Patent · US Expired

Non-contact etch annealing of strained layers

US7147709B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
14References
15Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 2003
Grant dateDec 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/3065
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of forming a strained semiconductor layer. The method comprises growing a strained first semiconductor layer, having a graded dopant profile, on a wafer, having a first lattice constant. The dopant imparts a second lattice constant to the first semiconductor layer. The method further comprises growing a strained boxed second semiconductor layer having the second lattice constant on the first semiconductor layer and growing a sacrificial third semiconductor layer having the first lattice constant on the second semiconductor layer. The method further comprises etch annealing the third and second semiconductor layer, wherein the third semiconductor layer is removed and the second semiconductor layer is relaxed. The method may further comprises growing a fourth semiconductor layer having the second lattice constant on the second semiconductor layer, wherein the fourth semiconductor layer is relaxed, and growing a strained fifth semiconductor layer having the first semiconductor lattice constant on the fourth semiconductor layer. The method controls the surface roughness of the semiconductor layers. The method also has the unexpected benefit of re…

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