Patent ID: 6498359
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
Field-effect transistor, with a semiconductor substrate made of a first semiconductor material, a cluster layer, in which a plurality of semiconductor clusters made of a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material are arranged on the substrate and are at least partially surrounded by the first semiconductor material, wherein the crystal configuration of the semiconductor clusters is in an elastically or partially elastically relaxed state thereby causing a three-dimensional strain field in the surrounding first semiconductor material, source and drain regions which extend vertically at least to a channel region, whereby at least one part of the semiconductor cluster extends laterally between sections that lie below or within the source/drain regions, a channel region that is formed from the aforementioned part of the semiconductor cluster and/or from a layer of said first semiconductor material possibly deposited above said part of the semiconductor cluster, wherein the crystal configuration of the said layer is in a strained state caused by the three-dimensional strain field or fields of the at least partially surrounded and at least partially elastically relaxed clusters, and a gate electrode formed above the channel region.