Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon layer is formed on a substrate. An insulating layer and a gate electrode are formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer. Then, a channel region, a source region and a drain region are formed in a self-aligned manner by doping an impurity in the polycrystalline silicon layer using the gate electrode as a mask. Then, an energy absorption layer is formed so as to cover the entire substrate and a pulsed laser beam is irradiated from the energy absorption layer side. The energy of the pulsed laser beam is almost completely absorbed in the energy absorption layer and a heat treatment is indirectly performed on the underlying layers by radiating the heat. In other words, activation of the impurity and removal of defects in the insulating layer are performed at the same time without damaging the substrate by the heat.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a thin-film transistor having a polycrystalline Si film as its active region, an amorphous-phase Si film is first formed, and pulse laser beams are irradiated to crystallize the Si film and thereby form a polycrystalline Si film. After electrodes are made on a source region and a drain region, a SiNx film as a hydrogen-containing film is formed on the entire surface. By irradiating pulse laser beams to heat the SiNx film, hydrogen in the SiNx film is diffused into the polycrystalline Si film to hydrogenate it and reduce the trap density along crystal grain boundaries in the polycrystalline Si film.

Abstract: A memory device, a manufacturing method thereof, and an integrated circuit thereof are provided for storing information over a long period of time even if the memory device is manufactured at low temperatures. On a substrate made of glass, etc., a memory transistor and a selection transistor are formed, with a silicon nitride film and a silicon dioxide film in between. The memory transistor and the selection transistor are connected in series at a second impurity region. The conduction region for memory of the memory transistor is made of non-single crystal silicon and a storage region comprises a plurality of dispersed particulates made of non-single crystal silicon. Therefore, electrical charges can be stored partially if a tunnel insulating film has any defects. The tunnel insulating film is formed by exposing the surface of the conduction region for memory to the ionized gas containing oxygen atoms.

Abstract: While a storage region 15 has of many dispersed particulates (dots) (15a), the surface density of the particulates (15a) is set to be higher than that of structural holes (pin holes) produced in a tunnel insulating film (14a), or the number of the particulates (15a) in the storage region (15) is set to five or more. While a conduction region (13c) is formed by a polysilicon layer (13) having a surface roughness of 0.1 nm to 100 nm, the number of the particulates (15a) in the storage region (15) is set to be larger than the number of crystal grains in the conduction region (13c). Even when a defect such as a pin hole occurs in the tunnel insulating film (14a) and charges stored in a part of the particulates are leaked, the charges stored in the particulates formed in a region where no defect occurs are not leaked. Thus, information can be held for a long time.

Abstract: A memory device, a manufacturing method thereof, and an integrated circuit thereof are provided for storing information over a long period of time even if the memory device is manufactured at low temperatures. On a substrate made of glass, etc., a memory transistor and a selection transistor are formed, with a silicon nitride film and a silicon dioxide film in between. The memory transistor and the selection transistor are connected in series at a second impurity region. The conduction region for memory of the memory transistor is made of non-single crystal silicon and a storage region comprises a plurality of dispersed particulates made of non-single crystal silicon. Therefore, electrical charges can be stored partially if a tunnel insulating film has any defects. The tunnel insulating film is formed by exposing the surface of the conduction region for memory to the ionized gas containing oxygen atoms.

Abstract: While a silicon substrate is heated, gold is evaporated thereon at a thickness of 0.6 nm, whereby melted alloy droplets are formed on the substrate surface. Then, the silicon substrate is heated to 450.degree.-650.degree. C. in a silane gas atmosphere of less than 0.5 Torr. As a result, a silane gas decomposition reaction occurs with the melted alloy droplets serving as catalysts, whereby silicon wires grow on the substrate surface. Subsequently, the metal alloy droplets at the tips of the silicon wires are removed and surface portions of the silicon wires are oxidized. Resulting surface oxide films are thereafter removed. As a result, silicon quantum wires that are thinner by the thickness of the surface oxide films are obtained.

Abstract: While a silicon substrate is heated, gold is evaporated thereon at a thickness of 0.6 nm, whereby melted alloy droplets are formed on the substrate surface. Then, the silicon substrate is heated to 450.degree.-650.degree. C. in a silane gas atmosphere of less than 0.5 Torr. As a result, a silane gas decomposition reaction occurs with the melted alloy droplets serving as catalysts, whereby silicon wires grow on the substrate surface. Subsequently, the metal alloy droplets at the tips of the silicon wires are removed and surface portions of the silicon wires are oxidized. Resulting surface oxide films are thereafter removed. As a result, silicon quantum wires that are thinner by the thickness of the surface oxide films are obtained.

Abstract: To enable radiating an optimum energy beam depending upon the structure of a substrate (whether a metallic film is formed or not) when an amorphous semiconductor film is crystallized and uniformly crystallizing the overall film, first, a photoresist film and the area of an N.sup.+ doped amorphous silicon film on the photoresist film are selectively removed by a lift-off method. Hereby, the amorphous silicon film is thicker in an area except an area over a metallic film (a gate electrode) than in the area over the metallic film. In this state, a laser beam is radiated. The N.sup.+ doped amorphous silicon film and an amorphous silicon film are melted by radiating a laser beam and afterward, melted areas are crystallized by cooling them to room temperature.

Abstract: While a silicon substrate is heated, gold is evaporated thereon at a thickness of 0.6 nm, whereby melted alloy droplets are formed on the substrate surface. Then, the silicon substrate is heated to 450.degree.-650.degree. C. in a silane gas atmosphere of less than 0.5 Torr. As a result, a silane gas decomposition reaction occurs with the melted alloy droplets serving as catalysts, whereby silicon wires grow on the substrate surface. Subsequently, the metal alloy droplets at the tips of the silicon wires are removed and surface portions of the silicon wires are oxidized. Resulting surface oxide films are thereafter removed. As a result, silicon quantum wires that are thinner by the thickness of the surface oxide films are obtained.

Abstract: The manufacturing processes can be simplified and the reliability can be improved. A method of processing a thin film includes a first process of selectively forming a resist pattern on a ground surface, a second process of forming a thin film on the ground surface and a surface of the resist pattern, and a third process of removing the resist pattern to selectively remove the thin film deposited on the former, i.e., carrying out the lift-off, thereby the thin film process for a desired pattern being carried out.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.

Abstract: A process of producing quantum fine wires, it is called silicon nanowires, too, which allows silicon quantum fine wires to grow into desirable shapes. In this process, gold is deposited on a silicon substrate to a thickness of 5 nm or less, and the silicon substrate is heated at a temperature of 450.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. in an atmosphere containing silane gas at a pressure less than 0.5 Torr, whereby drops of a molten alloy of silicon and gold are formed on the surface of the silicon substrate and the silane gas is decomposed by the action of the molten alloy drops as catalyst, to allow silicon quantum fine wires to grow into such desirable shapes as to be uniform in diameter without any bending.

Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon film formed of an active layer of a thin film transistor is entirely hydrogenated by a low-temperature process, thereby lowering the resistance and relaxing the electric field in the vicinity of the drain to reduce the leakage current. A gate and an insulating film that covers it are formed on a substrate having an insulating surface. A hydrogenated polycrystalline silicon film is formed over the substrate, including the gate, with the insulating film interposed therebetween. A silicon oxide film pattern is formed on the polycrystalline silicon film directly above the gate. Source/drain regions are formed on the polycrystalline silicon film substantially at two external sides of the silicon oxide film pattern. The source/drain regions are formed from a hydrogen-containing amorphous silicon film, a conductive silicon film and a metal film, which are successively stacked on the polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.