IP Library Granted Patent US 8,587,070
Granted Patent B2
US 8,587,070 · App. 13/359,174 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Method of forming a semiconductor structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,587,070
App. No.
13/359,174
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprises forming a first layer of silicon and then forming a second, silicon germanium, layer adjacent the silicon layer. A thin third layer of silicon is then formed adjacent the second layer. A gate structure is then formed upon the third layer of silicon using convention Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor processes. Trenches are then formed into the second layer and the structure is then exposed to a thermal gaseous chemical etchant, for example heated hydrochloric acid. The etchant removes the silicon germanium, thereby forming a Silicon-On-Nothing structure. Thereafter, conventional CMOS processing techniques are applied to complete the structure as a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor, including the formation of spacer walls from silicon nitride, the silicon nitride also filling a cavity formed beneath the third layer of silicon by removal of the silicon germanium.

Claims (46)

1. A device comprising:

a first material layer;

a second material layer disposed over the first material layer;

a third material layer disposed over the second material layer;

a gate insulator layer disposed over the third material layer;

a gate electrode layer disposed over the gate insulator layer;

wherein the third material layer defines first and second trenches on opposite sides of the gate insulator layer and extending through the third material layer;

wherein the second material layer defines a region free of a semiconductor material of the second material layer and extending between the first and third material layers under the gate insulator layer; and

an insulator structure disposed in the region defined by the second material layer, extending through the first and second trenches of the third material layer, and forming sidewalls adjacent the gate insulator layer and the electrode layer.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein a semiconductor material of the first material layer is different from the semiconductor material of the second material layer.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a semiconductor material of the third material layer is different from the semiconductor material of the second material layer.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first material layer comprises silicon.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the third material layer comprises silicon.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second material layer comprises silicon-germanium.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first material layer forms a substrate.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the insulator structure includes a nitride of silicon.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the gate insulator layer comprises silicon dioxide.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a source region and a drain region formed in the third material layer on opposite sides of the gate insulator layer from each other and on different sides than the first and second trenches.

11. A device comprising:

a first material layer;

a second material layer disposed over the first material layer, the second material layer comprising silicon-germanium;

a third material layer disposed over the second material layer, the third material layer comprising silicon;

a gate structure disposed over the third material layer, the gate structure comprising:

a gate insulator layer disposed over the third material layer; and

a gate electrode layer disposed over the gate insulator layer;

wherein the third material layer defines first and second trenches on opposite sides of the gate structure and extending through the third material layer;

wherein the second material layer defines a region free of a semiconductor material of the second material layer and extending between the first and third material layers under the gate structure; and

an insulator structure disposed in the region defined by the second material layer, extending through the first and second trenches of the third material layer, and forming sidewalls adjacent the gate structure.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein a semiconductor material of the first material layer is different from the semiconductor material of the second material layer.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first material layer comprises silicon.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first material layer forms a substrate.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the insulator structure includes a nitride of silicon.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the gate insulator layer comprises silicon dioxide.

17. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a source region and a drain region formed in the third material layer on opposite sides of the gate structure from each other and on different sides than the first and second trenches.

18. A device comprising:

a first material layer;

a second material layer disposed over the first material layer;

a third material layer disposed over the second material layer;

a first gate structure including:

a gate insulator layer disposed over the third material layer; and

a gate electrode layer disposed over the gate insulator layer;

wherein the third material layer defines first and second trenches on opposite sides of the first gate structure and extending through the third material layer;

wherein the second material layer defines a region free of a semiconductor material of the second material layer and extending between the first and third material layers under the first gate structure; and

a second gate structure disposed in the region defined by the second material layer.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the second material layer comprises silicon-germanium.

20. The device of claim 18 , wherein the second gate structure includes conductive polysilicon.

Assignments (26)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040925 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V. F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 052917/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040928 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 052915/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 11759915 AND REPLACE IT WITH APPLICATION 11759935 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037486 FRAME 0517. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 053547/0421 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0387 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042985 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051030/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042762 FRAME 0145. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0184 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050745/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
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CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. FROM 13,883,290 TO 13,833,290 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 041703 FRAME 0536. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS.. Recorded Feb 20, 2019
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To: SHENZHEN XINGUODU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
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CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENTS 8108266 AND 8062324 AND REPLACE THEM WITH 6108266 AND 8060324 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037518 FRAME 0292. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Feb 1, 2017
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From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
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CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 8, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 040928/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP, B.V., F/K/A FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
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CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12092129 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Jul 14, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2016
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To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
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SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2016
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PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
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PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
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PATENT RELEASE Recorded Dec 21, 2015
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SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 6, 2013
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