Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer protruding from a substrate, a spacer, a tunnel insulation layer, a floating gate, a dielectric layer pattern and a control gate. The spacer may be formed on a sidewall of a protruding portion of the isolation layer. The tunnel insulation layer may be formed on the substrate between adjacent isolation layers. The floating gate may be formed on the tunnel insulation layer. The floating gate contacts the spacer and has a width that gradually increases from a lower portion toward an upper portion. The dielectric layer pattern and the control gate may be sequentially formed on the floating gate.

Abstract: Dual storage node memory devices and methods for fabricating dual storage node memory devices have been provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method includes the steps of etching a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor substrate and forming a layered structure within the trenches. The layered structure includes a tunnel dielectric layer and a charge storage layer. Bit lines are formed within the semiconductor substrate and a layer of conductive material is deposited overlying the layered structure.

Abstract: An improved method for fabricating floating gate structures of flash memory cells having reduced and more uniform forward tunneling voltages. The method may include the steps of: forming at least two floating gates over a substrate; forming a mask over each of the floating gates, each of the masks having a portion, adjacent to a tip of a respective one of the floating gates, of a given thickness, wherein the given thicknesses of the mask portions are different from one another; and etching the masks to reduce the different given thicknesses of the mask portions to a reduced thickness wherein the reduced thickness portions of the mask are of a uniform thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region and a gate region, and a gate channel formed in a portion of the active region that overlaps the gate region. The gate channel includes a recessed multi-bulb structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device of the present invention solves problems in a process for forming a fin type gate including a recess region, such as, a complicated process, low production margin, and difficulty in forming an accurate fin shape. In a process for forming an isolation dielectric film defining an active region, a nitride film pattern is formed in such a manner that the size of the nitride film is adjusted according to line width of a fin portion in a fin type active region formed in a subsequent process step, and an isolation dielectric film is formed in every region except for the nitride film pattern of a semiconductor substrate. Then, a recess is etched, and the isolation dielectric film is removed from a region where the line width of the nitride film pattern was reduced to a certain degree.

Abstract: Source and drain regions are formed in a first-type semiconductor device. Then, a high tensile stress capping layer is formed over the source and drain regions. A thermal process is then performed to re-crystallize the source and drain regions and to introduce tensile strain into the source and drain regions of the first-type semiconductor device. Afterwards, source and drain regions are formed in a second-type semiconductor device. Then, a high compressive stress capping layer is formed over the source and drain regions of the second-type semiconductor device. A thermal process is performed to re-crystallize the source and drain regions and to introduce compressive strain into the source and drain regions of the second-type semiconductor device.

Abstract: Fabrication of complementary first and second insulated-gate field-effect transistors (110 or 112 and 120 or 122) from a semiconductor body entails separately introducing (i) three body-material dopants into the body material (50) for the first transistor so as to reach respective maximum dopant concentrations at three different locations in the first transistor's body material and (ii) two body-material dopants into the body material (130) for the second transistor so as to reach respective maximum dopant concentrations at two different locations in the second transistor's body material. Gate electrodes (74 or 94 and 154 or 194) are subsequently defined after which source/drain zones (60, 62 or 80, 82 and 140, 142 or 160, 162) are formed in the semiconductor body. The vertical dopant profiles resulting from the body-material dopants alleviate punchthrough and reduce current leakage.

Abstract: A method of making a transistor device having silicided source/drain is provided. A gate electrode is formed on a substrate with a gate dielectric layer therebetween. A spacer is formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. A source/drain is implanted into the substrate. A pre-amorphization implant (PAI) is performed to form an amorphized layer on the source/drain. A post-PAI annealing process is performed to repair defects formed during the PAI process. A metal silicide layer is then formed from the amorphized layer.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a gate electrode having different portions with different conductivity types. In an embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer has a particular conductivity type. The process can also include selectively doping a region of the semiconductor layer to form a first doped region having an opposite conductivity type. The process can further include patterning the semiconductor layer to form a gate electrode that includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a portion of the first doped region, and the second region includes a portion of the semiconductor layer outside of the first doped region. In a particular embodiment, the electronic device can have a gate electrode having edge portions of one conductivity type and a central portion having an opposite conductivity type.

Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar transistor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate. An oxide layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The oxide layer is patterned to form an opening that exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A dopant, such as antimony, is implanted into the semiconductor substrate through the opening to form a buried layer. An upper portion of the mask layer is removed to define a thin mask layer. A buried layer diffusion process is performed to drive in the implanted dopants while mitigating recess formation.

Abstract: An SOI device includes an SOI substrate composed of a stack structure of a silicon substrate, a buried oxide layer, and a silicon layer. Grooves are defined in the silicon layer each exposing the buried oxide layer. A barrier layer is formed on the lower portion of the sidewall of each of the grooves. An epi-silicon layer is formed to fill the grooves and cover the barrier layer. Gates are formed on the epi-silicon layer, and junction areas are formed in the silicon layer on both sides of the gates.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory device, such as a PCRAM, including selecting a chalcogenide glass backbone material for a resistance variable memory function and devices formed using such a method.

Abstract: A thin film capacitor including a substrate, a capacitor portion having an upper conductor, a lower conductor, and a dielectric thin film, and a resin protective layer for protecting the capacitor portion. A barrier layer is interposed between the capacitor portion and the resin protective layer. The barrier layer includes a crystalline dielectric barrier layer formed in contact with the capacitor portion and having the same composition system as the dielectric thin film, and an amorphous inorganic barrier layer formed on the surface of the crystalline dielectric barrier layer and composed of silicon nitride having non-conductivity. The inorganic barrier layer prevents deterioration in the properties of the dielectric thin film by blocking diffusion of the constituent elements of the inorganic barrier layer toward the capacitor portion.

Abstract: A variable resistance memory cell structure and a method of forming it. The method includes forming a first electrode, forming an insulating material over the first electrode, forming a via in the insulating material to expose a surface of the first electrode, forming a heater material within the via using gas cluster ion beams, forming a variable resistance material within the via, and forming a second electrode such that the heater material and variable resistance material are provided between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits comprising resistors having the same structure but different sheet resistances is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an integrated circuit comprises: concurrently forming a first resistor laterally spaced from a second resistor above or within a semiconductor substrate, the first and second resistors comprising a doped semiconductive material; depositing a dopant receiving material across the first and second resistors and the semiconductor substrate; removing the dopant receiving material from upon the first resistor while retaining the dopant receiving material upon the second resistor; and annealing the first and second resistors to cause a first sheet resistance of the first resistor to be different from a second sheet resistance of the second resistor.

Abstract: An object of the present inventions is to overcome a problem that the presence of a metal film, which is opaque to a visible light, between a lower layer alignment mark and a photoresist prevents the detection of the lower layer alignment mark, to make the pattern formation difficult. In the present inventions, an insulating film is placed beneath the alignment mark in structure; an alignment mark consisting of said multi-layered film comprising an alignment mark layer and the insulating film, which constitutes a stepped part with an increased difference in level, is first formed, inside a mark hole, in a manner of self-alignment; and then the metal film which is the very cause of the above problem is formed thereon. Since the metal film itself has a stepped shape corresponding to the alignment mark, alignment can be made with great accuracy.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device having a back-illuminated type structure in which a lens is formed on the back side of a silicon layer with a light-receiving sensor portion being formed thereon. Insulating layers are buried into the silicon layer around an image pickup region, with the insulating layer being buried around a contact layer that connects an electrode layer of a pad portion and an interconnection layer of the surface side. A method of manufacturing such a solid-state imaging device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods for electrodepositing germanium on various semiconductor substrates such as Si, Ge, SiGe, and GaAs are provided. The electrodeposited germanium can be formed as a blanket or patterned film, and may be crystallized by solid phase epitaxy to the orientation of the underlying semiconductor substrate by subsequent annealing. These plated germanium layers may be used as the channel regions of high-mobility channel field effect transistors (FETs) in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region. The first region has one or more first elements and the second region has one or more second elements. The first elements are different from the second elements. A tile location and a first tile surface area for a tile feature on the semiconductor device is defined. An active semiconductor layer is formed over both the first region and the second region of the semiconductor substrate. A first trench is formed in the active semiconductor layer at the tile location using a negative tone mask. The first trench has a first depth and forms at least a portion of the tile feature. A second trench is formed in the active semiconductor layer using a positive tone mask. The second trench has a second depth different than the first depth.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device includes generating on a substrate liquid-phase silanol having fluidity by causing a source gas made of a material containing silicon to react with a source gas made of a material containing oxygen, introducing the silanol into a first recess having an aspect ratio of a predetermined value wholly, and introducing the silanol into a space from a bottom to an intermediate portion in a second recess having an aspect ratio lower than the predetermined value, the first and second recesses are provided in the substrate, burying a silicon oxide film in the first recess and providing the silicon oxide film in the second recess by converting the silanol into the silicon oxide film by dehydrating condensation, and providing a dielectric film having film density higher than that of the silicon oxide film on the silicon oxide film.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can reduce hot electron induced punchthrough (HEIP) and/or improve the operating characteristics of the device include selectively forming an oxynitride layer in a device isolation layer according to the characteristics of transistors isolated by the device isolation layer. The methods include forming first trenches and second trenches on a substrate, forming an oxide layer on the surfaces of the first trenches and the second trenches, selectively forming an oxynitride layer on the second trenches by using plasma ion immersion implantation (PIII), and forming a buried insulating layer in the first trenches and the second trenches. The buried insulating layer may be planarized to form a first device isolation layer in the first trenches and a second device isolation layer in the second trenches.

Abstract: To prevent semiconductor chips from adhering to the trays during transport, a method is employed which transports semiconductor chips in the following state. When trays provided with a plurality of accommodating portions having a recessed cross section for accommodating semiconductor chips on a main surface thereof are stacked in a plurality of stages, the semiconductor chips are accommodated in spaces defined by the accommodating portions formed over the main surface of the lower-stage tray and corresponding accommodating portions formed over the back surface of the upper-stage tray. Here, on bottom surfaces of the accommodating portions formed over the back surface of the upper-stage tray, isolated projections having a height which prevents the projections from coming into contact with the semiconductor chips are arranged in a scattered manner. In this way, it is possible to prevent the semiconductor chips from adhering to the back surface of the upper-stage tray.

Abstract: An apparatus has two slabs of substrate material joined to each other, the two slabs including a pair of contacts joined to each other having a shape separating a first area from a second area.

Abstract: A non-linear element is formed on a flexible substrate by securing the substrate to a rigid carrier, forming the non-linear element, and then separating the flexible substrate from the carrier. The process allows flexible substrates to be processed in a conventional fab intended to process rigid substrates. In a second method, a transistor is formed on a insulating substrate by forming gate electrodes, depositing a dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer and a conductive layer, patterning the conductive layer to form source, drain and pixel electrodes, covering the channel region of the resultant transistor with an etch-resistant material and etching using the etch-resistant material and the conductive layer as a mask, the etching extending substantially through the semiconductor layer between adjacent transistors.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a gallium arsenide carrier with a prepared bonding surface; providing a sapphire substrate; bonding the gallium arsenide carrier and the sapphire substrate to produce a composite structure; detaching the bulk of the gallium arsenide carrier from the composite structure, leaving a gallium arsenide growth substrate on the sapphire substrate; and depositing a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell on the growth substrate. For some solar cells, the method further includes mounting a surrogate second substrate on top of the sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell; and removing the growth substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first chip region, a second chip region, and a scribe lane region between the first and second chip regions in a wafer, the wafer having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, and forming a penetrating extension hole and a scribe connector in the scribe lane region, the penetrating extension hole penetrating the wafer from the first surface to the second surface and extending along the scribe lane region, wherein the scribe connector connects the first and second chip regions spaced apart from each other by the penetrating extension hole.

Abstract: A process is provided for integrating a III-N component, such as GaN, on a (001) or (100) nominal silicon substrate. There are arranged a texture of elementary areas each comprising an individual surface, with the texture comprising at least one hosting area intended to receive a III-N component. A mask layer is deposited on non-hosting areas which are not intended to receive a III-N type component. The hosting area is locally prepared so as to generate on the surface of the area one domain comprising one single type of terrace. There is grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy or Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy on the hosting area one intermediary AlN buffer layer, followed by the growth of one III-N based material so as to realize a substantially monocrystalline structure. There is eliminated the mask layer located on non-hosting areas as well as surface polycrystalline layers deposited above the mask layers, and MOS/CMOS structures are subsequent integrated on at least some of the non-hosting areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an array substrate for a flat display device and a method for fabricating the same, in which a number of masks is reduced for reducing a cost and improving a device performance.

Abstract: A method of forming a Si strained layer 16 on a Si substrate 10 includes forming a first SiGe buffer layer 12 on the Si substrate 10. Then, the first SiGe buffer layer is implanted with an amorphising implant to render the first SiGe buffer layer amorphous using ion implantation. A second SiGe buffer layer 14 is grown on the first SiGe buffer layer after annealing. This produces a relaxed SiGe layer 12, 14. Then, the strained layer of Si 16 is grown.

Abstract: In the ion implantation method and semiconductor device manufacturing method relating to the present invention, a disc on which multiple semiconductor substrates are mounted is positioned in the manner that a first angle ?1 is made between an X-Y plane perpendicular to an ion beam and a line perpendicular to the Y-axis in a disc rotation plane. In this state, an ion beam is emitted to implant a first conductivity type impurity in the semiconductor substrates while the disc is rotated about a disc rotation axis. Then, the disc is positioned in the manner that a second angle ?2 is made between the X-Y plane and a line perpendicular to the Y-axis in the disc rotation plane. In this state, an ion beam is emitted to implant a second conductivity type impurity in the semiconductor substrates while the disc is rotated about the disc rotation axis.

Abstract: Pile ups of threading dislocations in thick graded buffer layer are reduced by enhancing dislocation gliding. During formation of a graded SiGe buffer layer, deposition of SiGe from a silicon precursor and a germanium precursor is interrupted one or more times with periods in which the flow of the silicon precursor to the substrate is stopped while the flow of the germanium precursor to the substrate is maintained.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a source region, a drain region, and a channel region are formed, a silicon oxide layer formed on the channel region, a transition metal oxide layer having trap particles that trap electrons, formed on the silicon oxide layer, and a gate electrode formed on the transition metal oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming at least two gate insulating layers having different thickness on a substrate having low, medium and high voltage regions; and then depositing a gate layer material on the gate insulating layers; and then forming a first etch mask on the gate layer material; and then forming gate electrodes in the low, medium and high voltage regions by etching the gate layer material using the first etch mask; and then forming a second etch mask to expose a thickest one of the gate insulating layers, the gate electrode and the first etch mask each formed in the high voltage region while covering the remaining gate insulating layers, the gate electrodes and the first etch masks formed in the low and medium voltage regions; and then etching the thickest gate insulating layer using the second etch mask; and then removing the first and second etch masks.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming dispersions of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are incorporated into first coordination complexes in which the nanoparticles are coordinated to hydrophobic ligands, and the first coordination complexes are dispersed within a non-polar solvent. While the first coordination complexes are within the non-polar solvent, the ligands are reacted with one or more reactants to convert the first coordination complexes into second coordination complexes that contain hydrophilic ligands. The second coordination complexes are then extracted from the non-polar solvent into water, to form a mixture of the second coordination complexes and the water. In some embodiments, the mixture may be dispersed across a semiconductor substrate to form a uniform distribution of the nanoparticles across the substrate. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles may then be incorporated into flash memory devices as charge-trapping centers.

Abstract: An advanced gate structure that includes a fully silicided metal gate and silicided source and drain regions in which the fully silicided metal gate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the silicided source/drain regions is provided. A method of forming the advanced gate structure is also provided in which the silicided source and drain regions are formed prior to formation of the silicided metal gate region.

Abstract: An anti-fuse one-time-programmable (OTP) nonvolatile memory cell has a P well substrate with two P.sup.? doped regions. Another N.sup.+ doped region, functioning as a bit line, is positioned adjacent and between the two P.sup.? doped regions on the substrate. An anti-fuse is defined over the N.sup.+ doped region. Two insulator regions are deposited over the two P.sup.? doped regions. An impurity doped polysilicon layer is defined over the two insulator regions and the anti-fuse. A polycide layer is defined over the impurity doped polysilicon layer. The polycide layer and the polysilicon layer function as a word line. A programmed region, i.e., a link, functioning as a diode, is formed on the anti-fuse after the anti-fuse OTP nonvolatile memory cell is programmed. The array structure of anti-fuse OTP nonvolatile memory cells and methods for programming, reading, and fabricating such a cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical structure and method of forming. The electrical structure includes a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure, a first solder structure, and a second solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. The second solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the second electrically conductive pad.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a substrate having a conductor arrangement that is suitable for radio-frequency applications, with improved radio-frequency properties. For this purpose, the process includes the steps of: depositing a structured glass layer having at least one opening over a contact-connection region by evaporation coating on the substrate and applying at least one conductor structure to the structured glass layer so that the at least one conductor has electrical contact with the contact-connection region.

Abstract: A buried local interconnect and method of forming the same counterdopes a region of a doped substrate to form a counterdoped isolation region. A hardmask is formed and patterned on the doped substrate, with a recess being etched through the patterned hardmask into the counterdoped region. Dielectric spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the recess, with a portion of the bottom of the recess being exposed. A metal is then deposited in the recess and reacted to form silicide at the bottom of the recess. The recess is filled with fill material, which is polished. The hardmask is then removed to form a silicide buried local interconnect.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductive film on a semiconductor substrate via a first insulating film; forming a second conductive film on the first conductive film via a second insulating film; patterning the first and the second conductive films and the second insulating film to form a plurality of gate electrodes; filling a third insulating film between the plurality of gate electrodes; exposing an upper portion of the second conductive film by removing the third insulating film; covering surfaces of the exposed upper portion of the second conductive film with fluoride (F) or carbon (C) or oxygen (O); and forming a metal film on an upper surface of the second conductive film; and forming silicide layers on the upper portion of the second conductive films by thermally treating the metal film.

Abstract: An increase of the via resistance resulted due to the presence of the altered layer that has been formed and grown after the formation of the via hole can be effectively prevented, thereby providing an improved reliability of the semiconductor device. A method includes: forming a TiN film on the semiconductor substrate; forming an interlayer insulating film on a surface of the TiN film; forming a resist film on a surface of the interlayer insulating film; etching the semiconductor substrate having the resist film formed thereon to form an opening, thereby partially exposing the TiN film; plasma-processing the exposed portion of the TiN film to remove an altered layer formed in the exposed portion of the TiN film; and stripping the resist film via a high temperature-plasma processing.

Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure for copper metallization and an interconnect structure containing a metal nitride diffusion barrier are described. The method includes providing a substrate having a micro-feature opening formed within a dielectric material and forming a metal nitride diffusion barrier containing ruthenium, nitrogen, and a nitride-forming metal over the surfaces of the micro-feature. The nitride-forming metal is selected from Groups IVB, VB, VIB, and VIIB of the Periodic Table, and the metal nitride diffusion barrier is formed by exposing the substrate to a precursor of the nitride-forming metal, a nitrogen precursor, and a ruthenium precursor.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for relieving stress in the via structures of semiconductor structures whenever a linewidth below a via is larger than a ground-rule, including providing a via at least as large as the groundrule, providing a landing pad above the via, providing a via bar in place of a via, slotting the metal linewidth below the via, or providing an oversize via with a sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a silicon substrate having a circuitry layer; creating a partial via through the circuitry layer; filling the partial via with a plug having a bottom surface; creating a recess that is angled outward and exposes the bottom surface of the plug; and coating the recess with a recess-insulation-layer while leaving the bottom surface of the plug exposed.

Abstract: An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating an insert assembly disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing. In one embodiment, the connector has a plurality of ports in multi-row configuration, and the insert assembly includes a substrate adapted to receive one or more electronic components such as choke coils, transformers, or other signal conditioning elements or magnetics. The substrate also interfaces with the conductors of two modular ports of the connector, and is removable from the housing such that an insert assembly of a different electronics or terminal configuration can be substituted therefor. In this fashion, the connector can be configured to a plurality of different standards (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet and 10/100). In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a plurality of light sources (e.g., LEDs) received within the housing. Methods for manufacturing the aforementioned embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method form a thin layer on each of multiple semiconductor substrates. A processing chamber of the apparatus includes a boat in which the semiconductor substrates are arranged in a vertical direction. A vaporizer vaporizes a liquid metal precursor into a metal precursor gas. A buffer receives a source gas from the vaporizer and increases a pressure of the source gas to higher than atmospheric pressure, the source gas including the metal precursor gas. A first supply pipe connects the buffer and the processing chamber, the first supply pipe including a first valve for controlling a mass flow rate of the source gas. A second supply pipe connects the vaporizer and a pump for creating a vacuum inside the processing chamber, the second supply pipe including a second valve for exhausting a dummy gas during an idling operation of the vaporizer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for forming metal films on semiconductor substrates are disclosed. One of the disclosed methods comprises: heating the semiconductor substrate to obtain a heated semiconductor substrate; exposing the heated semiconductor substrate to a composition containing at least one metal precursor comprising at least one ligand, an excess amount of neutral labile ligands, a supercritical solvent, and optionally at least one source of B, C, N, Si, P, and mixtures thereof; exposing the composition to a reducing agent and/or thermal energy at or near the heated semiconductor substrate; disassociating the at least one ligand from the metal precursor; and forming the metal film while minimizing formation of metal oxides.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer edge exposure process as described herein employs a photoresist exposure step that exposes photoresist material to radiation having a gradient intensity profile near the outer edge of the wafer. The gradient intensity profile creates a tapered outer edge in the developed photoresist material, which in turn creates a tapered outer edge in the underlying target material after etching. Different gradient intensity profiles can also be used for subsequent layers of material. The resulting tapered edge profile of the wafer is resistant to edge peeling and flaking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of fabricating semiconductor devices, including forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate by a reactive ion etching (RIE) method with a reactive product of film stack of a carbon film/silicon oxide film/carbon-containing silicon oxide film, the trench having an inner surface; and removing the reactive product, by treating the trench with diluted hydrofluoric acid to remove the carbon film and the silicon oxide film followed by treating the film by a hydrofluoric acid vapor phase cleaning (HFVPC) method to remove the carbon-containing silicon oxide film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a vertical interconnect through a substrate. The method makes use of a sacrificial buried layer 220 arranged in between the first side 202 and the second side 204 of a substrate 200. After having etched trenches 206 and 206? from the first side, the sacrificial buried layer 220 functions as a stop layer during etching of holes 218 and 218? from the second side, therewith protecting the trenches from damage during overetch of the holes. The etching of trenches is completely decoupled from etching of the holes providing several advantages for process choice and device manufacture. After removing part of the sacrificial buried layer to interconnect the trenches and the holes, the resulting vertical interconnect hole is filled to form a vertical interconnect.