Abstract: A method of fabricating a low defect germanium thin film includes preparing a silicon wafer for germanium deposition; forming a germanium film using a two-step CVD process, annealing the germanium thin film using a multiple cycle process; implanting hydrogen ions; depositing and smoothing a layer of tetraethylorthosilicate oxide (TEOS); preparing a counter wafer; bonding the germanium thin film to a counter wafer to form a bonded structure; annealing the bonded structure at a temperature of at least 375° C. to facilitate splitting of the bonded wafer; splitting the bonded structure to expose the germanium thin film; removing any remaining silicon from the germanium thin film surface along with a portion of the germanium thin film defect zone; and incorporating the low-defect germanium thin film into the desired end-product device.

Abstract: A method of forming a relaxed SiGe layer having a high germanium content in a semiconductor device includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing a strained SiGe layer; implanting ions into the strained SiGe layer, wherein the ions include silicon ions and ions selected from the group of ions consisting of boron and helium, and which further includes implanting H+ ions; annealing to relax the strained SiGe layer, thereby forming a first relaxed SiGe layer; and completing the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a low, dark-current germanium-on-silicon PIN photo detector includes preparing a P-type silicon wafer; implanting the P-type silicon wafer with boron ions; activating the boron ions to form a P+ region on the silicon wafer; forming a boron-doped germanium layer on the P+ silicon surface; depositing an intrinsic germanium layer on the born-doped germanium layer; cyclic annealing, including a relatively high temperature first anneal step and a relatively low temperature second anneal step; repeating the first and second anneal steps for about twenty cycles, thereby forcing crystal defects to the P+ germanium layer; implanting ions in the surface of germanium layer to form an N+ germanium surface layer and a PIN diode; activating the N+ germanium surface layer by thermal anneal; and completing device according to known techniques to form a low dark-current germanium-on-silicon PIN photodetector.

Abstract: A method of forming a SiGe layer having a relatively high germanium content and a relatively low threading dislocation density includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing a layer of SiGe to a thickness of between about 100 nm to 500 nm, wherein the germanium content of the SiGe layer is greater than 20%, by atomic ratio; implanting H+ ions into the SiGe layer at a dose of between about 1·1016 cm?2 to 5·1016 cm?2, at an energy of between about 20 keV to 45 keV; patterning the SiGe layer with photoresist; plasma etching the structure to form trenches about regions; removing the photoresist; and thermal annealing the substrate and SiGe layer, to relax the SiGe layer, in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of between about 650° C. to 950° C. for between about 30 seconds and 30 minutes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a germanium photo detector includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing and planarizing a silicon oxide layer; forming contact holes in the silicon oxide layer which communicate with the underlying silicon substrate; growing an epitaxial germanium layer of a first type on the silicon oxide layer and in the contact holes; growing an intrinsic germanium layer on the epitaxial germanium layer and any exposed silicon oxide layer; growing a germanium layer of a second type on the intrinsic germanium layer and any exposed silicon oxide layer; depositing a layer of covering material take from the group of materials consisting of polysilicon, polysilicon-germanium and In2O3—SnO2; and etching the covering material to form individual sensing elements.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a germanium photo detector includes preparing a silicon substrate wafer and depositing and planarizing a silicon oxide layer on the silicon substrate. Contact holes are formed in the silicon oxide layer. An N+ epitaxial germanium layer is grown on the silicon oxide layer and in the contact holes. An N+ germanium layer is formed by ELO. The structure is smoothed and thinned. An intrinsic germanium layer is grown on the N+ epitaxial germanium layer. A P+ germanium layer is formed on the intrinsic germanium layer and a silicon oxide overcoat is deposited. A window is opened through the silicon oxide overcoat to the P+ germanium layer. A layer of conductive material is deposited on the silicon oxide overcoat and in the windows therein. The conductive material is etched to form individual sensing elements.

Abstract: A high-density Germanium (Ge)-on-Insulator (GOI) photodiode array and corresponding fabrication method are provided. The method includes: forming an array of pixel driver nMOST devices, each device having a gate connected to a row line in a first orientation, a first source/drain (S/D) region, and a second S/D region connected to Vdd; forming a P-I-N Ge diode for each pixel as follows: forming a n+ region; forming an intrinsic Ge region overlying the n+ region; forming a p+ junction in the intrinsic Ge; and, isolating the P-I-N Ge diodes; and, forming an Indium Tin oxide (ITO) column in a second orientation, about orthogonal to the first orientation, overlying the P-I-N Ge diodes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating strained silicon devices for transfer to glass for display applications includes preparing a wafer having a silicon substrate thereon; forming a relaxed SiGe layer on the silicon substrate; forming a strained silicon layer on the relaxed SiGe layer; fabricating an IC device on the strained silicon layer; depositing a dielectric layer on the wafer to cover a gate module of the IC device; smoothing the dielectric; implanting ions to form a defect layer; cutting the wafer into individual silicon dies; preparing a glass panel and the silicon dies for bonding; bonding the silicon dies onto the glass panel to form a bonded structure; annealing the bonded structure; splitting the bonded structure along the defect layer; removing the remaining silicon layer from the silicon substrate and relaxed SiGe layer on the silicon die on the glass panel; and completing the glass panel circuitry.

Abstract: A SiGe surface-normal optical path photodetector structure and a method for forming the SiGe optical path normal structure are provided. The method comprises: forming a Si substrate with a surface; forming a Si feature, normal with respect to the Si substrate surface, such as a via, trench, or pillar; depositing SiGe overlying the Si normal feature to a thickness in the range of 5 to 1000 nanometers (nm); and, forming a SiGe optical path normal structure having an optical path length in the range of 0.1 to 10 microns. Typically, the SiGe has a Ge concentration in the range from 5 to 100%. The Ge concentration may be graded to increase with respect to the deposition thickness. For example, the SiGe may have a 20% concentration of Ge at the Si substrate interface, a 30% concentration of Ge at a SiGe film top surface, and a thickness of 400 nm.

Abstract: A floating body germanium (Ge) phototransistor and associated fabrication process are presented. The method includes: providing a silicon (Si) substrate; selectively forming an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate; forming an epitaxial Ge layer overlying the insulator layer using a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) process; forming a channel region in the Ge layer; forming a gate dielectric, gate electrode, and gate spacers overlying the channel region; and, forming source/drain regions in the Ge layer. The LPE process involves encapsulating the Ge with materials having a melting temperature greater than a first temperature, and melting the Ge using a temperature lower than the first temperature. The LPE process includes: forming a dielectric layer overlying deposited Ge; melting the Ge; and, in response to cooling the Ge, laterally propagating an epitaxial growth front into the Ge from an underlying Si substrate surface.

Abstract: A floating body germanium (Ge) phototransistor with a photo absorption threshold bias region, and an associated fabrication process are presented. The method includes: providing a p-doped Silicon (Si) substrate; selectively forming an insulator layer overlying a first surface of the Si substrate; forming an epitaxial Ge layer overlying the insulator layer; forming a channel region in the Ge layer; forming a gate dielectric, gate electrode, and gate spacers; forming source/drain (S/D) regions in the Ge layer; and, forming a photo absorption threshold bias region in the Ge layer, adjacent the channel region. In one aspect, the second S/D region has a length, longer than the first S/D length. The photo absorption threshold bias region underlies the second S/D region. Alternately, the second S/D region is separated from the channel by an offset, and the photo absorption threshold bias region is the offset in the Ge layer, after a light p-doping.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film germanium photodetector includes preparing a silicon substrate; fabricating a CMOS device on the silicon substrate; preparing a germanium substrate; preparing surfaces of each substrate for bonding; bonding the germanium substrate to the CMOS-bearing silicon substrate to form a bonded structure; removing a portion of the germanium substrate from the bonded structure; forming a PIN diode in the germanium substrate; removing a portion of the germanium layer by etching; and completing the germanium photo detector.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a silicon-germanium CMOS includes preparing a silicon substrate wafer; depositing an insulating layer on the silicon substrate wafer; patterning and etching the insulating layer; depositing a layer of polycrystalline germanium on the insulating layer and on at least a portion of the silicon substrate wafer; patterning and etching the polycrystalline germanium; encapsulating the polycrystalline germanium with an insulating material; rapidly thermally annealing the wafer at a temperature sufficient to melt the polycrystalline germanium; cooling the wafer to promote liquid phase epitaxy of the polycrystalline germanium, thereby forming a single crystal germanium layer; and completing the CMOS device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a biaxial tensile strained layer for NMOS fabrication and a uniaxial compressive strained layer for PMOS fabrication on a single wafer for use in CMOS ICs, includes preparing a silicon substrate for CMOS fabrication; depositing, patterning and etching a first and second insulating layers; removing a portion of the second insulating layer from a PMOS active area; depositing a layer of epitaxial silicon on the PMOS active area; removing a portion of the second insulating layer from an NMOS active area; growing an epitaxial silicon layer and growing an epitaxial SiGe layer on the NMOS active area; implanting H2+ ions; annealing the wafer to relax the SiGe layer; removing the remaining second insulating layer from the wafer; growing a layer of silicon; finishing a gate module; depositing a layer of SiO2 to cover the NMOS wafer; etching silicon in the PMOS active area; selectively growing a SiGe layer on the PMOS active area; wherein the silicon layer in the NMOS active area is under biaxia

Abstract: A method of fabricating resistor memory array includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing a bottom electrode, a sacrificial layer, and a hard mask layer on a substrate P+ layer; masking, patterning and etching to remove, in a first direction, a portion of the hard mask, the sacrificial material, the bottom electrode; depositing a layer of silicon oxide; masking, patterning and etching to remove, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a portion of the hard mask, the sacrificial material, the bottom electrode;, and over etching to an N+ layer and at least 100 nm of the silicon substrate; depositing of a layer of silicon oxide; etching to remove any remaining hard mask and any remaining sacrificial material; depositing a layer of CMR material; depositing a top electrode; applying photoresist, patterning the photoresist and etching the top electrode; and incorporating the memory array into an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A SiGe surface-normal optical path photodetector structure and a method for forming the SiGe optical path normal structure are provided. The method comprises: forming a Si substrate with a surface; forming a Si feature, normal with respect to the Si substrate surface, such as a via, trench, or pillar; depositing SiGe overlying the Si normal feature to a thickness in the range of 5 to 1000 nanometers (nm); and, forming a SiGe optical path normal structure having an optical path length in the range of 0.1 to 10 microns. Typically, the SiGe has a Ge concentration in the range from 5 to 100%. The Ge concentration may be graded to increase with respect to the deposition thickness. For example, the SiGe may have a 20% concentration of Ge at the Si substrate interface, a 30% concentration of Ge at a SiGe film top surface, and a thickness of 400 nm.

Abstract: Disclosing is a strained silicon finFET device having a strained silicon fin channel in a double gate finFET structure. The disclosed finFET device is a double gate MOSFET consisting of a silicon fin channel controlled by a self-aligned double gate for suppressing short channel effect and enhancing drive current. The silicon fin channel of the disclosed finFET device is a strained silicon fin channel, comprising a strained silicon layer deposited on a seed fin having different lattice constant, for example, a silicon layer deposited on a silicon germanium seed fin, or a carbon doped silicon layer deposited on a silicon seed fin. The lattice mismatch between the silicon layer and the seed fin generates the strained silicon fin channel in the disclosed finFET device to improve hole and electron mobility enhancement, in addition to short channel effect reduction characteristic inherently in a finFET device.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) germanium (Ge)-on-insulator (GOI) thin-film with a smooth surface. The method provides a silicon (Si) wafer, forms a silicon nitride insulator layer overlying the Si wafer, and selectively etches the silicon nitride insulator layer, forming a Si seed access region. Then, the method conformally deposits Ge overlying the silicon nitride insulator layer and Si seed access region, forming a Ge layer with a first surface roughness, and smoothes the Ge layer using a chemical-mechanical polish (CMP) process. Typically, the method encapsulates the Ge layer and anneals the Ge layer to form a LPE Ge layer. A Ge layer is formed with a second surface roughness, less than the first surface roughness. In some aspects, the method forms an active device in the LPE Ge layer.

Abstract: A high-density Germanium (Ge)-on-Insulator (GOI) photodiode array and corresponding fabrication method are provided. The method includes: forming an array of pixel driver nMOST devices, each device having a gate connected to a row line in a first orientation, a first source/drain (S/D) region, and a second S/D region connected to Vdd; forming a P-I-N Ge diode for each pixel as follows: forming a n+ region; forming an intrinsic Ge region overlying the n+ region; forming a p+ junction in the intrinsic Ge; and, isolating the P-I-N Ge diodes; and, forming an Indium Tin oxide (ITO) column in a second orientation, about orthogonal to the first orientation, overlying the P-I-N Ge diodes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a germanium infrared sensor for a CMOS imager includes preparation a donor wafer, including: ion implantation into a silicon wafer to form a P+ silicon layer; growing an epitaxial germanium layer on the P+ silicon layer, forming a silicon-germanium interface; cyclic annealing; and implanting hydrogen ions to a depth at least as deep as the P+ silicon layer to form a defect layer; preparing a handling wafer, including: fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit on a silicon substrate; depositing a layer of refractory metal; treating the surfaces of the donor wafer and the handling wafer for bonding; bonding the handling wafer and the donor wafer to form a bonded structure; splitting the bonded structure along the defect layer; depositing a layer of indium tin oxide on the germanium layer; completing the IR sensor.