Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to three-dimensional strained semiconductor devices. 
     Three-dimensional semiconductor devices such as fin-type field effect transistors (finFETs) are widely used due to their ability to reduce leakage current and short-channel effects at a reduced device footprint. Additionally, the three-dimensional channel regions formed by the semiconductor fin of such devices allow the channel region to be accesses across an area that covers three surfaces. The raised fin, and thus the channel, also reduces electric field coupling between adjacent devices as compared to conventional planer transistors. During operation, holes (or electrons) travel from a source region to a drain region via the three-dimensional channel region form defined by the fin. Therefore, various fabrication methodologies and channel formation processes make it possible to control hole (or electron) mobility of the finFET. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a method of straining a channel region of a fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) includes forming a first semiconductor layer in a strained state on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate and forming a second semiconductor layer on an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer. The method further includes patterning the second semiconductor layer to form a semiconductor fin on an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer, the semiconductor fin defining a strained channel region of the finFET. The method further includes etching the first semiconductor layer to extend a depth of the semiconductor fin into the semiconductor layer and below the strain-inducing layer so as to relieve a strain in the first semiconductor layer and enhance the strain in the channel region. 
     According to another non-limiting embodiment, a method of straining in a channel region of a fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) includes forming a strain-inducing layer on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, the strain-inducing layer having a first lattice constant that is mismatched with respect to a second lattice constant of the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming an active semiconductor layer on an upper surface of the strain-inducing layer, the active semiconductor layer having a third lattice constant that is mismatched with respect the first lattice constant. The method further includes patterning the active semiconductor layer to form at least one semiconductor fin that defines a channel region of the finFET, and etching the strain-inducing layer to increase a depth of the at least one fin and relieve a first strain applied to the strain-inducing layer while inducing a second strain applied to the at least one semiconductor fin. The method further includes extending the depth of the at least one semiconductor fin into the semiconductor substrate and below the strain-inducing layer so as to increase the second strain applied to the channel region defined by the semiconductor fin. 
     According to yet another non-limiting embodiment, a fin-type field effect transistor (finFET) including a strained channel region includes a semiconductor substrate extending along a first axis to define a length, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to width, and a third direction perpendicular to the first and second axes to define a height. At least one semiconductor fin on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate includes a semiconductor substrate portion on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a strain-inducing portion on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate portion, and an active semiconductor portion defining a strained channel region on an upper surface of the strain-inducing portion. A first height of the semiconductor substrate portion is greater than a second height of the strain-inducing portion. 
     Additional features are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with the features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  FIGS. 1-8B  are a series of views illustrating a method of forming a vertical FET device according to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is block diagram of staring substrate including a strain-inducing layer interposed between a substrate layer and an active semiconductor layer according to a non-limiting embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the substrate illustrated in  FIG. 1  following a stacked arrangement of fin patterning layers atop the active semiconductor layer; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the substrate illustrated in  FIG. 2  after patterning fin patterning layers to form mandrels and spacers on the sidewalls of the mandrels; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the substrate illustrated in  FIG. 3  after removing the mandrels from between the spacers to define a fin pattern; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates the substrate illustrated in  FIG. 4  according to a first orientation after transferring the fin pattern into the substrate and stopping on an upper surface of the substrate layer to form a plurality of semiconductor fin structures; 
         FIG. 5B  is a second orientation of the substrate shown in  FIG. 5A  taken along line A-A to illustrate a strained semiconductor fin following the fin transfer process; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the substrate of  FIGS. 5A-5B  according to the first orientation following an etching process to extend the depth of the fin structures into the substrate layer to form strained fin structures having a substrate portion interposed between the strain-inducing layer and the remaining substrate layer; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the substrate of  FIG. 6  following removal of the remaining insulator layer; 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates the substrate having an extended fin etching depth to form strained fin structures including a substrate portion formed on an upper surface of the remaining substrate layer; and 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates an enhanced strained fin structure in the second orientation after extending the fin etch deep into the substrate layer and below the strain-inducing layer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the related drawings. Alternative embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of this disclosure. It is noted that various connections and positional relationships (e.g., over, below, adjacent, etc.) are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings. These connections and/or positional relationships, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect, and the present disclosure is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Accordingly, a coupling of entities may refer to either a direct or an indirect coupling, and a positional relationship between entities may be a direct or indirect positional relationship. As an example of an indirect positional relationship, references in the present disclosure to forming layer “A” over layer “B” include situations in which one or more intermediate layers (e.g., layer “C”) is between layer “A” and layer “B” as long as the relevant characteristics and functionalities of layer “A” and layer “B” are not substantially changed by the intermediate layer(s). 
     The term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” may be understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to one, i.e. one, two, three, four, etc. The terms “a plurality” may be understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to two, i.e. two, three, four, five, etc. The term “connection” may include both an indirect “connection” and a direct “connection.” 
     For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to semiconductor device and IC fabrication may not be described in detail herein. Moreover, the various tasks and process steps described herein may be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or process having additional steps or functionality not described in detail herein. In particular, various steps in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and semiconductor-based ICs are well known and so, in the interest of brevity, many conventional steps will only be mentioned briefly herein or will be omitted entirely without providing the well-known process details. 
     By way of background, however, a more general description of the semiconductor device fabrication processes that may be utilized in implementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will now be provided. Although specific fabrication operations used in implementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be individually known, the disclosed combination of operations and/or resulting structures of the present disclosure are unique. Thus, the unique combination of operations described in connection with the fabrication of a coupler system according to the present disclosure utilize a variety of individually known physical and chemical processes performed on a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) substrate. In general, the various processes used to form a micro-chip that will be packaged into an IC fall into three categories, namely, film deposition, patterning, etching and semiconductor doping. Films of both conductors (e.g., poly-silicon, aluminum, copper, etc.) and insulators (e.g., various forms of silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, etc.) are used to connect and isolate transistors and their components. Selective doping of various regions of the semiconductor substrate allows the conductivity of the substrate to be changed with the application of voltage. By creating structures of these various components, millions of transistors can be built and wired together to form the complex circuitry of a modern microelectronic device. 
     Fundamental to all of the above-described fabrication processes is semiconductor lithography, i.e., the formation of three-dimensional relief images or patterns on the semiconductor substrate for subsequent transfer of the pattern to the substrate. In semiconductor lithography, the patterns are a light sensitive polymer called a photo-resist. To build the complex structures that make up a transistor and the many wires that connect the millions of transistors of a circuit, lithography and etch pattern transfer steps are repeated multiple times. Each pattern being printed on the wafer is aligned to the previously formed patterns and slowly the conductors, insulators and selectively doped regions are built up to form the final device. 
     Turning now to a more detailed description of one or more embodiments, finFETs exhibit favorable current-to-size switching capabilities for integrated circuits. FinFETs also exhibit favorable electrostatic properties corresponding to reduced footprints of high-density, low-power, integrated circuits. Because the fin and channel are raised from the substrate, finFETs can exhibit reduced cross-coupling between proximal devices. 
     In some cases, speed, junction leakage current, and/or breakdown voltage considerations may create a need for semiconductor material other than silicon (Si). For example, silicon germanium (SiGe) can provide higher hole (or electron) mobility, higher device speed, and lower junction leakage than bulk Si. As a result, some devices may be fabricated from SiGe that is epitaxially grown on a silicon substrate. 
     Hole (or) electron mobility can be further enhanced by straining the channel region. Straining of Si or SiGe can be used to improve some of its electrical properties. For example, compressive straining of Si can improve hole mobility through silicon, while tensile straining of Si can improve electron mobility. A strain-inducing layer comprising SiGe, for example, is typically formed below the Si channel layer of a fin. However, plastic relaxation of the SiGe strain layer occurs when the SiGe layer is too thick. This plastic relaxation phenomenon causes defects in the SiGe layer, which also propagate into the Si channel region. Consequently, the strain induced in the channel region of a conventional strained finFET device is typically limited to a maximum thickness of the SiGe to avoid plastic relaxation. 
     Various non-limiting embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor device such as a finFET, for example, which includes an optimized elastic SiGe strain buffer. The elastic phenomena resulting from the SiGe strain buffer reduces or even eliminates plastic relaxation in the active semiconductor channel region. In at least one embodiment, the elastic phenomena of the SiGe strain buffer is optimized by interposing the SiGe strain buffer between a lower substrate layer and an upper active semiconductor layer, and etching the lower substrate layer to a depth that exceeds a vertical thickness of the SiGe strain buffer. In this manner, the elastic phenomena is enhanced such that the SiGe strain buffer applies maximum strain to the upper active semiconductor layer while allowing the overall thickness of the SiGe strain buffer to be reduced. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a starting stacked substrate  100  is illustrated according to a non-limiting embodiment. The stacked substrate  100  extends along a first direction (e.g., X-axis) to define a length and a second direction (Z-axis) to define a height. According to a non-limiting embodiment, the stacked substrate  100  includes a substrate layer  102 , a strain-inducing layer  104  formed on an upper surface of the substrate layer  102 , and an active semiconductor layer  106 . 
     The substrate layer  102  comprises a semiconductor material including, but not limited to, Si, and may have a thickness ranging from 1 micron (μm) to 1000 μm. The strain-inducing layer  104  may be epitaxially grown on an upper surface of the substrate layer  102 , and the active semiconductor layer  106  may be subsequently formed on the upper surface of the strain-inducing layer  104 . 
     The active semiconductor layer  106  may comprise a semiconductor material such as, for example, Si. The strain-inducing layer  104  may also comprise a semiconductor material, but one having a lattice constant that is different from the lattice constant of the active semiconductor layer  106 . For example, when the active semiconductor layer  106  comprises Si, the strain-inducing layer  104  may comprise SiGe or silicon carbide (SiC). The strain-inducing layer  104 , because of a lattice mismatch with the substrate, will epitaxially grow in a strained state. 
     The strain-inducing layer  104  may be formed from SiGe in some embodiments (e.g., to induce tensile stress in a resulting semiconductor fin to improve electron mobility through the channel region) or SiC in other embodiments (e.g., to induce compressive stress in a resulting semiconductor fin to improve electron mobility through the channel region). As may be appreciated, other materials exhibiting a lattice mismatch with the substrate and device layer may be used instead of SiGe or SiC, and different material systems may be used in other implementations. 
     When patterning the active semiconductor layer  106  fin and underlying straining material to form one or more semiconductor fins as discussed below, the strain-inducing layer can locally and elastically relax to relieve its strain. This elastic relaxation can impart strain to the etched fin. Additionally, because the formation of the strain-inducing layer and relaxation of that layer can be purely elastic, there may be no appreciable defects generated in the strain-inducing layer and/or the device layer, as would be generated from thicker, plastic SiGe layers that may suffer from plastic deformation and relaxation, for example. Further details regarding device fabrication and the formation of the semiconductor fins are described below. 
     In at least one embodiment, the initial lattice constant of the substrate layer  102  is about 5.431 A (Silicon), the initial lattice constant of the strain-inducing layer  104  is about 5.48 A (SiGe25%) and the initial lattice constant of the active semiconductor layer  106  is about 5.431 A (Silicon), The thickness of the strain-inducing layer  104  may range, for example, from about 5 nm and to about 250 nm. The thickness of the active semiconductor layer  106  may range, for example, from about 5 nm and to about 100 nm. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the substrate  100  is illustrated following a stacked arrangement of fin patterning layers atop the active semiconductor layer  106 . For example, a hard mask layer  108  may be deposited over the active semiconductor layer  106 . The hard mask layer may comprise silicon nitride (e.g., Si 3 N 4 ) in some embodiments, though any suitable hard mask material may be used that exhibits etch selectivity over the underlying semiconductor materials. The thickness of the hard mask material may be between 10 nm and 100 nm in some embodiments, between 20 nm and 50 nm in some embodiments, and in some embodiments may be about 40 nm. 
     An insulating layer  110  may be formed on the hard mask layer  108 . In at least one embodiment, the insulating layer  110  may comprise undoped silicate glass (USG), and its thickness may be between 10 nm and 100 nm in some embodiments, between 20 nm and 50 nm in some embodiments, and in some embodiments may be about 30 nm. The insulating layer  110  may be applied by any suitable means, e.g., via physical deposition, a plasma deposition process, or a spin-on and anneal process. 
     A patterning layer  112  may be deposited over the insulating layer  110 . In some embodiments, the patterning layer  112  may comprise amorphous silicon that is deposited by a plasma deposition process, though any suitable material may be used. The patterning layer  112  may be between 10 nm and 100 nm in some embodiments, between 20 nm and 50 nm in some embodiments, and in some embodiments may be about 40 nm. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , mandrels  114  may be patterned in the patterning layer  112  using any suitable method, e.g., photolithography and etching. The photolithography may require forming a photoresist layer over the patterning layer  112 , exposing and developing the photoresist, and etching the patterning layer. In some embodiments, the mandrels  114  may be patterned using a mandrel lithography process. In some implementations, the mandrels  114  may be patterned using interferometric lithography techniques. The mandrels  114  may be patterned to achieve a desired length for a fin of a finFET transistor. The width and spacing of the mandrels  114  may be chosen to provide desired spacings between multiple fins of a finFET device or between multiple finFET devices. 
     A blanket masking layer (not shown) may be deposited over the mandrels  114  and insulating layer  110 . In some embodiments, the blanket masking layer may comprise silicon nitride that is deposited by a plasma deposition process. The thickness of the masking layer may range, for example, from about 5 nm to about 100. The blanket masking layer may be patterned to form spacer structures  116 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a series of etching steps may then be used to pattern fins in the active semiconductor layer  106 , where the spacer structures  116  define the pattern of the fins. For example, a first selective, anisotropic etch may be performed to remove the mandrels  114 . The same etch chemistry, or a different etch chemistry may be used to remove most of the insulating layer  110 , thereby transferring the pattern of the spacer structures  116  to the insulating layer  110 . 
     A second selective, anisotropic etch may be performed to remove portions of the hard mask layer  108 , thereby transferring the pattern from the insulating layer  110  to the hard mask layer  108 . According to a non-limiting embodiment, a suitable oxide-based, dry plasma ashing process highly selective to mandrels  114  is used such that the sidewall spacers  116  are only negligibly eroded. In one embodiment, ashing of mandrels  114  is performed with a selectivity of about 50 or greater relative to sidewall spacers  116 . That is, during the ashing process, the consumption or etch rate of mandrels  114  is at least about 50 times that of spacers  116 . If the hard mask layer  108  and spacer structures  116  are formed of the same material, most or all of the spacer structures  116  may be removed during the etch, and the patterned insulator layer  110  serves as an etch mask for the hard mask layer  108 . Additional selective, anisotropic etches may be performed to transfer the pattern from the hard mask layer  108  into the underlying the active semiconductor layer  106  and strain-inducing layer  104 . Accordingly, one or more fin structures  118  are formed as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 5A-5B , the structure  100  is etched to expose the upper surface of the substrate layer  102 . The remainder of spacers  116  may then be removed using any suitable wet or preferably dry etch process selective to spacers  116  to avoid erosion of fin structures  118 . Accordingly, the fin structure  118  are formed such that the strain-inducing layer  104  is formed on an upper surface of the substrate layer  102  as further illustrated in  FIG. 5B . The fin structure  118  may have horizontal length (e.g., L FIN  along the Y-axis) ranging, for example, from approximately 30 nm to approximately 10 μm. 
     The combination of etching the fin structures  118  (i.e., semiconductor fins  118 ) through the strain-inducing layer  104  and removing the hard mask layer  108  allows the strain-inducing material to relax locally at each fin structure  118  and relieve some of its strain. In doing so, the strain-inducing layer  104  imparts a first strain (e.g. compressive) while the active semiconductor layer  106  (which defines a channel region of the fin structure  118 ) imparts a second strain (e.g., a tensile strain). Because of the narrow and long fin structures  118 , the resulting strain in the fin structures  118  will be substantially uniaxial, longitudinal strain along the length of the fin  118 . According to some embodiments, relaxation of the strain-inducing layer  104  may be purely elastic, such that no appreciable defects are generated. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , the pattern of the fin structures  118  is extended into the substrate layer  102  and below the strain-inducing layer  104  as indicated by the downward directional arrows. Accordingly, the vertical length (e.g., height) of the fin  118  is extended to include an etched substrate portion  120  that extends from a lower end of the strain-inducing layer  104  to the upper surface of the remaining substrate layer  102 . In at least one embodiment, the vertical length (H S ) of the etched substrate portion  120  is greater than the vertical length (H SI ) of the strain-inducing layer  104 . In at least one embodiment, H S  may range from 2 times H SI  to 10 times H SI . In another embodiment, the H S  of the etched substrate portion  120  H S  is smaller than H SI  of the strain-inducing layer  104 . For example, H S  may range from approximately 50 nm to approximately 150 nm, while H SI  may range from approximately 100 nm to approximately 300 nm. By etching deeper into the substrate layer  102 , which increases H SI , however, the strain-inducing layer  104  may be further relaxed. Accordingly, the strain (e.g., compressive strain) applied by the strain-inducing layer  104  is further increased, which in turn enhances strain, i.e., increases the strain, (e.g., tensile strain) applied by the active semiconductor layer  106 . That is, at least one embodiment further relaxes the strain inducing layer  104  such that the amount of elastic relaxation increases with the amount of recess into the substrate layer  102 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , the upper insulating material  110  may be removed from the substrate (e.g., using a wet or dry etch) leaving exposed hard mask layer  108 . In a similar manner, the hard mask layers  108  may then be removed using, for example, a wet or dry etch. Accordingly, the semiconductor structure  100  including one or more strained fin structures  118  formed atop the substrate layer  102  is formed as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8B . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the elastic deformation applied to the strained fin structure  118  is enhanced (as indicated by the double horizontal layer) due to the increased depth of the fin etch into the substrate layer  102 . Under conventional wisdom, it was previously understood that the strain applied to finFET channel layer could be increased only by increasing the thickness (i.e., vertical height of the strain-inducing layer). However, several numerical simulations based on finite element analysis were carried out that support results of enhanced elastic deformation according to various embodiments of the invention. These results show that enhanced elastic deformation can be achieved in response to increasing the etching depth below the strain-inducing layer  104  independently from the thickness (i.e., vertical length) of the strain-inducing layer  104  according to at least one embodiment of the invention described above. As described above, the H S  may range from 2 times H SI  to 10 times H SI . Therefore, at least one unexpected result is realized when the etching depth (i.e., H S ) is greater than the vertical length (H SL ) of the strain-inducing layer  104  in that the strain applied to the channel region (i.e., active semiconductor region  106 ) of the fin structure  118  is maximized without needing to increase the thickness of the strain-inducing layer  104 . Accordingly, a thinner strain-inducing layer  104  may be incorporated that also increases the strain on the channel region (e.g., greater than 1 GPa of strain) compared to lower strain levels achieved in conventional finFET devices, but without the concerns of causing plastic relaxation which limits conventional strained finFET fabrication techniques. 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Technology Category: h