U.S. patent application number 13/494795 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for homo-junction diode structures using fin field effect transistor processing.
This patent application is currently assigned to TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Sun-Jay CHANG, Chung-Hui CHEN, Jaw-Juinn HORNG, Chia-Hsin HU. Invention is credited to Sun-Jay CHANG, Chung-Hui CHEN, Jaw-Juinn HORNG, Chia-Hsin HU.
Application Number | 20130328162 13/494795 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49714606 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130328162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HU; Chia-Hsin ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
HOMO-JUNCTION DIODE STRUCTURES USING FIN FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR
PROCESSING
Abstract
Diodes and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are formed in IC
devices that include fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) by
utilizing various process steps in the FinFET formation process.
The diode or BJT includes an isolated fin area and fin array area
having n-wells having different depths and a p-well in a portion of
the fin array area that surrounds the n-well in the isolated fin
area. The n-wells and p-well for the diodes and BJTs are implanted
together with the FinFET n-wells and p-wells.
Inventors: |
HU; Chia-Hsin; (Changhua
City, TW) ; CHANG; Sun-Jay; (Hsinchu City, TW)
; HORNG; Jaw-Juinn; (Hsinchu, TW) ; CHEN;
Chung-Hui; (Hsinchu City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HU; Chia-Hsin
CHANG; Sun-Jay
HORNG; Jaw-Juinn
CHEN; Chung-Hui |
Changhua City
Hsinchu City
Hsinchu
Hsinchu City |
|
TW
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, LTD.
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
49714606 |
Appl. No.: |
13/494795 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/526 ;
257/E21.37; 257/E21.546; 257/E29.174; 438/359; 438/433 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 29/861 20130101;
H01L 27/0623 20130101; H01L 27/0664 20130101; H01L 27/0629
20130101; H01L 27/0814 20130101; H01L 27/0635 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/526 ;
438/433; 438/359; 257/E29.174; 257/E21.546; 257/E21.37 |
International
Class: |
H01L 29/73 20060101
H01L029/73; H01L 21/331 20060101 H01L021/331; H01L 21/762 20060101
H01L021/762 |
Claims
1. A diode comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a plurality
of fins in an isolated fin area and a plurality of fin arrays in a
fin array area; an n-well in the isolated fin area having an n-well
depth; a p-well in the isolated fin area below the n-well; and, a
p-well in the fin array area having a p-well depth greater than the
n-well depth and contiguous to the p-well in the isolated fin area;
wherein a fin pitch in the isolated fin area is greater than about
0.3 microns, and wherein an intra-array fin pitch in the fin array
area is less than about 50 nanometers (nm).
2. The diode of claim 1, wherein the p-well in the isolated fin
area has a minimum thickness of 35 nm.
3. The diode of claim 1, further comprising a deep n-well below the
p-well in the isolated fin area and the fin array area, and at
least one n-well laterally surrounding the p-well in the fin array
area.
4. The diode of claim 1, wherein the at least one n-well is a
collector terminal in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).
5. The diode of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fin
arrays in the fin array area comprises 2 fins.
6. The diode of claim 1, further comprising one or more shallow
trench isolation (STI) features between the plurality of fin arrays
in the fin array area.
7. A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) comprising: a semiconductor
substrate having a plurality of fins in an isolated fin area and a
plurality of fin arrays in a fin array area; shallow trench
isolation (STI) features laterally surrounding the plurality of
fins in the isolated fin area; an n-well in the isolated fin area
partially below the STI features; a p-well in the isolated fin area
below the n-well having a minimum thickness of 35 nm; a p-well in
the fin array area having a p-well depth greater than the n-well
depth in the isolated fin area and is contiguous to the p-well in
the isolated fin area; one or more STI features between fin arrays
in the fin array area; an n-well laterally surrounding the p-well
in the fin array area; and a deep n-well below the p-well and the
n-well in the fin array area that is contiguous to the n-well in
the fin array area, wherein the STI features in the isolated fin
area have a depth greater than a depth of STI features in the fin
array area.
8. The BJT of claim 7, wherein the n-well in the isolated fin area
is a negative terminal of a diode and the p-well in the fin array
is a positive terminal of the diode.
9. The BJT of claim 7, wherein the n-well in the isolated fin area
is about 35 nm to about 105 nm below the STI features.
10. The BJT of claim 7, wherein a maximum width of the n-well in
the isolated fin area is between about 0.2 microns to about 5
microns.
11-20. (canceled)
21. A diode comprising: a semiconductor substrate having an
isolated fin area and a fin array area; a first plurality of fins
in the isolation fin area; a second plurality of fins in the fin
array area; a first n-well in the isolated fin area having a first
n-well depth; a first p-well in the isolated fin area below the
first n-well; and, a second p-well in the fin array area having a
second p-well depth greater than the first n-well depth and
contiguous to the first p-well; a first cap layer on each fin of
the first plurality of fins; and a second cap layer on each fin of
the second plurality of fins, wherein the second cap layer of
adjacent fins of the second plurality of are merged.
22. The diode of claim 21, wherein the first cap layer and the
second cap layer comprise at least one of silicon germanium or
silicon carbide.
23. The diode of claim 21, wherein each fin of the first plurality
of fins is in electrical contact with the first n-well, and each
fin of the second plurality of fins is in electrical contact with
the second p-well.
24. The diode of claim 23, further comprising: a second n-well in
the fin array area, the second n-well surrounding the second
p-well; and a third plurality of fins in the fin array area, each
fin of the third plurality of fins in electrical contact with the
second n-well.
25. The diode of claim 24, further comprising: an emitter contact
over the first plurality of fins; a base contact over the second
plurality of fins; and a collector contact over the third plurality
of fins.
26. The diode of claim 21, further comprising: a first shallow
trench isolation (STI) feature separating adjacent fins of the
first plurality of fins, the first STI feature having a first
depth; and a second STI feature separating adjacent fins of the
second plurality of fins, the second STI feature having a second
depth less than the first depth.
27. The diode of claim 21, wherein a pitch between adjacent fins of
the first plurality of fins is less than a pitch between adjacent
fins of the second plurality of fins.
28. The diode of claim 27, wherein the pitch between the adjacent
fins of the first plurality of fins is greater than about 0.3
microns, and the pitch between the adjacent fins of the second
plurality of fins is less than about 50 nanometers (nm).
29. The diode of claim 21, a deep n-well below both the first
p-well and the second p-well.
30. The diode of claim 21, wherein at least one fin of the second
plurality of fins comprises: a first sidewall having a first
length; and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the
second sidewall having a second length different from the first
length.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC)
devices, and more particularly to structure and methods for forming
diode structures in IC devices that includes fin field-effect
transistors (FinFETs).
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the rapidly advancing semiconductor manufacturing
industry, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) FinFET
devices are used in many logic and other applications and are
integrated into various different types of semiconductor devices.
FinFET devices include semiconductor fins in which the channel and
source/drain regions for the transistor are formed. A gate is
formed over and along the sides of a portion of the semiconductor
fins. The increased surface area of the channel and source/drain
regions in a FinFET, as compared to planar transistors having a
same device area, results in faster, more reliable and
better-controlled semiconductor transistor devices.
[0003] IC devices that include CMOS FinFETs also require other
semiconductor structures and transistors, such as diodes and
bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). These other semiconductor
structures and transistors are formed along side and concurrently
with the FinFETs using the same materials and processes. In one
example of thermal sensor application, diodes are formed using a
p-junction of silicon germanium (SiGe) that is epitaxially grown on
n-type doped silicon between isolation features and an n-junction
of silicon carbide (SiC) formed across an isolation feature from
the p-junction. A NPN BJT is formed using two such diodes that
share the n-junction.
[0004] Diodes and BJT structures formed along side FinFETs using
the same manufacturing processes that utilize fin structures formed
for FinFETs while minimizing additional manufacturing steps and
have improved electrical properties continue to be sought.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from
the following detailed description when read with the accompanying
figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard
practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale.
In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily
increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
[0006] FIG. 1A is a top view diagram of a partially fabricated
bipolar junction transistor (BJT) formed using fin field effect
transistor (FinFET) manufacturing processes in accordance with
various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 1B is a cross section diagram of the partially
fabricated BJT of FIG. 1A in accordance with various embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2A illustrates a cross sectional view of an isolated
fin area in accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2B illustrates a cross sectional view of a fin array
area in accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for fabricating diode and
BJT structures in accordance with various embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0011] FIGS. 4A to 4L illustrate cross sections of partially
fabricated devices according to various steps in the method of FIG.
3 in accordance with various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a diode or BJT formed in
accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The making and using of illustrative embodiments are
discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that
the disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that can
be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. Specific
examples of components and arrangements are described below to
simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely
examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the
formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the
description that follows may include embodiments in which the first
and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also
include embodiments in which additional features may be formed
between the first and second features, such that the first and
second features may not be in direct contact. Of course, the
description may specifically state whether the features are
directly in contact with each other. In addition, the present
disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the
various examples. The specific embodiments discussed are merely
illustrative and do not limit the scope of the invention.
[0014] A generic description of a fin field effect transistor
(FinFET) and manufacturing process is described to provide context
for the diode and bipolar junction transistor (BJT) structure and
manufacturing processes. FinFETs use a substantially rectangular
fin structure of silicon. The rectangular fin structure is long and
narrow, having a broad side and a narrow side. The silicon fins may
be formed by etching into a bulk silicon substrate through
patterned hardmasks. A dielectric material such as shallow trench
isolation (STI) is deposited to fill gaps between the fins. After
further processing, a top portion of the fin is exposed between STI
features. The fins are implanted with an n-type dopant or a p-type
dopant to form n-wells or p-wells in the source/drain and channel
regions. A gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode layer are
deposited over the fins and the STI layer and patterned to form
gate stacks over the channel region of the fins. The gate electrode
layer is formed on the gate dielectric layer and may be formed of a
conductive material such as doped polysilicon, metals, or metal
nitrides. Fin portions not under the gate stacks are then
optionally doped to form lightly doped drain and source (LDD)
regions. The LDD regions may be doped by ion-implanting or by
plasma doping where dopants are deposited onto the fin and
annealed.
[0015] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
a diode or BJT includes an isolated fin area and fin array area
having n-wells having different depths and a p-well in the fin
array area that surrounds the n-wells in the isolated fin area. The
n-wells and p-well for the diodes and BJTs are implanted together
with the FinFET n-wells and p-wells to avoid additional processing
steps for the diode or BJT formation. By utilizing localized
loading effects for etching based on fin density, different depths
of STI features are formed adjacent to fins in different fin
density areas. The different STI depths, in turn, allow control of
implantation dosage without additional photomask steps to achieve
n-wells having different depths.
[0016] FIG. 1A is a top view diagram of a partially fabricated
bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or diode 100 using a FinFET
manufacturing process. FIG. 1B is a diagram of a cross section
plane of the BJT 100 of FIG. 1A cut by line 102. The BJT 100
includes a number of fins separated into two areas. Isolated fin
area 106 includes isolated fins 104; and fin array area 112
includes fins 108 or 120 grouped into fin arrays 110. As shown,
isolated fin area 106 includes 3 fins. According to various
embodiments, isolated fin areas include at least 2 fins or at least
3 fins. A fin pitch in the isolated fin area is greater than about
0.3 microns. A distance between adjacent isolated fins may be about
0.3 microns to 1.2 microns. In some embodiments, the isolated fins
may include 2 or more columns of isolated fins.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1A, fin arrays 110 include 2 fins per
array, but more fins may be used per array. For example, a fin
array may include 3-5 fins. The number of fins per array is
selected based on a required STI thickness to achieved desired
implantation depth. The fin array area 112 has a higher fin density
than the isolated fin area 106. An intra-array fin pitch, distance
between adjacent fin centers in an array, is less than about 50
nanometers (nm). The distance between fin arrays or between nearest
fins of adjacent arrays is greater than 60 nm. While FIG. 1A shows
an isolated fin area 106 in the middle of the BJT 100, the isolated
fin area 106 may be off-center or at an edge of the BJT 100. The
fin array area 112 is separated by a box 114 into two regions: a
p-well region 116 with fins 120 and an n-well region 118 with fins
108.
[0018] The isolated fin area 106 and fin array area 112 are
illustrated in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B shows the BJT 100 formed on a
silicon substrate 101, which is a p-type substrate. A deep n-well
103 is formed in the p-type substrate 101 and together with an
n-well 105 serves to isolate a p-well 107 so as to reduce substrate
noise. The dotted line 123 shows the n-type wells linking and
surrounding the p-well 107. The n-well 105 laterally surrounds the
p-well 107. The p-well 107 includes two regions 107A and 107B.
P-well region 107A is formed in fin array area 112 and surrounds an
n-well 109. N-well 109 is in the isolated fin area 106. P-well
region 107B is located between the n-well 109 and the deep n-well
103 and is contiguous with the p-well region 107A.
[0019] According to various embodiments, the p-well region 107B has
a thickness 111 greater than about 35 nm. A p-type region such as
p-well region 107B between n-well 109 and the deep n-well 103
prevents punch-through during operation which would disable the
diode or BJT. A top portion of the n-well 109 is surrounded by
isolated STI features 117 and has a width 115 that is the same as a
length of the fin 104. A bottom portion of the n-well 109 has a
width 113 that is greater than the width 115 of the top portion of
the n-well 109. The width 113 is a maximum width of the n-well 109
and may be about 0.2 microns to about 5 microns. The bottom portion
of the n-well 109 has a thickness 119, which may range from about
35 nm to about 100 nm. STI features 121 separate columns of fins in
fin array area 112 and also separates the p-well region 116 and the
n-well region 118 in the fin array area 112. Isolation STI features
117 have a greater thickness or depth than STI features 121, which
is caused by localized loading etch effects and may be further
enhanced by patterned etching. While the STI features 121 and 117
have different thicknesses, the fins 108, 120, and 104 have a same
overall height. If the patterned etching is used to enhance the
difference in STI thickness, the exposed portions of the fins 108,
120, and 104 would have different heights.
[0020] In the context of fin formation, localized loading etch
effects result in more etching in lower fin density areas. In one
example, lower etchant concentration due to mass transfer
limitations within narrow features limit the etching rate in high
density areas. In low density areas, the higher etchant
concentration does not limit the reaction rates thus more silicon
is removed. In one test as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a fin
height 201 of 170 nm is achieved in an isolated area in FIG. 2A and
an intra-array fin height 205 of 100 nm is achieved in a fin array
area having arrays of two fins in FIG. 2B. While the intra-array
fin height 205 is much shorter than the isolated fin height 201,
the fin height 203, at about 165 nm, for the entire array is about
the same as the isolated fin height 201. Different height ratios,
such as ratios between 201:205 or 201:203 or 203:205, can be
achieved by tuning the process and varying the distances between
fins and the number of fins in a fin array.
[0021] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the diode or BJT is formed using a process such as the method
depicted in the flow chart 300 of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is discussed
together with FIGS. 4A to 4L that illustrate various partially
fabricated cross-sections corresponding to one or more of the
operations of FIG. 3. The cross sections of FIGS. 4A to 4L are
portions of planes cut from a cut line 122 of FIG. 1A. Cut line 122
of FIG. 1A is perpendicular to cut line 102 that results in the
cross-section diagram of FIG. 1B. The plane of FIGS. 4A to 4L
includes the narrow sides of the fins instead of the broad sides
shown in FIG. 1B. In each of the FIGS. 4A to 4L, an isolated fin
area and a fin array area having a p-well region and an n-well
region are included. In operation 301, a semiconductor substrate is
provided. According to various embodiments, the semiconductor
substrate is a silicon wafer, a silicon germanium wafer, or a
silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The semiconductor substrate may
be doped. According to some embodiments, the semiconductor
substrate is a p-type silicon substrate. Various operations are
performed on the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor
substrate with various layers in a partially fabricated state is
referred to as the workpiece.
[0022] In operation 303 of FIG. 3, a hardmask layer having a fin
pattern including an isolated fin area, a fin array area and a
FinFET area is formed. The isolated fin area has a low fin density.
The fin array having has a higher fin density than the isolated fin
area. The FinFET area is where the FinFETs are formed and usually
includes fins at a high fin density. FIG. 4A illustrates a
semiconductor substrate 407 with an isolated fin area 402 and a fin
array area 404. In the fin array area 404, fins are grouped in fin
arrays in groups of 2. In some embodiments, fins are grouped in fin
arrays of more than 2. A distance between fins within one array is
less than a spacing between fin arrays. A distance between fins in
the isolated fin area 402 is at least and is usually greater than
the distance between fin arrays. An adhesion layer 409 may be first
deposited on the semiconductor substrate, followed by a hardmask
layer 411. The adhesion layer may be a silicon oxide that adheres
well to the semiconductor substrate 407 and the hardmask layer 411,
which may be a silicon nitride or a silicon oxide. In some
embodiments, a photoresist layer is deposited over the hardmask
layer and exposed to form the fin pattern, such as the photomask
patterns 401, 403, and 405. The hardmask layer 411 is etched so as
to transfer the fin pattern to the hardmask layer 411. In other
embodiments, a mask pattern 406 may be another hardmask layer
formed as spacers deposited around photoresist mandrels (not shown)
that are removed.
[0023] Referring back to FIG. 3, in operation 305 a plurality of
fins is etched into the semiconductor substrate using the fin
pattern. FIG. 4B illustrates the etch result. The etch process
consumes at least part of the mask pattern 406, and only the
adhesion layer 409 and the hardmask layer 411 remain over the fins.
In the isolated fin area 402, fins 421 are formed with a trench 412
between them. The trench 412 has a depth 413. In the fin array area
404, fins 423 are formed in arrays of 2 fins. Due to localized
loading effects, the trenches between fins have different depths.
An intra-array trench 414 has a depth 415. An inter-array trench
416 has a depth 417. The trench depths 412 and 416 are greater than
the intra-array trench depth 415. As discussed, the etch process
and fin pattern geometry can be tuned to cause a larger or smaller
difference in trench depth.
[0024] In operation 307 of FIG. 3, a dielectric material is
deposited over the substrate to fill spaces between the plurality
of fins. In some embodiments, the dielectric material is silicon
oxide deposited using commonly used processes including chemical
vapor deposition (CVD), thermal oxide deposition, or atomic layer
deposition (ALD). One skilled in the art would choose the
deposition process that can efficiently fill the gaps between fins.
In at least one example of gaps between fins with high aspect
ratios, a high density plasma (HDP) CVD process may be used. The
dielectric material fills the spaces between the fins as well as
covers tops of the fins to ensure complete filling.
[0025] Referring to next operation 309 of FIG. 3, the workpiece is
planarized to remove excess dielectric material over the fins and
expose the hardmask layer, for example, hardmask layer 411 of FIG.
4C. The planarization process involves chemical mechanical
polishing (CMP) of the workpiece surface, and may additionally or
instead involve etching of the workpiece. FIG. 4C illustrates the
cross section of the partially fabricated BJT after planarization.
In isolated fin area 402, a dielectric material 425 fills the gap
between isolated fin structures, which includes fins 421, adhesion
layer 409, and hardmask 411. The dielectric material 425 is
referred to as isolated shallow trench isolation (STI) 425. In fin
array area 404, a dielectric material 429 fills the gap between fin
arrays 405, which includes in the illustrated embodiment two fins
423, adhesion layer 409, and hardmask 411. The dielectric material
429 is referred to as inter-array STI 429. Between fin structures
in one fin array 405 in the fin array area 404, a dielectric
material 427 fills the gap between fin structures, which includes
fin 423, adhesion layer 409, and hardmask 411. The dielectric
material 427 is referred to as intra-array STI 427. Isolated STI
425, inter-array STI 429, and intra-array STI 427 are collectively
referred to as STI features. While isolated STI 425 and inter-array
STI 429 have similar thicknesses, their thicknesses are greater
than that of intra-array STI 427.
[0026] Referring back to FIG. 3, in optional operation 311 a
portion of the dielectric material over the fin array area is
removed. FIG. 4D is a cross section diagram of the partially
fabricated BJT with a portion of the dielectric material (from
inter-array STI 429 and intra-array STI 427) over the fin array
area 404 is removed. The operation involves first masking the
isolated fin area 402 from an etching process, either dry etch or
wet etch. In at least one example, a photoresist layer is deposited
and patterned over the partially fabricated BJT to expose the fin
array area 404. The partially fabricated BJT is then etched in an
etch process that selectively removes the STI material over the
hardmask material 411. The photoresist layer is removed before the
next operation.
[0027] In operation 312 of FIG. 3, the hardmask layer is removed.
According to some embodiments, the hardmask material is silicon
nitride, silicon oxynitride, or carbon-doped silicon nitride. An
etch process that selectively removes the hardmask material over
the STI material, typically silicon oxide, is used. FIG. 4E is a
cross section diagram of the partially fabricated BJT after the
hardmask layer has been removed. Only the adhesion layer 409 and
the STI features remain over the semiconductor substrate 407 having
a fin pattern.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 3, in operation 313 a deep n-well is
formed in the semiconductor substrate. The deep n-well is formed by
implanting n-type dopants, such as phosphorous and arsenic, into
the semiconductor substrate at a high energy to cause a high
concentration of dopants at a depth below the n-well and p-well of
the BJT. According to various embodiments, the deep n-well (DNW) is
at least 250 nm and may be more than 400 nm to about 1600 nm below
the top of the fins. FIG. 4F illustrates the process and results
from the DNW formation. Dopants 431 are implanted into the
partially fabricated BJT to form a DNW 433 at a predetermined
depth. Hence, a portion of the semiconductor substrate 407 from
FIGS. 4A to 4E is converted to the DNW 433 and the remaining
portion 435 retains p-type conductivity. Another remaining portion
437 of the semiconductor substrate 407 between the fins 421/423 and
the DNW 433 also retains p-type conductivity.
[0029] Referring back to FIG. 3, in the next operation 314, a
p-type dopant, such as boron, is implanted into a portion of the
fin array area and the FinFET area to form p-wells. As discussed
with respect to FinFET formation, p-wells and n-wells are formed in
the source and drain regions of the FinFET. At the same time a
p-well in formed in the FinFETs, a p-well is also formed in the
partially fabricated BJT, as illustrated in FIG. 4G. A photoresist
437 is deposited to mask the isolated fin area 402 and a portion of
the fin array area 404 from a p-type dopant implantation 445. The
photoresist 437 separates the fin array area 404 into a p-well
region 441 and an n-well region 443. Only the p-well region 441 is
exposed to the p-type dopant implantation 445. This implantation
involves relatively high dosage to create a p-well region 451 than
that used to create a p-type substrate portion 407, and the
resulting dopant concentration difference is one or two orders of
magnitude. A depth of the p-well region 451 may be about 40 nm to
about 240 nm deep. After the p-type dopant implantation 445, the
photoresist 437 is removed.
[0030] Referring back to FIG. 3, in the next operation 315, an
n-type dopant, such as phosphorous, is implanted into a portion of
the fin array area, the isolated fin area, and the FinFET area to
form n-wells. As discussed with respect to FinFET formation,
p-wells and n-wells are formed in the source and drain regions of
the FinFET. At the same time an n-well in formed in the FinFETs,
n-wells are also formed in the partially fabricated BJT, as
illustrated in FIG. 4H. A photoresist 439 is deposited to protect
the p-well region 441 from an n-type dopant implantation 447; thus,
the n-well region 443 in the fin array area 404 and the isolated
fin areas 402 are exposed to the n-type dopant implantation 447.
This implantation involves relatively high dosage to create n-wells
453 and 455, as compared to the dosage used to create DNW 433. Even
though n-wells 453 and 455 are exposed to the same implantation
process, n-wells having different depths are formed. The n-well 453
has the same depth as the p-well 451, at about 40 nm to about 240
nm deep, because the fins and material layers over these wells are
the same. The n-well 453 and p-well 451 are similar to the wells
formed in the FinFETs. On the other hand, the n-well 455 has a
lesser depth. Because the ions implant through different materials
such as STI and silicon at different rates, having STI features of
different thicknesses causes a different amount of dopant ions to
reach the n-well 455 as compared to the n-well 453. In other words,
more of the dopant ions are absorbed by the isolated STI 425 than
those absorbed by the inter-array STI 429 and the intra-array STI
427. The difference in n-well depths may be controlled by the type
and amount of STI material and implantation dose and energy. The
difference in n-well depths causes a region 457 below to be
relatively free of n-type dopant. After the n-type dopant
implantation 447, the photoresist 439 is removed.
[0031] In the next operation 317, the semiconductor substrate is
annealed. The annealing activates the various dopants implanted in
operations 313, 314, and 315 and promotes some of the dopants to
migrate. Because the region 457 below the n-well 455 is lightly
doped with p-type, it is particularly susceptible to migration from
highly doped p-well 451. FIG. 4I is a cross section diagram of the
partially fabricated BJT being subjected to a heat energy 449 and
forming a p-well 459 under the n-well 455. During the anneal,
p-type dopants from p-wells 451 laterally surrounding the n-well
455 migrate to the area below the n-well 455 and form a contiguous
p-well around the n-well 455 including both p-well 451 and p-well
459. As result, the dopant concentration in p-well 459 is lower
than that in the p-well 451.
[0032] Before or after the annealing, the STI features may be
etched to expose a portion of the fins as illustrated in FIG. 4J.
The STI etch also removes any adhesion layer 409 over the fins.
After the STI etch, a top portion of the fins 421 and 423 are
exposed above the STI features and a bottom portion of the fins 421
and 423 are embedded within the STI features.
[0033] Referring back to FIG. 3, in operation 319 a silicon
germanium or a silicon carbide cap is epitaxially grown over each
of the fins. As shown in FIG. 4K, a cap 461 is grown over the top
portion of fins 421 and a cap 463 is grown over the top portion of
fins 423, where the fins 423 having a high density causes the cap
grown for each fin array to merge. The specific shape of the caps
depends on growth conditions and an amount of exposed fins. In some
embodiments, a polysilicon material is deposited over the fins and
is patterned.
[0034] Referring back to FIG. 3, next operations 321 and 323 are
chosen depending on whether the device formed is to be used as a
diode or a BJT. Operation 321 is forming a positive contact and a
negative contact for a diode. FIG. 4L illustrates a diode having a
positive contact 473 and a negative contact 471. Alternatively,
operation 323 may be chosen that forms a base contact, a collector
contact, and an emitter contact for a BJT. As shown in FIG. 4L, a
BJT 400 includes a base contact 471, a collector contact 475, and
an emitter contact 473.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a diode or BJT 500 formed in
accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The
cross section of the x-z plane is that of the cross section of FIG.
1B. The cross section of the y-z plane is that of the cross section
of FIGS. 4A to 4L. When the contacts 503 and 505 are positive and
negative terminals of a diode, contact 501 may be connected to
ground to reduce substrate noise. Contacts 501, an n-well 511, a
deep n-well 521, together form an n-doped envelope around the
diode. As a BJT 500, contacts 501 are collectors; contacts 503 are
bases; and a contact 505 is an emitter. Further isolation may be
used around the entire BJT.
[0036] According to various aspects of the present disclosure, a
novel diode or BJT is disclosed utilizing FinFET manufacturing
steps while avoiding additional processes. The diode includes a
semiconductor substrate having a plurality of fins in a isolated
fin area and a plurality of fin arrays in a fin array area, an
n-well in the isolated fin area having an n-well depth, a p-well in
the isolated fin area below the n-well, and, a p-well in the fin
array area having a p-well depth greater than the n-well depth in
the isolated fin area and is contiguous to the p-well in the
isolated fin area. A fin pitch in the isolated fin area is greater
than about 0.3 microns. The intra-array fin pitch in the fin array
area is less than about 50 nanometers (nm). The BJT includes a
semiconductor substrate having a plurality of fins in an isolated
fin area and a plurality of fin arrays in a fin array area, and
shallow trench isolation (STI) features laterally surrounding the
plurality of fins in the isolated fin area. An n-well in the
isolated fin area is partially below the STI features, with a
p-well in the isolated fin area below the n-well having a minimum
thickness of 35 nm. A p-well in the fin array area has a p-well
depth greater than the n-well depth in the isolated fin area and is
contiguous to the p-well in the isolated fin area. One or more STI
features between fin arrays and an n-well laterally surrounding the
p-well are in the fin array area. A deep n-well is below the p-well
and the n-well in the fin array area and is contiguous to the
n-well in the fin array area. The STI features in the isolated fin
area have a depth greater than the depth of STI features in the fin
array area.
[0037] According to other aspects of the present disclosure a
method for forming one or more diodes in a fin field-effect
transistor (FinFET) device is disclosed utilizing FinFET
manufacturing steps while avoiding additional processes. The method
includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a hardmask
layer having a fin pattern, etching a plurality of fins in the
semiconductor substrate using the fin pattern, depositing a
dielectric material over the semiconductor substrate to fill spaces
between the plurality of fins, planarizing to expose the hardmask
layer, implanting a p-type dopant into the fin array area to form a
p-well and portions of the FinFET area to form a p-well, implanting
an n-type dopant into the isolated fin area and a portion of the of
fin array area surrounding the p-well to form n-wells and portions
of the FinFET area to form an n-well, and annealing. The fin
pattern including an isolated fin area having low fin density, a
fin array area having a higher fin density, and a FinFET area. The
n-well in the isolated fin area and the n-well in the portion of
the fin array area have different depths.
[0038] Although the embodiments and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,
presently existing or later to be developed, that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include within their scope such
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps.
* * * * *