Patent · US Expired

Thermal annealing process for producing low defect density single crystal silicon

US6743289B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
58References
54Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 2002
Grant dateJun 1, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2822
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A thermal annealing process for producing a low defect density single crystal silicon wafer. The process includes thermally annealing a wafer having a first axially symmetric region which extends radially inwardly from the circumferential edge, contains silicon self-interstitials as the predominant intrinsic point defect and is substantially free of agglomerated interstitial defects and a second axially symmetric region which has vacancies as the predominant intrinsic point defect. The wafer is subjected to a thermal anneal at a temperature in excess of about 1000° C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen, argon or a mixture thereof to dissolve agglomerated vacancy defects present in the second axially symmetric region within a layer extending from the front side toward the central plane.

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