Patent ID: 6114257
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A process for thermal oxidation of a semiconductor substrate having at least one doped region doped with at least one dopant, each doped region subject to a first amount of diffusion of said dopant when said substrate is heated at a first temperature greater than about 850.degree. C. for a first time period, said first time period comprising an amount of time required to grow an oxide region having a predetermined thickness when said substrate is heated in an oxidizing ambient at the first temperature, the process comprising the steps of:(a) introducing chlorine ions into the substrate by exposing the substrate to a chlorine plasma, and then(b) growing the oxide region of said predetermined thickness by heating the substrate in one of (1) the oxidizing ambient at a second temperature less than said first temperature, and (2) the oxidizing ambient at said first temperature for a second time period less than said first time period;wherein performance of steps (a) and (b) result in a second amount of diffusion that is less than said first amount of diffusion.