Integrated circuitry continues to scale to smaller feature dimensions and higher transistor densities. As a result, a gate pitch, as well as a pitch for source and drain contacts, continue to reduce. This reduces contact area between a source or drain region and a corresponding source or drain contact, which leads to increased contact resistance and which may negatively impacting transistor performance.
These and other features of the present embodiments will be understood better by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the figures herein described. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Furthermore, as will be appreciated, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale or intended to limit the described embodiments to the specific configurations shown. For instance, while some figures generally indicate straight lines, right angles, and smooth surfaces, an actual implementation of the disclosed techniques may have less than perfect straight lines and right angles (e.g., curved or tapered sidewalls and round corners), and some features may have surface topography or otherwise be non-smooth, given real-world limitations of fabrication processes. Further still, some of the features in the drawings may include a patterned and/or shaded fill, which is merely provided to assist in visually identifying the different features. In short, the figures are provided merely to show example structures.
Integrated circuit structures are disclosed, which includes transistor devices having source and drain regions, and corresponding source and drain contacts. One or more regions of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide are between a source or drain region and a corresponding contact. In an example, one or more metals are initially deposited over the source or drain region, and during an annealing process, the one or more metals combine or otherwise react with the semiconductor material of the source or drain region, to form the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide. Subsequently, the contact is formed (e.g., by deposition of contact fill metal), such that the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide separate the contact from the source or drain region. In one embodiment, the one or more metals for the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide are pre-doped with a dopant, and as a result, the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide that results from the annealing process also includes the dopant. As the metal from which the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide is formed already has the dopant (e.g., at least in part saturated with the dopant), dopant from the source or drain region may not substantially diffuse from the source or drain region into the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide region, during the annealing process. This maintains satisfactory concentration of dopant within the source or drain region, which in turn facilitates in maintaining satisfactory contact resistance between the source or drain region and subsequently formed contact. As will be described in further detail below, the dopant pre-doped within the metal that reacts with the semiconductor material of the source and drain regions may be same as the dopant of the source or drain region or may be different, and in both scenarios, depletion of dopant concentration in the source or drain region (e.g., due to diffusion of dopant from the source or drain region to the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide) is prevented or at least reduced.
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit structure comprises a source or drain region, and a contact coupled to the source or drain region. A region comprising one or more metals and one or more semiconductor materials is between at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact. In an example, the region comprises one or more of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide of the one or more metals. In an example, a first dopant is within the source or drain region, and a second dopant is within the region. In an example, the first dopant is elementally different from the second dopant. In an example, the first dopant is also within the region, where a concentration of the first dopant within the region is less than a concentration of the first dopant within the source or drain region. In an example, the second dopant is also within the source or drain region, where a concentration of the second dopant within the source or drain region is less than a concentration of the second dopant within the region. In an example, each of the first and second types of dopant comprises a same p-type dopant. In another example, the first dopant comprises a p-type dopant, and the second dopant comprises neither a p-type nor an n-type dopant. In an example, the first dopant comprises boron, and the second dopant comprises one or more of gallium, indium, aluminum, or carbon. In an example, each of the first and second dopants comprises a same n-type dopant. In another example, the first dopant comprises an n-type dopant, and the second dopant comprises neither a p-type nor an n-type dopant. In an example, the first dopant comprises phosphorous, and the second dopant comprises one or more of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, or carbon. In an example, the one or more metals comprise one or more of titanium, gadolinium, erbium, scandium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, or iridium.
In another embodiment, an integrated circuit structure comprises a source or drain region, a contact coupled to the source or drain region, and a region comprising one or more of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide. The region may be between a section of the source or drain region and the contact. In an example, a section of the source or drain region is within 5 nanometers (nm) of the region. In an example, a dopant is within the region and within the source or drain region, wherein a concentration of the dopant within the region is within 20% of a concentration of the dopant within the section of the source or drain region. In an example, the integrated circuit structure is a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) device, and the dopant comprises one or more of boron, gallium, indium, or aluminum. In another example, the integrated circuit structure is a n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) device, and the dopant comprises one or more of phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, or tellurium.
In yet another embodiment, a method for forming a region comprising silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide adjacent to a source or drain region is disclosed. The method comprises forming the source or drain region, the source or drain region covered by dielectric material, and forming a recess within the dielectric material. The recess lands on the source or drain region. In an example, the method further includes depositing metal within a bottom section of the recess and adjacent to the source or drain region, wherein the deposited metal is doped with a dopant. In an example, the method further includes processing (e.g., annealing) the metal and the source or drain region, to form the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide adjacent to the source or drain region. In an example, the method includes forming a contact, such that the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide is between the source or drain region and the contact. In an example, the dopant within the metal is a first dopant, and the method further comprises prior to forming the recess, doping at least a section of the source or drain region with a second dopant. In an example, the first dopant is elementally different from the second dopant; while in another example the first dopant is elementally same as the second dopant. In an example, the source or drain region is a p-type source or drain region, the second dopant is a p-type dopant, and the first dopant is either (i) a p-type dopant, or (ii) neither a p-type dopant nor an n-type dopant. In an example, the source or drain region is a n-type source or drain region, the second dopant is an n-type dopant, and the first dopant is either (i) an n-type dopant, or (ii) neither a p-type dopant nor an n-type dopant. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.
As previously discussed herein, with scaling of integrated circuitry, contact area between a source or drain region and a corresponding source or drain contact reduces, thereby correspondingly increasing the contact resistance. In some examples, to reduce the contact resistance, a silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) is formed between the source or drain region and the corresponding contact. In an example, the source or drain region is doped with one or more appropriate types of dopants (e.g., a p-type dopant for PMOS, or an n-type dopant for NMOS), and the doping of the source or drain region further contributes to reducing contact resistance between the source or drain region and the contact. However, when forming the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide), a dopant from the source or drain region may diffuse to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide), thereby depleting or reducing a dopant concentration within the source or drain region, which adversely contributes to increasing the contact resistance.
Accordingly, techniques are provided herein to form an IC that includes transistor devices comprising source or drain regions and corresponding contacts, where metals for the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) are pre-doped with one or more dopants, which prevent or at least reduces diffusion of dopant from the source or drain region to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide). This in turn facilitates in maintaining satisfactory level of dopant within the source or drain region, which in turn facilitates in maintaining satisfactory contact resistance between the source or drain region and the corresponding contact.
Unless mentioned otherwise or unless referring specifically to silicide, any discussion with respect to silicide may also apply to germanide and/or germanosilicide. Thus, for example, discussion about a silicide region between a source or drain region and a corresponding contact may also apply to a germanide region or a germanosilicide region between the source or drain region and the corresponding contact. Also note that formation of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide may depend on semiconductor materials used for the source or drain regions. For example, in a PMOS device, the source and drain regions may comprise SiGe doped with an appropriate p-type dopant, and hence, silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide may be formed adjacent to the source or drain regions of the PMOS device. In another example, in an NMOS device, the source and drain regions may comprise Si, and hence, silicide (but not germanide or germanosilicide) may be formed adjacent to the source or drain regions of the NMOS device.
Referring again to the above discussed example of using pre-doped metal for the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, in an example, the metal for the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) is pre-doped with a first dopant. That is, the metal deposited within the source or drain trench, for formation of the silicide region, comprises the first dopant. For example, the metal has about 0.5 to 25% by atomic weight of the first dopant doped therewith. The metal and the source or drain region are annealed at high temperature, during which the pre-doped metal combines with the semiconductor material (e.g., silicon or SiGe), to form the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide region(s). The source or drain contact is then formed, such that the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is between the source or drain region and the corresponding contact.
While the metal for the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is pre-doped with the first dopant, the source or drain region is pre-doped (e.g., doped prior to metal deposition for formation of the silicide region) with a second dopant, which may be elementally same as, or different from, the first dopant, as will be discussed herein in turn.
As discussed, after the metal is deposited, during an anneal process or another appropriate high-temperature process, the metal combines with the semiconductor material of the source or drain region, to form the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region. As the metal for the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is pre-doped with the first dopant, the resultant silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region also includes the first dopant. Thus, the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is now somewhat saturated with the first dopant, and cannot accept substantial number of atoms of the second dopant from the source or drain region. Put differently, substantial diffusion of the second dopant from the source or drain region to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is blocked or at least reduced, as the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region already includes the first dopant. Note that some atoms of the second dopant may still diffuse from the source or drain region to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, but a number of atoms of such diffused second dopant is much less than the previously discussed example (e.g., where the deposited metal for formation of the silicide region was undoped) in which substantial amount (e.g., a relatively larger number of atoms) of dopant diffuse from the source or drain region to the silicide (or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region. Accordingly, the source or drain region does not have a substantial reduction in the second dopant (e.g., due to substantially less atoms of the second dopant diffusing to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region). Hence, satisfactory level of concentration of the second dopant is maintained within the source or drain region, and as a result, satisfactory level of contact resistance between the source or drain region and the contact is achieved. Note that some atoms of the first dopant may also migrate from the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region to the source or drain region, which may, in some examples, advantageously further increase dopant concentration of the source or drain regions.
In an example, assuming that the device is a PMOS device, the second of dopant within the source or drain region is a p-type dopant. The second dopant pre-doped within the metals of the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region may either be p-type, or may be neither p-type nor n-type (such as carbon). Irrespective of whether the second dopant is one of (i) a p-type or (ii) neither a p-type nor an n-type, presence of the second dopant within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region deters or reduces diffusion of the first dopant from the source or drain region to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, thereby maintaining satisfactory level of concentration of the second dopant within the source or drain region.
In an example, assuming that the device is a NMOS device, the second dopant within the source or drain region is a n-type dopant. The second dopant pre-doped within the metals of the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region may either be an n-type, or may be neither an n-type nor a p-type (such as carbon). Irrespective of whether the second dopant is one of (i) n-type or (ii) neither p-type nor n-type, presence of the second dopant within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region deters or reduces diffusion of the first dopant from the source or drain region to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, thereby maintaining satisfactory level of concentration of the second dopant within the source or drain region.
In a first set of examples, assume that the first dopant and the second dopant are elementally different. For example, for an NMOS device, the second dopant can be an n-type dopant such as phosphorous, and the first dopant may comprise other one or more n-type of dopants such as arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium (but not phosphorous), or a dopant that is neither p or n types (such as carbon). In another example, for a PMOS device, the second dopant can be a p-type dopant such as boron, and the first dopant may comprise other one or more p-type of dopants such as gallium, indium, aluminum (but not boron), or a dopant that is neither a p or an n type (such as carbon). Thus, in these examples, the first dopant is primarily within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, and the second dopant is primarily within the source or drain region. For example, a concentration of the first dopant within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is at least 20%, or 15%. or 10%, or 5% higher than a concentration of the first dopant within the source or drain region. Similarly, a concentration of the second dopant within the source or drain region is at least 20%, or 15%. or 10%, or 5% higher than a concentration of the second dopant within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region.
In a second set of examples, assume that the first dopant and the second dopant are elementally the same. For example, for an NMOS device, the first dopant and the second dopant can be a same n-type dopant such as phosphorous. In another example, for a PMOS device, the first dopant and the second dopant can be a same p-type dopant such as boron. In such an example, a concentration of the dopant within the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region is substantially similar (e.g., within 25%, or 20%, or 15%, or 10%, or 5%) to a concentration of the dopant within at least a section of the source or drain region, where the section of the source or drain region is proximal to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region. For example, the section of the source or drain region is within a threshold distance d1 from the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region, where the distance d1 is in the range of 2-15 nanometers (nm), or in the subrange of 2-12 nm, 2-10 nm, 2-8 nm, 2-5 nm, 5-15 nm, or 5-10 nm. Thus, there is sufficient dopant within the source or drain region and adjacent to the silicide (and/or germanide and/or germanosilicide) region and the source or drain contact, thereby achieving a satisfactory level of source or drain contact resistance.
Materials that are “compositionally different” or “compositionally distinct” as used herein refers to two materials that have different chemical compositions. This compositional difference may be, for instance, by virtue of an element that is in one material but not the other (e.g., SiGe is compositionally different than silicon), or by way of one material having all the same elements as a second material but at least one of those elements is intentionally provided at a different concentration in one material relative to the other material (e.g., SiGe having 70 atomic percent germanium is compositionally different than from SiGe having 25 atomic percent germanium). In addition to such chemical composition diversity, the materials may also have distinct dopants (e.g., gallium and magnesium) or the same dopants but at differing concentrations. In still other embodiments, compositionally distinct materials may further refer to two materials that have different crystallographic orientations. For instance, (110) silicon is compositionally distinct or different from (100) silicon. Creating a stack of different orientations could be accomplished, for instance, with blanket wafer layer transfer. If two materials are “elementally different,” then one of the material has an element that is not in the other material.
In some embodiments, a plurality of channel layers of compositionally different channel materials or geometries may be formed on different areas of the substrate, such as for CMOS applications, for example. For instance, a first channel material layer may be formed on a first area of a silicon base to be used for one or more p-channel transistor devices (e.g., one or more PMOS devices) and a second channel material layer may be formed on a second area of the silicon base to be used for one or more n-channel transistor devices (e.g., one or more NMOS devices). As previously described, by selecting the substrate to have the desired material characteristics (e.g., the desired semiconductor material, the desired dopant concentration, and desired dopant type) the substrate can be used to grow multiple different channel layers.
Note that the use of “source/drain” herein is simply intended to refer to a source region or a drain region or both a source region and a drain region. To this end, the forward slash (“/”) as used herein means “and/or” unless otherwise specified, and is not intended to implicate any particular structural limitation or arrangement with respect to source and drain regions, or any other materials or features that are listed herein in conjunction with a forward slash.
Use of the techniques and structures provided herein may be detectable using tools such as electron microscopy including scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), nano-beam electron diffraction (NBD or NBED), and reflection electron microscopy (REM); composition mapping; x-ray crystallography or diffraction (XRD); energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX); secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS); time-of-flight SIMS (ToF-SIMS); atom probe imaging or tomography; local electrode atom probe (LEAP) techniques; 3D tomography; or high resolution physical or chemical analysis, to name a few suitable example analytical tools. For instance, in some embodiments, such tools may indicate a transistor device having (i) a source or drain region, (ii) a corresponding source or drain contact, and (iii) a region comprising silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide between the source or drain region and the source or drain contact, wherein a concentration of a first dopant within the source or drain region is higher than that within the region, wherein a concentration of a second dopant within the region is higher than that within the source or drain region, and where the first dopant is elementally different from the second dopant. Furthermore, such tools may also be used to indicate a transistor device having (i) a source or drain region, (ii) a corresponding source or drain contact, and (iii) a region comprising silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide between the source or drain region and the source or drain contact, wherein a concentration of a dopant within a section of the source or drain region is within 20% (or within 15%, or 10%, or 5%) of a concentration of the dopant within the region, wherein the section of the source or drain region is within a threshold distance d1 from the region, and where the distance d1 is in the range of 2-15 nanometers (nm), or in the subrange of 2-12 nm, 2-10 nm, 2-8 nm, 2-5 nm, nm, or 5-10 nm. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.
In
Note that in an example, the location of the source and drain regions in the device 100 may be interchanged, and the source and drain regions are also generically referred to herein as a source or drain region. Thus, a source or drain region may refer to either of a source region or a drain region. The source and drain regions will be discussed in further details herein in turn. Some of the discussions herein focus on the source region, and such discussion may also be applicable to the drain region as well.
In the example of
The gate structure 122 can be formed via gate-first or gate-last processing, and may include any number of suitable gate materials and configurations. In an embodiment, the gate structure 122 includes a corresponding gate electrode 132 and gate dielectric 120 between the gate electrode 132 and the corresponding nanoribbons 118. In one example the gate spacers 134 may be considered to be part of the gate structure 122, whereas in another example the gate spacers 134 may be considered external to the gate structure 122.
The gate structure 122 of the device 100 comprises the corresponding gate electrode 127 and corresponding dielectric material 120. The gate dielectric material 120 warps around middle section of individual nanoribbons 118 (note that end sections of individual nanoribbons 118 are wrapped around by the gate spacers 134). The gate dielectric material 120 is between individual nanoribbons 118 and the gate electrode 132, as illustrated. In an example, due to conformal deposition of the gate dielectric material 120, the gate dielectric material 120 may also be on inner sidewalls of the gate spacer 134, as illustrated.
The gate dielectric 120 may include a single material layer or multiple stacked material layers. The gate dielectric may include, for example, any suitable oxide (such as silicon dioxide), high-k dielectric material, and/or any other suitable material as will be apparent in light of this disclosure. Examples of high-k dielectric materials include, for instance, hafnium oxide, hafnium silicon oxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, zirconium silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, barium strontium titanium oxide, barium titanium oxide, strontium titanium oxide, yttrium oxide, aluminum oxide, lead scandium tantalum oxide, and lead zinc niobate, to provide some examples. The high-k dielectric material (e.g., hafnium oxide) may be doped with an element to affect the threshold voltage of the given semiconductor device. According to some embodiments, the doping element used in gate dielectric 120 is lanthanum. In some embodiments, the gate dielectric 120 can be annealed to improve its quality when high-k dielectric material is used. In some embodiments, the gate dielectric 120 includes a first layer (e.g., native oxide of nanoribbons, such as silicon dioxide or germanium oxide or SiGe-oxide) on the nanoribbons, and a second layer of high-k dielectric (e.g., hafnium oxide) on the first layer.
In an example, the gate electrode 132 may include any sufficiently conductive material, such as a metal, metal alloy, or doped polysilicon. The gate electrodes may include a wide range of materials, such as polysilicon or various suitable metals or metal alloys, such as aluminum, tungsten, titanium, tantalum, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, titanium nitride, or tantalum nitride, for example.
In one embodiment, one or more work function materials (not illustrated in
The semiconductor bodies 118, which in this case are nanoribbons, can be any number of semiconductor materials as well, such as group IV material (e.g., silicon, germanium, or SiGe) or group III-V materials (e.g., indium gallium arsenide). In other embodiments, the semiconductor bodies 118 may be fins on which the corresponding gate structures are formed to provide double-gate or tri-gate configurations (as opposed to gate-all-around configurations with nanoribbons or wires). The semiconductor bodies 118 may be lightly doped, or undoped, and may be shaped or sculpted during the gate formation process, according to some embodiments. In some cases, semiconductor bodies 118 may be a multilayer structure, such as a SiGe body cladded with germanium, or a silicon body cladded with SiGe. Any number of channel configurations can be used.
The source region 106 and the drain region 108 can be any suitable semiconductor material and may include any dopant scheme. In an example, source and drain regions 106, 108 can be PMOS source and drain regions that include, for example, group IV semiconductor materials such as silicon, germanium, SiGe, germanium tin (GeSn), SiGe alloyed with carbon (SiGe:C). Example p-type dopants include boron, gallium, indium, and aluminum. In another example, source and drain regions 106, 108 can be NMOS source and drain regions that include, for example, silicon or group III-V semiconductor materials such as two or more of indium, aluminum, arsenic, phosphorus, gallium, and antimony, with some example compounds including but not limited to indium aluminum arsenide, indium arsenide phosphide, indium gallium arsenide, indium gallium arsenide phosphide, gallium antimonide, gallium aluminum antimonide, indium gallium antimonide, or indium gallium phosphide antimonide. In one specific embodiment, PMOS source and drain regions are boron-doped SiGe, and NMOS source and drain regions are phosphorus-doped silicon. In a more general sense, the source and drain regions can be any semiconductor material suitable for a given application. In some cases, the epi source and drain regions may include a multilayer structure, such as a germanium cap on a SiGe body, or a germanium body and a carbon-containing SiGe spacer or liner between the corresponding channel region and that germanium body. In any such cases, a portion of the epi source and drain regions may have a component that is graded in concentration, such as a graded germanium concentration to facilitate lattice matching, or a graded dopant concentration to facilitate low contact resistance. Any number of source and drain configurations can be used as will be appreciated, and the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular such configurations.
As illustrated in
As illustrated, in an example, the conductive region 141 is between the source contact 140 and the source region 106. In an example, the region 141 is considered to be a part of the source region 106, and the region 151 is considered to be a part of the drain region 108, although in another examples the regions 141 and 151 are considered to be different from the corresponding source or drain regions. Similarly, in an example, the region 141 is considered to be a part of the source contact 140, and the region 151 is considered to be a part of the drain contact 150, although in another examples the regions 141 and 151 are considered to be different from the corresponding source or drain contacts. In an example, the conductive regions 141, 151 are representative of one or more silicide region(s), germanide region(s), and/or germanosilicide region(s) between the conductive source or drain metal contact and the adjacent source or drain region. In an example, the regions 141, 151 reduce contact resistance of the source and drain contacts.
In an example, the source and drain regions 106, 108 comprise semiconductor materials, such as Si, Ge, and/or SiGe. In an example, the device 100 is a PMOS device, while in another example the device 100 is an NPMOS device. In an example, if the device 100 is a PMOS device, the PMOS source and drain regions may comprise SiGe doped with an appropriate p-type dopant. On the other hand, if the device 100 is an NMOS device, and NMOS source and drain regions may comprise silicon doped with an appropriate n-type dopant. Thus, in an example, if the device 100 is the PMOS device in which the source and drain regions comprise SiGe, the corresponding regions 141, 151 may comprise silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide. In another example, if the device 100 is the NMOS device in which the source and drain regions comprise Si, the corresponding regions 141, 151 may comprise silicide.
Thus, depending on a type of the device 100, the regions 141, 151 may comprise silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide. In an example, the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide of the regions 141, 151 comprise one or more metals and one or both of silicon and germanium. For example, the silicide comprises one or more metals and silicon; the germanide comprises one or more metals and germanium; and the germanosilicide comprises one or more metals, silicon, and germanium.
As discussed, the regions 141, 151 comprise one or more metals and one or more semiconductor materials (such as silicon and/or germanium). The one or more metals of the regions 141, 151 comprise one or more of titanium, gadolinium, erbium, scandium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, and/or iridium. In an example, if the device 100 is a PMOS, high work function metal may be used for the regions 141, 151. On the other hand, if the device 100 is an NMOS, low work function metal may be used for the regions 141, 151. In an example, if the device 100 is a PMOS device, the metal(s) of the regions 141, 151 may include one or more of titanium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, and/or iridium. In another example, if the device 100 is an NMOS device, the metal(s) of the regions 141, 151 may include one or more of titanium, gadolinium, erbium, and/or scandium.
As illustrated in the expanded view of the section 149 in
In
As illustrated in
In an example where the device 100 is a PMOS device, and the dopant 125 (e.g., which is primarily within the source region 106a) comprises a p-type dopant. Examples of p-type dopant 125 within the source region 106a (e.g., when the device 100 is a PMOS) may include boron, gallium, indium, aluminum, and/or another appropriate p-type dopant. The dopant 127 (e.g., which is primarily within the region 141) comprises (i) a p-type dopant, and/or (ii) a dopant that is neither a p-type nor an n-type. Note that in the example of
In an example where the device 100 is a NMOS device, and the dopant 125 (e.g., which is primarily within the source region 106a) comprises an n-type dopant. Examples of the n-type dopant 125 within the source region 106a (e.g., when the device 100 is an NMOS) may include phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, and/or another appropriate n-type dopant. The dopant 127 (e.g., which is primarily within the region 141) comprises (i) an n-type dopant and/or (ii) a dopant that is neither a p-type nor an n-type. Note that in the example of
The magnified view of section 149 of
As previously described above, in an example, a concentration of dopant 127 is higher within the region 141 than within the sections 191a, 191b, and 191c of the source region 106. For example, the concentration of the dopant 127 within the region 141 is at least 5%, or 10%, or 15%, or 20%, or 25%, or 30%, or 50%, or 80% more than a concentration of the dopant 127 within any of the sections 119a, 119b, or 119c of source region 106a.
In an example, a concentration of dopant 125 is higher within the source region 106 than within the region 141. For example, the concentration of the dopant 125 within the section 119a and/or within the section 119b is at least 5%, or 10%, or 15%, or 20%, or 25%, or 30%, or 50%, or 80% more than a concentration of the dopant 125 within the region 141.
In an example, a difference between a concentration of dopant 125 within the section 119a and a concentration of dopant 125 within the section 119b is less than 25%, or 20%, or 15%, or 10%, or 5%, or 3%. Thus, in an example, the concentration of dopant 125 within the sections 119a and 119b may be substantially similar (e.g., within 25% of each other). Note that the concentration of the dopant 125 within the section 119c may be less than that in the sections 119a and/or 119b.
In some examples, when the metal for forming the region 141 is deposited, the metal may not include any dopant (e.g., the region 141 in this example will lack dopant 127), while the source region 106 comprises the dopant 125. In some such examples, the region 141 (e.g., silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide) doesn't have any dopant initially, and hence, at least some of the dopant 125 migrate or diffuse from the source region (e.g., from at least the section 119a of the source region 106) to the region 141. This at least in part reduces concentration of dopant 125 within the source region 106, e.g., especially within the section 119a immediately adjacent to the region 141. Because of such reduction of concentration of dopant 125 within the section 119a of the source region 106, in an example, contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106 may increase, thereby adversely impacting performance of the device 100.
Accordingly, as will be discussed in further detail herein in turn (e.g., with respect to
For example, some atoms of the dopant 125 may still diffuse from the section 119a of the source region 106 to the region 141, but a number of such diffused atoms of the dopant 125 is much less than the previously discussed example (e.g., where the deposited metal for formation of the region 141 was undoped). Accordingly, the source region 106 (such as the sections 119a, 119b of the source region 106) does not have a substantial reduction in the dopant 125 (e.g., due to substantially less number of atoms of the dopant 125 migrating or diffusing to the region 141), and hence, the previously discussed decrease in concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106 (e.g., due to the formation of the region 141) is prevented or at least reduced. Thus, the previously discussed increase in the contact resistance (e.g., due to the formation of the region 141) is eliminated or at least reduced. For example, now the sections 119a, 119b have sufficient concentration of dopant 125, resulting in good (e.g., relatively less) contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106.
Note that some atoms of the dopant 127 may also diffuse from the region 141 to the source region 106. The diffused atoms of the dopant 127 may, or may not, contribute to maintaining good (e.g., reduced) contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106, e.g., depending on a type of the dopant 127. For example, for a PMOS device, if the dopant 127 comprise p-type dopant, then the dopant 127 within the source region 106 (e.g., which diffused from the region 141) may contribute in further reduction of the contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106. Similarly, for an NMOS device, if the dopant 127 comprise an n-type dopant, then the dopant 127 within the source region 106 (e.g., which diffused from the region 141) may contribute in further reduction of the contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106. However, if the dopant 127 is neither a p-type nor an n-type (e.g., as discussed herein previously), then the dopant 127 within the source region 106 may not substantially contribute in further reduction of the contact resistance between the source contact 140 and the source region 106. However, as the source region 106 (e.g., the sections 119a, 119b) now already has sufficient number of atoms of the dopant 125 (e.g., due to the dopant 127 preventing or reducing diffusion of the dopant 125 from the source region 106 to the region 141), the contact resistance between the source region 106 and the contact 140 may be sufficiently low for satisfactory performance of the device 100.
A relative narrow solid line 127a represents concentration of the dopant 127 within metal of region 141, prior to formation of the region 141, e.g., prior to and/or subsequent to the metal being deposited within the source trench for formation of the region 141, but prior to any annealing process that would form the region 141 by combining the metal and the semiconductor material of the source region 106. A relative wide solid line 125a represents concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106, prior to formation of the region 141.
A relative narrow dotted line 127b represents concentration of the dopant 127 within the region 141 and the source region 106, subsequent to formation of the region 141. A relative wide dotted line 125b represents concentration of the dopant 125 within the region 141 and the source region 106, subsequent to formation of the region 141. A dashed line 129 represents total or combined concentration of dopants 125 and 127 within the source region 106, subsequent to formation of the region 141.
As illustrated in
During formation of the region 141, some atoms of the dopant 125 diffuse from the source region 106 to the region 141, and some atoms of the dopant 127 diffuse from the region 141 to the source region 106. Accordingly, there is a slight decline in the concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106, as illustrated by line 125b. Similarly, there is a slight decline in the concentration of the dopant 127 within the region 141, as illustrated by line 127b. Thus, the dopant 125 within the section 119a, prior to and subsequent to formation of the region 141, are within 25%, or within 20%, or within 15%, or within 10%, or within 5% of each other. Similarly, the dopant 125 within the section 119b, prior to and subsequent to formation of the region 141, are within 25%, or within 20%, or within 15%, or within 10%, or within 5% of each other. Thus, there is no significant decrease in dopant concentration 125 within the sections 119a and 119b, due to formation of the region 141, thereby preventing or at least reducing effects of formation of the region 141 on dopant concentration within the source region 106.
Note that the line 129 illustrates concentration of combined dopants 125 and 127 within the source region. If the dopant 127 are of p-type (e.g., if the device is a PMOS) or of n-type (e.g., if the device is an NMOS), then the dopant 127 further aid in increasing the appropriate type of dopant within the source region 106, e.g., by increasing the concentration of combined dopant of appropriate type within the source region 106, which further aids in reducing contact resistance.
The device 200 of
Similar to the regions 141, 151 of
However, unlike the regions 141, 151 of the device 100 (e.g., which primarily included the dopant 127 and included some atoms of the dopant 125), the regions 241, 251 of the device 200 of
In an example, a concentration of the dopant 125 within the region 241 is within 25%, or 20%, or 15%, or 10%, or 5% of a concentration of the dopant 125 within the section 119a. In an example, a concentration of the dopant 125 within the section 119a is within 25%, or 20%, or 15%, or 10%, or 5% of a concentration of the dopant 125 within the section 119b. Thus, in the device 200, the region 141 and the sections 119a, 119b are substantially uniformly doped with the dopant 125.
In an example where the device 100 is a PMOS device, and the dopant 125 comprise a p-type dopant. Examples of such a p-type dopant 125 within the source region 106a and the region 241 may include boron, gallium, indium, aluminum, and/or another appropriate p-type dopant. In an example where the device 100 is a NMOS device, and the dopant 125 comprise an n-type dopant. Examples of such an n-type dopant 125 within the source region 106a and the region 241 may include phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, and/or another appropriate n-type dopant.
In some examples, when the metal for forming the region 241 is deposited within the source trench (e.g., see
A relative narrow solid line 225La represents concentration of the dopant 125 within metal of region 241, prior to formation of the region 241, e.g., prior to and/or subsequent to the metal being deposited within the source trench for formation of the region 241, but prior to any annealing process that would form the region 241 by combining the metal and the semiconductor material of the source region 106. A relative wide solid line 225Sa represents concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106, prior to formation of the region 241. A relative narrow dotted line 225Lb represents concentration of the dopant 125 within the region 241, subsequent to formation of the region 241. A relative wide dotted line 225Sb represents concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106, subsequent to formation of the region 241.
As illustrated in
During formation of the region 241, some atoms of the dopant 125 diffuses from the source region 106 to the region 241, and/or some atoms of the dopant 125 diffuses from the region 241 to the source region 106. Thus, there may be some interchange of atoms of the dopant 125 between the region 241 and the source region 106. Accordingly, there may be some slight change (but not substantially change) in the concentration of the dopant 125 within the source region 106. In the example of
In an example, although some non-significant change (e.g., change of less than 10% or less than 5%) in dopant concentration may occur in the source region 106 (e.g., where the change may include an increase or decrease of dopant concentration), there is no significant change in dopant concentration within the source region 106 as a result of formation of the region 241. Thus, there is no significant decrease in dopant concentration 125 within the sections 119a and 119b of the source region 106 due to formation of the region 241, thereby preventing or at least reducing effects of formation of the region 241 on dopant concentration within the source region 106. As a result, the formation of the region 241 does not adversely affect the contact resistance of the source contact 140.
Note that similar to
As discussed, the method 200 can be used to form either of the devices 100 or 200 of
Referring to
Referring again to
Referring again to
In one example, the deposition process receives substantially undoped metal from a first source and the dopant from a second source, the simultaneously deposits the metal and the dopant with the openings 401, 402. In another example, the deposition process receives doped metal, the deposits the doped metal with the openings 401, 402.
Referring again to
Referring again to
Referring again to
Note that the processes in method 300 are shown in a particular order for ease of description. However, one or more of the processes may be performed in a different order or may not be performed at all (and thus be optional), in accordance with some embodiments. Numerous variations on method 300 and the techniques described herein will be apparent in light of this disclosure.
Depending on its applications, computing system 1000 may include one or more other components that may or may not be physically and electrically coupled to the motherboard 1002. These other components may include, but are not limited to, volatile memory (e.g., DRAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., ROM), 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). Any of the components included in computing system 1000 may include one or more integrated circuit structures or devices formed using the disclosed techniques in accordance with an example embodiment. In some embodiments, multiple functions can be integrated into one or more chips (e.g., for instance, note that the communication chip 1006 can be part of or otherwise integrated into the processor 1004).
The communication chip 1006 enables wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing system 1000. 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 1006 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 system 1000 may include a plurality of communication chips 1006. For instance, a first communication chip 1006 may be dedicated to shorter range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a second communication chip 1006 may be dedicated to longer range wireless communications such as GPS, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, Ev-DO, and others.
The processor 1004 of the computing system 1000 includes an integrated circuit die packaged within the processor 1004. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit die of the processor includes onboard circuitry that is implemented with one or more integrated circuit structures or devices formed using the disclosed techniques, as variously described herein. The term “processor” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes, for instance, 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 1006 also may include an integrated circuit die packaged within the communication chip 1006. In accordance with some such example embodiments, the integrated circuit die of the communication chip includes one or more integrated circuit structures or devices formed using the disclosed techniques as variously described herein. As will be appreciated in light of this disclosure, note that multi-standard wireless capability may be integrated directly into the processor 1004 (e.g., where functionality of any chips 1006 is integrated into processor 1004, rather than having separate communication chips). Further note that processor 1004 may be a chip set having such wireless capability. In short, any number of processor 1004 and/or communication chips 1006 can be used. Likewise, any one chip or chip set can have multiple functions integrated therein.
In various implementations, the computing system 1000 may be a laptop, a netbook, a notebook, 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, a digital video recorder, or any other electronic device or system that processes data or employs one or more integrated circuit structures or devices formed using the disclosed techniques, as variously described herein. Note that reference to a computing system is intended to include computing devices, apparatuses, and other structures configured for computing or processing information.
The following clauses pertain to further embodiments, from which numerous permutations and configurations will be apparent.
Example 1. An integrated circuit structure, comprising: a source or drain region; a contact comprising conductive material; a region between at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact, the region comprising a metal and one or more semiconductor materials; and a first dopant within the source or drain region, and a second dopant within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact, the first dopant elementally different from the second dopant.
Example 2. The integrated circuit structure of example 1, wherein the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact comprises one or more of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide of the one or more metals.
Example 3. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-2, wherein: the first dopant is also within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact, wherein a concentration of the first dopant within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact is less than a concentration of the first dopant within the source or drain region.
Example 4. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-2, wherein: the first dopant is also within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact, wherein a concentration of the first dopant within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact is less than a concentration of the first dopant within at least a portion of the source or drain region, the portion of the source or drain region at a distance of at most 5 nanometers (nm) from the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact.
Example 5. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-4, wherein: the second dopant is also within the source or drain region, wherein a concentration of the second dopant within the source or drain region is less than a concentration of the second dopant within the region between the at least a section of the source or drain region and the contact.
Example 6. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein each of the first dopant and the second dopant comprises a p-type dopant.
Example 7. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein the first dopant comprises a p-type dopant, and the second dopant comprises neither a p-type dopant nor an n-type dopant.
Example 8. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein the first dopant comprises boron, and the second dopant comprises one or more of gallium, indium, aluminum, or carbon.
Example 9. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein each of the first dopant and the second dopant comprises an n-type dopant.
Example 10. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein the first dopant comprises an n-type dopant, and the second dopant comprises neither a p-type dopant nor an n-type dopant.
Example 11. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-5, wherein the first dopant comprises phosphorous, and the second dopant comprises one or more of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, or carbon.
Example 12. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-11, wherein the one or more metals comprise one or more of titanium, gadolinium, erbium, scandium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, or iridium.
Example 13. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-12, wherein the one or more semiconductor materials comprise one or both of silicon and germanium.
Example 14. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 1-13, wherein the source or drain region is a first source or drain region, the contact is a first contact, the region is a first region, and wherein the integrated circuit structure further comprises: a second source or drain region; a body comprising semiconductor material extending from the first source or drain region to the second source or drain region; a second contact coupled to the second source or drain region; and a second region comprising one or more additional metals and the one or more semiconductor materials, the second region between at least a section of the second source or drain region and the second contact, wherein the second source or drain region comprises the first dopant, and the second region comprises the second dopant.
Example 15. An integrated circuit structure, comprising: a source or drain region; a contact coupled to the source or drain region; a region comprising one or more of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide, the region between the source or drain region and the contact, wherein a portion of the source or drain region is at a distance that is at most 5 nanometers (nm) from the region comprising the one or more of silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide; and a dopant within the region and within the source or drain region, wherein a concentration of the dopant within the region is within 20% of a concentration of the dopant within the portion of the source or drain region.
Example 16. The integrated circuit structure of example 15, wherein the concentration of the dopant within the region is within 10% of the concentration of the dopant within the portion of the source or drain region.
Example 17. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 15-16, wherein the portion is a first portion, wherein a second portion of the source or drain is between 5 to 10 nm of the region, and wherein the concentration of the dopant within the region is within 20% of a concentration of the dopant within the second portion of the source or drain region.
Example 18. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 15-17, wherein the integrated circuit structure is a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) device, and the dopant comprises one or more of boron, gallium, indium, or aluminum.
Example 19. The integrated circuit structure of any one of examples 15-17, wherein the integrated circuit structure is a n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) device, and the dopant comprises one or more of phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, or tellurium.
Example 20. A method for forming silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide adjacent to a source or drain region, the method comprising: forming the source or drain region, the source or drain region covered by dielectric material; forming a recess within the dielectric material, the recess landing on the source or drain region; depositing metal within a bottom section of the recess and adjacent to the source or drain region, wherein the deposited metal is doped with one or more dopants prior to the deposition; and processing the metal and the source or drain region, to form the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide adjacent to the source or drain region.
Example 21. The method of example 20, further comprising: forming a contact, such that the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide is between the source or drain region and the contact.
Example 22. The method of any one of examples 20-21, wherein the one or more dopants within the metal are first one or more dopants, and the method further comprises: prior to forming the recess, doping at least a section of the source or drain region with second one or more dopants.
Example 23. The method of example 22, wherein the first one or more dopants are elementally different from the second one or more dopants.
Example 24. The method of any one of examples 22-23, wherein: the source or drain region is a p-type source or drain region, the second one or more dopants are p-type dopants, and the first one or more dopants are either (i) one or more p-type dopants, or (ii) neither p-type nor n-type dopants.
Example 25. The method of any one of examples 22-23, wherein: the source or drain region is a n-type source or drain region, the second one or more dopants are n-type dopants, and the first one or more dopants are either (i) n-type dopants, or (ii) neither p-type nor n-type dopants.
Example 26. The method of any one of examples 20-25, wherein processing the metal and the source or drain region comprises: annealing the metal and the source or drain region, to form the silicide, germanide, and/or germanosilicide.
Example 27. The method of any one of examples 20-26, wherein prior to depositing the metal, the metal to be deposited is doped with one or more of boron, gallium, indium, aluminum, or carbon.
Example 28. The method of any one of examples 20-26, wherein prior to depositing the metal, the metal to be deposited is doped with one or more of phosphorous, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, or carbon.
Example 29. The method of any one of examples 20-28, wherein a concentration of the one or more dopants within the metal to be deposited is in the range of 1-20% by atomic weight.
Example 30. The method of any one of examples 20-26, wherein the source or drain region comprises an n-type dopant, and the metal comprises one or more of titanium, gadolinium, erbium, scandium.
Example 31. The method of any one of examples 20-26, wherein the source or drain region comprises a p-type dopant, and the metal comprises one or more of titanium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, or iridium.
Example 32. The method of any one of examples 20-31, wherein depositing the metal comprises depositing the metal using a sputtering process.
The foregoing description of example embodiments has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. Future filed applications claiming priority to this application may claim the disclosed subject matter in a different manner, and may generally include any set of one or more limitations as variously disclosed or otherwise demonstrated herein.