IP Library Granted Patent US 9,006,020
Granted Patent B2
US 9,006,020 · App. 13/739,183 · Granted Apr 14, 2015

Method and system of providing dopant concentration control in different layers of a semiconductor device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,006,020
App. No.
13/739,183
Granted
Apr 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for controlling the amount of a second material incorporated into a first material by controlling the amount of a third material which can interact with the second material.

Claims (52)

1. A method comprising:

vaporizing a first material to be deposited on a substrate and a dopant material for doping the first material;

controlling an amount of the dopant material with which to dope the first material by having the dopant material chemically react with a third material;

doping the first material with the controlled amount of the dopant material such that only a portion of the dopant material is deposited on the substrate; and

forming the doped first material on the substrate,

wherein the third material comprises an oxidizing agent.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing agent comprises oxygen gas.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing agent comprises water vapor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises silicon.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first material has a silicon concentration in the range of about 0.0001% to about 5%.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises germanium.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises one of cadmium sulfide, cadmium telluride, cadmium selenide, zinc telluride, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, and any pseudo-binary or ternary compounds thereof.

8. A method comprising:

vaporizing a deposition material which includes a dopant in a first deposition chamber;

initiating flow of the deposition material which includes the dopant into a second deposition chamber for deposition onto a substrate in the second deposition chamber, the second deposition chamber being in vapor communication with the first deposition chamber;

dispersing a reacting agent in at least one of the first and second deposition chambers;

reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers; and

adjusting flow of the reacting agent to control the amount of dopant incorporated in the deposition material which is deposited on the substrate such that only a portion of the dopant is deposited on the substrate,

wherein the reacting agent comprises an oxidizing agent.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of dispersing a reacting agent in at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises dispersing the reacting agent in the second deposition chamber, and wherein the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers occurs in the second deposition chamber.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of dispersing a reacting agent in at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises dispersing the reacting agent in the first deposition chamber, and wherein the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers occurs in the first deposition chamber.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of dispersing a reacting agent in at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises dispersing the reacting agent in the second deposition chamber, and wherein the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers occurs in the second deposition chamber.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

dispersing additional reacting agent in the second deposition chamber; and

reacting the additional reacting agent in the second deposition chamber.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the oxidizing agent comprises oxygen gas.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the oxidizing agent comprises water vapor.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dopant comprises silicon.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the deposited material has a silicon concentration in the range of about 0.0001% to about 5%.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dopant comprises germanium.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deposition material comprises one of cadmium sulfide, cadmium telluride, cadmium selenide, zinc telluride, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, and any pseudo-binary or ternary compounds thereof.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deposition comprises one of vapor transport deposition, close-space sublimation, sputtering, pulse laser deposition, and chemical vapor deposition.

20. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting the temperature of the second deposition chamber.

21. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting the flow of the reacting agent into the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers.

22. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deposition material further comprises a base material, wherein the reactivity of the dopant for the reacting agent is greater than the reactivity of the dopant for the base material.

23. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one product of the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises one of tellurium gas, sulfur gas, sulfur dioxide gas, and selenium gas.

24. A method comprising:

vaporizing a deposition material which includes a dopant in a first deposition chamber;

initiating flow of the deposition material which includes the dopant into a second deposition chamber for deposition onto a substrate in the second deposition chamber, the second deposition chamber being in vapor communication with the first deposition chamber;

dispersing a reacting agent in at least one of the first and second deposition chambers;

reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers; and

adjusting flow of the reacting agent to control the amount of dopant incorporated in the deposition material which is deposited on the substrate such that only a portion of the dopant is deposited on the substrate,

wherein the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises at least one chemical reaction selected from the group consisting of:

SiTe x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) x/ 2Te 2(g) ;

SiS x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +x S (g) ;

SiS x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +SO 2(g) ; and

SiSe x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +x/ 2Se 2(g) .

25. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of reacting the reacting agent with the dopant in the at least one of the first and second deposition chambers comprises at least one chemical reaction selected from the group consisting of:

SiTe x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) x/ 2Te 2(g) ;

SiS x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +x S (g) ;

SiS x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +SO 2(g) ; and

SiSe x(g) +O 2(g) →SiO 2(s) +x/ 2Se 2(g) .

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 074858/0364 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064237/0462 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 058132/0566 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 058132/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 12, 2017
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 043177/0581 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT APPLICATION 13/895113 ERRONEOUSLY ASSIGNED BY FIRST SOLAR, INC. TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. ON JULY 19, 2013 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030832 FRAME 0088. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT PATENT APPLICATION TO BE ASSIGNED IS 13/633664. Recorded Sep 19, 2014
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 033779/0081 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 030832/0088 →