Abstract: In the fabrication of gate oxides in IC process, a suitable cleaning/etching process is required to remove the native oxides and reduce surface microroughness in addition to standard RCA cleaning. For ultrathin oxide thickness (<10 nm), it is an important issue to have a native-oxide-free and H-passivated silicon (Si) surface to ensure high breakdown field, high charge-to-breakdown, and low leakage current. According to these concepts, we propose an invention with a simple two-step hydrogen fluoride (HF) etching process to improve the electrical properties of liquid-phase deposited fluorinated silicon oxides (LPD-SiOF), including effective removal of native oxides, lowering of interface trap density (˜1010 eV−1 cm−2), reduction of surface microroughness (Ra=0.1 nm), and raising of breakdown field (˜9.7 MV/cm). Furthermore, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is also used to further improve the oxide quality.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an impurity region, to which a rare gas element (also called a rare gas) and one kind or a plurality of kinds of elements selected from the group consisting of H, H2, O, O2, and P are added, are formed in a semiconductor film having a crystalline structure, using a mask, and gettering for segregating a metal element contained in the semiconductor film to the impurity region by heat treatment. Thereafter, pattering is conducted using the mask, whereby a semiconductor layer made of the semiconductor film having a crystalline structure is formed.

Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor processing methods, including trench isolation. In one implementation, an oxide layer is deposited over a substrate. The deposited oxide layer is exposed to a chlorine containing gas effective to getter metals outwardly therefrom. In one implementation, a dielectric layer, for example silicon dioxide, is plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited over a substrate within a chamber comprising an internal metal surface under conditions effective to incorporate metal from the chamber surface within the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is then exposed to a chlorine containing gas effective to getter at least some of said metal outwardly therefrom. In one implementation, a trench isolation method comprises forming a series of isolation trenches into a semiconductive substrate Silicon dioxide is chemical vapor deposited to within the trenches, with the silicon dioxide comprising metal impurity therein.

Abstract: A static random access memory cell comprising a first invertor including a first p-channel pullup transistor, and a first n-channel pulldown transistor in series with the first p-channel pullup transistor; a second invertor including a second p-channel pullup transistor, and a second n-channel pulldown transistor in series with the second n-channel pullup transistor, the first invertor being cross-coupled with the second a invertor, the first and second pullup transistors sharing a common active area; a first access transistor having an active terminal connected to the first invertor; a second access transistor having an active terminal connected to the second invertor; and an isolator isolating the first pullup transistor from the second pullup transistor.

Abstract: Quality of epitaxial semiconductor substrates treated by carbon gettering is evaluated precisely and quickly to use only good-quality ones for manufacturing good-property semiconductor devices, such as solid-state imaging devices. After carbon implanted regions and carbon non-implanted regions are made along the surface of a Si substrate by selectively ion-implanting carbon, a Si epitaxial layer is grown on the surface of the Si substrate to obtain a Si epitaxial substrate. Recombination lifetime or surface photo voltage is measured at a portion of the Si epitaxial layer located above the carbon non-implanted region, and the result is used to evaluate acceptability of the Si epitaxial substrate. Thus, strictly selected good-quality Si epitaxial substrates alone are used to manufacture solid-state imaging devices or other semiconductor devices.

Abstract: In one implementation, A method of forming semiconductive material active area having a proximity gettering region received therein includes providing a substrate comprising bulk semiconductive material. A proximity gettering region is formed within the bulk semiconductive material within a desired active area by ion implanting at least one impurity into the bulk semiconductive material. After forming the proximity gettering region, thickness of the bulk semiconductive material is increased in a blanket manner at least within the desired active area. In one implementation, a method of processing a monocrystalline silicon substrate includes forming a proximity gettering region within monocrystalline silicon of a monocrystalline silicon substrate. After forming the proximity gettering region, epitaxial monocrystalline silicon is formed on the substrate monocrystalline silicon to blanketly increase its thickness at least over the proximity gettering region.

Abstract: Transient enhanced diffusion (TED) of ion implanted dopant impurities within a silicon semiconductor substrate is eliminated or substantially reduced by displacing “knocked-on” oxygen atoms from an overlying oxygen-containing layer into the substrate by ion implantation. The “knocked-on” oxygen atoms getter silicon interstitial atoms generated within the substrate by dopant implantation, which are responsible for TED.

Abstract: A process for preparing an silicon epitaxial wafer. The wafer has a front surface having an epitaxial layer deposited thereon, a back surface, and a bulk region between the front and back surfaces, wherein the bulk region contains a concentration of oxygen precipitates. In the process, a wafer having interstitial oxygen atoms is first subjected to an oxygen precipitation heat treatment to cause the nucleation and growth of oxygen precipitates to a size sufficient to stabilize the oxygen precipitates. An epitaxial layer is then deposited on the surface of the oxygen precipitate stabilized wafer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has a step whereby, when forming a gate oxide film, a thin oxide film is left on a silicon substrate onto which it is formed and whereby a heavy metal at the surface of the silicon substrate is diffused into the substrate, and a step of forming a gate oxide film onto the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-film transistor by using a crystalline silicon film that has been formed by using nickel as a metal element for accelerating crystallization of silicon. In forming source and drain regions, phosphorus as an element for gettering nickel is introduced therein by ion implantation. Nickel gettering is effected by annealing. For example, in the case of producing a P-channel thin-film transistor, both phosphorus and boron are used. Boron determines a conductivity type, and phosphorus is used as a gettering material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor is disclosed. Afterforming a channel region on a surface of a substrate, an insulating layer is deposited on the surface of the substrate to cover the channel region. The insulating layer is pataterned such that a portion of the channel region is exposed. Then, a silicon layer and a metal layer are sequentially deposited on the insulating layer. The silicon and metal layers are etched to define source, drain and gate electrode sections. After doping positive ions on a portion corresponding to a MOS circuit portion, an intermediate insulating layer is deposited on the metal layer while covering the source, drain and gate electrode sections. The intermediate insulating layer is patterned to form a plurality of contact holes. An electrode material is deposited on the intermediate insulating layer and patterned to define a pixel electrode section and a wire section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of fabricating TFTs using a silicon film crystallized with the aid of nickel. The nickel is removed from the crystallized silicon film. The method starts with maintaining nickel in contact with the surface of an amorphous silicon film. Then, a heat treatment is performed to form a crystalline silicon film. At this time, nickel promotes the crystallization greatly, and nickel diffuses into the film. A mask is formed. A silicon film heavily doped with phosphorus is formed. Thereafter, a heat treatment is performed to move the nickel from the crystalline silicon film into the phosphorus-rich silicon film. This reduces the concentration of nickel in the crystalline silicon film.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating an SOI wafer in a reducing atmosphere, wherein the SOI wafer is heat-treated through use of a rapid thermal annealer at a temperature within the range of 1100° C. to 1300° C. for 1 sec to 60 sec. The reducing atmosphere is preferably an atmosphere of 100% hydrogen or a mixed gas atmosphere containing hydrogen and argon. The heat treatment is preferably performed for 1 sec to 30 sec. The method eliminates COPs in an SOI layer of an SOI wafer in accordance with a hydrogen annealing method, while preventing etching of the SOI layer and a buried oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simplified technique of introducing a metal element capable of promoting the crystallization of silicon into an amorphous silicon film to be crystallized, and of removing the metal element from the film. An amorphous silicon film 102 is formed on a substrate, a mask 103 is formed thereon, and a nickel-containing PSG film is further formed thereover. This is heated at 560° C. to thereby make nickel diffused in the direction 106, and the film is crystallized. Next, this is further heated at 850° C. to thereby make phosphorus diffused into the region 107, in which nickel is gettered by the thus-diffused phosphorus. Thus, the crystallization of silicon is promoted by the metal element nickel, and the nickel is then removed from the crystallized silicon film.

Abstract: A method to prevent threshold shifts in MOS transistors due to auto-doping from heavily doped polysilicon layers. Isolation regions are provided in a semiconductor substrate separating active areas. A gate oxide layer is formed over the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the gate oxide layer. A tungsten silicide layer is deposited overlying the polysilicon layer. The tungsten silicide layer and the first polysilicon layer are etched to form MOS gates and bottom electrodes for dual polysilicon capacitors. An interpoly dielectric layer is deposited overlying entire surface of the semiconductor substrate. A doped polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the interpoly dielectric layer. A sealing oxide layer is deposited overlying the doped polysilicon layer to prevent out-diffusion of impurity ions into the semiconductor substrate and thereby preventing auto-doping. The tungsten silicide layer is annealed. Ions are implanted to form drain and source regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a getter layer on a semiconductor substrate having a first metal stack formed thereon to improve metal to metal contact resistance. The method comprises the steps of forming a getter layer, which may be titanium, on the first metal stack, wherein the getter layer has a higher affinity for oxygen or a higher getter capability than the first metal stack, substantially removing the getter layer by exposing the getter layer to radiation, and forming a second metal stack, which in an advantageous embodiment may also be titanium, on the first metal stack.

Abstract: A process for heat-treating a single crystal silicon wafer to influence the precipitation behavior of oxygen in the wafer in a subsequent thermal processing step. The wafer has a front surface, a back surface, a central plane between the front and back surfaces, and a sink for crystal lattice vacancies at the front surface. In the process, the wafer is subjected to a heat-treatment to form crystal lattice vacancies, the vacancies being formed in the bulk of the silicon. The wafer is then cooled from the temperature of said heat treatment at a rate which allows some, but not all, of the crystal lattice vacancies to diffuse to the crystal lattice vacancy sink to produce a wafer having a vacancy concentration profile in which the peak density is at or near the central plane with the concentration generally decreasing in the direction of the front surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor device comprises heat-treating an oxygen-containing silicon substrate in an inert atmosphere to change a concentration of oxygen contained in the silicon substrate to within a range of 5×1017/cm3 to 10×1017/cm3, and heat treating the silicon substrate in an oxidative atmosphere to form a silicon oxide film.

Abstract: To provide a method of removing a catalyst element from a crystalline silicon film obtained by solid phase growth using the catalyst element promoting crystallization, phosphorus is implanted selectively to the crystalline silicon film having the catalyst element whereby a portion of the silicon film implanted with phosphorus is made amorphous, and when a thermal annealing treatment is performed and the silicon film is heated, the catalyst element is moved to an amorphous portion implanted with phosphorus having large gettering capacity by which the concentration of the catalyst element in the silicon film is lowered and a semiconductor device is fabricated by using the silicon film.

Abstract: A method of gettering impurities from substrates (304) such as CdTe and CdZnTe by formation of liquid droplets (306) of a lower melting point material such as Cd or Te on the substrate during an anneal. The droplets may form from the melting of a thin layer of the material which had been deposited on the substrate (304). A subsequent mechanical removal of the cooled and solidified droplets also removes the gettered impurities.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor processing method of forming a contact between two electrically conductive materials comprising: a) forming a first conductive material over a substrate, the first conductive material being capable of being oxidized in the presence of oxygen to an insulating material; b) sputter cleaning the first conductive material in the presence of oxygen in a gaseous phase and in the presence of an oxygen gettering agent; and c) forming a second conductive material in electrical contact with the first conductive material.

Abstract: Impurities are formed in the active region of a semiconductor substrate by diffusion from a gate electrode sidewall spacer. A gate electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate with a gate dielectric layer therebetween. Sidewall spacers are formed on the side surfaces of the gate electrode. Dopant atoms are subsequently introduce to transform the spacers into solid dopant sources. Dopant atoms are diffused from the spacers into the semiconductor substrate to form first doped regions.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention pertains to a method of forming a gettering region within an Si semiconductor wafer, the method including: a) providing a semiconductor material wafer; b) providing a background region within the semiconductor material wafer, the background region being doped with a first-type conductivity enhancing dopant, the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant being either n-type or p-type; c) implanting a second-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the background region to form a second-type implant region entirely contained within the background region, the second-type conductivity enhancing dopant being of an opposite type than the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant of the background region; and d) implanting a neutral-conductivity-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the second-type implant region to form a metals gettering damage region entirely contained within the second-type implant region. The invention also pertains to gettering region structures.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a semiconductor device capable of effective gettering treatment even when electronic elements are further miniaturized and further integrated and a semiconductor substrate or wafer is upsized. First, a single-crystal silicon substrate having a p-type gettering layer in its interior is prepared. Transistors are formed at the main surface of the substrate. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed to cover the transistors. Contact holes are formed in the interlayer dielectric layer to uncover specific positions of the respective transistors. The substrate is rapidly heated to a first temperature of 700.degree. C. to 850.degree. C. at a heating rate. The substrate is gradually cooled from the first temperature to a second temperature of approximately 600.degree. C. at a cooling rate. Metallic wiring lines are formed on the interlayer dielectric layer to electrically connected to the respective transistors through the corresponding contact holes.

Abstract: A method for reducing the formation of watermarks includes providing a semiconductor wafer and contacting the semiconductor wafer with a solution containing a watermark reducing amount of at least one cationic surfactant.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention pertains to a method of forming a gettering region within an Si semiconductor wafer, the method including: a) providing a semiconductor material wafer; b) providing a background region within the semiconductor material wafer, the background region being doped with a first-type conductivity enhancing dopant, the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant being either n-type or p-type; c) implanting a second-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the background region to form a second-type implant region entirely contained within the background region, the second-type conductivity enhancing dopant being of an opposite type than the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant of the background region; and d) implanting a neutral-conductivity-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the second-type implant region to form a metals gettering damage region entirely contained within the second-type implant region. The invention also pertains to gettering region structures.

Abstract: The boundary between the P type silicon base and N.sup.+ buffer layer of an IGBT is intentionally damaged, as by a germanium implant, to create well defined and located damage sites for reducing lifetime in the silicon.

Abstract: Dopant atoms have coefficients of diffusion that vary due to implant damage. Damaged regions are selected and created by implanting silicon atoms into a silicon substrate prior to formation of a gate electrode. The silicon atoms act as a getter for attracting selected dopants that are trapped in the silicon substrate. Dopants are implanted in the vicinity of the damaged regions and diffused by transient-enhanced diffusion (TED) into the damaged regions by thermal cycling to accumulate dopant atoms. Transient-enhanced diffusion improves the doping of a substrate by enhancing the diffusion of dopants at relatively low anneal temperatures. Dopant accumulation sets particular selected electrical properties without placing an excessive amount of dopant in regions adjacent to junctions for purposes including threshold control for a field device, threshold setting for a transistor, and prevention of device punchthrough.

Abstract: In a method of forming a silicon substrate, a gettering film is formed on a bottom surface of a silicon substrate. An oxygen ion implantation into a top surface of the silicon substrate is carried out at a substrate temperature in the range of 400.degree. C.-700.degree. C. The gettering film is removed from the silicon substrate. The silicon substrate is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of not less than 1300.degree. C. for causing a reaction of oxygen and silicon to form a silicon oxide film in the silicon substrate after the gettering film is removed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed in a semiconductor substrate with a low hydrogen content barrier layer formed over the semiconductor device. The barrier layer is implanted with phosphorus ions. The semiconductor device may have a hydrogen getter layer formed under the barrier layer. The barrier layer is a high temperature PECVD nitride film, a high temperature PECVD oxynitride film or a high temperature LPCVD nitride film. The hydrogen getter layer is P-doped film having a thickness between 1000 and 2000 Angstroms and is a PSG, BPSG, PTEOS deposited oxide film, or BPTEOS deposited oxide film. Interconnects are made by a tungsten damascene process.

Abstract: A device isolation region and a gate oxide film are formed on a front surface of a silicon substrate, with a gate electrode formed on the gate oxide film. Next, an interlayer insulator film is formed on their entire surfaces. Then, polycrystalline silicon film is grown on the rear surface of the silicon substrate. The polycrystalline silicon film is deposited in such a way as to be in contact with the rear surface of the substrate. Then, to permit the polycrystalline silicon film formed at the rear surface of the silicon substrate to getter a pollution heavy metal, a heat treatment is performed for the substrate at a temperature of 500 to 900.degree. C. After this gettering process, an interconnection line is formed on the interlayer insulator film.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including the step of forming a silicon oxide film on an obverse surface and a reverse surface of a silicon substrate before formation of an element separation region on a semiconductor substrate. Further, the reverse surface of the silicon substrate is exposed by selectively removing only the silicon oxide film formed on the reverse surface of the silicon substrate. A silicon thin film is formed on each of the silicon oxide film and the exposed reverse surface of the silicon substrate, gettering occurring in the silicon thin film formed on the reverse surface of the silicon substrate. The first thin film is formed on each of the silicon thin films. An element separation resist is patterned on the first thin film on the obverse surface of the silicon substrate. The first thin film on the obverse surface of the silicon substrate by etching using the patterned resist as a mask member.

Abstract: In a semiconductor wafer according to this invention, an epitaxial layer is formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, a second element which is not the same but homologous as a first element constituting the semiconductor substrate is present to have a peak concentration on the semiconductor substrate side rather than the surface, and this peak concentration is 1.times.10.sup.16 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more.

Abstract: A method is provided for a planar surface of a semiconductor integrated circuit, and an integrated circuit formed according to the same. A gate electrode is formed over a substrate having source/drain regions adjacent to the gate electrode and in the substrate. A silicon dioxide layer is formed over the gate electrode and a portion of the substrate not covered by the gate electrode. A first phosphorous doped spin-on-glass layer is formed over the silicon dioxide layer, wherein the spin-on-glass is doped to a concentration sufficient to facilitate gettering of charge mobile ions. An opening is then formed in the spin-on-glass layer and the silicon dioxide layer exposing a portion of the source drain region.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention pertains to a method of forming a gettering region within an Si semiconductor wafer, the method including: a) providing a semiconductor material wafer; b) providing a background region within the semiconductor material wafer, the background region being doped with a first-type conductivity enhancing dopant, the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant being either n-type or p-type; c) implanting a second-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the background region to form a second-type implant region entirely contained within the background region, the second-type conductivity enhancing dopant being of an opposite type than the first-type conductivity enhancing dopant of the background region; and d) implanting a neutral-conductivity-type conductivity enhancing dopant into the second-type implant region to form a metals gettering damage region entirely contained within the second-type implant region. The invention also pertains to gettering region structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing.