Abstract: An improved method to deposit, by atomic layer deposition, ALD, a copper barrier and seed layer for electroless copper plating, filling trench and channel or tunnel openings in a damascene process, for the fabrication of interconnects and inductors, has been developed. A process flow outlining the method of the present invention is as follows: (1) formation of trenches and channels, (2) atomic layer deposition of copper barrier and seed, (3) electroless deposition of copper, (4) chemical mechanical polishing back of excess copper, and (5) barrier deposition, SiN, forming copper interconnects and inductors.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heterojunction bipolar transistor is provided. An intrinsic collector structure is formed on a substrate. An extrinsic base structure partially overlaps the intrinsic collector structure. An intrinsic base structure is formed adjacent the intrinsic collector structure and under the extrinsic base structure. An emitter structure is formed adjacent the intrinsic base structure. An extrinsic collector structure is formed adjacent the intrinsic collector structure. A plurality of contacts is formed through an interlevel dielectric layer to the extrinsic collector structure, the extrinsic base structure, and the emitter structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a region of low dielectric constant nanoporous material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method includes the step of preparing a microemulsion. The method of the present embodiment then recites applying the microemulsion to a surface above which it is desired to form a region of low dielectric constant nanoporous material. Next, the present method recites subjecting the microemulsion, which has been applied to the surface, to a thermal process such that the region of low dielectric constant nanoporous material is formed above the surface.

Abstract: A BiCMOS semiconductor, and manufacturing method therefore, is provided. A semiconductor substrate having a collector region is provided. A pseudo-gate is formed over the collector region. An emitter window is formed in the pseudo-gate to form an extrinsic base structure. An undercut region beneath a portion of the pseudo-gate is formed to provide an intrinsic base structure in the undercut region. An emitter structure is formed in the emitter window over the intrinsic base structure. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate, and connections are formed through the interlevel dielectric layer to the collector region, the extrinsic base structure, and the emitter structure. The intrinsic base structure comprises a compound semiconductive material such as silicon and silicon-germanium, or silicon-germanium-carbon, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lateral heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate. A base trench is formed in a first silicon layer over the first insulating layer to form a collector layer over an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate and an emitter layer over the first insulating layer. A semiconductive layer is formed on the sidewalls of the base trench to form a collector structure in contact with the collector layer and an emitter structure in contact with the emitter layer. A base structure is formed in the base trench. A plurality of connections is formed through an interlevel dielectric layer to the collector layer, the emitter layer, and the base structure. The base structure preferably is a compound semiconductive material of silicon and at least one of silicon-germanium, silicon-germanium-carbon, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), and manufacturing method therefor, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a collector region, a number of insulating layers over the semiconductor substrate, at least one of the number of insulating layers having a base cavity over the collector region, a base structure of a compound semiconductive material in the base cavity, a window in the insulating layer over the base cavity, an emitter structure in the window, an interlevel dielectric layer, and connections through the interlevel dielectric layer to the base structure, the emitter structure, and the collector region. The base structure and the emitter structure preferably are formed in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing nickel salicidation is disclosed. The nickel salicide process typically includes: forming a processed substrate including partially fabricated integrated circuit components and a silicon substrate; incorporating nitrogen into the processed substrate; depositing nickel onto the processed substrate; annealing the processed substrate so as to form nickel mono-silicide; removing the unreacted nickel; and performing a series procedures to complete integrated circuit fabrication. This nickel salicide process increases the annealing temperature range for which a continuous, thin nickel mono-silicide layer can be formed on silicon by salicidation. It also delays the onset of agglomeration of nickel mono-silicide thin-films to a higher annealing temperature. Moreover, this nickel salicide process delays the transformation from nickel mono-silicide to higher resistivity nickel di-silicide, to higher annealing temperature.

Abstract: A BiCMOS semiconductor, and manufacturing method therefore, is provided. A semiconductor substrate having a collector region is provided. A pseudo-gate is formed over the collector region. An emitter window is formed in the pseudo-gate to form an extrinsic base structure. An undercut region beneath a portion of the pseudo-gate is formed to provide an intrinsic base structure in the undercut region. An emitter structure is formed in the emitter window over the intrinsic base structure. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate, and connections are formed through the interlevel dielectric layer to the collector region, the extrinsic base structure, and the emitter structure. The intrinsic base structure comprises a compound semiconductive material such as silicon and silicon-germanium, or silicon-germanium-carbon, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), and manufacturing method therefor, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a collector region, an intrinsic base region of a compound semiconductive material over the collector region, an extrinsic base region, an emitter structure, an interlevel dielectric layer over the collector region, extrinsic base region and emitter structure, and connections through the interlevel dielectric layer to the base region, the emitter structure, and the collector region. The emitter structure is formed by forming a reverse emitter window over the intrinsic base region, which subsequently is etched to form an emitter window having a multi-layer reverse insulating spacer therein.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), and manufacturing method therfor, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a collector region is provided. A base contact layer is formed over the collector region, and a base trench is formed in the base contact layer and the collector region. An intrinsic base structure having a sidewall portion and a bottom portion is formed in the base trench. An insulating spacer is formed over the sidewall portion of the intrinsic base structure, and an emitter structure is formed over the insulating spacer and the bottom portion of the intrinsic base structure. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed over the base contact layer and the emitter structure. Connections are formed through the interlevel dielectric layer to the collector region, the base contact layer, and the emitter structure. The intrinsic base structure is silicon and at least one of silicon-germanium, silicon-germanium-carbon, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A gate structure having associated (LDD) regions and source and drain is formed as is conventional. A first oxide spacer, for example, is formed along the sidewalls of the gate structure. A layer of metal such as titanium is then deposited over the surface of the gate structure. Second sidewall spacers are formed covering the metal over the first sidewall spacer and covering the metal over isolation regions. A layer of polysilicon is deposited over the surface of the gate structure. A rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is performed causing the metal to react with both the silicon in the junction below the metal and the polysilicon above the metal forming a metal silicide. Metal along the sidewalls between the first and second sidewall spacers and over the isolation regions does not react and is etched away. By providing an additional source of silicon in the polysilicon layer above the metal, a thicker silicide is achieved.

Abstract: Devices with embedded silicon or germanium nanocrystals, fabricated using ion implantation, exhibit superior data-retention characteristics relative to conventional floating-gate devices. However, the prior art use of ion implantation for their manufacture introduces several problems. These have been overcome by initial use of rapid thermal oxidation to grow a high quality layer of thin tunnel oxide. Chemical vapor deposition is then used to deposit a germanium doped oxide layer. A capping oxide is then deposited following which the structure is rapid thermally annealed to synthesize the germanium nanocrystals.

Abstract: A new method of forming shallow trench isolations without using CMP is described. A plurality of isolation trenches are etched through an etch stop layer into the semiconductor substrate leaving narrow and wide active areas between the trenches. An oxide layer is deposited over the etch stop layer and within the trenches using a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition process (HDP-CVD) having a deposition component and a sputtering component wherein after the oxide layer fills the trenches, the deposition component is discontinued while continuing the sputtering component until the oxide layer is at a desired depth. In one method, the oxide layer overlying the etch stop layer in the wide active areas is etched away. The etch stop layer and oxide layer residues are removed to complete planarized STI regions.

Abstract: A first method of reducing semiconductor device substrate effects comprising the following steps. O+ or O2+ are selectively implanted into a silicon substrate to form a silicon-damaged silicon oxide region. One or more devices are formed over the silicon substrate proximate the silicon-damaged silicon oxide region within at least one upper dielectric layer. A passivation layer is formed over the at least one upper dielectric layer. The passivation layer and the at least one upper dielectric layer are patterned to form a trench exposing a portion of the silicon substrate over the silicon-damaged silicon oxide region. The silicon-damaged silicon oxide region is selectively etched to form a channel continuous and contiguous with the trench whereby the channel reduces the substrate effects of the one or more semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A CMOS RF device and a method to fabricate said device with low gate contact resistance are described. Conventional MOS transistor is first formed with isolation regions, poly-silicon gate structure, sidewall spacers around poly gate, and implanted source/drain with lightly and heavily doped regions. A silicon dioxide layer such as TEOS is deposited, planarized with chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to expose the gate and treated with dilute HF etchant to recess the silicon dioxide layer below the surface of the gate. Silicon nitride is then deposited and planarized with CMP and then etched except around the gates, using a oversize poly-silicon gate mask. Inter-level dielectric mask is then deposited, contact holes etched, and contact metal is deposited to form the transistor. During contact hole etch over poly-silicon gate, silicon nitride around the poly gate acts as an etch stop.

Abstract: A CMOS RF device and a method to fabricate said device with low gate contact resistance are described. Conventional MOS transistor is first formed with isolation regions, poly-silicon gate structure, sidewall spacers around poly gate, and implanted source/drain with lightly and heavily doped regions. A silicon dioxide layer such as TEOS is deposited, planarized with chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to expose the gate and treated with dilute HF etchant to recess the silicon dioxide layer below the surface of the gate. Silicon nitride is then deposited and planarized with CMP and then etched except around the gates, using a oversize poly-silicon gate mask. Inter-level dielectric mask is then deposited, contact holes etched, and contact metal is deposited to form the transistor. During contact hole etch over poly-silicon gate, silicon nitride around the poly gate acts as an etch stop.

Abstract: A method is described to fabricate RF inductor devices on a silicon substrate. Low-k or other dielectric material is deposited and patterned to form inductor lower plate trenches. Trenches are lined with barrier film such as TaN, filled with copper, and excess metal planarized using chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Second layer of a dielectric material is deposited and patterned to form via-hole/trenches. Via-hole/trench patterns are filled with barrier material, and the dielectric film in between the via-hole/trenches is etched to form a second set of trenches. These trenches are filled with copper and planarized. A third layer of a dielectric film is deposited and patterned to form via-hole/trenches. Via-hole/trenches are then filled with barrier material, and the dielectric film between via-hole/trench patterns etched to form a third set of trenches. These trenches are filled with copper metal and excess metal removed by CMP to form said RF inductor.

Abstract: A first method of reducing semiconductor device substrate effects comprising the following steps. O+or O2+are selectively implanted into a silicon substrate to form a silicon-damaged silicon oxide region. One or more devices are formed over the silicon substrate proximate the silicon-damaged silicon oxide region within at least one upper dielectric layer. A passivation layer is formed over the at least one upper dielectric layer. The passivation layer and the at least one upper dielectric layer are patterned to form a trench exposing a portion of the silicon substrate over the silicon-damaged silicon oxide region. The silicon-damaged silicon oxide region is selectively etched to form a channel continuous and contiguous with the trench whereby the channel reduces the substrate effects of the one or more semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A method of enhancing inductor performance comprising the following steps. A structure having a first oxide layer formed thereover is provided. A lower low-k dielectric layer is formed over the first oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed over the lower low-k dielectric layer. The second oxide layer is patterned to form at least one hole there through exposing a portion of the lower low-k dielectric layer. Etching through the exposed portion of the lower low-k dielectric layer and into the lower low-k dielectric layer to from at least one respective air gap within the etched lower low-k dielectric layer. An upper low-k dielectric layer is formed over the patterned second oxide layer. At least one inductor is formed within the upper low-k dielectric layer and over the at least one air gap whereby the performance of the inductor is enhanced.

Abstract: An improved method to deposit, by atomic layer deposition, ALD, a copper barrier and seed layer for electroless copper plating, filling trench and channel or tunnel openings in a damascene process, for the fabrication of interconnects and inductors, has been developed. A process flow outlining the method of the present invention is as follows: (1) formation of trenches and channels, (2) atomic layer deposition of copper barrier and seed, (3) electroless deposition of copper, (4) chemical mechanical polishing back of excess copper, and (5) barrier deposition, SiN, forming copper interconnects and inductors.