IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,742,202
Granted Patent B2
US 11,742,202 · App. 17/653,319 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Methods for making radio frequency (RF) semiconductor devices including a ground plane layer having a superlattice

Inventors: Hideki Takeuchi (San Jose, CA); Robert J. Mears (Wellesley, MA)
Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
H01L21/02507H01L21/0245H01L29/1054H01L29/155H01L29/7833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,742,202
App. No.
17/653,319
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device may include forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and including a conductive superlattice. The conductive superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a body above the RF ground plane layer, forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body, and forming a gate overlying the channel region.

Claims (37)

1. A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device comprising:

forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and comprising a conductive superlattice, the conductive superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions;

forming a body above the RF ground plane layer;

forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body; and

forming a gate overlying the channel region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF semiconductor device comprises an RF switch.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising forming a body contact coupled to the body and the RF ground plane layer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the body contact comprises first and second body contact portions adjacent opposite ends of the channel region.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF ground plane has a thickness in a range of 10-50 nm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the doped base semiconductor portions have a dopant concentration of at least 5×10 17 cm −3 .

7. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the gate comprises forming a gate insulator over the channel region, and forming a gate electrode over the gate insulator.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the doped base semiconductor monolayers comprise silicon.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-semiconductor monolayers comprise oxygen.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate comprises a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate.

11. A method for making a radio frequency (RF) semiconductor device comprising:

a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate;

forming an RF ground plane layer on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a conductive superlattice, the conductive superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked doped base silicon monolayers defining a doped base silicon portion, and at least one oxygen monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base silicon portions;

forming a body above the RF ground plane layer;

forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body; and

forming a gate overlying the channel region.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the RF semiconductor device comprises an RF switch.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming a body contact coupled to the body and the RF ground plane layer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the body contact comprises first and second body contact portions adjacent opposite ends of the channel region.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the RF ground plane has a thickness in a range of 10-50 nm.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the doped base semiconductor portions have a dopant concentration of at least 5×10 17 cm −3 .

17. The method of claim 11 wherein forming the gate comprises forming a gate insulator over the channel region, and forming a gate electrode over the gate insulator.

18. A method for making a radio frequency (RF) switch comprising:

forming an RF ground plane layer on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate comprising a conductive superlattice, the conductive superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked doped base semiconductor monolayers defining a doped base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent doped base semiconductor portions;

forming a body above the RF ground plane layer;

forming a body contact coupled to the body and the RF ground plane layer;

forming spaced apart source and drain regions adjacent the body and defining a channel region in the body; and

forming a gate overlying the channel region for controlling charge carrier flow through the channel region responsive to an RF switching control signal.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the body contact comprises first and second body contact portions adjacent opposite ends of the channel region.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the RF ground plane has a thickness in a range of 10-50 nm.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the doped base semiconductor portions have a dopant concentration of at least 5×10 17 cm −3 .

22. The method of claim 18 wherein forming the gate comprises forming a gate insulator over the channel region, and forming a gate electrode over the gate insulator.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the doped base semiconductor monolayers comprise silicon, and the non-semiconductor monolayers comprise oxygen.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: TAKEUCHI, HIDEKI; MEARS, ROBERT J.
To: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 059226/0608 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63159714 · Mar 11, 2021
Provisional Application 63156052 · Mar 3, 2021
Related Publication 20220285153A1 · Sep 8, 2022
Cited By (5)
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