Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a mechanically strained channel, wherein the channel comprises of a single crystalline structure of a strained semiconductor layer having a non-linear geometry, the non-linear geometry including a portion of an arch shape. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric layer, wherein a first portion of the channel is disposed overlying a point location within the dielectric layer and a second portion of the channel is disposed overlying a portion of the dielectric layer proximate to and outside of the point location. In addition, a gate is disposed proximate to the channel for controlling current flow through the channel between first and second current handling electrodes that are coupled to the channel.

Abstract: According to the embodiments to the present disclosure, the process of making a dual strained channel semiconductor device includes integrating strained Si and compressed SiGe with trench isolation for achieving a simultaneous NMOS and PMOS performance enhancement. As described herein, the integration of NMOS and PMOS can be implemented in several ways to achieve NMOS and PMOS channels compatible with shallow trench isolation.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a local strain-inducing structure of a first semiconductor material at a point location within a dielectric layer. The local strain-inducing structure has a prescribed geometry with a surface disposed above a surface of the dielectric layer. A second semiconductor material is formed over the dielectric layer and the local strain inducing structure, wherein formation of a first portion of the second material over the dielectric layer provides a poly crystalline structure of the second material and wherein formation of a second portion of the second material over the local strain-inducing structure provides a single crystalline structure of the second material subject to mechanical strain by the surface of the local strain-inducing structure. The single crystalline structure serves as a strained semiconductor layer of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Two different transistors types are made on different crystal orientations in which both are formed on SOI. A substrate has an underlying semiconductor layer of one of the crystal orientations and an overlying layer of the other crystal orientation. The underlying layer has a portion exposed on which is epitaxially grown an oxygen-doped semiconductor layer that maintains the crystalline structure of the underlying semiconductor layer. A semiconductor layer is then epitaxially grown on the oxygen-doped semiconductor layer. An oxidation step at elevated temperatures causes the oxide-doped region to separate into oxide and semiconductor regions. The oxide region is then used as an insulation layer in an SOI structure and the overlying semiconductor layer that is left is of the same crystal orientation as the underlying semiconductor layer. Transistors of the different types are formed on the different resulting crystal orientations.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming a transistor gate overlying an SOI wafer having a semiconductor top layer over a buried oxide layer (BOX) over a semiconductor substrate. Source/drain trenches, disposed on either side of the gate, are etched into the BOX layer. Source/drain structures are formed within the trenches. A depth of the source/drain structures is greater than the thickness of the top silicon layer and an upper surface of the source/drain structures coincides approximately with the transistor channel whereby vertical overlap between the source/drain structures and the gate is negligible. The trenches preferably extend through the BOX layer to expose a portion of the silicon substrate. The source/drain structures are preferably formed epitaxially and possibly in two stages including an oxygen rich stage and an oxygen free stage. A thermally anneal between the two epitaxial stages will form an isolation dielectric between the source/drain structure and the substrate.

Abstract: P channel transistors are formed in a semiconductor layer that has a (110) surface orientation for enhancing P channel transistor performance, and the N channel transistors are formed in a semiconductor layer that has a (100) surface orientation. To further provide P channel transistor performance enhancement, the direction of their channel lengths is selected based on their channel direction. The narrow width P channel transistors are preferably oriented in the <100> direction. The wide channel width P channel transistors are preferably oriented in the <110> direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (10) is formed by positioning a gate (22) overlying a semiconductor layer (16) of preferably silicon. A semiconductor material (26) of, for example only, SiGe or Ge, is formed adjacent the gate over the semiconductor layer and over source/drain regions. A thermal process diffuses the stressor material into the semiconductor layer. Lateral diffusion occurs to cause the formation of a strained channel (17) in which a stressor material layer (30) is immediately adjacent the strained channel. Extension implants create source and drain implants from a first portion of the stressor material layer. A second portion of the stressor material layer remains in the channel between the strained channel and the source and drain implants. A heterojunction is therefore formed in the strained channel. In another form, oxidation of the stressor material occurs rather than extension implants to form the strained channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (10) is formed by positioning a gate (22) overlying a semiconductor layer (16) of preferably silicon. A semiconductor material (26) of, for example only, SiGe or Ge, is formed adjacent the gate over the semiconductor layer and over source/drain regions. A thermal process diffuses the stressor material into the semiconductor layer. Lateral diffusion occurs to cause the formation of a strained channel (17) in which a stressor material layer (30) is immediately adjacent the strained channel. Extension implants create source and drain implants from a first portion of the stressor material layer. A second portion of the stressor material layer remains in the channel between the strained channel and the source and drain implants. A heterojunction is therefore formed in the strained channel. In another form, oxidation of the stressor material occurs rather than extension implants to form the strained channel.

Abstract: A process for forming a semiconductor device. The process includes forming a template layer for forming a layer of strained silicon. In one example a layer of graded silicon germanium is formed where the germanium is at a higher concentration at the lower portion and at a lower concentration at a top portion. When subject to a condensation process, the germanium of the top portion of the layer diffuses to a remaining portion of the silicon germanium layer. Because the silicon germanium layer has a higher concentration of germanium at lower portions, germanium pile up after condensation may be reduced at the upper portion of the remaining portion of the silicon germanium layer.

Abstract: A method for forming at least a portion of a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate and epitaxially forming an etch stop layer over the substrate. A first layer is provided over the etch stop layer, wherein the first layer is selectively etchable with regard to the etch stop layer. A structure is provided over a region of the first layer, wherein the region is not all of the first layer. In addition, the method includes etching at least a portion of the first layer that is outside of the region, wherein the etch stop layer is used an as etch stop. A strained layer is epitaxially grown in the etch-recessed region.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate having a silicon layer is provided. In one embodiment, the substrate is a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having an oxide layer underlying the silicon layer. An amorphous or polycrystalline silicon germanium layer is formed overlying the silicon layer. Alternatively, germanium is implanted into a top portion of the silicon layer to form an amorphous silicon germanium layer. The silicon germanium layer is then oxidized to convert the silicon germanium layer into a silicon dioxide layer and to convert at least a portion of the silicon layer into germanium-rich silicon. The silicon dioxide layer is then removed prior to forming transistors using the germanium-rich silicon. In one embodiment, the germanium-rich silicon is selectively formed using a patterned masking layer over the silicon layer and under the silicon germanium layer. Alternatively, isolation regions may be used to define local regions of the substrate in which the germanium-rich silicon is formed.

Abstract: A first semiconductor structure has a silicon substrate, a first silicon germanium layer grown on the silicon, a second silicon germanium layer on the first silicon germanium layer, and a strained silicon layer on the second silicon germanium layer. A second semiconductor structure has a silicon substrate and an insulating top layer. The silicon layer of the first semiconductor structure is bonded to the insulator layer to form a third semiconductor structure. The second silicon germanium layer is cut to separate most of the first semiconductor structure from the third semiconductor structure. The silicon germanium layer is removed to expose the strained silicon layer where transistors are subsequently formed, which is then the only layer remaining from the first semiconductor structure. The transistors are oriented along the <100> direction and at a 45 degree angle to the <100> direction of the base silicon layer of the second silicon.

Abstract: A vacancy injecting process for injecting vacancies in template layer material of an SOI substrate. The template layer material has a crystalline structure that includes, in some embodiments, both germanium and silicon atoms. A strained silicon layer is then epitaxially grown on the template layer material with the beneficial effects that straining has on electron and hole mobility. The vacancy injecting process is performed to inject vacancies and germanium atoms into the crystalline structure wherein germanium atoms recombine with the vacancies. One embodiment, a nitridation process is performed to grow a nitride layer on the template layer material and consume silicon in a way that injects vacancies in the crystalline structure while also allowing germanium atoms to recombine with the vacancies.

Abstract: A process for forming strained semiconductor layers. The process include flowing a chlorine bearing gas (e.g. hydrogen chloride, chlorine, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethane) over the wafer while heating the wafer. In one example, the chorine bearing gas is flowed during a condensation process on a semiconductor layer that is used as a template layer for forming a strain semiconductor layer (e.g. strain silicon). In other examples, the chlorine bearing gas is flowed during a post bake of the wafer after the condensation operation.

Abstract: A process for forming a strained semiconductor layer. The process includes implanting ions into a semiconductor layer prior to performing a condensation process on the layer. The ions assist in diffusion of atoms (e.g. germanium) in the semiconductor layer and to increase the relaxation of the semiconductor layer. After the condensation process, the layer can be used as a template layer for forming a strained semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes: a semiconductor substrate (110); an epitaxial semiconductor layer (120) above the semiconductor substrate; a bipolar transistor (770, 870) in the epitaxial semiconductor layer; and a field effect transistor (780, 880) in the epitaxial semiconductor layer. A portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer forms a base of the bipolar transistor and a gate of the field effect transistor, and the portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer has a substantially uniform doping concentration. In the same or another embodiment, a different portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer forms an emitter of the bipolar transistor and a channel of the field effect transistor, and the different portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer has a substantially uniform doping concentration that can be the same as or different from the substantially uniform doping concentration of the portion of the epitaxial semiconductor layer.