Patent ID: 6090651
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of forming a supersaturated layer on a semiconductor device, comprising:depositing an initial phase layer on the semiconductor device, the initial phase layer having a solid phase dopant saturation level and a liquid phase dopant saturation level, where the liquid phase dopant saturation level is greater than the solid phase dopant saturation level,impregnating a concentration of a dopant within the initial phase layer, where the concentration of the dopant is greater than the solid phase dopant saturation level and no more than about the liquid phase dopant saturation level,annealing the initial phase layer without appreciably heating the semiconductor device, using an amount of energy high enough to liquefy the initial phase layer over a melt duration, thereby dissolving the dopant in the liquefied initial phase layer, where the amount of energy is low enough to not appreciably gasify or ablate the initial phase layer, andcooling the liquefied initial phase layer to freeze the dissolved dopant in a supersaturated, electrically activated concentration, thereby forming the supersaturated layer.