Systems and methods for forming multiple fin structures using metal-induced-crystallization

1. A method of forming fin structures for a semiconductor device that includes a substrate and a dielectric layer formed on the substrate, the method comprising:

etching the dielectric layer to form a first structure;

depositing an amorphous silicon layer over the first structure;

etching the amorphous silicon layer to form second and third fin structures adjacent first and second side surfaces of the first structure, the second and third fin structures including amorphous silicon material;

depositing, using a mask, a metal layer on upper surfaces of the second and third fin structures and not on the first structure;

performing a metal-induced crystallization operation to convert the amorphous silicon material of the second and third fin structures to a crystalline silicon material; and

removing the first structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first structure ranges from about 200 Å to about 1000 Å.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the second and third fin structures ranges from about 100 Å to about 1000 Å.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the etching the dielectric layer includes:

thinning the first structure using an additional etching process.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the depositing a metal layer includes:

depositing a nickel layer to a thickness of about 20 Å.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the etching the amorphous silicon layer includes:

etching the amorphous silicon layer to form a plurality of fin structures, wherein the plurality of fin structures includes more than two fin structures.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing a metal-induced crystallization operation includes:

annealing the semiconductor device at a temperature of about 500° C. to about 550° C.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the annealing is performed for at least two hours.

10. A method of forming fin structures for a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a plurality of fin structures from amorphous silicon;

depositing, using a mask, a metal layer on a surface of each of the plurality of fin structures and not on dielectric structures separating the plurality of fin structures; and

annealing the metal layer to convert the amorphous silicon to crystalline silicon to produce a plurality of crystalline fin structures.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the plurality of fin structures comprises:

forming a layer of amorphous silicon; and

etching the layer of amorphous silicon to form each of the plurality of fin structures to a height ranging from about 500 Å to about 2000 Å and to a width ranging from about 100 Å to about 1000 Å.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the metal layer comprises nickel.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein depositing the metal layer comprises:

depositing the metal layer to a thickness of approximately 20 Å on the surface of each of the plurality of fin structures.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein annealing the metal layer comprises:

annealing the metal layer at a temperature of about 500° C. to about 550° C. for several hours.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

forming a source region at one end of the plurality of fin structures;

forming a drain region at an opposite end of the plurality of fin structures; and

forming at least one gate.

16. A method, comprising:

forming a fin structure from amorphous semiconducting material;

forming a mask to facilitate deposition of a metal layer on a surface of the fin structure and not on a dielectric structure formed adjacent the fin structure;

forming the metal layer on the surface of the fin structure; and

performing a metal-induced-crystallization operation upon the fin structure to convert the amorphous semiconducting material to crystalline semiconducting material.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the semiconducting material comprises silicon.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein performing a metal-induced-crystallization operation comprises:

annealing the metal layer to convert the amorphous silicon to crystalline silicon to produce a crystalline fin structure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein annealing the metal layer comprises:

annealing the metal layer at about 500° C. to about 550° C. for several hours.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the metal layer comprises nickel and wherein forming the metal layer comprises:

depositing the metal layer to a thickness of approximately 20 Å on the surface of the fin structure.