IP Library Granted Patent US 12,349,394
Granted Patent B2
US 12,349,394 · App. 18/404,619 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Dielectric isolation layer between a nanowire transistor and a substrate

Inventors: Bruce E. Beattie (Portland, OR); Leonard Guler (Hillsboro, OR); Biswajeet Guha (Hillsboro, OR); Jun Sung Kang (Portland, OR); William Hsu (Hillsboro, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H10D30/6217H10D30/0243H10D62/115H10D62/121H10D62/151H10D64/017H10D64/512H10D84/013H10D84/0147H10D84/0158H10D84/038H10D84/834H10D30/6219
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,349,394
App. No.
18/404,619
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Gate all around semiconductor devices, such as nanowire or nanoribbon devices, are described that include a low dielectric constant (“low-k”) material disposed between a first nanowire closest to the substrate and the substrate. This configuration enables gate control over all surfaces of the nanowires in a channel region of a semiconductor device via the high-k dielectric material, while also preventing leakage current from the first nanowire into the substrate.

Claims (51)

1. An integrated circuit device comprising:

a stack of horizontal nanowires over a fin portion, the stack of horizontal nanowires comprising a first semiconductor material;

a first dielectric layer between the fin portion and the stack of horizontal nanowires, the first dielectric layer comprising a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, and the first dielectric layer having an uppermost surface;

a second dielectric layer completely surrounding a channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the second dielectric layer comprising a second dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant, a portion of the second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer;

a gate electrode completely surrounding the channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires and in contact with the second dielectric layer;

a source region and a drain region comprising a second semiconductor material, the source region and the drain region on opposing sides of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the source region and the drain region in contact with the first dielectric layer, and the source region and the drain region having a bottommost surface below the uppermost surface of the first dielectric layer; and

first and second gate spacers, wherein the first gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and one of the source region or drain region, and the second gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and the other of the source region or drain region.

2. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric layer is between the fin portion and a bottom surface of both the source region and the drain region.

3. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , wherein first portions of the source region and the drain region are in direct contact with the fin portion, and the first dielectric layer is on the fin portion between second portions of the source region and the drain region.

4. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a trench isolation structure laterally adjacent to the fin portion.

5. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 , wherein the fin portion has an uppermost surface at a same level as an uppermost surface of the trench isolation structure.

6. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric material comprises silicon and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen.

7. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric material comprises hafnium and oxygen.

8. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gate spacers each includes multiple portions that are discontinuous from one another.

9. A computing device, comprising:

a board; and

a component coupled to the board, the component including an integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a stack of horizontal nanowires over a fin portion, the stack of horizontal nanowires comprising a first semiconductor material;

a first dielectric layer between the fin portion and the stack of horizontal nanowires, the first dielectric layer comprising a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, and the first dielectric layer having an uppermost surface;

a second dielectric layer completely surrounding a channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the second dielectric layer comprising a second dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant, a portion of the second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer;

a gate electrode completely surrounding the channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires and in contact with the second dielectric layer;

a source region and a drain region comprising a second semiconductor material, the source region and the drain region on opposing sides of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the source region and the drain region in contact with the first dielectric layer, and the source region and the drain region having a bottommost surface below the uppermost surface of the first dielectric layer; and

first and second gate spacers, wherein the first gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and one of the source region or drain region, and the second gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and the other of the source region or drain region.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a memory coupled to the board.

11. The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a communication chip coupled to the board.

12. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the component is a packaged integrated circuit die.

13. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a processor, a communications chip, and a digital signal processor.

14. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device, the method comprising:

forming a stack of horizontal nanowires over a fin portion, the stack of horizontal nanowires comprising a first semiconductor material;

forming a first dielectric layer between the fin portion and the stack of horizontal nanowires, the first dielectric layer comprising a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, and the first dielectric layer having an uppermost surface;

forming a second dielectric layer completely surrounding a channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the second dielectric layer comprising a second dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant, a portion of the second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer;

forming a gate electrode completely surrounding the channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires and in contact with the second dielectric layer;

forming a source region and a drain region comprising a second semiconductor material, the source region and the drain region on opposing sides of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the source region and the drain region in contact with the first dielectric layer, and the source region and the drain region having a bottommost surface below the uppermost surface of the first dielectric layer; and

forming first and second gate spacers, wherein the first gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and one of the source region or drain region, and the second gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and the other of the source region or drain region.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first dielectric layer is between the fin portion and a bottom surface of both the source region and the drain region.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein first portions of the source region and the drain region are in direct contact with the fin portion, and the first dielectric layer is on the fin portion between second portions of the source region and the drain region.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

forming a trench isolation structure laterally adjacent to the fin portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fin portion has an uppermost surface at a same level as an uppermost surface of the trench isolation structure.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first dielectric material comprises silicon and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second dielectric material comprises hafnium and oxygen.

21. An integrated circuit device comprising:

a stack of horizontal nanowires over a fin portion, the stack of horizontal nanowires comprising a first semiconductor material;

a first dielectric layer between the fin portion and the stack of horizontal nanowires, the first dielectric layer comprising a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, and the first dielectric layer having an uppermost surface;

a second dielectric layer completely surrounding a channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires, the second dielectric layer comprising a second dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant, a portion of the second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer;

a gate electrode completely surrounding the channel region of the stack of horizontal nanowires and in contact with the second dielectric layer;

a source region and a drain region comprising a second semiconductor material, the source region and the drain region on opposing sides of the stack of horizontal nanowires, and the source region and the drain region having a bottommost surface below the uppermost surface of the first dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer is between the fin portion and a bottom surface of both the source region and the drain region; and

first and second gate spacers, wherein the first gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and one of the source region or drain region, and the second gate spacer is between the second dielectric material and the other of the source region or drain region.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 17850799 · Jun 27, 2022
Continuation 16015404 · Jun 22, 2018
Related Publication 20240145598A1 · May 2, 2024
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