Abstract: A method for separating a layer for transfer includes forming a crack guiding layer on a substrate and forming a device layer on the crack-guiding layer. The crack guiding layer is weakened by exposing the crack-guiding layer to a gas which reduces adherence at interfaces adjacent to the crack guiding layer. A stress inducing layer is formed on the device layer to assist in initiating a crack through the crack guiding layer and/or the interfaces. The device layer is removed from the substrate by propagating the crack.

Abstract: Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling.

Abstract: Laser ablation can be used to form a trench within at least a blanket layer of a stressor layer that is atop a base substrate. A non-ablated portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can also be used to form a trench within a blanket material stack including at least a plating seed layer. A stressor layer is formed on the non-ablated portions of the material stack and one portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can be further used to form a trench that extends through a blanket stressor layer and into the base substrate itself. The trench has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a p-type semiconductor substrate including a plurality of thin absorption regions and a plurality of thick absorption regions. The plurality of thin absorption regions and the plurality of thick absorption regions are coplanar on a bottom side thereof. An n-type semiconductor layer is disposed over a top side of the p-type semiconductor substrate. The n-type semiconductor layer has a substantially uniform thickness. Metallurgy is disposed on top of the n-type semiconductor layer. The plurality of thin absorption regions are sufficiently thin to render the semiconductor substrate flexible.

Abstract: Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling.

Abstract: A pulsed laser-initiated exfoliation method for patterning a Group III-nitride film on a growth substrate is provided. This method includes providing a Group III-nitride film a growth substrate, wherein a growth substrate/Group III-nitride film interface is present between the Group III-nitride film and the growth substrate. Next, a laser is selected that provides radiation at a wavelength at which the Group III-nitride film is transparent and the growth substrate is absorbing. The interface is then irradiated with pulsed laser radiation from the Group III-nitride film side of the growth substrate/Group III-nitride film interface to exfoliate a region of the Group III-nitride from the growth substrate. A method for transfer a Group-III nitride film from a growth substrate to a handle substrate is also provided.

Abstract: Laser ablation can be used to form a trench within at least a blanket layer of a stressor layer that is atop a base substrate. A non-ablated portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can also be used to form a trench within a blanket material stack including at least a plating seed layer. A stressor layer is formed on the non-ablated portions of the material stack and one portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can be further used to form a trench that extends through a blanket stressor layer and into the base substrate itself. The trench has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled.

Abstract: The present invention provides ART techniques with reduced LER. In one aspect, a method of ART with reduced LER is provided which includes the steps of: providing a silicon layer separated from a substrate by a dielectric layer; patterning one or more ART lines in the silicon layer selective to the dielectric layer; contacting the silicon layer with an inert gas at a temperature, pressure and for a duration sufficient to cause re-distribution of silicon along sidewalls of the ART lines patterned in the silicon layer; using the resulting smoothened, patterned silicon layer to pattern ART trenches in the dielectric layer; and epitaxially growing a semiconductor material up from the substrate at the bottom of each of the ART trenches, to form fins in the ART trenches.

Abstract: Techniques and structures for laser doping of crystalline semiconductors using a dopant-containing amorphous silicon stack for dopant source and passivation. A structure includes a crystalline semiconductor having at least one surface, a doped crystalline region disposed in at least one selected area of the semiconductor surface, and a dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack containing a same dopant as present in the doped crystalline region on at least a portion of the semiconductor surface outside the selected area, wherein the dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack passivates the portion of the semiconductor surface on which it is disposed.

Abstract: Techniques and structures for laser doping of crystalline semiconductors using a dopant-containing amorphous silicon stack for dopant source and passivation are provided. An example method includes forming a dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack on at least one portion of a surface of a crystalline semiconductor layer; and irradiating a selected area of the dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack, wherein the selected area of the dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack interacts with an upper portion of the underlying crystalline semiconductor layer to form a doped, conductive crystalline region, and each non-selected area of the dopant-containing amorphous silicon layer stack remains intact on the at least one portion of the surface of the crystalline semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Laser ablation can be used to form a trench within at least a blanket layer of a stressor layer that is atop a base substrate. A non-ablated portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can also be used to form a trench within a blanket material stack including at least a plating seed layer. A stressor layer is formed on the non-ablated portions of the material stack and one portion of the stressor layer has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled. Laser ablation can be further used to form a trench that extends through a blanket stressor layer and into the base substrate itself. The trench has an edge that defines the edge of the material layer region to be spalled.

Abstract: Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling.

Abstract: A method for separating a layer for transfer includes forming a crack guiding layer on a substrate and forming a device layer on the crack-guiding layer. The crack guiding layer is weakened by exposing the crack-guiding layer to a gas which reduces adherence at interfaces adjacent to the crack guiding layer. A stress inducing layer is formed on the device layer to assist in initiating a crack through the crack guiding layer and/or the interfaces. The device layer is removed from the substrate by propagating the crack.

Abstract: This invention provides structures and a fabrication process for incorporating thin film transistors in back end of the line (BEOL) interconnect structures. The structures and fabrication processes described are compatible with processing requirements for the BEOL interconnect structures. The structures and fabrication processes utilize existing processing steps and materials already incorporated in interconnect wiring levels in order to reduce added cost associated with incorporating thin film transistors in the these levels. The structures enable vertical (3D) integration of multiple levels with improved manufacturability and reliability as compared to prior art methods of 3D integration.

Abstract: An autonomous integrated circuit (IC) includes a solar cell formed on a bottom substrate of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate as a handle substrate; an insulating layer of the SOI substrate located on top of the solar cell; and a device layer formed on a top semiconductor layer of the SOI substrate located on top of the insulating layer, wherein a top contact of the device layer is electrically connected to a bottom contact of the solar cell such that the solar cell is enabled to power the device layer.

Abstract: A method for separating a layer for transfer includes forming a crack guiding layer on a substrate and forming a device layer on the crack-guiding layer. The crack guiding layer is weakened by exposing the crack-guiding layer to a gas which reduces adherence at interfaces adjacent to the crack guiding layer. A stress inducing layer is formed on the device layer to assist in initiating a crack through the crack guiding layer and/or the interfaces. The device layer is removed from the substrate by propagating the crack.

Abstract: A germanium-containing layer is deposited on a single crystalline bulk silicon substrate in an ambient including a level of oxygen partial pressure sufficient to incorporate 1%-50% of oxygen in atomic concentration. The thickness of the germanium-containing layer is preferably limited to maintain some degree of epitaxial alignment with the underlying silicon substrate. Optionally, a graded germanium-containing layer can be grown on, or replace, the germanium-containing layer. An at least partially crystalline silicon layer is subsequently deposited on the germanium-containing layer. A handle substrate is bonded to the at least partially crystalline silicon layer. The assembly of the bulk silicon substrate, the germanium-containing layer, the at least partially crystalline silicon layer, and the handle substrate is cleaved within the germanium-containing layer to provide a composite substrate including the handle substrate and the at least partially crystalline silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a single, few-layer, or multi-layer graphene and structure is described incorporating selecting a substrate having a buried layer of carbon underneath a metal layer, providing an ambient and providing a heat treatment to pass carbon through the metal layer to form a graphene layer on the metal layer surface or incorporating a metal-carbon layer which is heated to segregate carbon in the form of graphene to the surface or chemically reacting the metal in the metal-carbon layer with a substrate containing Si driving the carbon to the surface whereby graphene is formed.

Abstract: Hall effect devices and field effect transistors are formed incorporating a carbon-based nanostructure layer such as carbon nanotubes and/or graphene with a sacrificial metal layer formed there over to protect the carbon-based nanostructure layer during processing.

Abstract: Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling.