IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,501,638
Granted Patent B2
US 12,501,638 · App. 17/867,037 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Semiconductor device having reduced impurity diffusion

Inventors: Martin Christopher Holland (San Jose, CA); Marcus Johannes Henricus Van Dal (Linden, BE)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
H10D30/024H10D30/6211H10D30/797H10D62/021H10D62/151H10D62/822H10D64/017
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,501,638
App. No.
17/867,037
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate structure is formed over a fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure is recessed. A first semiconductor layer is formed over the recessed source/drain region. A second semiconductor layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer. The fin structure is made of Si x Ge 1-x , where 0≤x≤0.3, the first semiconductor layer is made of Si y Ge 1-y , where 0.45≤y≤1.0, and the second semiconductor layer is made of Si z Ge 1-z , where 0≤z≤0.3.

Claims (57)

1 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

a gate structure disposed over a channel semiconductor layer;

a source/drain region disposed on a side of the channel semiconductor layer;

a barrier layer comprising silicon and comprising a thickness between 0.2 nm and 0.8 nm, disposed over the source/drain region;

a first epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the barrier layer;

a second epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the first epitaxial semiconductor layer and comprising an upper portion having top and side faces, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a plane aligned with a gate extending direction;

an isolation insulating layer contacting side faces of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer and contacting side faces of a lower portion of the second epitaxial semiconductor layer in the cross-sectional view;

a conductive contact disposed over the second epitaxial semiconductor layer such that the conductive contact wraps around the second epitaxial semiconductor layer and covers and contacts surfaces of the top and side faces of the upper portion, and contacts the isolation insulating layer; and

a dielectric layer having an opening filled by the conductive contact.

2 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer is disposed on the isolation insulating layer, and the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is disposed below an interface between the isolation insulating layer and the dielectric layer.

3 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the channel semiconductor layer is made of Si x Ge 1-x , where 0≤x≤0.3,

the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Si y Ge 1-y , where 0.45≤y≤1.0, and

the second epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Si z Ge 1-z , where 0≤z≤0.3.

4 . The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the channel semiconductor layer and the source/drain region are made of Ge, and the second epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Ge.

5 . The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Si.

6 . The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein 0.5≤y≤1.0.

7 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 0.8 nm.

8 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein an impurity concentration of the source/drain region is less than 1×10 18 atoms/cm 3 .

9 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the second epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Ge doped with phosphorous.

10 . The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein a concentration of phosphorous is in a range from 5×10 19 atoms/cm 3 to 1×10 20 atoms/cm 3 .

11 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the second epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Ge doped with boron.

12 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

a gate structure disposed over a channel semiconductor layer;

a source/drain region disposed on a side of the channel semiconductor layer;

a first barrier semiconductor layer, comprising Si y1 Ge 1-y1 , where 0.2≤y1≤0.7, disposed over the source/drain region;

a second barrier semiconductor layer, comprising Si y2 Ge 1-y2 , where 0.45≤y2≤1.0, disposed over the first barrier semiconductor layer;

a third barrier semiconductor layer, comprising Si y3 Ge 1-y3 , where 0.2≤y3≤0.7, disposed over the second barrier semiconductor layer;

an epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the third barrier semiconductor layer;

a conductive contact disposed over the epitaxial semiconductor layer such that the conductive contact wraps around the epitaxial semiconductor layer; and

a dielectric layer having an opening filled by the conductive contact.

13 . The semiconductor device of claim 12 wherein:

a thickness of the first barrier semiconductor layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 0.8 nm,

a thickness of the second barrier semiconductor layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 0.8 nm, and

a thickness of the third barrier semiconductor layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 0.8 nm.

14 . The semiconductor device of claim 13 , wherein:

the channel semiconductor layer is made of Si x Ge 1-x , where 0≤x≤0.3,

the epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Si z Ge 1-z , where 0≤z≤0.3, and

the first barrier semiconductor layer and the third barrier semiconductor layer comprise different compositions than the channel semiconductor layer and the second barrier semiconductor layer.

15 . The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein:

y1>x, y2>y1, y2>y3, and y3>z.

16 . The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein the second barrier semiconductor layer is made of Si, and 0.4≤y1 and y3≤0.6.

17 . The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein the channel semiconductor layer is made of Ge without doping.

18 . The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein the channel semiconductor layer is made of Ge, and the epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Ge.

19 . The semiconductor device of claim 14 , wherein the epitaxial semiconductor layer is made of Ge doped with phosphorous.

20 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

a gate structure disposed over a channel semiconductor layer;

a source/drain region disposed on a side of the channel semiconductor layer;

a first epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the source/drain region;

a second epitaxial semiconductor layer disposed over the first epitaxial semiconductor layer and comprising an upper portion having top and side faces, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a plane aligned with a gate extending direction;

an isolation insulating layer contacting side faces of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer and contacting side faces of a lower portion of the second epitaxial semiconductor layer in the cross-sectional view;

a conductive contact disposed over the second epitaxial semiconductor layer such that the conductive contact wraps around the second epitaxial semiconductor layer and covers and contacts surfaces of the top and side faces of the upper portion, and contacts the isolation insulating layer;

a dielectric layer having an opening filled by the conductive contact, wherein:

a thickness of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 0.8 nm,

a diffusion coefficient of phosphorous at 450° C. of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is less than 1×10 −21 cm 2 /s;

the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is disposed below an interface between the isolation insulating layer and the dielectric layer, and

the conductive contact extends to the interface between the isolation insulating layer and the dielectric layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: HOLLAND, MARTIN CHRISTOPHER; VAN DAL, MARCUS JOHANNES HENRICUS
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060536/0153 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16370722 · Mar 29, 2019
Provisional Application 62736708 · Sep 26, 2018
Related Publication 20220367687A1 · Nov 17, 2022
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