Abstract: Methods of precisely analyzing and modeling band gap energies and electrical properties of a thin film are provided. One method includes: obtaining a substrate and a thin film disposed above the substrate, the thin film including an interfacial layer above the substrate, and a high-k layer above the interfacial layer; determining a thickness of the thin film; analyzing the thin film using deep ultraviolet spectroscopy ellipsometry to determine the photon energy of reflected light; using a model to determine a set of bandgap energies extracted from a set of results of the photon energy of the analyzing step; and determining at least one of: a leakage current from a main bandgap energy, a nitrogen content from a sub bandgap energy, and an equivalent oxide thickness from the nitrogen content and a composition of the interfacial layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to self-aligned nanotube structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes at least one nanotube structure supported by a plurality of spacers and an insulator material between the spacers and contacting the at least one nanotube structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a first diffusion stop layer on a bulk semiconductor substrate, forming a doped semiconductor layer on the first diffusion stop layer, forming a second diffusion stop layer on the doped semiconductor layer, forming a fin layer on the doped semiconductor layer, patterning the first and second diffusion stop layers, the doped semiconductor layer, the fin layer and a portion of the bulk substrate, oxidizing the doped semiconductor layer to form an oxide layer, and forming a dielectric on the bulk substrate adjacent the patterned portion of the bulk substrate, the patterned first diffusion stop layer and the oxide layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and more particularly, to a structure and method of forming one or more tall strained silicon germanium (SiGe) fins on a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate. The fins have a germanium (Ge) concentration which may differ from the Ge concentration within the top layer of the SOI substrate. The difference in Ge concentration between the fins and the top layer of the SOI substrate may range from approximately 10 atomic percent to approximately 40 atomic percent. This Ge concentration differential may be used to tailor a strain on the fins. The strain on the fins may be tailored to increase the critical thickness and allow for a greater height of the fins as compared to conventional strained fins of the same SiGe concentration formed from bulk material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The structure includes an n-type field-effect-transistor (NFET) being formed directly on top of a strained silicon layer, and a p-type field-effect-transistor (PFET) being formed on top of the same stained silicon layer but via a layer of silicon-germanium (SiGe). The strained silicon layer may be formed on top of a layer of insulating material or a silicon-germanium layer with graded Ge content variation. Furthermore, the NFET and PFET are formed next to each other and are separated by a shallow trench isolation (STI) formed inside the strained silicon layer. Methods of forming the semiconductor structure are also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The structure includes an n-type field-effect-transistor (NFET) being formed directly on top of a strained silicon layer, and a p-type field-effect-transistor (PFET) being formed on top of the same stained silicon layer but via a layer of silicon-germanium (SiGe). The strained silicon layer may be formed on top of a layer of insulating material or a silicon-germanium layer with graded Ge content variation. Furthermore, the NFET and PFET are formed next to each other and are separated by a shallow trench isolation (STI) formed inside the strained silicon layer. Methods of forming the semiconductor structure are also provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing top notching effects in pre-doped gate structures includes subjecting an etched, pre-doped gate stack structure to a re-oxidation process, the re-oxidation process comprising a radical assisted re-oxidation process so as to result in the formation of an oxide layer over vertical sidewall and horizontal top surfaces of the etched gate stack structure. The resulting oxide layer has a substantially uniform thickness independent of grain boundary orientations of the gate stack structure and independent of the concentration and location of dopant material present therein.

Abstract: A substrate for a semiconductor device is disclosed including, in one embodiment, a plurality of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafers bonded to one another in a single stack. A distal end of the stack includes a first SOI region with a first semiconductor layer having a thickness and a first surface orientation. A surface of the single stack may further include a non-SOI region and/or at least one second SOI region. The non-SOI region may include bulk silicon that extends through all of the insulator layers of the single stack and has a thickness different than that of the first silicon layer. Each second SOI region has a second semiconductor layer having a thickness different than that of the first semiconductor layer and/or a different surface orientation than the first surface orientation. The substrate thus allows formation of different devices on optimal substrate regions that may include different surface orientations and/or different thicknesses and/or different bulk or SOI structures.

Abstract: A substrate for a semiconductor device is disclosed including, in one embodiment, a plurality of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafers bonded to one another in a single stack. A distal end of the stack includes a first SOI region with a first semiconductor layer having a thickness and a first surface orientation. A surface of the single stack may further include a non-SOI region and/or at least one second SOI region. The non-SOI region may include bulk silicon that extends through all of the insulator layers of the single stack and has a thickness different than that of the first silicon layer. Each second SOI region has a second semiconductor layer having a thickness different than that of the first semiconductor layer and/or a different surface orientation than the first surface orientation. The substrate thus allows formation of different devices on optimal substrate regions that may include different surface orientations and/or different thicknesses and/or different bulk or SOI structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) structure and method of forming the pFET. The pFET comprises embedded silicon germanium in the source/drain regions to increase longitudinal stress on the p-channel and, thereby, enhance transistor performance. Increased stress is achieved by increasing the depth of the source/drain regions and, thereby, the volume of the embedded silicon germanium. The greater depth (e.g., up to 100 nm) of the stressed silicon germanium source/drain regions is achieved by using a double BOX SOI wafer. Trenches are etched through a first silicon layer and first buried oxide layer and then the stressed silicon germanium is epitaxially grown from a second silicon layer. A second buried oxide layer isolates the pFET.

Abstract: When forming a silicon nitride film from a nitrogen precursor, using a silicon precursor combination rather than a single silane precursor advantageously increases the deposition rate. For example, adding silane during formation of a silicon nitride film made using BTBAS and ammonia improves (increases) the deposition rate while still yielding a film with a favorably high stress.

Abstract: A manufacturable way to recess silicon that employs an end point detection method for the recess etch and allows tight tolerances on the recess is described for fabricating a strained raised source/drain layer. The method includes forming a monolayer oxygen and carbon on a surface of a doped semiconductor substrate; forming an epi Si layer atop the doped semiconductor substrate; forming at least one gate region on the epi Si layer; selectively etching exposed portions of the epi layer, not protected by the gate region, stopping on and exposing the doped semiconductor substrate using end point detection; and forming a strained SiGe layer on the exposed doped semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a patterned silicon-on-insulator substrate which includes dual depth SOI regions or both SOI and non-SOI regions within the same substrate. The method of the present invention includes forming a silicon mask having at least one opening on a surface of Si-containing material, recessing the Si-containing material through the at least one opening using an etching process to provide a structure having at least one recess region and a non-recessed region, and forming a first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region and a second buried insulating region in the recessed region. In accordance with the present invention, the first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region is located above the second buried isolation region in the recessed region. A lift-off step can be employed to remove the first buried insulating region and the material that lies above to provide a substrate containing both SOI and non-SOI regions.

Abstract: A manufacturable way to recess silicon that employs an end point detection method for the recess etch and allows tight tolerances on the recess is described for fabricating a strained raised source/drain layer. The method includes forming a monolayer comprising oxygen and carbon on a surface of a doped semiconductor substrate; forming an epi Si layer atop the doped semiconductor substrate; forming at least one gate region on the epi Si layer; selectively etching exposed portions of the epi layer, not protected by the gate region, stopping on and exposing the doped semiconductor substrate using end point detection; and forming a strained SiGe layer on the exposed doped semiconductor substrate. The strained SiGe layer serves as a raised layer in which source/drain diffusion regions can be subsequently formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure where a first spacer is formed and an NFET is implanted, and then a second spacer is formed and a PFET is implanted. A dry nitride etch is then performed which selectively removes the second spacer, stopping selectively on an etch stop. This all dry removal process is more manufacturable than a wet etch, since it can be controlled to etch at a slower rate and it is not isotropic. This leaves a double nitride spacer on the PFETs and a single nitride spacer on the NFETs, giving the optimal spacer for each type of device. Furthermore, before suicide formation, the etch stop film on the nitride is removed, leading to a silicide edge very close to the gates for the NFETs, which is optimum for NFETs. The double nitride spacer on the PFETs prevents the silicide from getting too close to the PFET gate, which is optimum for PFETs.

Abstract: A SIMOX (separation by implanted oxygen) process is provided that forms a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having a buried oxide with improved electrical properties. The process implements at least one of the following processing steps into SIMOX: (I) lowering of the oxygen ion dose in the base oxygen ion implant step; (II) off-setting the implant energy of the room temperature (RT) implant step to a value that is about 5 to about 20% lower than the base ion implant step; and (III) creating a soak cycle, i.e., pre-annealing step, prior to the internal oxidation anneal which allows dissolution of Si and SiOx precipitates in the oxygen implanted region. The temperature and time of the soak cycle as well as the base implant dose are critical in determining the final BOX quality.

Abstract: A method and structure for a CMOS device comprises depositing a silicon over insulator (SOI) wafer over a buried oxide (BOX) substrate, wherein the SOI wafer has a predetermined thickness; forming a gate dielectric over the SOI wafer; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region over the BOX substrate, wherein the STI region is configured to have a generally rounded corner; forming a gate structure over the gate dielectric; depositing an implant layer over the SOI wafer; performing one of N-type and P-type dopant implantations in the SOI wafer and the implant layer; and heating the device to form source and drain regions from the implant layer and the SOI wafer, wherein the source and drain regions have a thickness greater than the predetermined thickness of the SOI wafer, wherein the gate dielectric is positioned lower than the STI region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a SOI wafer having a gate-quality, thin buried oxide region is provided. The wafer is fabricating by forming a substantially uniform thermal oxide on a surface of a Si-containing layer of a SOI substrate which includes a buried oxide region positioned between the Si-containing layer and a Si-containing substrate layer. Next, a cleaning process is employed to form a hydrophilic surface on the thermal oxide. A carrier wafer having a hydrophilic surface is provided and positioned near the substrate such that the hydrophilic surfaces adjoin each other. Room temperature bonding is then employed to bond the carrier wafer to the substrate. An annealing step is performed and thereafter, the Si-containing substrate of the silicon-on-insulator substrate and the buried oxide region are selectively removed to expose the Si-containing layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of providing improved electrical isolation in a separation by ion implanted oxide (SIMOX) process of making an SOI wafer. The method includes implanting ions into a substrate in a base dose implant conducted at a first energy level, implanting ions into the substrate at a second energy level in a second implant while the substrate is held at room temperature, and annealing the substrate to cause the implanted ions to be redistributed throughout the buried oxide (BOX) layer of the SOI wafer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming shallow trench isolation (STI) on a thin silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The method comprises depositing a first polysilicon layer; depositing a polish stop layer on the first polysilicon layer; forming a plurality of trenches in the substrate; filling the trenches with silicon oxide; CMP polishing a first portion of the silicon oxide layer down to the polish stop layer; etching a second portion of the silicon oxide layer down to below the polish stop layer and above the first polysilicon layer; removing the polish stop layer; depositing a second polysilicon layer; and forming a polysilicon gate comprised of the first and second polysilicon layers. Well ion implants may be performed prior to gate formation, thereby preventing exposure of STI oxide to sacrificial oxide growth and removal, eliminating excessive recess in STI structures. STI oxide seam leakage due to polysilicon sidewalls remaining after polysilicon gate etch are also avoided.