IP Library Granted Patent US 12672312
Granted Patent B2
US 12672312 · App. 18/317,764 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Integrated circuit device and manufacturing method thereof

Inventors: Yi-Syuan Siao (Changhua City, TW); Chien-Yu Lin (Yilan County, TW); Meng-Han Chou (Hsinchu City, TW); Su-Hao Liu (Chiayi County, TW); Chi On Chui (Hsinchu City, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
H10D30/6735H10D30/014H10D30/43H10D30/6757H10D62/121H10D64/017H10D84/0167H10D84/038H10D84/85
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12672312
App. No.
18/317,764
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device includes forming first epitaxial stack comprising a first sacrificial layer and a first channel layer over a substrate; forming a second epitaxial stack comprising a second sacrificial layer and a second channel layer over the first epitaxial stack; etching a recess in the first and second epitaxial stacks, wherein the recess exposes end surfaces of the first and second channel layers; performing a first ion implantation process to form a first lightly doped region; performing a second ion implantation process to form a second lightly doped region, wherein a tilt angle of the second ion implantation process is greater than a tilt angle of the first ion implantation process; forming first and second source/drain epitaxial features in the recess; and replacing the first and the second sacrificial layers with a high-k/metal gate structure.

Claims (53)

1 . A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device, comprising:

forming a first epitaxial stack over a substrate, the first epitaxial stack comprising a first sacrificial layer and a first channel layer over the first sacrificial layer;

forming a second epitaxial stack over the first epitaxial stack, the second epitaxial stack comprising a second sacrificial layer and a second channel layer over the second sacrificial layer;

etching a recess in the second epitaxial stack and the first epitaxial stack, wherein the recess exposes end surfaces of the second channel layer and the first channel layer;

performing a first ion implantation process to form a first lightly doped region adjoining the first channel layer;

after performing the first ion implantation process, performing a second ion implantation process to form a second lightly doped region adjoining the second channel layer, wherein a tilt angle of the second ion implantation process is greater than a tilt angle of the first ion implantation process;

forming a first source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the first lightly doped region;

forming a second source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the second lightly doped region; and

replacing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer with a high-k/metal gate structure.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first lightly doped region has a first conductive type different from a second conductive type of the second lightly doped region.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tilt angle of the first ion implantation process is in a range from 0 degree to 5 degrees.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tilt angle of the second ion implantation process is in a range from 40 degree to 80 degrees.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

depositing a semiconductor layer into the recess prior to the first ion implantation process, wherein the semiconductor layer has a tapered sidewall facing away from the first channel layer.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein an angle between the tapered sidewall of the semiconductor layer and a top surface of the substrate is in a range from 5 degrees to 60 degrees.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a channel isolation dielectric between the first and second epitaxial stack.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a blocking feature over the first source/drain epitaxial feature, wherein forming the second source/drain epitaxial feature is performed such that the second source/drain epitaxial feature is over the blocking feature.

9 . A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device, comprising:

forming a first epitaxial stack over a substrate, the first epitaxial stack comprising a first sacrificial layer and a first channel layer over the first sacrificial layer;

forming a second epitaxial stack over the first epitaxial stack, the second epitaxial stack comprising a second sacrificial layer and a second channel layer over the second sacrificial layer;

forming a recess in the second epitaxial stack and the first epitaxial stack, wherein the recess has an upper sidewall adjacent the second epitaxial stack and a lower sidewall adjacent the first epitaxial stack, and an angle between the upper sidewall and a top surface of the substrate is greater than an angle between the lower sidewall and the top surface of the substrate;

performing a first ion implantation process to form a first lightly doped region adjoining the first channel layer;

after performing the first ion implantation process, performing a second ion implantation process to form a second lightly doped region adjoining the second channel layer;

forming a first source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the first lightly doped region;

forming a second source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the second lightly doped region; and

replacing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer with a gate structure.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the angle between the upper sidewall and the top surface of the substrate is in a range from 80 degrees to 90 degrees.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the angle between the lower sidewall and the top surface of the substrate is in a range from 5 degrees to 60 degrees.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the recess in the second epitaxial stack and the first epitaxial stack comprises:

etching a recess in the second epitaxial stack and the first epitaxial stack; and

depositing a semiconductor layer into the recess, wherein the semiconductor layer is in contact with the first channel layer but not with the second channel layer.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the semiconductor layer has a sidewall thickness decreasing as a distance from the substrate increases.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a tilt angle of the second ion implantation process is greater than a tilt angle of the first ion implantation process.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first lightly doped region has a first conductive type different from a second conductive type of the second lightly doped region.

16 . A method comprising:

forming a first epitaxial stack over a substrate, the first epitaxial stack comprising a first sacrificial layer and a first channel layer over the first sacrificial layer;

forming a middle semiconductor layer over the first epitaxial stack;

forming a second epitaxial stack over the middle semiconductor layer, the second epitaxial stack comprising a second sacrificial layer and a second channel layer over the second sacrificial layer;

etching a recess in the first and second epitaxial stacks and the middle semiconductor layer;

removing the middle semiconductor layer such that a space is between the first and second epitaxial stacks;

after removing the middle semiconductor layer, forming a middle dielectric layer in the space between the first and second epitaxial stacks;

performing a first ion implantation process to form a first lightly doped region adjoining the middle dielectric layer and the first channel layer;

after performing the first ion implantation process, performing a second ion implantation process to form a second lightly doped region adjoining the middle dielectric layer and the second channel layer;

forming a first source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the first lightly doped region;

forming a second source/drain epitaxial feature in the recess and adjoining the second lightly doped region; and

replacing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer with a gate structure.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second lightly doped region is formed in the second channel layer and the middle dielectric layer.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first lightly doped region is formed in the first channel layer and the middle dielectric layer.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a tilt angle of the second ion implantation process is greater than a tilt angle of the first ion implantation process.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

depositing a semiconductor layer into the recess prior to the first ion implantation process, wherein the semiconductor layer has a tapered sidewall facing away from the first channel layer.