Abstract: A thin film solar cell having a semiconductor layer deposited on a substrate is composed of a passivation layer made of a polymer resin coated on the upper portion of the semiconductor layer, and an upper electrode made of a conductive paste laminated on the passivation layer. Also, a collector electrode may be laminated on the upper electrode by electroplating. A method for fabricating a solar cell by depositing a semiconductor layer on the substrate includes coating a passivation layer made of a polymer resin on the upper portion of the semiconductor layer, and laminating an upper electrode made of a conductive paste containing a component capable of dissolving the polymer resin on the passivation layer. Also, the method may include laminating a collector electrode on the upper electrode by electroplating.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with an electrode wiring structure comprises at least one diffused region provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicon oxide layer covering the substrate surface, a silicon nitride layer provided on the silicon oxide layer, a through-hole reaching the diffused region through the silicon oxide layer from an upper surface of the silicon nitride layer, a silicon semiconductor layer filled in the through-hole and serving as an electrode wiring layer, and an interconnection layer electrically connected to the diffused region through the silicon semiconductor layer. According to the structure, since the silicon oxide layer is covered with the silicon nitride layer, unwanted contaminations such as phosphorus, boron, etc., previously contained in the silicon oxide layer are not added to the silicon semiconductor layer during its growth process. Therefore, the electrode wiring layer of silicon semiconductor having controlled conductivity can be provided.

Abstract: A process is described for forming, over a silicon surface, a titanium nitride barrier layer having a surface of (111) crystallographic orientation. The process comprises: depositing a first titanium layer over a silicon surface; sputtering a titanium nitride layer over the titanium layer; depositing a second titanium layer over the sputtered titanium nitride layer; and then annealing the structure in the presence of a nitrogen-bearing gas, and in the absence of an oxygen-bearing gas, to form the desired titanium nitride having a surface of (111) crystallographic orientation and a sufficient thickness to provide protection of the underlying silicon against spiking of the aluminum. When an aluminum layer is subsequently formed over the (111) oriented titanium nitride surface, the aluminum will then assume the same (111) crystallographic orientation, resulting in an aluminum layer having enhanced resistance to electromigration.

Abstract: Insulator films (5) formed on an epitaxial layer (3) are opened such that external base regions (17) are not covered with the insulator films (5). Cross sections (14a) of the insulator films (5) are concavely sloped downward from the insulator films (5) toward an intrinsic base region (18) in the vicinity of the epitaxial layer (3). Base electrodes (15) which are in contact with the insulator films (5) along the cross sections (14a) are connected to the external base regions (17), so that coverage of the base electrodes (15) over the external base regions (17) is improved. The base resistance of a bipolar transistor (101) is reduced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming contact holes in insulating layers to expose an impurity doped region of a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial layer is then grown in the contact hole. A polycrystalline silicon layer is formed over the top to provide the lower electrode of a capacitor. Accordingly, the polycrystalline layer is separated from the impurity doped region thereby preventing current leakage.

Abstract: A low-leakage-current JFET having electrically isolated top and bottom gates. The structure employs enclosed geometry wherein one source/drain region fully surrounds the other source/drain region. Connection to the top gate is made through a diffusion-barrier to prevent penetration of metallization into the top gate contact region. A non-penetrating contact layer is provided on the upper surface of the top gate so that the material of the contact layer does not enter the top gate region to any significant extent. Both the channel region and the shield layer are formed by ion-implantation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a MOS element having a buried contact structure. The buried contact structure includes a first contact diffused region formed by diffusion from a polycrystalline silicon layer and a second contact diffused region formed by diffusion deeper than the first contact diffused region, so that a parasitic resistance of the MOS element can be reduced. In a composite element composed of the MOS element and a bipolar element, partly since the first contact diffused region and an emitter diffused region of the bipolar element can be formed simultaneously, and partly since the depth of connection of the emitter diffused region, with the parasitic resistance of the MOS element being reduced, it is possible to realize a high-speed operation.

Abstract: A contact structure for interconnection in semiconductor devices provides electrical contact between an impurity-diffused region formed in a silicon substrate and a polycrystalline silicon layer through a contact hole. The contact structure for interconnection comprises the silicon substrate, the impurity-diffused region, an insulating oxide film, the interconnection layer formed of a polycrystalline silicon layer containing impurities. The impurity-diffused region is formed in a main surface of the silicon substrate as a source/drain region of an MOS transistor. The insulating oxide film has a contact hole formed therethrough to reach a surface of this impurity-diffused region. A sidewall layer of polycrystalline silicon is formed on the bottom peripheral edge of the contact hole. The interconnection layer is formed on the sidewall layer of polycrystalline silicon and over the insulating oxide film to get contact with the surface of the impurity-diffused region exposed by the contact hole.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a metal film for forming a bonding pad on the first insulation film, and a second insulation film which is formed between the first insulation film and the bonding pad and which is stiffer than the first insulation film.

Abstract: A structure formed by the method of forming a highly conductive electrical contact to a semiconductor region of an integrated circuits device is described. An opening to the semiconductor region is provided through an insulating layer. A thin first layer of aluminium having a first grain size is sputter deposited over and in the opening covering the surface of the semiconductor region. A second layer of aluminium having a second and substantially different grain size from the thin first layer of aluminium is sputter deposited thereover. The resulting aluminum structure is subjected in its normal process of manufacture to temperature cycling of greater than about 300.degree. C. whereby any formed silicon nodules are preferentially formed at the boundary of the thin first layer of aluminium and the second layer of aluminium. The second layer of aluminium may in one alternative completely fill the opening. In another alternative, a third layer has substantially the same grain size as the first aluminum.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, an impurity diffused layer serving as an active region is formed in a predetermined region of the surface of a semiconductor substrate of silicon, an underlayer insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate for the purpose of protecting and stabilizing the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an interconnection electrically connected to the impurity diffused layer through a contact hole and formed on an Al-Si-Sn alloy, an Al-Si-Sb alloy or alloys having Ti added to the respective alloys, so that occurrence of an alloy pit and a silicon nodule is prevented. In addition, a completed protective film is formed on the interconnection and the underlayer insulating film and an aperture in a bonding pad region is formed in a predetermined region of the completed protective film, so that the interconnection and the bonding pad are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: An SB FET comprising source and drain regions formed in the surface of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate, and a channel region formed between the source and drain regions. The gate electrode of the SB FET is formed on the channel region in Schottky contact therewith. The SB FET further comprises source and drain electrodes which are mounted on the source and drain regions in ohmic contact therewith, while being separated from each other at a greater distance than the length of the channel region.

Abstract: A thin film forming method and apparatus, wherein a negative voltage is applied alternately to a target and a substrate to perform film formation and reverse sputter alternately. Further, a coil is mounted between the target and the substrate and a high frequency current is made to flow therethrough to generate plasma. A negative base voltage smaller in absolute value than that during sputter may be applied to the substrate to make Ar ions flow into the substrate while it is subjected to reverse sputter. Thus, a film whose step coverage is 0.3 or more is possible. It becomes also possible to maintain a stable discharge and perform reverse sputter in a high vacuum region. The pressure of an Ar atmosphere may be lowered to 10.sup.-3 Torr or less. An aluminum wiring film whose peak value of x-ray diffraction strength at a (111) plane is 150 Kcps or more is possible.