Patent · US Active

Semiconductor fabrication process using etch stop layer to optimize formation of source/drain stressor

US7494856B2 · kind B2 · utility

49Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 2006
Grant dateFeb 24, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D30/6741
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming an etch stop layer (ESL) overlying a buried oxide (BOX) layer and an active semiconductor layer overlying the ESL. A gate electrode is formed overlying the active semiconductor layer. Source/drain regions of the active semiconductor layer are etched to expose the ESL. Source/drain stressors are formed on the ESL where the source/drain stressors strain the transistor channel. Forming the ESL may include epitaxially growing a silicon germanium ESL having a thickness of approximately 30 nm or less. Preferably a ratio of the active semiconductor layer etch rate to the ESL etch rate exceeds 10:1. A wet etch using a solution of NH4OH:H2O heated to a temperature of approximately 75° C. may be used to etch the source/drain regions. The ESL may be silicon germanium having a first percentage of germanium. The source/drain stressors may be silicon germanium having a second percentage of germanium for P-type transistors, and they may be silicon carbon for N-type transistors.

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