Patent · US Expired

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor element utilizing thermal neutron irradiation and annealing

US4234355A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
12References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 1978
Grant dateNov 18, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 4, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/904
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a known process for manufacturing a semiconductor element, a single crystal semiconductor body is subjected to at least one high temperature treatment such as diffusion or epitaxy in order to create a pn junction. A metallization is then applied to the upper surface of the semiconductor to constitute an electrode. Thereafter the element is subjected to an annealing process at intermediate temperatures. In accordance with the invention, a semiconductor body is irradiated following the manufacture of the pn junctions and prior to the metallization. The radiation causes lattice displacements which in turn decrease the lifetime of the minority carriers. The above-mentioned annealing process then also serves partially to heal the lattice displacements caused by the radiation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.