Abstract: A method for sensing biomolecules in an electrolyte includes exposing a gate dielectric surface of a sensor comprising a silicon fin to the electrolyte, wherein the gate dielectric surface comprises a dielectric material and antibodies configured to bind with the biomolecules; applying a gate voltage to an electrode immersed in the electrolyte; and measuring a change in a drain current flowing in the silicon fin; and determining an amount of the biomolecules that are present in the electrolyte based on the change in the drain current.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET on a substrate, the first FET comprising a first interfacial oxide layer, and the second FET comprising a second interfacial oxide layer; encapsulating the first interfacial oxide layer of the first FET; and performing lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET, wherein the lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET converts a portion of the substrate located underneath the second FET into additional interfacial oxide.

Abstract: A lateral heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The HBT includes a base including a doped silicon-germanium alloy base region, an emitter including doped silicon and laterally contacting the base, and a collector including doped silicon and laterally contacting the base. Because the collector current is channeled through the doped silicon-germanium base region, the HBT can accommodate a greater current density than a comparable bipolar transistor employing a silicon channel. The base may also include an upper silicon base region and/or a lower silicon base region. In this case, the collector current is concentrated in the doped silicon-germanium base region, thereby minimizing noise introduced to carrier scattering at the periphery of the base. Further, parasitic capacitance is minimized because the emitter-base junction area is the same as the collector-base junction area.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET on a substrate, the first FET comprising a first interfacial oxide layer, and the second FET comprising a second interfacial oxide layer; encapsulating the first interfacial oxide layer of the first FET; and performing lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET, wherein the lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET converts a portion of the substrate located underneath the second FET into additional interfacial oxide.

Abstract: A first (e.g. replaceable or disposable) dielectric spacer formed on a sidewall of a dummy emitter mandrel is removed after a raised extrinsic base layer and covering dielectric layer are formed. Thereafter, a second dielectric spacer is formed within the opening that results. As a result, the second dielectric spacer, which is not subjected to RIE processing, provides a desired level of isolation and tighter emitter final critical dimension than that which could be achieved through the technique described in the prior art. In a particular embodiment, an additional layer of silicon nitride is disposed over a passivation oxide layer as a sacrificial layer which protects the passivation oxide layer from being reduced in thickness and/or being undercut during the RIE process and one or more cleaning processes conducted after the RIE process.

Abstract: A lateral heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The HBT includes a base including a doped silicon-germanium alloy base region, an emitter including doped silicon and laterally contacting the base, and a collector including doped silicon and laterally contacting the base. Because the collector current is channeled through the doped silicon-germanium base region, the HBT can accommodate a greater current density than a comparable bipolar transistor employing a silicon channel. The base may also include an upper silicon base region and/or a lower silicon base region. In this case, the collector current is concentrated in the doped silicon-germanium base region, thereby minimizing noise introduced to carrier scattering at the periphery of the base. Further, parasitic capacitance is minimized because the emitter-base junction area is the same as the collector-base junction area.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a Schottky field effect transistor is provided that includes providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor layer overlying a dielectric layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of less than 10.0 nm. A gate structure is formed directly on the first semiconductor layer. A raised semiconductor material is selectively formed on the first semiconductor layer adjacent to the gate structure. The raised semiconductor material is converted into Schottky source and drain regions composed of a metal semiconductor alloy. A non-reacted semiconductor material is present between the Schottky source and drain regions and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistor device includes a buried insulator layer formed over a bulk substrate; an SOI layer formed on the buried insulator layer; and a pair of silicon containing epitaxial regions disposed adjacent opposing sides of a gate conductor, the epitaxial regions corresponding to source and drain regions of the transistor device; wherein portions of the epitaxial regions are embedded in the buried insulator and are in contact with both vertical and bottom surfaces of the SOI layer corresponding to source and drain extension regions at opposing ends of a channel region of the transistor device.

Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor (FET) includes forming a dummy gate on a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor on insulator substrate; forming source and drain regions in the top semiconductor layer, wherein the source and drain regions are located in the top semiconductor layer on either side of the dummy gate; forming a supporting material over the source and drain regions adjacent to the dummy gate; removing the dummy gate to form a gate opening, wherein a channel region of the top semiconductor layer is exposed through the gate opening; thinning the channel region of the top semiconductor layer through the gate opening; and forming gate spacers and a gate in the gate opening over the thinned channel region.

Abstract: An epitaxial Ni silicide film that is substantially non-agglomerated at high temperatures, and a method for forming the epitaxial Ni silicide film, is provided. The Ni silicide film of the present disclosure is especially useful in the formation of ETSOI (extremely thin silicon-on-insulator) Schottky junction source/drain FETs. The resulting epitaxial Ni silicide film exhibits improved thermal stability and does not agglomerate at high temperatures.

Abstract: A Schottky field effect transistor is provided that includes a substrate having a layer of semiconductor material atop a dielectric layer, wherein the layer of semiconductor material has a thickness of less than 10.0 nm. A gate structure is present on the layer of semiconductor material. Raised source and drain regions comprised of a metal semiconductor alloy are present on the layer of semiconductor material on opposing sides of the gate structure. The raised source and drain regions are Schottky source and drain regions. In one embodiment, a first portion of the Schottky source and drain regions that is adjacent to a channel region of the Schottky field effect transistor contacts the dielectric layer, and a non-reacted semiconductor material is present between a second portion of the Schottky source and drain regions and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a Schottky field effect transistor is provided that includes providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor layer overlying a dielectric layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a thickness of less than 10.0 nm. A gate structure is formed directly on the first semiconductor layer. A raised semiconductor material is selectively formed on the first semiconductor layer adjacent to the gate structure. The raised semiconductor material is converted into Schottky source and drain regions composed of a metal semiconductor alloy. A non-reacted semiconductor material is present between the Schottky source and drain regions and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a FinFET device by forming a second single crystal semiconductor layer (19) that is isolated from an underlying first single crystal semiconductor layer (17) by a buried insulator layer (18); patterning and etching the second single crystal semiconductor layer (19) to form a single crystal mandrel (42) having vertical sidewalls; thermally oxidizing the vertical sidewalls of the single crystal mandrel to grow oxide spacers (52) having a substantially uniform thickness; selectively removing any remaining portion of the single crystal mandrel (42) while substantially retaining the oxide spacers (52); and selectively etching the first single crystal semiconductor layer (17) using the oxide spacers (52) to form one or more FinFET channel regions (92).

Abstract: Shallow trenches are formed around a vertical stack of a buried insulator portion and a top semiconductor portion. A dielectric material layer is deposited directly on sidewalls of the top semiconductor portion. Shallow trench isolation structures are formed by filling the shallow trenches with a dielectric material such as silicon oxide. After planarization, the top semiconductor portion is laterally contacted and surrounded by the dielectric material layer. The dielectric material layer prevents exposure of the handle substrate underneath the buried insulator portion during wet etches, thereby ensuring electrical isolation between the handle substrate and gate electrodes subsequently formed on the top semiconductor portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method of fabricating a bipolar transistor with a self-aligned raised extrinsic base. In the method a dielectric pad is formed on a substrate with a minimum dimension capable of being produced using current state-of-the-are lithographic patterning. An opening is aligned above the dielectric pad and etched through an isolation oxide layer to an extrinsic base layer. The opening is equal to or greater in size than the dielectric pad. Another smaller opening is etched through the extrinsic base layer to the dielectric pad. A multi-step etching process is used to selectively remove the extrinsic base layer from the surfaces of the dielectric pad and then to selectively remove the dielectric pad. An emitter is then formed in the resulting trench. The resulting transistor structure has a distance between the edge of the lower section of the emitter and the edge of the extrinsic base that is minimized, thereby, reducing resistance.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a FinFET device by forming a second single crystal semiconductor layer (19) that is isolated from an underlying first single crystal semiconductor layer (17) by a buried insulator layer (18); patterning and etching the second single crystal semiconductor layer (19) to form a single crystal mandrel (42) having vertical sidewalls; thermally oxidizing the vertical sidewalls of the single crystal mandrel to grow oxide spacers (52) having a substantially uniform thickness; selectively removing any remaining portion of the single crystal mandrel (42) while substantially retaining the oxide spacers (52); and selectively etching the first single crystal semiconductor layer (17) using the oxide spacers (52) to form one or more FinFET channel regions (92).

Abstract: An improved bipolar transistor with dual shallow trench isolation for reducing the parasitic component of the base to collector capacitance Ccb and base resistance Rb is provided. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having at least a pair of neighboring first shallow trench isolation (STI) regions disposed therein. The pair of neighboring first STI regions defines an active area in the substrate. The structure also includes a collector disposed in the in the active area of the semiconductor substrate, a base layer disposed atop a surface of the semiconductor substrate in the active area, and a raised extrinsic base disposed on the base layer. In accordance with the present, the raised extrinsic base has an opening to a portion of the base layer. An emitter is located in the opening and extending on a portion of the patterned raised extrinsic base; the emitter is spaced apart and isolated from the raised extrinsic base.

Abstract: A sensor for biomolecules includes a silicon fin comprising undoped silicon; a source region adjacent to the silicon fin, the source region comprising heavily doped silicon; a drain region adjacent to the silicon fin, the drain region comprising heavily doped silicon of a doping type that is the same doping type as that of the source region; and a layer of a gate dielectric covering an exterior portion of the silicon fin between the source region and the drain region, the gate dielectric comprising a plurality of antibodies, the plurality of antibodies configured to bind with the biomolecules, such that a drain current flowing between the source region and the drain region varies when the biomolecules bind with the antibodies.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistor device includes a buried insulator layer formed over a bulk substrate; an SOI layer formed on the buried insulator layer; and a pair of silicon containing epitaxial regions disposed adjacent opposing sides of a gate conductor, the epitaxial regions corresponding to source and drain regions of the transistor device; wherein portions of the epitaxial regions are embedded in the buried insulator and are in contact with both vertical and bottom surfaces of the SOI layer corresponding to source and drain extension regions at opposing ends of a channel region of the transistor device.

Abstract: The mobility of charge carriers in a bipolar (BJT) device is increased by creating compressive strain in the device to increase mobility of electrons in the device, and creating tensile strain in the device to increase mobility of holes in the device. The compressive and tensile strain are created by applying a stress film adjacent an emitter structure of the device and atop a base film of the device. In this manner, the compressive and tensile strain are located in close proximity to an intrinsic portion of the device. A suitable material for the stress film is nitride. The emitter structure may be “T-shaped”, having a lateral portion atop an upright portion, a bottom of the upright portion forms a contact to the base film, and the lateral portion overhangs the base film.