Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention relate generally to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to semiconductor devices formed with different threshold voltages.
Scaling of device dimensions has been a primary factor driving improvements in integrated circuit performance and reduction in integrated circuit cost. Due to limitations associated with gate-oxide thicknesses and source/drain (S/D) junction depths, scaling of existing bulk semiconductor devices below the 0.1 μm process generation may be difficult, if not impossible. New device structures and new materials, thus, are likely to be needed to improve semiconductor performance.
Double-gate metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) represent devices that are candidates for succeeding existing planar MOSFETs. In double-gate MOSFETs, the use of two gates to control the channel significantly suppresses short-channel effects. A FinFET is a double-gate structure that includes a channel formed in a vertical fin. Although a double-gate structure, the FinFET is similar to existing planar MOSFETs in layout and fabrication techniques. The FinFET also provides a range of channel lengths, CMOS compatibility, and large packing density compared to other double-gate structures.
Implementations consistent with the principles of the invention provide selective channel implantation methods for forming FinFET devices that have multiple threshold voltages.
In one aspect consistent with the principles of the invention, a method for forming at least first and second semiconductor devices with different threshold voltages is provided. The method may include depositing gate material on the first and second semiconductor devices, selectively removing the gate material from the first semiconductor device, performing an implantation process on the first and second semiconductor devices, and selectively removing the gate material from the second semiconductor device, where threshold voltages associated with the first and second semiconductor devices are different.
According to another aspect, a method for forming at least first and second semiconductor devices with different threshold voltages is provided. The method may include performing a first implantation process on the first and second semiconductor devices, selectively covering the first semiconductor device, and performing a second implantation process on the selectively covered first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. The method may also include removing the covering from the selectively covered first semiconductor device and annealing the first and second semiconductor devices, where threshold voltages associated with the annealed first semiconductor device and the annealed second semiconductor device are different.
According to yet another aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first FinFET device with a first threshold voltage and a second FinFET device with a second threshold voltage, whether the first and second threshold voltages are different.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings,
The following detailed description of implementations consistent with the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Implementations consistent with the principles of the invention perform selective channel implantation to form FinFET devices that have different threshold voltages (Vt's). The FinFET devices may be used to optimize circuit performance, such as leakage and drivability for different circuit paths.
With reference to
Referring to
In an exemplary implementation, buried oxide layer 220 may include a silicon oxide and may have a thickness ranging from about 100 Å to about 500 Å. Silicon layer 230 may include monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon having a thickness ranging from about 200 Å to about 1000 Å. Silicon layer 230 may be used to form a fin structure, as described in more detail below.
In alternative implementations consistent with the present invention, substrate 210 and layer 230 may include other semiconducting materials, such as germanium, or combinations of semiconducting materials, such as silicon-germanium. Buried oxide layer 220 may also include other dielectric materials.
A photoresist material (or another type of masking material) may be deposited and patterned to form a photoresist mask 240 for subsequent processing. The photoresist material may be deposited and patterned in any conventional manner.
Semiconductor device 200 may then be etched to form a fin area and source and drain regions (act 110). In an exemplary implementation, silicon layer 230 may be etched in a conventional manner, with the etching terminating on buried oxide layer 220 to form a fin. Photoresist mask 240 may then be removed using a conventional technique. After the formation of the fin, source and drain regions may be formed (e.g., by deposition or epitaxial growth of a semiconducting material) adjacent the respective ends of the fin. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, a layer of silicon, germanium, or a combination of silicon and germanium may be deposited, patterned and etched in a conventional manner to form source and drain regions. Alternately, the source and drain regions may be formed in the same photolithography process that forms the fin.
Semiconductor device 200 may include fin area 310, source region 320, and drain region 330. Fin 310 may have a width ranging from about 50 Å to about 1000 Å in a channel region of semiconductor device 200 and a thickness (i.e., height) ranging from about 100 Å to 1000 Å. Semiconductor device 200′ may similarly include fin area 310′, source region 320′, and drain region 330′. Fin 310′ may have a similar width and thickness as fin 310. Source regions 320/320′ and drain regions 330/330′ may be formed adjacent the ends of fin areas 310/310′ on buried oxide layer 220, according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention.
Semiconductor devices 200 and 200′ may then be partially doped via a first channel implantation process (act 120), as illustrated in
A photoresist material (or another type of masking material) may be selectively deposited and patterned to form a photoresist mask 510 that covers semiconductor device 200 (act 130), as illustrated in
Semiconductor device 200′ may then be further doped via a second channel implantation process (act 140), as illustrated in
Because semiconductor device 200 is covered by photoresist mask 510, semiconductor device 200 is not affected by the second channel implanting process. After the implantation process is complete, semiconductor device 200′ may include silicon doped with impurities to a greater degree than semiconductor device 200.
Photoresist mask 510 may be removed using a conventional technique (act 150), as illustrated in
Those skilled in the art will understand, in view of the disclosure herein, that different devices (e.g., devices 200 and 200′) may be formed with different Vt's for a variety of design reasons. For example, the Vt may be varied based on the type of device 200/200′. In one implementation consistent with the principles of the invention, N-type MOS (NMOS) devices may be formed with a Vt larger in magnitude (i.e., absolute value) than the Vt of P-type MOS (PMOS) devices on the same wafer/chip. Alternately, PMOS devices may be formed with a Vt larger in magnitude than the Vt of NMOS devices on the same wafer/chip.
It may also be advantageous to vary Vt within a given circuit element (e.g., inverter, NAND gate, memory element, NOR gate, etc.). Within a single circuit element, for example, one FinFET device may have a first threshold voltage Vt1. Another FinFET device within the same circuit element may have a second, different threshold voltage Vt2.
Alternately, or additionally, Vt may be varied between circuit elements. For example, one circuit element may include one or more FinFET devices having associated first threshold voltages Vt1. A separate circuit element may include one or more FinFET devices having associated second, different threshold voltages Vt2.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, different FinFET devices 200/200′ may be differentially doped. Semiconductor devices 200/200′ may be formed on the same wafer or chip and may exhibit different threshold voltages Vt's. Advantageously, the resulting structure exhibits good short channel behavior. In addition, the present invention provides increased flexibility and can be easily integrated into conventional processing.
With reference to
Referring to
In an exemplary implementation, buried oxide layer 920 may include a silicon oxide and may have a thickness ranging from about 300 Å to about 2000 Å. Silicon layer 930 may have a thickness ranging from about 100 Å to about 1000 Å.
In alternative implementations consistent with the present invention, substrate 910 and layer 930 may include other semiconducting materials, such as germanium, or combinations of semiconducting materials, such as silicon-germanium. Buried oxide layer 920 may also include other dielectric materials.
As illustrated in
A gate material 1110 may be deposited over semiconductor devices 900/900′ (act 820), as illustrated in
Gate material 1110 may then be selectively removed from semiconductor device 900 or 900′ (act 830). In the example shown in
To facilitate selective removal of gate material 1110, a photoresist material (or another type of masking material) may be deposited and patterned to form a photoresist mask 1210 covering a portion of semiconductor device 900, as illustrated in
Semiconductor device 900 may then be etched to form a gate trench 1220, as illustrated in
Semiconductor devices 900 and 900′ may then be doped via a channel implantation process (act 840), as illustrated in
Gate material 1110 may then be selectively removed from semiconductor device 900′ (act 850), as illustrated in
Semiconductor device 900′ may be etched to form a gate trench 1420, as illustrated in
A gate dielectric material 1510/1510′ may be deposited or thermally grown on the side surfaces of gate trench 1220/1420 (act 860), as illustrated in
A gate electrode material 1520/1520′ may be deposited to at least partially fill gate trench 1220/1420 (act 870). Gate electrode material 1520/1520′ may be formed at a thickness ranging from approximately 10 Å to 50 Å. A number of conductive materials may be used for gate electrode material 1520/1520′. For example, gate electrode material 1520/1520′ may include a metal (e.g., tungsten, tantalum, aluminum, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, titanium, molybdenum, etc.), a metal containing compound (e.g., titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, ruthenium oxide, etc.), or a doped semiconductor material (e.g., polycrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon-germanium, etc.). If necessary, chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) or another comparable technique may be performed to remove excess gate electrode material (e.g., above gate material 1110).
Because the channel of semiconductor device 900 has been doped but the channel of semiconductor device 900′ has not, semiconductor device 900 may have a different threshold voltage Vt than semiconductor device 900′. In one implementation consistent with the principles of the invention, the channel implantation process may reduce the threshold voltage Vt of semiconductor device 900 by about 0.1 V to about 0.5 V, relative to semiconductor device 900′, which was not subjected to the channel implantation process.
Those skilled in the art will understand, in view of the disclosure herein, that different devices (e.g., devices 900 and 900′) may be formed with different Vt's for a variety of design reasons. For example, the threshold voltage Vt may be varied based on the type of device 900/900′. In one implementation consistent with the principles of the invention, NMOS devices may be formed with a Vt larger in magnitude (i.e., absolute value) than the Vt of PMOS devices on the same wafer/chip. Alternately, PMOS devices may be formed with a Vt larger in magnitude than the Vt of NMOS devices on the same wafer/chip.
It may also be advantageous to vary Vt within a given circuit element (e.g., inverter, NAND gate, memory element, NOR gate, etc.). Within a single circuit element, for example, one FinFET device may have a first threshold voltage Vt1. Another FinFET device within the same circuit element may have a second, different threshold voltage Vt2.
Alternately, or additionally, Vt may be varied between circuit elements. For example, one circuit element may include one or more FinFET devices having associated first threshold voltages Vt1. A separate circuit element may include one or more FinFET devices having associated second, different threshold voltages Vt2.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, different damascene FinFET devices 900/900′ may be differentially doped. The resulting semiconductor devices 900/900′ may be formed on the same wafer or chip and may exhibit different threshold voltages Vt. Advantageously, the resulting structure exhibits good short channel behavior. In addition, the present invention provides increased flexibility and can be easily integrated into conventional processing.
According to yet another implementation, different Vt FinFETs may be achieved through a tilt angle process. With reference to
In alternative implementations, substrate 1610 and layer 1620 may include other semiconductor materials, such as germanium, or combinations of semiconductor materials, such as silicon-germanium. The buried oxide layer may include a silicon oxide or other types of dielectric materials.
A thick cap layer 1630 (or hard mask) may be formed on top of silicon layer 1620 to aid in pattern optimization and protect silicon layer 1620 during subsequent processing. Cap layer 1630 may, for example, include a silicon nitride material or some other type of material capable of protecting silicon layer 1620 during the fabrication process. Cap layer 1630 may be deposited, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
Silicon layer 1620 may be patterned by conventional lithographic techniques (e.g., optical or electron beam lithography). Silicon layer 1620 may then be etched using well-known etching techniques to form multiple fin structures 1710 and 1720, as illustrated in
Following the formation of fin structures 1710 and 1720, conventional tilt angle implantation processes may be performed to dope fins 1712 and 1722. For example, a conventional implantation process of n-type or p-type impurities may be performed to dope fin 1722, as illustrated in
The implanting of the impurities does not dope fin 1712. There are several factors that aid in preventing the impurities from reaching fin 1712. For example, the presence, height, and closeness of fin structure 1720 shields or shadows fin 1712, thereby blocking the impurities from reaching fin 1712. The height of cap 1714 also helps block the impurities.
Another conventional implantation process of n-type or p-type impurities may be performed to dope fin 1712, as illustrated in
The implanting of the impurities does not dope fin 1722. There are several factors that aid in preventing the impurities from reaching fin 1722. For example, the presence, height, and closeness of fin structure 1710 shields or shadows fin 1722, thereby blocking the impurities from reaching fin 1722. The height of cap 1724 also helps block the impurities.
Caps 1714 and 1724 may then be removed, as illustrated in
Implementations consistent with the principles of the invention perform selective channel implantation to form FinFET devices that have different threshold voltages Vt's. The FinFET devices may be used to optimize circuit performance.
The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.
For example, in the above descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific materials, structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of implementations consistent with the present invention. These implementations and other implementations can be practiced, however, without resorting to the details specifically set forth herein. In other instances, well known processing structures have not been described in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the thrust of the present invention. In practicing the present invention, conventional deposition, photolithographic and etching techniques may be employed, and hence, the details of such techniques have not been set forth herein in detail.
While series of acts have been described with regard to
With regard to the implementation described with regard to
With regard to the implementation described with regard to
No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
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