Method of preventing surface roughening during hydrogen prebake of SiGe substrates
US6958286B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S438/933
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention forms an epitaxial silicon-containing layer on a silicon germanium, patterned strained silicon, or patterned thin silicon-on-insulator surface and avoids creating a rough surface upon which the epitaxial silicon-containing layer is grown. In order to avoid creating the rough surface, the invention first performs a hydrofluoric acid etching process on the silicon germanium, patterned strained silicon, or patterned thin silicon-on-insulator surface. This etching process removes most of oxide from the surface, and leaves a first amount of oxygen (typically 1×1013−1×1015/cm2 of oxygen) on the silicon germanium, patterned strained silicon, or patterned thin silicon-on-insulator surface. The invention then performs a hydrogen pre-bake process which heats the silicon germanium, patterned strained silicon, or patterned thin silicon-on-insulator surface sufficiently to remove additional oxygen from the surface and leave a second amount of oxygen, less than the first amount, on the silicon germanium, patterned strained silicon, or patterned thin silicon-on-insulator surface. The heating process leaves an amount of at least 5×1012/cm2 of oxygen (typically, between approximately …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.