IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,142,641
Granted Patent B2
US 12,142,641 · App. 18/069,287 · Granted Nov 12, 2024

Method for making gate-all-around (GAA) device including a superlattice

Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks (Chandler, AZ); Nyles Wynn Cody (Tempe, AZ); Marek Hytha (Brookline, MA); Robert J. Mears (Wellesley, MA); Robert John Stephenson (Duxford, GB); Hideki Takeuchi (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
H01L29/152H01L29/66477H01L29/7849
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,142,641
App. No.
18/069,287
Granted
Nov 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, the method may include forming at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.

Claims (35)

1. A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device comprising:

forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate;

forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions;

forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement; and

forming at least one superlattice within at least one of the nanostructures, the at least one superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice comprises oxygen and is devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second group of layers is above the first group of layers in the superlattice.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and is devoid of oxygen.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and oxygen.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one superlattice comprises first and second vertically spaced-apart superlattices within the at least one semiconductor nanostructure.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one superlattice is vertically centered within the at least one semiconductor nanostructure.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming spaced shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in the semiconductor substrate.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the base semiconductor portion comprises silicon.

10. A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device comprising:

forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate;

forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions;

forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement; and

forming a superlattice vertically centered within at least one of the nanostructures, the superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions;

the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice comprising oxygen and devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice comprising carbon.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second group of layers is above the first group of layers in the superlattice.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and is devoid of oxygen.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and oxygen.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising forming spaced shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in the semiconductor substrate.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the base semiconductor portion comprises silicon.

16. A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device comprising:

forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate;

forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions;

forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement; and

forming first and second vertically spaced-apart superlattices within the at least one semiconductor nanostructure, each of the first and second superlattices comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions;

the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice comprising oxygen and devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice comprising carbon.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second group of layers is above the first group of layers in the superlattice.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and is devoid of oxygen.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the second group of layers of the superlattice comprises carbon and oxygen.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising forming spaced shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in the semiconductor substrate.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the base semiconductor portion comprises silicon.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2022
From: WEEKS, KEITH DORAN; CODY, NYLES WYNN; HYTHA, MAREK; MEARS, ROBERT J.; STEPHENSON, ROBERT JOHN; TAKEUCHI, HIDEKI
To: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 062248/0557 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17305098 · Jun 30, 2021
Provisional Application 63047356 · Jul 2, 2020
Related Publication 20230122723A1 · Apr 20, 2023