Compounds semiconductor-on-silicon wafer with a silicon nanowire buffer layer

Abstract

A compound semiconductor-on-silicon (Si) wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer is provided, along with a corresponding fabrication method. The method forms a Si substrate. An insulator layer is formed overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having exposed tips. Compound semiconductor is selectively deposited on the Si nanowire tips. A lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) process grows compound semiconductor from the compound semiconductor-coated Si nanowire tips, to form a compound semiconductor layer overlying the insulator. Typically, the insulator layer overlying the Si substrate is a thermally soft insulator (TSI), silicon dioxide, or SiXNY, where X≦3 and Y≦4. The compound semiconductor can be GaN, GaAs, GaAlN, or SiC. In one aspect, the Si nanowire tips are carbonized, and SiC is selectively deposited overlying the carbonized Si nanowire tips, prior to the selective deposition of compound semiconductor on the Si nanowire tips.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a compound semiconductor-on-silicon (Si) wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer.

FIG. 2 is a detailed depiction of one of the Si nanowires of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed depiction, showing a variation of the Si nanowires of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a variation of the compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with Si nanowire buffer layer.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show steps in the completion of a compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict Si nanowires formed, respectively, by etching and CVD growth processes.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a compound semiconductor-on-silicon (Si) wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer. The wafer 100 comprises a Si substrate 102. For example, the Si substrate 102 may have a (111) crystallographic orientation. An insulator layer 104 overlies the Si substrate 102, with Si nanowires 106. The Si nanowires 106 have compound semiconductor-coated tips 108. A compound semiconductor layer 110 overlies the insulator 104. While the invention has practical application to Si substrates, it is not limited to any particular type of underlying substrate material.

FIG. 2 is a detailed depiction of one of the Si nanowires of FIG. 1. Si nanowires 106 may alternately be referred to a Si nanotubes, nano-structures, or nanorods. In this detail, the Si nanowire tip can be seen coated with a compound semiconductor material 200. The Si nanowires 106 may have a diameter 202 in a range of about 5 nanometers (nm) to 500 nm, and an average length 204 in a range of about 0.2 micrometers (μm) to 3 μm. In one aspect, longer Si nanowires are desirable, as they provide more effective thermal stress relief.

Returning to FIG. 1, the Si nanowires 106 have a density per square micrometer (μm⁻²) in the range of about 0.5 to 1000. The density is understood to be the average number of Si nanowires overlying a square-micrometer of substrate surface. In one aspect, the insulator layer 104 materials include silicon dioxide and SiXNY, where X≦3 and Y≦4. However, the wafer is not limited to any particular insulator. The compound semiconductor layer 110 can be a material such as GaN, GaAs, GaAlN, or SiC. However, the present invention Si nanowire buffer layer is not necessarily limited to just this list of materials.

In another aspect, the insulator layer 104 may be a thermally soft insulator (TSI) that has a liquid phase temperature lower than the liquid phase temperatures of Si 102 or the compound semiconductor 110. Typically, the TSI layer 104 has a flow temperature in the range of about 500° C. to 900° C., where the flow temperature is greater than the solid phase temperature and less than the liquid phase temperature. The TSI insulator layer 104 may be considered to be mechanically soft at the flow temperature, soft enough to isolate any differences in thermal expansion between the Si substrate 102 and the compound semiconductor 110. That is, the TSI layer 104 may be considered to be “soft” at the flow temperature.

The thermally soft insulator 104 may be a doped silicate glass material such as boronsilicate glass (BSG), phosphosilicate glass (PSG), or boronphosphosilicate glass (BPSG). Other materials may also be used that have a relatively low flow temperature. If the doped silicate glass material is BPSG, then it includes phosphorus in the range of about 2 to 4 atomic percentage (at %) and boron in the range of about 3 to 7 at %. If the doped silicate glass is PSG, then it includes phosphorus in the range of about 5 to 9 at %. If BSG, the doped silicate glass includes boron in the range of about 5 to 8 at %. The flow temperature of the TSI material can be varied by adjusting the above-mentioned doping ratios. Additional details of the TSI material are provided in pending parent application entitled, COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTOR-ON-SILICON WAFER WITH A THERMALLY SOFT INSULATOR, invented by Hsu et al., Ser. No. 11/443,144, filed May 30, 2006, Attorney Docket SLA8075, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 3 is a detailed depiction, showing a variation of the Si nanowires of FIG. 1. In this aspect, the Si nanowire tip 108 include an initial carbonized layer 300, a SiC-coating 302 overlying the carbonized layer 300, and the compound semiconductor-coating 200 overlying the SiC coating 302.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a variation of the compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with Si nanowire buffer layer. The details of this wafer 100 are the same as presented in the explanations of FIGS. 1 through 3 above, except for the substrate. In this aspect, the Si substrate is a Si-on-insulator (SOI) substrate 400, with a Si substrate 402, an oxide insulator 404, overlying the substrate 402, and a Si layer 406, overlying the insulator 404.

Functional Description

FIGS. 5 through 7 show steps in the completion of a compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer. The fabrication processes for an exemplary GaN-on-Si is presented as follows.

1) The starting wafer is Si (111).

2) Si nanowires are prepared on the Si (111) wafer using etching or CVD deposition methods.

3) TSI, SiO₂, or a SixNy insulator is deposited, and CMP is performed on the insulator to remove catalyst from the insulator top surface. The CMP stops on Si nanowires, as shown in FIG. 5.

4) The wafer is HF dip etched for a few seconds to expose top of Si nanowires, as shown in FIG. 6.

5) GaN is selectively deposited on the Si nanowires, and lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) permits the coalescence of a crack-free, high quality GaN thick film, as shown in FIG. 7. LEO is a CVD deposition processes, in which the film selectively grown from island nuclear area

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict Si nanowires formed, respectively, by etching and CVD growth processes.

A variation of the above-presented process is as follows.

1) The starting wafer is Si (111).

2) Si nanowires are prepared on the Si (111) wafer using etching or CVD deposition methods.

3) TSI, SiO₂, or a SixNy is deposited, followed by a CMP to remove any catalyst from the insulator top surface, stopping on the Si nanowires.

4) The wafer is HF dip etched for a few seconds to expose the top of the Si nanowires.

5) The Si nanowires are carbonized and SiC is selectively deposited on the Si nanowires.

6) GaN is selectively deposited on the SiC-coated Si nanowires. The GaN layer is formed using the LEO process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a compound semiconductor-on-Si wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer. Although the method is depicted as a sequence of numbered steps for clarity, the numbering does not necessarily dictate the order of the steps. It should be understood that some of these steps may be skipped, performed in parallel, or performed without the requirement of maintaining a strict order of sequence. The method starts at Step 900.

Step 902 forms a Si substrate. As noted above, the Si substrate may have a (111) crystallographic orientation. In another aspect, the Si substrate is a SOI substrate. Step 904 forms an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having exposed tips. Step 906 selectively deposits compound semiconductor on the Si nanowire tips. For example, the compound semiconductor can be deposited by MOCVD. The process is selective because compound semiconductor is more likely to form on the Si nanowire tips, than on the insulator surface. Step 908 uses a lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) process to grow compound semiconductor from the compound semiconductor-coated Si nanowire tips. Step 910 forms a compound semiconductor layer overlying the insulator. The compound semiconductor layer may be made from a material such as GaN, GaAs, GaAlN, or SiC. However, the process is applicable to other compound semiconductor materials.

In one aspect, forming the insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having exposed tips, in Step 904 includes substeps. Step 904a forms Si nanowires overlying the Si substrate. For example, the Si nanowires can be formed by etching the Si substrate or by CVD. In one aspect, the Si nanowires have a diameter in a range of about 5 nm to 500 nm, a density per square micrometer (μm⁻²) in the range of about 0.5 to 1000, and an average length in a range of about 0.2 μm to 3 μm.

Step 904b deposits the insulator overlying the Si nanowires. As noted above, the insulator can be silicon dioxide or SiXNY, where X≦3 and Y≦4, although other materials are also possible. Step 904c performs a CMP of the insulator top surface, stopping at Si nanowire tips. Step 904d etches the insulator top surface, to expose the Si nanowire tips. For example, the insulator top surface may be etched by dipping the top surface in HF.

In one aspect, Step 905a carbonizes the Si nanowire tips, and Step 905b selectively deposits SiC overlying the carbonized Si nanowire tips. Then, selectively depositing compound semiconductor on the Si nanowire tips in Step 906 includes selectively depositing compound semiconductor on the SiC-coated Si nanowire tips.

In another aspect, forming the insulator in Step 904 includes depositing a thermally soft insulator (TSI) material overlying the Si nanowires. The TSI material has a flow temperature in the range of about 500° C. to 9000° C., where the flow temperature is greater than the solid phase temperature and less than the liquid phase temperature. For example, the thermally soft insulator may be a doped silicate glass material such as BSG, PSG, or BPSG.

A compound semiconductor-on-Si substrate with a Si nanowire buffer layer has been provided, along with a corresponding method of fabrication. Examples of specific layer orderings and materials have been given to illustrate the invention. Although the invention has been presented in the context of Si and GaN materials, the general principles are applicable to the thermal expansion mismatch between other materials. However, the invention is not limited to merely these examples. Other variations and embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for forming a compound semiconductor-on-silicon (Si) wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer, the method comprising: forming a Si substrate;forming an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having exposed tips;selectively depositing compound semiconductor on the Si nanowire tips;using a lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) process, growing compound semiconductor from the compound semiconductor-coated Si nanowire tips; and,forming a compound semiconductor layer overlying the insulator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the Si substrate includes forming a Si substrate with a (111) crystallographic orientation.

3. The method of claim 1 forming the insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having exposed tips, includes: forming Si nanowires overlying the Si substrate;depositing the insulator overlying the Si nanowires;performing a chemical-mechanical polish (CMP) of an insulator top surface, stopping at Si nanowire tips; and,etching the insulator top surface, to expose the Si nanowire tips.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein forming the Si nanowires includes forming the nanowires using a process selected from a group consisting of etching the Si substrate and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

5. The method of claim 3 wherein etching the insulator top surface includes dipping the top surface in HF.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the insulator layer overlying the Si substrate includes forming an insulator from a material selected from a group consisting of silicon dioxide and SiXNY, where X≦3 and Y≦4.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: carbonizing the Si nanowire tips; and,selectively depositing SiC overlying the carbonized Si nanowire tips; and,wherein selectively depositing compound semiconductor on the Si nanowire tips includes selectively depositing compound semiconductor on the SiC-coated Si nanowire tips.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the compound semiconductor layer includes forming a compound semiconductor layer from a material selected from a group consisting of GaN, GaAs, GaAlN, and SiC.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the Si substrate includes forming a Si-on-insulator (SOI) substrate.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires, includes forming Si nanowires having a diameter in a range of about 5 nanometers (nm) to 500 nm, a density per square micrometer (μm−2) in the range of about 0.5 to 1000, and an average length in a range of about 0.2 μm to 3 μm.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the insulator includes depositing a thermally soft insulator (TSI) material overlying the Si nanowires having a flow temperature in the range of about 500° C. to 900° C., where the flow temperature is greater than the solid phase temperature and less than the liquid phase temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein depositing the thermally soft insulator includes forming a doped silicate glass material selected from a group consisting of boronsilicate glass (BSG), phosphosilicate glass (PSG), and boronphosphosilicate glass (BPSG).

13. A compound semiconductor-on-silicon (Si) wafer with a Si nanowire buffer layer, the wafer comprising: a Si substrate;an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate, with Si nanowires having compound semiconductor-coated tips; and,a compound semiconductor layer overlying the insulator.

14. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the Si substrate has a (111) crystallographic orientation.

15. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the insulator layer is a material selected from a group consisting of silicon dioxide and SiXNY, where X≦3 and Y≦4.

16. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the Si nanowire tips include an initial carbonized layer, a SiC-coating overlying the carbonized layer, and the compound semiconductor-coating overlying the SiC coating.

17. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the compound semiconductor layer is a material selected from a group consisting of GaN, GaAs, GaAlN, and SiC.

18. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the Si substrate is a Si-on-insulator (SOI) substrate.

19. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the Si nanowires have a diameter in a range of about 5 nanometers (nm) to 500 nm, a density per square micrometer (μm−2) in the range of about 0.5 to 1000, and an average length in a range of about 0.2 μm to 3 μm.

20. The wafer of claim 13 wherein the insulator is a thermally soft insulator (TSI) material having a flow temperature in the range of about 500° C. to 900° C., where the flow temperature is greater than the solid phase temperature and less than the liquid phase temperature.

21. The wafer of claim 20 wherein the thermally soft insulator is a doped silicate glass material selected from a group consisting of boronsilicate glass (BSG), phosphosilicate glass (PSG), and boronphosphosilicate glass (BPSG).