IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,811,518
Granted Patent B2
US 10,811,518 · App. 16/657,723 · Granted Oct 20, 2020

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device

Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng (Hsinchu, TW); Chen-Feng Hsu (Hsinchu, TW); Tzu-Chiang Chen (Hsinchu, TW); Tung Ying Lee (Hsinchu, TW); Wei-Sheng Yun (Taipei, TW); Yu-Lin Yang (Baoshan Township, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
H01L29/66553B82Y10/00H01L21/823821H01L29/0653H01L29/0673H01L29/0847H01L29/165H01L29/42392H01L29/66439H01L29/66545H01L29/66795H01L29/775H01L29/785
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,811,518
App. No.
16/657,723
Granted
Oct 20, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space. The first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space to cover the inner spacer. A lateral end of each of the first semiconductor layers has a V-shape cross section after the first semiconductor layers are laterally etched.

Claims (58)

1. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a fin structure in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked;

forming a sacrificial gate structure over the fin structure, wherein the sacrificial gate structure includes first and second hard mask layers disposed on a sacrificial gate electrode layer;

removing first semiconductor layers from a source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, thereby forming a source/drain space, wherein the second semiconductor layers remain in the source/drain space;

laterally etching the first semiconductor layers through the source/drain space;

forming an inner spacer made of a dielectric material on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers;

forming a source/drain epitaxial layer to wrap around the second semiconductor layers in the source/drain space and to cover the inner spacer; and

forming a source/drain contact layer in contact with the source/drain epitaxial layer that wraps around the second semiconductor layers,

wherein the inner spacer includes two layers having a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer, and the first layer having a smaller thickness than the second layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner spacer is formed by:

forming a dielectric layer in the source/drain space; and

etching the dielectric layer, thereby leaving the inner spacer on the end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers remaining.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the first semiconductors are laterally etched forming sidewall spacers on side faces of the sacrificial gate structure,

wherein sidewall spacers are made of a different material than the inner spacer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the inner spacers include at least one of silicon nitride and silicon oxide.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the inner spacers include at least one of SiOC, SiOCN and SiCN.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after the source/drain epitaxial layer is formed:

removing the sacrificial gate structure, thereby exposing a part of the fin structure;

removing the first semiconductor layers from the exposed fin structure, thereby forming channel layers including the second semiconductor layers; and

forming a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer around the channel layers,

wherein the gate electrode layer is isolated from the source/drain epitaxial layer by the inner spacer and the gate dielectric layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first semiconductor layers are made of SiGe, and

the second semiconductor layers are made of Si.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first semiconductor layers are made of Si, and

the second semiconductor layers are made of SiGe.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an end of the inner spacer opposite to the source/drain epitaxial layer is curved.

10. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure, in both which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked;

forming a first sacrificial gate structure over the first fin structure and a second sacrificial gate structure over the second fin structure;

while the second fin structure with the second sacrificial gate structure are protected,

etching a source/drain region of the first fin structure, which is not covered by the first sacrificial gate structure, thereby forming a first source/drain space;

laterally etching the first semiconductor layers in the first source/drain space;

forming a first inner spacer made of a dielectric material on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers; and

forming a first source/drain epitaxial layer in the first source/drain space to cover the inner spacer, thereby forming a first structure;

while the first structure is protected,

etching the second semiconductor layers in a source/drain region of the second fin structure, which is not covered by the second sacrificial gate structure, thereby forming a second source/drain space;

laterally etching the second semiconductor layers through the second source/drain space;

forming a second inner spacer made of a dielectric material on an end of each of the etched second semiconductor layers; and

forming a second source/drain epitaxial layer in the second source/drain space to cover the second inner spacer, thereby forming a second structure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the first inner spacer and the second inner spacer includes two layers.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, before the first semiconductors are laterally etched forming sidewall spacers on side faces of the sacrificial gate structure,

wherein sidewall spacers are made of a different material than the first inner spacer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the first inner spacer and the second inner spacer includes at least one of silicon nitride and silicon oxide.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the first inner spacer and the second inner spacer includes at least one of SiOC, SiOCN and SiCN.

15. A semiconductor device, comprising:

semiconductor wires disposed over a substrate;

a source/drain epitaxial layer in contact with the semiconductor wires;

a gate dielectric layer disposed on and wrapping around each channel region of the semiconductor wires;

a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer and wrapping around the each channel region;

a gate sidewall spacer disposed on a side face of the gate electrode layer; and

insulating spacers each enclosed by adjacent semiconductor wires, the gate dielectric layer and the source/drain region,

wherein an additional insulating spacer is disposed between an uppermost one of the semiconductor wires and the gate sidewall spacer.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein each of the insulating spacers and the additional insulating spacer includes two layers.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein the insulating spacers and the additional insulating spacer include at least one of SiOC, SiOCN and SiCN.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , wherein the gate sidewall spacer is made of a different material than the insulating spacers and the additional insulating spacer.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein an interface between the gate dielectric layer and each of the insulating spacers is curved.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2019
From: CHENG, CHAO-CHING; HSU, CHEN-FENG; CHEN, TZU-CHIANG; LEE, TUNG YING; YUN, WEI-SHENG; YANG, YU-LIN
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050764/0555 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15798270 · Oct 30, 2017
Related Publication 20200052091A1 · Feb 13, 2020