Patent ID: 7547646
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an integrated semiconductor circuit, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate that is formed from a monocrystalline semiconductor material; subjecting the semiconductor material to thermal nitridation so as to form a stress relief layer on a process surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the nitridation includes orienting the semiconductor substrate within a process chamber and subjecting the semiconductor substrate to a heat treatment to cause oxygen to substantially diffuse out of the semiconductor substrate at least down to a target depth defined by a lower edge of structures that are to be formed in the semiconductor substrate, and the nitridation is carried out at least during a portion of the heat treatment; applying a protective layer portion of a mask to the stress relief layer, wherein the protective layer portion is made from a covering material with an expansion coefficient that is significantly different from that of the semiconductor material; and patterning the mask via photolithography and imaging the pattern of the mask to form a trench structure in the semiconductor substrate.