Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising an underlying insulating film having a depression, a semiconductor structure which includes a first semiconductor portion having a portion formed on the underlying insulating film and a first overlap portion which overlaps the depression, a second semiconductor portion having a portion formed on the underlying insulating film and a second overlap portion which overlaps the depression, and a third semiconductor portion disposed between the first and second semiconductor portions and having a portion disposed above the depression, wherein overlap width of the first overlap portion and overlap width of the second overlap portion are equal to each other, a gate electrode including a first electrode portion covering upper and side surfaces of the third semiconductor portion and a second electrode portion formed in the depression, and a gate insulating film interposed between the semiconductor structure and the gate electrode.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-407367, filed Dec. 5, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     MIS transistors are miniaturized and the gate lengths (channel lengths) thereof are made shorter. As the channel length becomes shorter, a punch-through phenomenon more easily tends to occur between the source and drain, and degradation of the transistor characteristic, for example, an increase in the leakage current will be caused. 
     In order to solve the above problem, a MIS transistor (Gate-All-Around structure MIS transistor) having an island-form semiconductor structure formed with a rectangular parallelepiped form on a substrate and surrounded by a gate electrode is proposed in a document 1 (J. P. Colinge et al., “SILICON-ON-INSULATOR ‘GATE-ALL-AROUND DEVICE’”, IEDM 1990, 25. 4, pp. 595–598). The MIS transistor is formed as follows. First, an island-form semiconductor structure is formed on a buried oxide film (BOX film). Then, the buried oxide film is etched by the use of a photoresist mask to form a cavity in a region directly under a channel forming region of the island-form semiconductor structure and a region around the above region. Next, a gate electrode material film is formed on the entire surface containing the cavity and the gate electrode material film is patterned to form a gate electrode which crosses the island-form semiconductor structure. Thus, the gate electrode which surrounds the channel forming region of the island-form semiconductor structure is formed. Since the island-form semiconductor structure also functions as an etching mask when the gate electrode material film is patterned, the gate electrode is formed to have extension portions in the cavity under the source and drain regions. 
     However, in the above proposal, the cavity and gate electrode are formed by the use of lithography technology. In lithography technology, since an alignment error occurs, a gate electrode pattern will be formed in position shifted from the center of the cavity pattern. As a result, the width of the extension portion of the gate electrode which lies under the source region becomes greatly different from the width of the extension portion thereof lying under the drain region. Therefore, only one of the overlap capacitance between the gate and source and the overlap capacitance between the gate and drain becomes larger, having a bad effect on the characteristic of the MIS transistor. Further, it is necessary to form a cavity pattern of large size when taking a margin for the alignment error into consideration and this leads to an increase in the overlap capacitance. 
     Further, a MIS transistor (Omega-Fin structure MIS transistor) having an island-form semiconductor structure surrounded by a gate electrode except the central portion of the undersurface of the island-form semiconductor structure is proposed in a document 2 (Fu-Liang Yang et al., “25 nm CMOS Omega FETs”, IEDM 2002, 10. 3, pp. 255–258). The MIS transistor is formed as follows. First, an island-form semiconductor structure is formed on a buried oxide film. Then, the buried oxide film is etched with the island-form semiconductor structure used as a mask to form a depression portion in the buried oxide film. At this time, the buried oxide film under the end portion of the island-form semiconductor structure is also etched to from an undercut portion under the island-form semiconductor structure. Next, a gate electrode material film is formed on the entire surface containing the undercut portion and the gate electrode material film is patterned to form a gate electrode which crosses the island-form semiconductor structure. 
     In the above proposal, the gate electrode is not formed in a position corresponding to the undercut portion under the source and drain regions. That is, unlike the proposal of the document 1, the gate electrode has no extension portion under the source and drain regions. When the source/drain region is formed by ion implantation, the distance between the source and drain regions is generally longer in the lower portion of the island-form semiconductor structure than in the upper portion thereof. In the document 2, since the gate electrode has no extension portion under the source and drain regions, offsets occur between the gate electrode and the source region and between the gate electrode and the drain region to significantly degrade the characteristics of the MIS transistor. Further, in the above proposal, since the undercut portion is formed in the entire portion under the island-form semiconductor structure, it is difficult to sufficiently fixedly hold the island-form semiconductor structure and there occurs a problem that the island-form semiconductor structure will fall down in the manufacturing process. 
     Thus, from the viewpoint of preventing occurrence of the punch-through phenomenon between the source and drain, Gate-All-Around structure MIS transistors and Omega-Fin structure MIS transistors are proposed. However, conventional MIS transistors with the above structures have a problem that the positional relationship between the gate electrode and the source/drain region cannot be optimized. Thus, it is difficult to attain a semiconductor device which has excellent characteristics and reliability. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A semiconductor device according to a first aspect of the invention comprises an underlying insulating film having a depression; a semiconductor structure which includes a first semiconductor portion having a portion formed on the underlying insulating film and a first overlap portion which overlaps the depression and containing an impurity element for source/drain, a second semiconductor portion having a portion formed on the underlying insulating film and a second overlap portion which overlaps the depression and is disposed to face the first overlap portion and containing an impurity element for source/drain, and a third semiconductor portion disposed between the first and second semiconductor portions and having a portion disposed above the depression, wherein overlap width of the first overlap portion and overlap width of the second overlap portion are equal to each other; a gate electrode including a first electrode portion covering upper and side surfaces of the third semiconductor portion and a second electrode portion formed in the depression; and a gate insulating film interposed between the semiconductor structure and the gate electrode. 
     A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to a second aspect of the invention comprises forming a semiconductor structure which includes a first semiconductor portion, a second semiconductor portion and a third semiconductor portion disposed between the first and second semiconductor portions, on an underlying insulating film; forming a dummy structure covering upper and side surfaces of the third semiconductor portion; forming an insulating portion covering a surface of the first semiconductor portion, a surface of the second semiconductor portion and a side surface of the dummy structure; removing the dummy structure to expose the third semiconductor portion and the underlying insulating film under the dummy structure; forming a depression in the underlying insulating film by etching an exposed portion and a portion adjacent to the exposed portion of the underlying insulating film; and forming a gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed between the third semiconductor portion and the gate electrode, the gate electrode including a first electrode portion covering upper and side surfaces of the third semiconductor portion and a second electrode portion formed in the depression. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing the basic configuration of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view schematically showing the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3C  are cross-sectional views each schematically showing the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4C  are cross-sectional views showing part of a manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 8A to 8C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 9A to 9C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 10A to 10C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 12A to 12C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 13A to 13C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 14A to 14C  are cross-sectional views showing part of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are cross-sectional views showing a modification of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view schematically showing the basic configuration of a semiconductor device according to a second embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view schematically showing the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 19A to 19D  are cross-sectional views each schematically showing the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view schematically showing one example of the basic configuration of a semiconductor device according to a third embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view schematically showing another example of the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a plan view schematically showing one example of the basic configuration of a semiconductor device according to a fourth embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view schematically showing another example of the basic configuration of the semiconductor device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a semiconductor device according to a fifth embodiment of this invention; and 
         FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a semiconductor device according to a sixth embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     There will now be described embodiments of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing the basic configuration of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of this invention and  FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the semiconductor device of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view taken along the A–A′ line of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view taken along the B–B′ line of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3C  is a cross sectional view taken along the C–C′ line of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 1 , for easy understanding of the structure, the gate electrode is shown separately from the other structure, but in practice, the gate electrode is formed in contact with the other structure. Further, in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 3A to 3C , contacts and wirings shown in  FIG. 2  are omitted. 
     A buried oxide film (BOX film)  102  having a depression portion  120  is formed as a underlying insulating film on a p-type silicon substrate (semiconductor substrate)  101  with an impurity concentration of approximately 5×10 15  cm −3 . 
     An island-form semiconductor structure  103  formed of single crystal silicon is formed on the buried oxide film  102 . The semiconductor structure  103  has a semiconductor portion  103   a , a semiconductor portion  103   b  and a semiconductor portion  103   c  disposed between the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b . The width of the semiconductor structure  103  in the channel width direction is approximately 20 nm and the height thereof is approximately 20 nm. Impurities of low concentration (approximately 5×10 17  cm −3  or lower) are contained in the channel forming region of a transistor. Further, source and drain regions (source and drain regions  111   a  and  111   b  of low concentration, source and drain regions  113   a  and  113   b  of high concentration) are formed on both sides of the channel forming region. 
     A gate electrode  116  has an electrode portion  116   a  disposed to cover the upper and side surfaces of the semiconductor portion  103   c  and an electrode portion  116   b  formed in the depression portion  120  of the buried oxide film  102 . The semiconductor structure  103  is surrounded by the electrode portions  116   a  and  116   b  and a region surrounded by the electrode portion  116   a  corresponds to the semiconductor portion  103   c . Further, a gate insulating film  115  is disposed between the gate electrode  116  and the semiconductor structure  103 . 
     Silicon nitride films  110  and silicon oxide films  112  are formed as side wall insulating films on both sides of the electrode portion  116   a  and interlayer insulating films  114 .are formed outside the side wall insulating films. The surfaces of the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  are covered with the insulating portions formed of the side wall insulating films and interlayer insulating films  114 . In  FIG. 1 , the silicon nitride films  110  and silicon oxide films  112  are not drawn, but the silicon nitride films  110  and silicon oxide films  112  are formed in regions of the interlayer insulating films  114  which face each other with the gate electrode  116  disposed therebetween. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the depression portion  120  formed in the buried oxide film  102  has extension portions  120   a  and  120   b . Since the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  are formed by an isotropic etching process as will be described later, the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  are equal to each other. That is, the width of a portion of the semiconductor portion  103   a  which overlaps the depression portion  120  and the width of a portion of the semiconductor portion  103   b  which overlaps the depression portion  120  are equal to each other. Since the depression portion  120  has the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  and the electrode portion  116   b  of the gate electrode  116  is aligned with the depression portion  120 , the length Lb of the electrode portion  116   b  in the channel length direction is greater than the length La of the electrode portion  116   a  in the channel length direction. Further, the width Lb 1  of an extension portion  116   b   1  of the electrode portion  116   b  in the channel length direction and the width Lb 2  of an extension portion  116   b   2  in the channel length direction are equal to each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the distance between the source region  111   a  and the drain region  111   b  becomes longer in a portion which is separated farther away from the upper portion of the semiconductor structure  103  towards the lower portion. Therefore, if the length of the gate electrode in the channel length direction is kept constant, there occurs a possibility that an offset structure will be made in a lower region of the semiconductor structure  103 . In the present embodiment, since the gate electrode  116  has the extension portions  116   b   1  and  116   b   2 , formation of the offset structure can be prevented. Further, in the present embodiment, the width of the extension portion  120   a  of the depression portion  120  and the width of the extension portion  120   b  are made equal to each other, that is, the width Lb 1  of the extension portion  116   b   1  of the gate electrode  116  and the width Lb 2  of the extension portion  116   b   2  are made equal to each other. Therefore, the overlap capacitance between the gate electrode and the source region and the overlap capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain region can be made equal to each other. Further, as will be described later, since the depression portion  120  is not dependent on the lithography process, it can be formed without taking the margin for the alignment error into consideration. Therefore, the overlap capacitance itself can be reduced. Thus, in the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the gate electrode and the source/drain region can be optimized in all of transistors formed in the same wafer or in the same integrated circuit chip and a semiconductor device having excellent characteristics and reliability can be attained. 
     Further, the channel region can be completely depleted by the gate electrode  116  and occurrence of the punch-through phenomenon between the source and drain can be prevented by setting the width of the semiconductor structure  103  in the channel width direction equal to or less than approximately 20 nm. In addition, since the impurity concentration of the channel region can be set lower than that in the normal planar type MIS transistor, the decrease of mobility in the channel region due to high concentration impurities can be suppressed. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the edge portions of the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  of the semiconductor structure  103  are formed in contact with the buried oxide film (underlying insulating film)  102 . Therefore, the semiconductor structure  103  can be sufficiently fixedly held and a problem that the semiconductor structure will fall down in the manufacturing process can be prevented. 
     A manufacturing method of the semiconductor device according to the present embodiment is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C. to  FIGS. 14A ,  14 B and  14 C.  FIGS. 4A to 14A  correspond to the cross sections taken along the A–A′ line of  FIG. 2 ,  FIGS. 4B to 14B  correspond to the cross sections taken along the B–B′ line of  FIG. 2 , and  FIGS. 4C to 14C  correspond to the cross sections taken along the C–C′ line of  FIG. 2 . 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, an SOI substrate having a (100) p-type silicon substrate (semiconductor substrate)  101  with an impurity concentration of approximately 5×10 15  cm −3 , a buried oxide film (BOX film: underlying insulating film)  102  with a thickness of approximately 200 nm and a (100) p-type silicon layer (semiconductor layer)  103  with an impurity concentration of approximately 5×10 15  cm −3  is prepared. As the SOI substrate, an SOI substrate obtained by subjecting a substrate formed by an SIMOX method to a thermal oxidation process and wet etching process and reducing the thickness thereof or an SOI substrate formed by use of a laminating method may be used. It is preferable to set the thickness of the silicon layer  103  to approximately 10 nm to 30 nm. In this example, it is set to approximately 20 nm. It is preferable to set the uniformity of the thickness of the silicon layer  103  within ±5% in the entire portion of the wafer. The plane direction of the silicon layer  103  is not necessarily set to the same as the plane direction of the silicon substrate  101  and a plane direction which causes the best element characteristic can be set. For example, two silicon substrates may be laminated with an angle of 45 degrees made therebetween and then the silicon layer  103  may be formed by reducing the thickness of one of the two silicon substrates. Further, a glass substrate can be used instead of the silicon substrate  101 . 
     Next, an impurity layer of low concentration (concentration of approximately 5×10 17  cm −3 ) is formed in the channel forming region of the transistor by ion implantation. In this case, however, since the channel of the transistor of the present embodiment can be completely depleted, it is difficult to control the threshold voltage even if an impurity layer is formed in the channel forming region. Therefore, the ion-implantation process for formation of the channel impurity layer can be omitted. 
     Next, a thermal oxide film  104  with a thickness of approximately 2 nm and a silicon nitride film  105  with a thickness of approximately 50 nm are formed. Then, a resist pattern (not shown) is formed on the silicon nitride film  105  by the lithography process. In this example, the resist pattern is formed by use of an electron beam exposure process. Further, the thermal oxide film  104  and silicon nitride film  105  are processed with the resist pattern used as a mask and a mask layer formed of the thermal oxide film  104  and silicon nitride film  105  is formed. 
     Next, the silicon layer is etched by using the thus formed mask layer as a mask to form an island-form semiconductor structure (Fin structure)  103 . The height (thickness) and width of the semiconductor structure  103  are set to approximately 20 nm. Since damage caused at the etching time may be left behind on the side surface of the semiconductor structure  103  in some cases, a process for eliminating the etching damage is performed. For example, the side surface of the semiconductor structure  103  is oxidized to form a thin oxide film (approximately 1 nm) and a process for eliminating the thin oxide film is performed. Further, the etching damage can be eliminated by use of the ashing process and wet process. If the etching process which causes less etching damage is used, the above process can be omitted. The side surface of the semiconductor structure  103  may be vertically set, but may be inclined with an angle of approximately 85 degrees, for example. 
     After the semiconductor structure  103  is formed, a thermal oxide film  151  may be formed by a high-temperature thermal oxidation process of approximately 1000° C. as shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B . Thus, the corner portion of the semiconductor structure  103  can be rounded with a radius of approximately 5 nm. By rounding the corner portion of the semiconductor structure  103 , concentration of the electric field in the corner portion can be alleviated and it becomes easy to control the threshold voltage. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, the side surface of the semiconductor structure  103  is covered with an oxide film (not shown). As the oxide film, an oxide film formed in the etching damage eliminating process can be used. Then, the silicon nitride film  105  is removed by use of hot phosphoric acid. Further, the thermal oxide film  104  is removed by the wet etching process. After this, an oxide film  106  with a thickness of approximately 2 nm is formed as a dummy gate insulating film on the upper and side surfaces of the semiconductor structure  103 . For formation of the oxide film  106 , it is preferable to use an oxygen radical oxidation method which permits an oxide film of high quality to be obtained at low temperatures (for example, approximately 700° C.). The buried oxide film  102  is slightly etched in the etching process for the thermal oxide film  104 . The etching condition is adjusted so as to prevent the buried oxide film  102  under the lower surface of the semiconductor structure  103  from being eroded by etching. After this, a polysilicon film  108  with a thickness of approximately 30 nm is deposited on the entire surface. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C, the polysilicon film  108  is made flat by a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) process, for example. 
     Then, as shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C, a silicon oxide film  109  with a thickness of approximately 50 nm is formed as a mask layer on the flat polysilicon film  108  by the CVD method. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C, the silicon oxide film  109  is etched by using a resist pattern (not shown) corresponding to a gate electrode pattern as a mask. After the resist pattern is removed, a dummy gate electrode  108  is formed by etching the polysilicon film  108  with the patterned silicon oxide film  109  used as a mask. The etching process is performed in an etching condition of high selective ratio so as to leave the silicon oxide film  106  on the upper and side surfaces of the semiconductor structure  103 . A region directly below the thus formed dummy gate electrode  108  corresponds to the semiconductor portion  103   c  of the semiconductor structure  103 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C, a silicon nitride film  110  with a thickness of approximately 10 nm is deposited on the side surfaces of the dummy gate electrode  108  and silicon oxide film  109 . Then, impurities are ion-implanted with the silicon oxide film  109  and dummy gate electrode  108  used as a mask to form a source region  111   a  and drain region  111   b  of low impurity concentration in the semiconductor structure  103 . After this, a silicon oxide film  112  with a thickness of approximately 10 nm is deposited. Next, the silicon oxide film  112  and silicon nitride film  110  are etched by an RIE process. As a result, portions of the silicon oxide film  112  and silicon nitride film  110  are left behind along the side wall of the dummy gate electrode  108 . At this time, the silicon oxide film  112  and silicon nitride film  110  are also left behind on the side wall of the semiconductor structure  103 . Then, an ion implantation process of arsenic (As) ions is performed to form a source region  113   a  and drain region  113   b  of high impurity concentration in the semiconductor structure  103 . In this example, both of the source/drain regions (extension regions) of low impurity concentration and the source/drain regions of high impurity concentrations are formed, but it is also possible to use single source/drain regions. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C, a silicon oxide film  114  (interlayer insulating film) with a thickness of approximately 100 nm is deposited on the entire surface by the CVD method. Then, a heat treatment of 1000° C. for about 10 seconds is performed by an RTA (Rapid Thermal Annealing) method. The heat treatment is also used as an activation process for the source/drain regions. In the heat treatment, the heat treatment temperature is set so as to prevent impurities of the source/drain regions from being excessively diffused and prevent the channel length from becoming excessively small. After this, the silicon oxide film  114  is made flat by the CMP method to expose the surface of the dummy gate electrode  108 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C, the exposed dummy gate electrode  108  is selectively removed by a chemical dry etching process using CF 4  gas and N 2  gas. As a result, the surfaces of the buried oxide film  102  and silicon oxide film  106  under the dummy gate electrode  108  are exposed. The silicon oxide film  112  and silicon nitride film  110  formed on the side wall of the dummy gate electrode  108  are scarcely etched. 
     Then, the exposed buried oxide film  102  and silicon oxide film  106  are etched by a wet etching process using, for example, dilute hydrofluoric acid to form a depression portion  120  in the buried oxide film  102 . The side surface of the silicon oxide film  114  is protected by the silicon nitride film  110  and is not etched. Since the etching process is an isotropic etching process, the etching proceeds in depth and lateral directions and an adjacent portion of the exposed buried oxide film  102  is also etched. Therefore, the etching proceeds to a region directly under the semiconductor structure  103  and the depression portion  120  is formed in the entire portion under the semiconductor portion  103   c . Further, extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  are formed under the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b . The widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  in the channel length direction are set equal to each other. 
     In the present embodiment, since the depression portion  120  is formed in the entire portion under the semiconductor portion  103   c , it is necessary to set the etching width in the lateral direction (the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b ) to at least W/2 in the case where the width of the semiconductor structure  103  is set to W. Further, in order to form the depression portion  120  in the entire portion under the semiconductor portion  103   c  without fail, the etching amount is so set to make the etching width greater than W/2. However, if the etching width is set excessively, the overlap width of the gate electrode and the source/drain region will become great when the gate electrode is formed in the depression portion  120 . Therefore, it is desirable to set the etching width equal to or less than W. In the present embodiment, since the width W of the semiconductor structure  103  is 20 nm, the etching width is set to 15 nm. That is, the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  are set to 15 nm. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C, a silicon oxide film with a thickness of approximately 1.5 nm is formed at a temperature of approximately 700° C. on the exposed surface of the semiconductor structure  103  by a radical oxidation method. Further, the silicon oxide film surface is nitrided by a radical nitriding method to form a gate insulating film  115  which is formed of a silicon oxynitride film (SiON film). By using the radical oxidation method, a silicon oxide film which is less irregular can be formed on the surface of the semiconductor structure  103 . Therefore, a lowering in the channel mobility caused by channel interface scattering can be suppressed. Further, in the radical oxidation process, since the film thickness of the silicon oxide film is determined by the temperature, a variation in the film thickness of the silicon oxide film can be suppressed. 
     As the gate insulating film  115 , a high dielectric constant film formed of a metal oxide such as a tantalum oxide film (Ta 2 O 5  film), an HfSiON film formed by adding nitrogen to an Hf silicate film, an HfO 2  film, a Zr silicate film, or the like can be used. The relative dielectric constant εr of the Ta 2 O 5  film, for example, is approximately 20 to 27 and is considerably greater than the relative dielectric constant εr (approximately 3.9) of the silicon oxide film. Therefore, the equivalent oxide film thickness can be set equal to or less than 1 nm. Further, a silicon oxide film with a thickness of approximately 0.5 nm may be formed to reduce the interface state density and a high dielectric constant film such as a Ta 2 O 5  film may be formed on the silicon oxide film. In addition, a high dielectric constant film can be formed by use of an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) CVD method. For example, an SiO 2  film (relative dielectric constant: approximately 3.9) with a thickness of approximately 0.3 nm by use of the ALD method, an HfO 2  film (relative dielectric constant: approximately 25) with a thickness of approximately 1 nm by use of the ALD method, and an Si 3 N 4  film (relative dielectric constant: approximately 7.0) with a thickness of approximately 0.3 nm by use of the ALD method may be sequentially formed at low temperatures (approximately 200 to 500° C.). Further, after formation of the films, an anneal process of approximately 400° C. may be performed. 
     Next, a polysilicon film  116  is deposited to a thickness of approximately 60 nm on the entire surface at a temperature of approximately 700° C. by an LPCVD method using silane gas, for example. The polysilicon film  116  is also formed in the depression portion  120  under the semiconductor structure  103 . N-type impurities (As, P or the like) with a concentration of approximately 3×10 20  cm −3  are doped into the polysilicon film of an N-channel transistor region and P-type impurities (B or the like) with a concentration of approximately 3×10 20  cm −3  are doped into the polysilicon film of a P-channel transistor region by the ion implantation process, for example. Further, the activation process is performed at 900° C. for approximately 10 seconds by RTA. 
     In order to lower the resistance of the gate electrode, a metal film (TiN film, Mo film, W film, Al film or the like) or a metal silicide film (nickel silicide (NiSi) film, cobalt silicide (CoSi) film, titanium silicide (TiSi 2 ) film or the like) may be used as the gate electrode. Further, a stack film of a polysilicon film and metal film or a stack film of a polysilicon film and metal silicide film may be used as the gate electrode. In addition, the alignment state of the gate electrode material such as TiN can be adjusted and the threshold voltage of the transistor can be adjusted by using a difference between the work functions of the gate insulating film and gate electrode. After N-type impurities are doped into the polysilicon film of the N-channel transistor region and P-type impurities are doped into the polysilicon film of the P-channel transistor region, a Ni film is formed on the polysilicon film and a Ni silicide film is formed by performing the heat treatment to react the Ni film with the polysilicon film. Thus, optimum work functions can be given to the gate electrodes of the N-channel and P-channel transistors. In this case, the work function of the Ni silicide electrode of the N-channel transistor can be set to approximately 4.2 eV and the work function of the Ni silicide electrode of the P-channel transistor can be set to approximately 4.9 eV. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 C, the polysilicon film  116  is subjected to the flattening process by the CMP method. In the flattening process, a portion of the polysilicon film  116  which lies on the interlayer insulating film  114  is removed. Thus, a gate electrode  116  which surrounds the semiconductor structure  103  is formed. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the polysilicon film  116  may be patterned with the resist pattern  161  used as a mask. In this case, a T-shaped gate electrode  116  can be formed and the wiring resistance of the gate electrode can be lowered. 
     Next, as shown in  FIGS. 14A ,  14 B and  14 C, a silicon oxide film is deposited as an interlayer insulating film  117  on the entire surface by the CVD method. Then, contact holes are formed in the interlayer insulating film  117 . Further, the contact holes are filled with a W film, Al film or TiN film/Ti film to form contact plugs  118 . After this, an Al wiring  119  connected to the contact plugs  118  is formed. Then, a passivation film (not shown) is formed on the entire surface. 
     Thus, according to the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the buried oxide film  102  is exposed by removing the dummy gate electrode  108  and the exposed portion of the buried oxide film  102  is etched and removed to form the depression portion  120 . Since the buried oxide film  102  is isotropically etched, the depression portion  120  extends to under the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  of the semiconductor structure  103  and the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  become equal to each other. Therefore, the width in the channel direction of the electrode portion  116   b  of the gate electrode  116  formed in the depression portion  120  can be increased and the overlap width of the gate electrode and the source region and the overlap width of the gate electrode and the drain region can be made equal to each other. As a result, as is already described, the positional relationship between the gate electrode and the source/drain region can be optimized for all transistors formed in the same wafer or the same integrated circuit chip. Thus, a semiconductor device which is excellent in characteristics and reliability can be attained. 
     Further, in the step after the semiconductor structure  103  is formed, the edge portions of the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  of the semiconductor structure  103  are formed in contact with the buried oxide film  102 . Therefore, the semiconductor structure  103  can be sufficiently fixedly held during the manufacturing process and occurrence of a problem that the semiconductor structure  103  will fall down in the manufacturing process can be prevented. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a semiconductor device according to a second embodiment of this invention and  FIG. 18  is a plan view of the semiconductor device shown in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 19A  is a cross sectional view taken along the A–A′ line of  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 19B  is a cross sectional view taken along the B–B′ line of  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 19C  is a cross sectional view taken along the C–C′ line of  FIG. 18 , and  FIG. 19D  is a cross sectional view taken along the D–D′ line of  FIG. 18 . In  FIG. 17 , for easy understanding of the structure, the gate electrode is drawn to be separated from the other structure, but in practice, the gate electrode is formed in contact with the other structure. Further, in  FIGS. 17 and 19A  to  19 D, contacts and wirings shown in  FIG. 18  are omitted. The basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. The same reference numbers are attached to the same constituents as those of the first embodiment and the explanation therefor is omitted. 
     In the first embodiment, the electrode portion  116   b  of the gate electrode  116  is formed to cover the entire portion of the undersurface of the semiconductor portion  103   c  of the semiconductor structure  103 . However, in the present embodiment, the electrode portion  116   b  is formed to partly cover the undersurface of the semiconductor portion  103   c . That is, the gate electrode  106  does not completely surround the semiconductor portion  103   c  and the gate electrode  106  is discontinuous in a region under the central portion of the semiconductor portion  103   c . The other basic configuration is the same as that in the first embodiment. 
     The basic manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the present embodiment is also the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, in the step of  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B and  11 C shown in the first embodiment, the buried oxide film  102  is left behind in the central portion of the semiconductor portion  103   c  without forming the depression portion  120  in the entire portion under the semiconductor portion  103   c  when the buried oxide film  102  is etched and removed to form the depression portion  120 . Therefore, when the width of the semiconductor structure  103  is set to W, it is possible to set the etching width (the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  of the depression portion  120 ) less than W/2. 
     As described above, since the basic configuration of the semiconductor device of the present embodiment and the basic manufacturing method thereof are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be attained. Further, in the present embodiment, since the widths of the extension portions  120   a  and  120   b  of the depression portion  120  can be made small, the overlap width of the gate electrode and the source/drain region can be made small and the overlap capacitance can be reduced. 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a semiconductor device according to the present embodiment. The basic configuration of the semiconductor device shown in  FIG. 20  corresponds to the configuration of the first embodiment. Further, the basic configuration of the semiconductor device shown in  FIG. 21  corresponds to the configuration of the second embodiment. Therefore, detailed explanation of the respective constituents is omitted. 
     In the first and second embodiments, the shape of the semiconductor structure  103  is a rectangular parallelepiped form and the width of the semiconductor structure  103  in the channel width direction is uniform. However, in the present embodiment, the width of the semiconductor structure  103  in the channel width direction is greater in the semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  than in the semiconductor portion  103   c . Therefore, it is possible to easily form the contact holes for the source/drain regions and suppress a rise and a variation in the contact resistance. 
     Embodiment 4 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  are a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a semiconductor device according to the present embodiment. The basic configuration of the semiconductor device shown in  FIG. 22  corresponds to the configuration of the first embodiment. Further, the basic configuration of the semiconductor device shown in  FIG. 23  corresponds to the configuration of the second embodiment. Therefore, detailed explanation of the respective constituents is omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, semiconductor structures  103  as shown in  FIG. 20  or  21  are arranged in parallel, semiconductor portions  103   c  are separately disposed and semiconductor portions  103   a  and  103   b  are commonly used. A gate electrode  116  is commonly used and one transistor is configured by the configuration shown in the drawing. 
     With the above configuration, the effective channel width of the transistor can be increased without significantly increasing the occupied area of the transistor. Therefore, a high performance semiconductor integrated circuit can be formed with high density. 
     Embodiment 5 
       FIG. 24  is a cross sectional view showing one example of a configuration obtained when the transistor structure shown in the first or second embodiment is applied to a DRAM having a trench type capacitor structure. 
     In  FIG. 24 , a reference symbol  201  denotes a P-type silicon substrate,  202  an N well (plate electrode),  203  a buried oxide film (BOX film),  204  an n − -type diffusion layer,  205  an n + -type polysilicon layer,  206  a capacitor insulating film,  207  a Collar insulating film,  208  an isolation insulating film,  209  a buried insulating film, and  210  a side wall contact. Further, a reference symbol  211  denotes a source/drain region,  212  a channel forming region,  213  a gate insulating film,  214  a polysilicon film used as a gate electrode, and  215  a silicide film. A reference symbol  216  denotes a silicon nitride film formed on the silicide film  215 ,  217  an interlayer insulating film,  218  a bit line contact, and  219  a bit line. In addition, a reference symbol  220  denotes a 1-bit memory cell region. 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , the source/drain region  211  and the storage electrode (n + -type polysilicon layer  205 ) of the capacitor are electrically connected to each other at the upper side surface of the trench via the side wall contact  210 . In the conventional planar type MIS transistor structure, the side wall contact region is formed deeper in the vertical direction, which prevents the source/drain region from being made thin. 
     By using the MIS transistor structure of the present embodiment, even if the diffusion layer from the side wall contact gives an influence to the source/drain region and the source/drain region is formed deeper, the influence can be fully suppressed by the gate electrode formed on the side surface of the semiconductor structure. That is, the short channel effect caused by extension of the diffusion layer from the side wall contact can be suppressed. 
     Thus, by applying the transistor structure as shown in the first or second embodiment to a DRAM having a trench type capacitor structure, a high performance DRAM can be attained. 
     Embodiment 6 
       FIG. 25  is a cross sectional view showing one example of a configuration obtained when the transistor structure shown in the first or second embodiment is applied to a DRAM having a stack type capacitor structure. 
     In  FIG. 25 , a reference symbol  301  denotes a P-type silicon substrate,  302  a buried oxide film (BOX film),  303  an isolation insulating film,  304  a buried insulating film,  305  a source/drain region,  306  a channel forming region, and  307  a gate insulating film. A reference symbol  308  denotes a polysilicon film used as a gate electrode and  309  denotes a silicide film. A reference symbol  310  denotes a silicon nitride film formed on the silicide film  309 . A reference symbol  311  denotes an interlayer insulating film,  312  a bit line contact,  313  a bit line, and  314  and  315  SN (storage node) contacts. Further, a reference symbol  316  denotes an SN electrode,  317  a capacitor insulating film,  318  a plate electrode, and  319  an interlayer insulating film. A reference symbol  320  denotes a 1-bit memory cell region. 
     In the present embodiment, the SN contact  314  and the bit line contact  312  formed by use of polysilicon are formed to extend to above the gate electrode. In the conventional planar type MIS transistor structure, since the contact region is made fine, it is difficult to sufficiently reduce the contact resistance. In the MIS transistor structure of the present embodiment, since the contact can be formed by utilizing not only the plane portion but also the side surface portion, the contact resistance can be reduced. 
     Further, in the stack type capacitor using a high dielectric constant film such as a BST film, STO film or Ta 2 O 5  film, the capacitor is formed after the MIS transistor is formed. However, at the time of capacitor formation, a high-temperature process such as a crystallization annealing process at approximately 750° C. is performed. Therefore, the source/drain diffusion layer is formed deeper and there occurs a problem that the short channel effect occurs. By using the MIS transistor structure of the present embodiment, the short channel effect can be sufficiently suppressed. That is, the short channel effect caused by extension of the source/drain diffusion layer in the capacitor formation process can be sufficiently suppressed. 
     In the example shown in the drawing, the capacitor is formed above the bit line, but the bit line can be formed above the capacitor or the capacitor can be formed above the wiring. 
     Thus, by applying the transistor structure as shown in the first or second embodiment to a DRAM having a stack type capacitor structure, a high performance DRAM can be attained. 
     In each of the above embodiments, the N-channel transistor is mainly explained as an example. However, the configuration and the manufacturing method explained in each of the above embodiments can be applied in the same manner when a P-channel transistor is used. Further, the MIS transistor explained in each of the above embodiments and a normal planar type MIS transistor may be formed within the same wafer or in the same chip. In addition, a plurality of MIS transistors explained in each of the above embodiments can be used to configure a flash memory, SRAM, DRAM, various types of logic circuits, CPU or the like. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7