Abstract: A method for reducing defects in an active device area of a semiconductor device during fabrication is disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises providing the active device area adjacent an isolation structure, wherein a substantially planar surface is formed over the isolation structure and the active device area, forming a patterned stress-inducing layer over the substantially planar surface, forming at least one screening layer between the patterned stress-inducing layer and the substantially planar surface, where the screening layer is configured to screen part of the stress field induced by the patterned stress-inducing layer, performing an anneal process after forming the patterned stress-inducing layer on the substantially planar surface, so as to induce a movement of the defects towards a contact interface between the active device area and the isolation structure, and removing the patterned stress-inducing layer from the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to transistors having a strained quantum well for carrier confinement, and a method for manufacturing thereof. In one aspect, a FinFET or a planar FET device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a strain-relaxed buffer layer comprising Ge formed on the semiconductor substrate, a channel layer formed on the strain-relaxed buffer layer, and a strained quantum barrier layer comprising SiGe interposed between and in contact with the strain-relaxed buffer layer and the channel layer. The compositions of the strain-relaxed buffer layer, the strained quantum barrier layer and the channel layer are chosen such that a band offset of the channel layer and a band offset of the strained quantum barrier layer have opposite signs with respect to the strain-relaxed buffer layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transistor device is provided, the transistor device comprising a germanium based channel layer, the method comprising providing a gate structure on the germanium comprising channel layer provided on a substrate, the gate structure being provided between a germanium based source area and a germanium based drain area at opposite sides of the germanium comprising channel layer; providing a capping layer on the germanium based source and the germanium based drain area, the capping layer comprising Si and Ge; depositing a metal layer on the capping layer; performing a temperature step, thereby transforming at least part of the capping layer into a metal germano-silicide which is not soluble in a predetermined etchant adapted for dissolving the metal; selectively removing non-consumed metal from the substrate by means of the predetermined etchant; and providing a premetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to a band engineered semiconductor device comprising a substrate, a protruding structure that is formed in a recess in the substrate and is extending above the recess having a buried portion and an extended portion, and wherein at least the extended portion comprises a semiconductor material having an inverted ‘V’ band gap profile with a band gap value increasing gradually from a first value at lateral edges of the structure to a second value, higher than the first value, in a center of the structure. The disclosure is also related to the method of manufacturing of such band engineered semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a transistor device is provided, the transistor device comprising a germanium based channel layer, the method comprising providing a gate structure on the germanium comprising channel layer provided on a substrate, the gate structure being provided between a germanium based source area and a germanium based drain area at opposite sides of the germanium comprising channel layer; providing a capping layer on the germanium based source and the germanium based drain area, the capping layer comprising Si and Ge; depositing a metal layer on the capping layer; performing a temperature step, thereby transforming at least part of the capping layer into a metal germano-silicide which is not soluble in a predetermined etchant adapted for dissolving the metal; selectively removing non-consumed metal from the substrate by means of the predetermined etchant; and providing a premetal dielectric layer.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to transistors having a strained quantum well for carrier confinement, and a method for manufacturing thereof. In one aspect, a FinFET or a planar FET device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a strain-relaxed buffer layer comprising Ge formed on the semiconductor substrate, a channel layer formed on the strain-relaxed buffer layer, and a strained quantum barrier layer comprising SiGe interposed between and in contact with the strain-relaxed buffer layer and the channel layer. The compositions of the strain-relaxed buffer layer, the strained quantum barrier layer and the channel layer are chosen such that a band offset of the channel layer and a band offset of the strained quantum barrier layer have opposite signs with respect to the strain-relaxed buffer layer.

Abstract: A method for reducing defects in an active device area of a semiconductor device during fabrication is disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises providing the active device area adjacent an isolation structure, wherein a substantially planar surface is formed over the isolation structure and the active device area, forming a patterned stress-inducing layer over the substantially planar surface, forming at least one screening layer between the patterned stress-inducing layer and the substantially planar surface, where the screening layer is configured to screen part of the stress field induced by the patterned stress-inducing layer, performing an anneal process after forming the patterned stress-inducing layer on the substantially planar surface, so as to induce a movement of the defects towards a contact interface between the active device area and the isolation structure, and removing the patterned stress-inducing layer from the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor processing and, more particularly, to the formation of low resistance layers on germanium substrates. One aspect of the present invention is a method comprising: providing a substrate on which at least one area of a germanium layer is exposed; depositing over the substrate and said germanium area a metal, e.g., Co or Ni; forming over said metal, a capping layer consisting of a silicon oxide containing layer, of a silicon nitride layer, or of a tungsten layer, preferably of a SiO2 layer; then annealing for metal-germanide formation; then removing selectively said capping layer and any unreacted metal, wherein the temperature used for forming said capping layer formation is lower than the annealing temperature.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to a method for fabricating a high-k dielectric layer. The method comprises depositing onto a substrate a layer of a high-k dielectric material having a first thickness. The high-k dielectric material has a bulk density value and the first thickness is so that the high-k dielectric layer has a density of at least the bulk density value of the high-k dielectric material minus about 10%. The method further comprises thinning the high-k dielectric layer to a second thickness. Another inventive aspect relates to a semiconductor device comprising a high-k dielectric layer as fabricated by the method.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of semiconductor processing and, more particularly, to the formation of low resistance layers on germanium substrates. One aspect of the present invention is a method comprising: providing a substrate on which at least one area of a germanium layer is exposed; depositing over the substrate and said germanium area a metal, e.g., Co or Ni; forming over said metal, a capping layer consisting of a silicon oxide containing layer, of a silicon nitride layer, or of a tungsten layer, preferably of a SiO2 layer; then annealing for metal-germanide formation; then removing selectively said capping layer and any unreacted metal, wherein the temperature used for forming said capping layer formation is lower than the annealing temperature.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to a method for fabricating a high-k dielectric layer. The method comprises depositing onto a substrate a layer of a high-k dielectric material having a first thickness. The high-k dielectric material has a bulk density value and the first thickness is so that the high-k dielectric layer has a density of at least the bulk density value of the high-k dielectric material minus about 10%. The method further comprises thinning the high-k dielectric layer to a second thickness. Another inventive aspect relates to a semiconductor device comprising a high-k dielectric layer as fabricated by the method.

Abstract: One inventive aspect is related to a method of minimizing the final thickness of an interfacial oxide layer between a semiconductor material and a high dielectric constant material. The method comprises depositing a covering layer on the high dielectric constant material. The method further comprises removing adsorbed/absorbed water from the high dielectric constant material prior to depositing the covering layer. The removal of adsorbed/absorbed water is preferably done by a degas treatment. The covering layer may be a gate electrode or a spacer dielectric.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for forming germanides on substrates with exposed germanium and exposed dielectric(s) topography, thereby allowing for variations in the germanide forming process. The method comprises the steps of depositing nickel on a substrate having topography, performing a first thermal step to convert substantially all deposited nickel in regions away from the topography into a germanide, selectively removing the unreacted nickel, and performing a second thermal step to lower the resistance of formed germanide.