Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201310562469.X filed on Nov. 12, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a field effect transistor, a semiconductor device including the field effect transistor, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a Tunneling Field Effect Transistor (TFET). 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Advances in VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology have enabled the density and performance of semiconductor devices, such as CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) devices, to scale in accordance with Moore&#39;s Law. 
         [0006]    However, further miniaturization of semiconductor devices poses scaling challenges in chip power consumption and power density. For example, the power density increases when the size of the CMOS is reduced (since a greater number of CMOSs can be fabricated on a chip). Additionally, the chip power consumption increases due to leakage current caused by short channel effect. To compensate for the leakage current, the power supply voltage (VDD) may need to be increased. In some instances, the power supply voltage may exceed the 5V standard operating voltage for current CMOS devices. Accordingly, it is necessary to suppress the leakage current and reduce the power supply voltage for the CMOS devices. 
         [0007]    It has been suggested that significant savings in power consumption can be obtained by using low-voltage TFETs in place of conventional MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) in logic circuits. TFETs are based on band-to-band tunneling. Specifically, TFETs switch by modulating quantum tunneling through a barrier instead of modulating thermionic emission over a barrier as in conventional MOSFETs. Therefore, TFETs are not limited by the thermal Maxwell-Boltzmann tail of carriers, which limits the subthreshold voltage of conventional MOSFETs to 60 mV/dec at room temperature (the subthreshold voltage corresponds to the minimum voltage required to drive the MOSFET to an ON state). Since TFETs have no short channel effect and can realize a high ON/OFF state at a low voltage, they are generally considered as a prevailing candidate for next-generation switch elements. 
         [0008]    Most existing TFET designs are based on lateral TFET tunneling. However, lateral TFETs have limited surface area available for electron tunneling. As a result, lateral TFETs have not been able to demonstrate the steep subthreshold slope at drive currents required for mainstream applications. 
         [0009]    Recently, vertical TFETs have been developed. An advantage of vertical TFETs is that the vertical TFETs provide a greater tunneling surface area compared to lateral TFETs, and can therefore realize a high ON/OFF state at a low voltage. However, vertical TFETs are difficult to fabricate. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present disclosure is directed to address at least the above deficiencies relating to existing TFET designs. 
         [0011]    According to some embodiments of the inventive concept, a field effect transistor is provided. The field effect transistor includes a semiconductor region formed on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor region comprises an undoped channel region, a source region including a first dopant type, and a drain region including a second dopant type, and wherein the channel region is formed of a group III-V compound semiconductor material; a high-K gate formed on the channel region, wherein the high-K gate is configured to generate electron tunneling between the source region and the drain region when a gate voltage is applied; and wherein a first contact surface between the source region and the channel region and a second contact surface between the drain region and the channel region are inclined. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the field effect transistor may include an n-type field effect transistor, and wherein the group III-V compound semiconductor material may have high electron mobility. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the field effect transistor may include a p-type field effect transistor, and wherein the group III-V compound semiconductor material may have high hole mobility. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the group III-V compound semiconductor material may include InSb or GaSb. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the first dopant type may include acceptor atoms and the second dopant type may include donor atoms. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the first dopant type may include donor atoms and the second dopant type may include acceptor atoms. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, a doping concentration in each of the source region and the drain region may be equal to or greater than about 1×10 19  cm −3 . 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the high-K gate may include a gate oxide layer and a metal layer formed on the channel region, and wherein spacers may be disposed on sidewalls of the gate oxide layer and the metal layer. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, a buffer layer may be disposed between the substrate and the semiconductor region. 
         [0020]    According to some other embodiments of the inventive concept, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an n-type field effect transistor and a p-type field effect transistor, wherein each of the n-type and p-type field effect transistors comprises: a semiconductor region formed on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor region comprises an undoped channel region, a source region including a first dopant type, and a drain region including a second dopant type, and wherein the channel region is formed of a group III-V compound semiconductor material; a high-K gate formed on the channel region, wherein the high-K gate is configured to generate electron tunneling between the source region and the drain region when a gate voltage is applied; and wherein a first contact surface between the source region and the channel region and a second contact surface between the drain region and the channel region are inclined; and wherein the semiconductor region of the n-type field effect transistor includes a first semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, and the semiconductor region of the p-type field effect transistor includes a second semiconductor material having a second conductivity type. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the first semiconductor material may include a group III-V compound semiconductor material having high electron mobility, and the second semiconductor material may include a group III-V compound semiconductor material having high hole mobility. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the first semiconductor material may include InSb and the second semiconductor material may include GaSb. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the first dopant type may include acceptor atoms and the second dopant type may include donor atoms. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the first dopant type may include donor atoms and the second dopant type may include acceptor atoms. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, a doping concentration in each of the source region and the drain region may be equal to or greater than about 1×10 19  cm −3 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the high-K gate may include a gate oxide layer and a metal layer formed on the channel region, and wherein spacers may be disposed on sidewalls of the gate oxide layer and the metal layer. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, a SiGe buffer layer may be disposed between the substrate and the semiconductor region. 
         [0028]    According to some further embodiments of the inventive concept, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor region on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor region comprises an undoped channel region, a source region including a first dopant type, and a drain region including a second dopant type, and wherein the channel region is formed by epitaxial growth of a group III-V compound semiconductor material on the substrate; forming a high-K gate on the channel region, wherein the high-K gate is configured to generate electron tunneling between the source region and the drain region when a gate voltage is applied; and wherein a first contact surface between the source region and the channel region and a second contact surface between the drain region and the channel region are inclined. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the method may further include forming a buffer layer between the substrate and the semiconductor region. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, a doping concentration in each of the source region and the drain region may be greater than or equal to 1×10 19  cm −3 , and the group III-V group compound semiconductor material may include GaSb or InSb. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate different embodiments of the inventive concept and, together with the description, serve to describe more clearly the inventive concept. 
           [0032]    It is noted that in the accompanying drawings, for convenience of description, the dimensions of the components shown may not be drawn to scale. Also, same or similar reference numbers between different drawings represent the same or similar components. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 1A to 1C  depict cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device at different stages of fabrication according to an exemplary method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 2A to 2I  depict cross-sectional views of a semiconductor device at different stages of fabrication according to another exemplary method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in an n-type TFET is blocked. 
           [0037]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in an n-type TFET occurs. 
           [0038]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in a p-type TFET is blocked. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in a p-type TFET occurs. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    Various embodiments of the inventive concept are next described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the following description of the different embodiments is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the inventive concept, its application, or use. The relative arrangement of the components and steps, and the numerical expressions and the numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the inventive concept unless otherwise specifically stated. In addition, techniques, methods, and devices as known by those skilled in the art, although omitted in some instances, are intended to be part of the specification where appropriate. 
         [0041]    First, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1C . Specifically,  FIGS. 1A to 1C  depict cross-sectional views of the semiconductor device at different stages of fabrication. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , an active region  105  is formed on a substrate  100 . The active region  105  may include a group III-V semiconductor material, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP), gallium nitride (GaN), gallium phosphide (GaP), gallium antimonide (GaSb), indium antimonide (InSb), indium arsenide (InAs), etc. The III-V semiconductor material may be epitaxially grown on the substrate  100 , and can be used to form n-type and p-type field effect transistors. The n-type field effect transistors may be formed of III-V compounds having high electron mobility (e.g. InSb), while the p-type field effect transistors may be formed of III-V compounds having high hole mobility (e.g. GaSb). 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, a buffer layer  102  may be disposed between the substrate  100  and the active region  105 . 
         [0044]    Next, a gate structure is formed on the active region  105 . The gate structure includes an insulating layer  106  formed on a portion of the active region  105  and a metal gate  107  formed on the insulating layer  106 . The insulating layer  106  may include a dielectric material (such as high-k oxide). Spacers  108  are then formed on the sidewalls of the metal gate  107  and the insulating layer  106 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , the active region  105  is isotropically etched to form recesses adjacent to the gate structure. As shown in  FIG. 1B , the recesses are formed having an undercut beneath the spacers  108 . In some embodiments, the buffer layer  102  may serve as an etch stop for the isotropic etching of the active region  105 . After the etching, the active region  105  is formed having inclined surfaces between the gate structure and the buffer layer  102 . The slope of the inclined surfaces can be adjusted by modifying the etching solution and conditions (such as etching time, temperature, etc.). 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 1C , a source region  111  and a drain region  112  are formed in the recesses adjacent to the gate structure. As shown in  FIG. 1C , the source region  111  is formed on a left inclined surface of the active region  105  and contacts a portion of the left spacer  106 ; the drain region  112  is formed on a right inclined surface of the active region  105  and contacts a portion of the right spacer  106 . The source region  111  may include a first dopant type (e.g. In, and the drain region  112  may include a second dopant type (e.g. N + ). The source region  111  and drain region  112  may be epitaxially grown in-situ in the recesses. In some embodiments, the dopant concentration in each of the source region  111  and drain region  112  may be greater than 1×10 19  cm −3 . 
         [0047]    With reference to the structure of  FIG. 1C , the active region  105  between the source region  111  and the drain region  112  constitutes a channel region. The inclined surfaces between the source/drain regions  111 / 112  and the channel region increase the surface area available for electron tunneling, thereby improving the performance of the semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the slope of the inclined surfaces can be adjusted by modifying the etching solution and conditions (such as etching time, temperature, etc.), so as to increase or optimize the surface area available for electron tunneling. In addition, the inclined surfaces can be formed relatively easily (compared to the formation of lateral or vertical TFETs), thus allowing greater control over the semiconductor fabrication process. 
         [0048]    Next, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to another embodiment of the inventive concept will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2I . Specifically,  FIGS. 2A to 2I  depict cross-sectional views of the semiconductor device at different stages of fabrication. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , a SiGe buffer layer  201  is formed on a silicon substrate  200 , and an undoped Ge layer  202  is then epitaxially grown on the SiGe buffer layer  201 . In some embodiments, a thickness of each of the SiGe buffer layer  201  and the Ge layer  202  may range from about 1 μm to about 5 μm. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , an oxide layer (e.g. a silicon dioxide layer) is formed on the Ge layer  202 . The oxide layer is then patterned, such that an oxide layer  203  remains in the n-type TFET area. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 2C , a GaSb active region  204  is formed on the exposed portion of the Ge layer  202  in the p-type TFET area. The GaSb active region  204  may be formed using MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition), MBE (molecular beam epitaxy), or other similar deposition techniques. In some embodiments, a thickness of the GaSb active region  204  may range from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 2D , a nitride layer is formed on the GaSb active region  204  and the oxide region  203 . The nitride layer is then patterned, such that a nitride layer  220  remains in the p-type TFET area. Next, the oxide layer  203  is etched using the nitride layer  220  as an etch mask. As shown in  FIG. 2D , a portion of the oxide layer  203  remains after the etching. The remaining portion of the oxide layer  203  serves as a STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) and prevents electrical current leakage between adjacent n-type TFETs and p-type TFETs. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 2E , an InSb active region  205  is formed on the exposed portion of the Ge layer  202  in the n-type TFET area. The InSb active region  205  may be epitaxially grown on the Ge layer  202  using MOCVD, MBE, etc. In some embodiments, a thickness of the InSb active region  205  may range from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm. After the InSb active region  205  has been formed, the nitride layer  220  is removed. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 2F , a high-k oxide layer and a metal layer are formed over the p-type and n-type TFET areas. The high-k oxide layer and the metal layer are then patterned to form a gate structure (comprising a high-k oxide layer  206  and a metal gate  207 ) on each of the GaSb active region  204  (p-type TFET area) and the InSb active region  205  (n-type TFET area). 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 2G , spacers  208  are formed on the sidewalls of the gate structures. Specifically, the spacers  208  are formed on the sidewalls of the high-k oxide layer  206  and the metal gate  207  in the respective p-type and n-type TFET areas. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 2H , the GaSb active region  204  and the InSb active region  205  are isotropically etched to form recesses adjacent to the gate structures in each region. The isotropic etching may include wet etching. For example, the GaSb active region  204  may be wet etched using HCl:H 2 O 2 :H 2 O in a ratio of 1:1:2; whereas the InSb active region  205  may be wet etched using HF:H 2 O 2 :H 2 O in a ratio of 1:1:4. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 2H , the recesses are formed having an undercut beneath the spacers  208 . In some embodiments, the buffer layer  202  may serve as an etch stop for the isotropic etching of the active regions  204  and  205 . After the etching, the GaSb active region  204  is formed having inclined surfaces between the gate structure (in the p-type TFET area) and the buffer layer  202 . Similarly, the InSb active region  205  is formed having inclined surfaces between the gate structure (in the n-type TFET area) and the buffer layer  202 . The slope of the inclined surfaces can be adjusted by modifying the etching solution and conditions (such as etching time, temperature, etc.). 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 2I , a source region  209  and a drain region  210  are formed in the recesses adjacent to the gate structure in the p-type TFET area; and a source region  211  and a drain region  212  are formed in the recesses adjacent to the gate structure in the n-type TFET area. The source region  209  is formed on a left inclined surface of the GaSb active region  204  and contacts a portion of the left spacer  208  in the p-type TFET area. The drain region  210  is formed on a right inclined surface of the GaSb active region  204 , and contacts a portion of the right spacer  208  in the p-type TFET area and a left portion of the remaining oxide layer  203  (STI  203 ). The source region  211  is formed on a left inclined surface of the InSb active region  205 , and contacts a right portion of the remaining oxide layer  203  (STI  203 ) and a portion of the left spacer  208  in the n-type TFET area. The drain region  212  is formed on a right inclined surface of the InSb active region  205  and contacts a portion of the right spacer  208  in the n-type TFET area. 
         [0059]    The source regions  209 / 211  may include a first dopant type (e.g. In, and the drain regions  210 / 212  may include a second dopant type (e.g., The first dopant type may include Te, and the second dopant type may include Mg or Zn. The source regions  209 / 211  and the drain regions  210 / 212  may be epitaxially grown in-situ in the recesses. In some embodiments, the dopant concentration in each of the source regions  209 / 211  and drain regions  210 / 212  may be range from about 1×10 19  cm −3  to about 5×10 19  cm −3 . The GaSb active region  204  between the source region  209  and the drain region  210  constitutes a first channel region, and the InSb active region  205  between the source region  211  and the drain region  212  constitutes a second channel region. 
         [0060]    In some embodiments, the structure of  FIG. 2I  may undergo annealing, and the source regions  209 / 211  and the drain regions  210 / 212  may be doped after the annealing. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the semiconductor device includes an n-type TFET and a p-type TFET formed on a substrate  300 . 
         [0063]    The p-type TFET includes an undoped channel region  304 , a source region  309  including a first dopant type, and a drain region  310  including a second dopant type. 
         [0064]    The n-type TFET includes an undoped channel region  305 , a source region  311  including a first dopant type, and a drain region  312  including a second dopant type. 
         [0065]    Each of the p-type and n-type TFETs also includes a gate structure comprising an insulating layer  306  and a gate  307 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , spacers  308  are formed on the sidewalls of the respective gate structures. 
         [0066]    The channel regions  304 / 305  may include a group III-V semiconductor material, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP), gallium (GaN), gallium phosphide (GaP), gallium antimonide (GaSb), indium antimonide (InSb), indium arsenide (InAs), etc. The III-V semiconductor material may be epitaxially grown on the substrate  300 , and is used to form the n-type and p-type TFETs. For example, the n-type TFET may be formed of III-V compounds having high electron mobility (e.g. InSb), while the p-type TFET may be formed of III-V compounds having high hole mobility (e.g. GaSb). 
         [0067]    With reference to the p-type TFET in  FIG. 3 , a subthreshold voltage V D  is applied to the source region  309 , a gate voltage V G  is applied to the gale structure, and the drain region  310  is connected to ground (GND). With reference to the n-type TFET in  FIG. 3 , the source region  311  is connected to ground (GND), a gate voltage V G  is applied to the gate structure, and a subthreshold voltage V D  is applied to the drain region  312 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gate voltages V G  of the p-type and n-type TFETs have opposite polarities. Likewise, the subthreshold voltages V D  of the p-type and n-type TFETs have opposite polarities. 
         [0068]    Next, the operation of the n-type TFET in  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , and the operation of the p-type TFET in  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Specifically,  FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in the n-type TFET is blocked, and  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in the n-type TFET occurs. Similarly,  FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in the p-type TFET is blocked, and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the energy band gap when tunneling in the p-type TFET occurs. 
         [0069]    With reference to  FIG. 4A , when the n-type TFET is in an OFF state (V G =0 and V D &gt;0), there is a wide potential barrier between the drain region  312  and the channel region  305 , and as a result no tunneling occurs. Accordingly, only a very small leakage current exists. 
         [0070]    With reference to  FIG. 4B , when the gate voltage V G  exceeds the subthreshold voltage V D , the potential barrier between the channel region  305  and the drain region  312  becomes narrow enough to allow a significant tunneling current, which switches the n-type TFET to an ON state. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the valence band energy (E V ) of the channel region  305  is closer to the conduction band energy (E C ) of the drain region  312  when the n-type TFET is in an ON state. Because of the different source carrier injection mechanism in the n-type TFET compared to a conventional MOSFET, the subthreshold voltage V D  of the n-type TFET can be reduced to less than 60 mV/dec. 
         [0071]    With reference to  FIG. 5A , when the p-type TFET is in an OFF state (V G =0 and V D &lt;0), there is a wide potential barrier between the source region  309  and the channel region  304 , and as a result no tunneling occurs. Accordingly, only a very small leakage current exists. 
         [0072]    With reference to  FIG. 5B , when the gate voltage V G  decreases below the subthreshold voltage V D , the potential barrier between the channel region  304  and the source region  309  becomes narrow enough to allow a significant tunneling current, which switches the p-type TFET to an ON state. As shown in  FIG. 5B , the valence band energy (E V ) of the channel region  304  is closer to the conduction band energy (E C ) of the source region  309  when the p-type TFET is in an ON state. Because of the different source carrier injection mechanism in the p-type TFET compared to a conventional MOSFET, the subthreshold voltage V D  of the p-type TFET can be reduced to less than 60 mV/dec. 
         [0073]    In some embodiments, the channel region  304  may be formed of a narrow bandgap semiconductor material having high carrier (hole) mobility (e.g. GaSb), and the channel region  305  may be formed of a narrow bandgap semiconductor material having high carrier (electron) mobility (e.g. InSb). 
         [0074]    Next, exemplary methods and processing conditions for the epitaxial growth of the active/channel regions in  FIGS. 1-3  will be described. In a conventional MOCVD reactor, Group III elements (e.g. In) and Group V elements (e.g. Sb) are injected into a reaction chamber from a common manifold. The masses and flow rates of the injected gases can be controlled using mass flow controllers. 
         [0075]    In some embodiments, GaSb is epitaxially grown (via MOCVD) at a temperature of about 600° C. to about 800° C.; TEGa is used as a source for Ga, and the flow rate of TEGa ranges from about 10 μmol/min to about 100 μmol/min; TMSb is used as a source for Sb, and the flow rate of TMSb ranges from about 10 μmol/min to about 100 μmol/min; the ratio of TMSb to TEGa ranges from about 10 to about 100; Te is used as an n-type dopant; Zn or Mg is used as a p-type dopant; and the process is carried out at a pressure of about 2 Torr to about 100 Torr. 
         [0076]    In some embodiments, InSb is epitaxially grown (via MOCVD) at a temperature of about 450° C. to about 600° C.; TMIn is used as a source for In, and the flow rate of TMIn ranges from about 10 μmol/min to about 100 μmol/min; TMSb is used as a source for Sb, and the flow rate of TMSb ranges from about 10 μmol/min to about 100 μmol/min; the ratio of TMSb to TMIn ranges from about 10 to about 100; Te is used as an n-type dopant; Zn or Mg is used as a p-type dopant; and the process is carried out at a pressure of about 2 Torr to about 100 Torr. 
         [0077]    A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to different embodiments of the inventive concept have been described above. In order to avoid obscuring the inventive concept, details that are well-known in the art may have been omitted. Nevertheless, those skilled in the art would be able to understand the implementation of the inventive concept and its technical details in view of the present disclosure. 
         [0078]    The different embodiments of the inventive concept have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the different embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, those skilled in the art would appreciate that various modifications can be made to the different embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Technology Category: 5