion of the wafer and an open region that does not cover a portion of the wafer within the covering region; a Ge layer that is crystal-grown in the open region; a buffer layer that is crystal-grown on the Ge layer and is a group 3-5 compound semiconductor layer containing P; and a functional layer that is crystal-grown on the buffer layer. The Ge layer may be formed then annealing with a temperature and duration that enables movement of crystal defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takada, Sadanori Yamanaka, Masahiko Hata