Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of semiconductor structures and processing and, in particular, to MOSFET and FeFET devices formed in the back end of line (BEOL) stack that include single crystalline gate dielectrics.
Alongside scaling metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) on the semiconductor substrate, it is becoming increasingly advantageous to integrate high quality MOSFETs in the backend (i.e., back end of line (BEOL)) of traditional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices for logic and memory applications. Given this desire, it is challenging to form high quality channel materials (e.g., silicon, etc.) as well as high quality dielectrics to realize high performance MOSFETs with acceptable variability and reliability. Furthermore, for some devices (such as HfO2 based ferroelectric FETs (FeFETs)), the properties of the devices are significantly degraded due to the polycrystalline nature of the gate (ferroelectric) stack.
In HfO2 based FeFETs, there are significant challenges that stem from the presence of a polycrystalline HfO2 crystal structure. To begin with, only some of the grains are orthorhombic phase (i.e., the ferroelectric phase). Of those grains, only a subset are properly aligned to the applied (gate-channel) field direction. This causes significant variability in the FeFETs that limits the potential of these high scaled memory devices that are also high performance and non-volatile. The variability limits the usefulness of such FeFETs and does not allow for integration in large memory arrays.
Embodiments described herein comprise MOSFET and FeFET devices formed in the back end of line (BEOL) stack that include single crystalline gate dielectrics. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific integration and material regimes, in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features, such as integrated circuit design layouts, are not described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that the various embodiments shown in the Figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Certain terminology may also be used in the following description for the purpose of reference only, and thus are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below,” “bottom,” and “top” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, and “side” describe the orientation and/or location of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
To provide context, a back end of line (BEOL) gate stack is shown in
Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein include a single crystalline gate dielectric. The single crystalline structure has the ferroelectric phase (e.g., orthorhombic for HfO2) that is properly oriented in order to provide a strong ferroelectric effect for the transistor. Additionally, since there is a single crystal, the variability is greatly reduced. The reduction in variability also enables significant improvement in power performance area cost (PPAC). For example, a transistor can be made to operate in V/2 inhibit scheme and the Vmax can be lower due to reduced variability.
In an embodiment, the orthorhombic single phase crystal structure is provided by epitaxially growing the gate dielectric on a template layer. The template layer may be a single crystalline material with an orthorhombic crystal structure. After growth of the gate dielectric, a semiconductor channel is epitaxially grown over the gate dielectric. The template layer may have an embedded release layer. After growth of the gate dielectric and the semiconductor channel, the top portion of the template layer is released from the bottom portion of the template layer. The released stack may then be attached to a device substrate. In a particular embodiment, the released stack is attached to the BEOL stack of the device substrate.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Since the gate dielectric 217 is grown on the template layer 220, there needs to be a mechanism to release the gate dielectric 217 so it can be attached to a device substrate. One such mechanism is illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
In an embodiment, a gate dielectric 417 is epitaxially grown over the top portion 420B of the template layer 420. The gate dielectric 417 is able to be grown with a single crystalline crystal structure. For example, the gate dielectric 417 may comprise an orthorhombic crystal structure. It is to be appreciated that the epitaxial growth conditions (e.g., temperature, etc.) used for the gate dielectric 417 are not limited by the surrounding material layers, as is the case when a gate dielectric 417 is formed directly in the BEOL stack. As such, the growth conditions for the gate dielectric 417 can be optimized to provide a high quality single crystalline orthorhombic crystal structure. In an embodiment, the gate dielectric 417 may be HfO2, though other ferroelectric dielectric materials may also be used for the gate dielectric 417.
In an embodiment, the stack may further comprise a semiconductor channel 415 disposed over the gate dielectric 417. The semiconductor channel 415 may also be grown with an epitaxial process. As such, the semiconductor channel 415 may be single crystalline as well. In an embodiment, the semiconductor channel 415 comprises silicon. However, it is to be appreciated that other semiconductor materials may also be used for the semiconductor channel 415, such as, but not limited to, germanium, other group III-V semiconductors, and oxide semiconductors.
In an embodiment, an encapsulation layer 450 may be provided over the semiconductor channel 415. The encapsulation layer 450 may be an oxide or the like. The encapsulation layer 450 protects the semiconductor channel 415 and may serve to electrically isolate the semiconductor channel 415 after it is attached to the active device in a subsequent processing operation.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the portion of the stack is shown as being released from the substrate 401 prior to attachment to the device substrate 402, in other embodiments, the entire stack (e.g., the substrate 401, the bottom portion 420B, the release layer 440, the top portion 420A, the gate dielectric 417, the semiconductor channel 415, and the encapsulation layer 450) may be bonded to the device substrate 402. In such an embodiment, the release layer 440 may be activated after attachment to the device substrate 402 in order to provide the structure shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the resulting FeFET structure may comprise any suitable dimensions for integration into the BEOL of the device substrate 402. For example, a footprint of the FeFET structure may be approximately 100 nm×100 nm or smaller. Additionally, while one FeFET structure is shown in
While the FeFET structure is shown as being provided in the BEOL, it is to be appreciated that embodiments are not limited to such configurations. For example, a similar single crystalline gate dielectric may be formed on a template layer similar to the process described above. Instead of forming a semiconductor layer over the gate dielectric, the stack can be bonded to the front end (i.e., the semiconductor material). The template layer and any other underlying layers can then be released using a release layer similar to release layer 440. The residual portion of the release layer may then be removed, and a gate electrode and source and drain electrodes can be provided for the FeFET structure.
Depending on its applications, computing device 500 may include other components that may or may not be physically and electrically coupled to the board 502. These other components include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), flash memory, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a crypto processor, a chipset, an antenna, a display, a touchscreen display, a touchscreen controller, a battery, an audio codec, a video codec, a power amplifier, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a speaker, a camera, and a mass storage device (such as hard disk drive, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so forth).
The communication chip 506 enables wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing device 500. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. The communication chip 506 may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 family), IEEE 802.20, long term evolution (LTE), Ev-DO, HSPA+, HSDPA+, HSUPA+, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, Bluetooth, derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. The computing device 500 may include a plurality of communication chips 506. For instance, a first communication chip 506 may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip 506 may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others.
The processor 504 of the computing device 500 includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the processor 504. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit die of the processor may comprise an FeFET device provided in the BEOL stack, where the FeFET device comprises a single crystalline orthorhombic gate dielectric, as described herein. The term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory.
The communication chip 506 also includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the communication chip 506. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit die of the communication chip may comprise an FeFET device provided in the BEOL stack, where the FeFET device comprises a single crystalline orthorhombic gate dielectric, as described herein.
In further implementations, another component housed within the computing device 500 may comprise an FeFET device provided in the BEOL stack, where the FeFET device comprises a single crystalline orthorhombic gate dielectric, as described herein.
In various implementations, the computing device 500 may be a laptop, a netbook, a notebook, an ultrabook, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an ultra mobile PC, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a server, a printer, a scanner, a monitor, a set-top box, an entertainment control unit, a digital camera, a portable music player, or a digital video recorder. In further implementations, the computing device 500 may be any other electronic device that processes data.
The interposer 600 may be formed of an epoxy resin, a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin, a ceramic material, or a polymer material such as polyimide. In further implementations, the interposer 600 may be formed of alternate rigid or flexible materials that may include the same materials described above for use in a semiconductor substrate, such as silicon, germanium, and other group III-V and group IV materials.
The interposer 600 may include metal interconnects 608 and vias 610, including but not limited to through-silicon vias (TSVs) 612. The interposer 600 may further include embedded devices 614, including both passive and active devices. Such devices include, but are not limited to, capacitors, decoupling capacitors, resistors, inductors, fuses, diodes, transformers, sensors, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices. More complex devices such as radio-frequency (RF) devices, power amplifiers, power management devices, antennas, arrays, sensors, and MEMS devices may also be formed on the interposer 600. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, apparatuses or processes disclosed herein may be used in the fabrication of interposer 600.
Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise an FeFET device provided in the BEOL stack, where the FeFET device comprises a single crystalline orthorhombic gate dielectric.
The above description of illustrated implementations of embodiments of the disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
These modifications may be made to the disclosure in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation.
Example 1: a semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a back end of line (BEOL) stack over the semiconductor substrate; a field effect transistor (FET) embedded in the BEOL stack, wherein the FET comprises: a channel; a gate dielectric over the channel, wherein the gate dielectric is single crystalline; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; and a source electrode and a drain electrode passing through the gate dielectric to contact the channel.
Example 2: the semiconductor device of Example 1, further comprising: an encapsulation layer between the channel and the semiconductor substrate.
Example 3: the semiconductor device of Example 1 or Example 2, wherein the gate dielectric comprises hafnium and oxygen.
Example 4: the semiconductor device of Examples 1-3, wherein the FET is above a first metal layer and a second metal layer in the BEOL stack.
Example 5: the semiconductor device of Examples 1-4, wherein the channel comprises silicon or germanium.
Example 6: the semiconductor device of Examples 1-4, wherein the channel comprises a semiconductor oxide.
Example 7: the semiconductor device of Examples 1-6, wherein a footprint of the FET is approximately 100 nm×100 nm or smaller.
Example 8: the semiconductor device of Examples 1-7, wherein the FET is part of a memory cell.
Example 9: a method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a first layer on a substrate; forming a release layer over the first layer; forming a second layer over the release layer, wherein the second layer comprises the same material as the first layer; forming a gate dielectric over the second layer, wherein the gate dielectric is single crystalline; forming a semiconductor channel over the gate dielectric; separating the second layer, the gate dielectric, and the semiconductor channel from the first layer to form a released stack; and attaching the released stack to the semiconductor device.
Example 10: the method of Example 9, wherein the released stack is attached to a back end of line (BEOL) layer of the semiconductor device.
Example 11: the method of Example 9 or Example 10, wherein separating the released stack is done by a laser treatment.
Example 12: the method of Examples 9 or Example 10, wherein separating the released stack is done by a thermal treatment.
Example 13: the method of Examples 9-12, further comprising: removing the second layer from the gate dielectric after attaching the released stack to the semiconductor device.
Example 14: the method of Examples 9-13, wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise strontium titanate (STO).
Example 15: the method of Examples 9-13, wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise indium tin oxide (ITO).
Example 16: the method of Examples 9-15, wherein the gate dielectric comprises hafnium and oxygen.
Example 17: the method of Example 16, wherein the gate dielectric comprises an orthorhombic crystal structure.
Example 18: the method of Examples 9-17, further comprising: forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode through the gate dielectric, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode contact the semiconductor channel.
Example 19: an electronic system, comprising: a board; a package substrate attached to the board; and a die attached to the package substrate, wherein the die comprises: a back end of line (BEOL) field effect transistor (FET), comprising: a semiconductor channel; a gate dielectric over the semiconductor channel, wherein the gate dielectric comprises a single crystalline orthorhombic crystal structure; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; and a source electrode and a drain electrode passing through the gate dielectric and contacting the semiconductor channel.
Example 20: the electronic system of Example 19, wherein the gate dielectric comprises hafnium and oxygen.