This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-67655 filed on Mar. 25, 2011 in Japan, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a field effect transistor.
Conventionally, a field effect transistor (FET) having steep Subthreshold slope characteristics, such as a tunneling field effect transistor (hereinafter also referred to as TFET), has an asymmetrical source/drain structure in which the source/drain regions have different conductivity types from each other (p+-i-n+). In such an asymmetrical source/drain structure, the source region, the channel region, and the drain region are formed of p-i-n junctions formed through ion implantation. The BTBT (Band To Band Tunneling) in the source junction determines the current drive capability. Therefore, to improve the drive current, the tunnel barrier needs to be thinned to 1 nm to 3 nm by forming a high-doping concentration junction with a steep profile in the source junction.
Meanwhile, an off-leak current is determined by the BTBT in the drain junction. Therefore, in a device designed to consume less power, the tunnel barrier needs to be made thicker and the leakage current needs to be made lower, by forming a low-doping concentration junction with a gentle profile as the junction between the channel region and the drain region.
There is a case where the FETs forming an inverter circuit and a two-input NAND circuit that are the fundamental circuits in a CMOS logic are FETs, each having a symmetrical structure in which the source region and the drain region have the same conductivity type. The problems described below do not occur in such a case, but do occur in a case where the FETs forming the inverter circuit and the two-input NAND circuit are FETs, each having an asymmetrical structure in which the source region and the drain region have different conductivity types from each other.
In the case where the source/drain structure is symmetrical, p-FET and n-FET regions vertically stacked are separated at a long distance from each other by an ion implantation mask, so that the p-FET and the n-FET can be readily formed separately from each other.
In the case where the source/drain structure is asymmetrical, on the other hand, the n-type region and the p-type region need to be formed separately from each other, with the gate region being the boundary. If the gate length is 50 nm or less in such a structure, forming the n-type region and the p-type region separately from each other is considered unrealistic, in view of an alignment accuracy of lithography. Also, to form a high-doping concentration junction with a steep profile in the source junction, and to form a low-doping concentration junction with a gentle profile in the drain junction, ion implantation directions need to be aligned. Therefore, the orientations of the source region and the drain region of the FET forming the circuit need to be aligned. Further, in a case where a two-input NAND circuit is formed, n-FETs are vertically stacked, and there are regions that serve as the source region and the drain region of two n-FETs. Such a circuit layout cannot be formed in the case where the source/drain regions form an asymmetrical structure. In the case where the source/drain regions form a symmetrical structure, no problems occur even if there are regions that serve as the source regions and the drain regions of the two n-FETs.
As described above, in the case where the source/drain regions form an asymmetrical structure, a conventional circuit design technique cannot be applied as it is to the device layout, and there are the problems of an area increase and a cost increase that accompany a change of layout design.
a) and 1(b) are cross-sectional views of a transistor according to a first embodiment;
a) and 2(b) are diagrams for explaining an operation of the transistor according to the first embodiment;
a) and 3(b) are diagrams for explaining an operation of the transistor according to the first embodiment;
a) and 5(b) are diagrams for explaining a transistor according to a second embodiment;
a), 16(b) are cross-sectional views for explaining an example method of manufacturing the transistor according to the sixth embodiment;
A field effect transistor according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer; a source region and a drain region formed at a distance from each other in the semiconductor layer; a gate insulating film formed on a portion of the semiconductor layer, the portion being located between the source region and the drain region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a gate sidewall formed on at least one of side faces of the gate electrode, the side faces being located on a side of the source region and on a side of the drain region, the gate sidewall being made of a high dielectric material. The source region and the drain region are separately-placed from the corresponding side faces of the gate electrode.
The following is a description of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A field effect transistor (hereinafter also referred to as a transistor) according to a first embodiment is shown in
First gate sidewalls (hereinafter also referred to as first sidewalls) 12 made of a high dielectric material or a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of 18 or higher, for example, is formed on the side faces of the gate electrode 10. Examples of high dielectric materials that can be used as the first sidewalls 12 include oxides, oxynitrides, silicates, or aluminates each containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, Al, Y, La, Ta, Pr, Ce, Sr, Ti, and Dy. Specifically, the examples include HfO2, ZrO2, Y2O3, La2O3, TiO2, TaOxNy, SrxTiyO, LaZrO3, LaAlO3, HfON, HfSiOx, HfSiON, HfSiGeOx, HfSiGeON, HfGeOx, HfSiGeON, ZrON, ZrSiOx, ZrSiON, ZrSiGeOx, ZrSiGeON, ZrGeOx, ZrSiGeON, HfAlxOy, HfLaO, LaxZryO, or LaxOy.
Further, second gate sidewalls (hereinafter also referred to as the second sidewalls) 16 made of an insulator are formed on the surfaces of the first sidewalls 12 on the opposite sides from the gate electrode 10. The material of the second sidewalls 16 may not be a high dielectric material, and may be SiO2, SiN, GeN, or the like. The second sidewalls 16 are used to form the later described source electrode 18a and drain electrode 18b in a self-alignment manner, and do not need to be formed if the source electrode 18a and the drain electrode 18b are formed at distances from the end portions of the first sidewalls 12.
A source region 14a and a drain region 14b are formed in portions of the semiconductor layer 6 on the opposite sides of the first sidewalls 12 from the gate electrode 10. That is, the source region 14a and the drain region 14b are in an offset state with respect to the gate electrode 10 (
The source region 14a and the drain region 14b are positioned so as to be symmetric with respect to the gate electrode 10, and the source electrode 18a and the drain electrode 18b are also positioned so as to be symmetric with respect to the gate electrode 10. In a case where the transistor of this embodiment is an n-channel transistor, the source region 14a and the drain region 14b have an n-type dopant such as P, As, or Sb introduced into the semiconductor layer 6. In a case where the transistor of this embodiment is a p-channel transistor, the source region 14a and the drain region 14b have a p-type dopant such as B, Ga, or In introduced into the semiconductor layer 6. The concentration of the dopant is 1×1015 cm−2. The concentration of the dopant is preferably in the range of 5×1014 to 2×1015 cm−2. The source electrode 18a and the drain electrode 18b are made of an intermetallic compound of the semiconductor layer 6 and a transition metal such as Er, Y, Yb, or Dy, Ni, Pt, a Ni alloy, a Pt alloy, or the like. For example, in a case where the semiconductor layer 6 is made of Ge, the source electrode 18a and the drain electrode 18b are made of an intermetallic compound containing NiGe or PtGe.
In the first embodiment, extension regions are not formed in the semiconductor layer 6, but a high dielectric material is used as the first gate sidewalls 12. Accordingly, the first sidewalls 12 made of the high dielectric material efficiently transmit the fringe electric field of the gate electrode 10, the fringe electric field being generated when the transistor is turned on, to the channel region in the semiconductor layer 6, and induces an inversion layer 15 in the channel region, as shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
When the absolute value of the voltage being applied to the gate electrode 10 is further increased from the voltage applied in the situation illustrated in
As described above, according to the first embodiment, steep S-value characteristics can be achieved. Also, since the transistor has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
In the first embodiment, the source electrode 18a and the drain electrode 18b made of an intermetallic compound are formed in the source region 14a and the drain region 14b, respectively. However, as in a modification illustrated in
Referring now to
The transistor of the second embodiment is the same as the transistor of the first embodiment illustrated in
In a case where the transistor is an n-channel transistor in the second embodiment, a dopant for schottky barrier modulation, such as at least one element of S and Se, is preferably segregated in the interfaces between the semiconductor layer 6 and the source and drain regions 17a and 17b.
In the second embodiment, steep S-value characteristics can be achieved, as in the first embodiment. Also, since the transistor has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
As a comparative example of the first and second embodiments, the transistor shown in
In the transistor of this comparative example, GIDL (Gate Induced Drain Leakage) occurs in the drain region overlapping with the gate electrode, when the transistor is in an OFF state, as shown in
In the first and second embodiments, on the other hand, the source region and the drain region are in an offset state with respect to the gate electrode, and the extension regions formed by introducing a dopant are not provided. Therefore, even if the voltage Vg being applied to the gate electrode 10 is made even lower than the voltage at which the transistor is turned off, as shown in
Also, since an extension region is provided on the source region side, the parasitic resistance at the source end can be reduced when the transistor is in an ON state.
In the third embodiment, the transistor also has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, as in the first or second embodiment. Therefore, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
There are the following two methods for manufacturing the semiconductor layer 6A having the above described three-layer structure. According to one of the two methods, the oxide film 4 is formed on the semiconductor layer 2, and the Ge layer 6A2 and the Si layer 6A3 are formed sequentially on a SOI (Si-On-Insulator) substrate having the Si layer 6A1 formed thereon, through epitaxial growth using UHVCVD (Ultra High Vacuum Chemical Vapor Deposition), LPCVD (Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition), MBE (Molecular Beam Epitaxy), or the like, as shown in
By forming the semiconductor layer 6A having the above described structure, the reliability of the interface between the gate insulating film 8 and the Si layer 6A3 of the semiconductor layer 6A, and the reliability of the interface between the oxide film 4 and the Si layer 6A1 of the semiconductor layer 6A can be secured, and the efficiency of impact ionization caused by the channel layer formed of the Ge layer 6A2 can be made higher.
The structure of the fourth embodiment may be applied to the transistor of the first embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, the transistor also has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, as in the first or second embodiment. Therefore, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
The semiconductor layer 6B having such a Ge profile can be formed by epitaxially growing and/or oxidizing and Ge condensing a SiGe layer. Also, as described in the fourth embodiment, prior to or after the formation of STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) 30 with the use of a SOI substrate, the Ge layer 6B2 may be formed on the Si layer 6B1 through epitaxial growth using UHVCVD, LPCVD, MBE, or the like.
By forming the semiconductor layer 6B having the above described structure, the reliability of the interface between the oxide film 4 and the Si layer 6B1 can be secured, and the efficiency of impact ionization caused by the channel layer formed of the Ge layer 6B2 can be made higher.
The structure of the fifth embodiment may be applied to the transistor of the first embodiment.
In the fifth embodiment, the transistor also has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, as in the first or second embodiment. Therefore, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
In the sixth embodiment described above, the Si layer 6C1 is located on the side of the gate insulating film 8. Accordingly, degradation of the characteristics of the interface between the gate insulating film 8 and the Si layer 6C1 due to diffusion of Ge can be restrained. Also, since the drain end is formed of the Ge layer 6C3, the efficiency of impact ionization can be made higher.
The structure of the sixth embodiment may be applied to the transistor of the first embodiment.
In the sixth embodiment, the transistor also has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type, as in the first or second embodiment. Therefore, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
The transistors of the first through sixth embodiments can be used in a memory known as a FBC (Floating Body Cell). In that case, a memory embedded logic LSI that has ultrahigh integration and consumes a very low amount of power can be realized without a change in device structure.
Also, with the use of the transistors of the first through sixth embodiments, the supply voltage of the logic circuit can be greatly reduced without a change in conventional circuit design.
Referring now to
First, a strained GOI (Ge-On-Insulator) substrate 40 including a semiconductor layer 42, an oxide film 44, and a Ge layer 46 is prepared. Next, STI 48 to serve as the device isolation regions is formed in the GOI substrate 40, and the GOI substrate 40 is divided into a region 50a for forming an n-channel transistor (also referred to as the n-FET), a region 50b for forming a backgate contact for the n-FET, a region 50c for forming a p-channel transistor (also referred to as the p-FET), and a region 50d for forming a backgate contact for the p-FET. A mask 52 that has openings on the regions 50c and 50d, covers the region 50a and the region 50b, and is made of a photoresist, for example, is formed. With the use of the mask 52, an n-type dopant, such as one of P, As, and Sb, is introduced into the regions 50c and 50d, thereby forming an n-well region 43a in the semiconductor layer 42 (
After the mask 52 is removed, a mask 54 that has openings on the regions 50a and 50b, covers the region 50c and the region 50d, and is made of a photoresist, for example, is formed. With the use of the mask 54, a p-type dopant, such as one of B, Ga, and In, is introduced into the regions 50a and 50b, thereby forming a p-well region 43b in the semiconductor layer 42 (
After the mask 54 is removed, a mask 56 that has openings on the regions 50b and 50d, covers the region 50a and the region 50c, and is made of a photoresist, for example, is formed. With the use of the mask 56, etching is performed on the portions of the semiconductor layers 46a and 46b and the oxide film 44 located in the regions 50b and 50d, thereby removing those portions. As a result, the portions of the p-well region 43b and the n-well region 43a located in the region 50b and the region 50d are exposed (
After the mask 56 is removed, gate structures each including the gate insulating film 8, the gate electrode 10, and the gate sidewalls 12 are formed on the semiconductor layer 46b in the region 50a and the semiconductor layer 46a in the region 50c (
A mask 57 that has openings on the regions 50b and 50c, covers the regions 50a and 50d, and is made of a photoresist, for example, is then formed. With the use of the mask 57, a p-type dopant is introduced into the p-well region 43b in the region 50b, and a p-type dopant is introduced into the n-type semiconductor layer 46a in the region 50c. The p-type dopants introduced here respectively have a concentration of approximately 1×1015 cm−2, for example. As a result, the p-well region 43b in the region 50b turns into a high-concentration p-well region 43c, and p-type source and drain regions 58 are formed in the n-type semiconductor layer 46a in the region 50c (
After the mask 57 is removed, a mask 60 that has openings on the regions 50a and 50d, covers the regions 50b and 50c, and is made of a photoresist, for example, is formed. With the use of the mask 60, an n-type dopant is introduced into the n-well region 43a in the region 50d, and an n-type dopant is introduced into the p-type semiconductor layer 46b in the region 50a. The n-type dopants introduced here respectively have a concentration of approximately 1×1015 cm−2, for example. At this point, together with the n-type dopants, at least one element of S and Se for schottky barrier modulation is introduced at approximately 1×1015 cm−2. As a result, the n-well region 43a in the region 50d turns into a high-concentration n-well region 43d, and n-type source and drain regions 62 are formed in the p-type semiconductor layer 46b in the region 50a (
After the mask 60 is removed, a 10-nm Ni film is deposited on the entire surface by sputtering, and a 1-minute heat treatment at 250° C. is performed through RTA (Rapid Thermal Annealing). After the unreacted Ni is selectively removed by a chemical solution treatment, a 1-minute heat treatment at 350° C. is again performed through RTA. As a result, Germanides are formed in the n-type source and drain regions 62 in the region 50a, thereby forming metallic source and drain electrodes 64. Also, Germanides are formed in the p-type source and drain regions 58 in the region 50c, thereby forming metallic source and drain electrodes 66. Further, Germanides are formed in the p-well region 43c in the region 50b and the n-well region 43d in the region 50d, thereby forming backgate electrodes 68 and 70, respectively (
As shown in
Like the transistor of the first embodiment, the CMOS transistor of this embodiment manufactured in the above-described manner can achieve steep S-value characteristics, and has a symmetrical structure in which the source/drain regions have the same conductivity type. Therefore, a conventional circuit design technique can be used as it is in the device layout. Accordingly, the area increase and the cost increase that accompany a change of design can be restrained.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein can be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-067655 | Mar 2011 | JP | national |