IP Library Granted Patent US 12,604,496
Granted Patent B2
US 12,604,496 · App. 17/950,316 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Epitaxy everywhere based self-aligned direct backside contact

Inventors: Ruilong Xie (Niskayuna, NY); Kisik Choi (Watervliet, NY); Muthumanickam Sankarapandian (Niskayuna, NY); Shogo Mochizuki (Mechanicville, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H10D30/6735H10D30/031H10D30/6757H10D62/121H10D64/01H10D64/256H10D86/201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,604,496
App. No.
17/950,316
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Self-aligned direct backside contacts by an epitaxy everywhere under source/drain region approach are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes: a field-effect transistor(s) on a backside interlayer dielectric; an epitaxial contact placeholder in the backside interlayer dielectric that directly contacts a first source/drain region of the field-effect transistor(s); and a self-aligned direct backside contact in the backside interlayer dielectric that directly contacts a second source/drain region of the field-effect transistor(s). The epitaxial contact placeholder extends a distance d 1 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the first source/drain region, and the self-aligned direct backside contact extends a distance d 2 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the second source/drain region, where d 2 >d 1 . The field-effect transistor(s) can include a stack of active layers surrounded by a gate, and the first/second source/drain regions on opposite sides thereof. A method of fabricating the present semiconductor device is also provided.

Claims (25)

1 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

at least one field-effect transistor on a backside interlayer dielectric;

an epitaxial contact placeholder embedded in, and surrounded by, the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder directly contacts a first source/drain region of the at least one field-effect transistor; and

a self-aligned direct backside contact embedded in, and surrounded by, the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the self-aligned direct backside contact directly contacts a second source/drain region of the at least one field-effect transistor,

wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder extends a distance d 1 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the first source/drain region, wherein the self-aligned direct backside contact extends a distance d 2 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the second source/drain region, and wherein d 2 >d 1 .

2 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a middle of line source/drain contact in direct contact with an end of the first source/drain region opposite the epitaxial contact placeholder.

3 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: epitaxial silicon germanium (SiGe), an epitaxial III-V material, and combinations thereof.

4 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder comprises epitaxial SiGe.

5 . The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the epitaxial SiGe comprises from about 15% germanium (Ge) to about 60% Ge.

6 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a backside power rail disposed on the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the backside power rail directly contacts the self-aligned direct backside contact.

7 . The semiconductor device of claim 6 , wherein the backside interlayer dielectric separates the epitaxial contact placeholder from the backside power rail.

8 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

at least one field-effect transistor on a backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the at least one field-effect transistor comprises a stack of active layers, a gate surrounding the active layers in a gate-all-around configuration, and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the stack of active layers;

an epitaxial contact placeholder embedded in, and surrounded by, the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder directly contacts a first one of the source/drain regions; and

a self-aligned direct backside contact embedded in, and surrounded by, the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the self-aligned direct backside contact directly contacts a second one of the source/drain regions,

wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder extends a distance d 1 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the first one of the source/drain regions, wherein the self-aligned direct backside contact extends a distance d 2 into the backside interlayer dielectric from the second one of the source/drain regions, and wherein d 2 >d 1 .

9 . The semiconductor device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a middle of line source/drain contact in direct contact with an end of the first one of the source/drain regions opposite the epitaxial contact placeholder.

10 . The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the epitaxial contact placeholder comprises epitaxial SiGe.

11 . The semiconductor device of claim 10 , wherein the epitaxial SiGe comprises from about 15% Ge to about 60% Ge.

12 . The semiconductor device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a backside power rail disposed on the backside interlayer dielectric, wherein the backside power rail directly contacts the self-aligned direct backside contact.

13 . The semiconductor device of claim 12 , wherein the backside interlayer dielectric separates the epitaxial contact placeholder from the backside power rail.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2022
From: XIE, RUILONG; CHOI, KISIK; SANKARAPANDIAN, MUTHUMANICKAM; MOCHIZUKI, SHOGO
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061181/0272 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240105799A1 · Mar 28, 2024
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