Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Under 35 U.S.C. §120, this continuation application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,330 (TI-72683), filed on Nov. 26, 2014, which claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/984,205 (TI-72683 PS), filed on Apr. 25, 2014. The entirety of the above referenced applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to the field of semiconductor devices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to buried layers in semiconductor devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A semiconductor device contains an n-type buried layer in a p-type substrate. The buried layer is biased to a high voltage, above 80 volts, to provide isolated operation at high voltage for a component in the substrate above the buried layer. The pn junction at the bottom surface of the buried layer exhibits undesirable leakage current and low breakdown. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0005]    A semiconductor device has an n-type buried layer over a p-type first epitaxial layer and under a p-type second epitaxial layer. The buried layer is formed by implanting heavy n-type dopants, antimony and/or arsenic, into the p-type first epitaxial layer at a high dose and low energy, and implanting a lighter n-type dopant, phosphorus, at a low dose and high energy. A thermal drive process diffuses and activates both the heavy dopants and the phosphorus. The heavy dopants do not diffuse significantly, advantageously maintaining a narrow profile for a main layer of the buried layer. The phosphorus diffuses to advantageously provide a lightly-doped layer several microns thick below the main layer. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cross section of an example semiconductor device containing a high voltage n-type buried layer. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 2F  are cross sections of a semiconductor device similar to that depicted in  FIG. 1 , shown in successive stages of fabrication. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 3F  are cross sections of another example semiconductor device containing a high voltage localized n-type buried layer, depicted in successive stages of fabrication. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of an alternate example semiconductor device containing a high voltage n-type buried layer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The following co-pending patent applications are related and hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,209 (Texas Instruments docket number TI-72532), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,300 (Texas Instruments docket number TI-72572), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,359 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,337,292) (Texas Instruments docket number TI-73743), all filed simultaneously with this application. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure is described with reference to the attached figures. The figures are not drawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the disclosure. Several aspects of the disclosure are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide an understanding of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a cross section of an example semiconductor device containing a high voltage n-type buried layer. The semiconductor device  100  has a substrate  102  which includes a first epitaxial layer  104  of semiconductor material such as single crystal silicon. The substrate  102  also includes a second epitaxial layer  106  disposed on the first epitaxial layer  104 . The second epitaxial layer  106  comprises a semiconductor material which may have a same composition as the first epitaxial layer  104 . An n-type buried layer  108  is disposed in the substrate  102  at a boundary between the first epitaxial layer  104  and the second epitaxial layer  106 , extending into the first epitaxial layer  104  and the second epitaxial layer  106 . The first epitaxial layer  104  immediately below the n-type buried layer  108  is referred to as a lower layer  110 . The lower layer  110  is p-type and has a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. The second epitaxial layer  106  above the n-type buried layer  108  is referred to as an upper layer  112 . The upper layer  112  is p-type and has a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. 
         [0013]    The n-type buried layer  108  includes a main layer  114  which straddles the boundary between the first epitaxial layer  104  and the second epitaxial layer  106 , extending at least a micron into the first epitaxial layer  104  and at least a micron into the second epitaxial layer  106 . The main layer  114  has an average doping density greater than 5×10 18  cm −3 . At least 50 percent of the n-type dopants in the main layer  114  are arsenic and/or antimony. A top surface  116  of the main layer  114  is at least 5 microns below a top surface  118  of the substrate  102 . The top surface  116  of the main layer  114  may be 8 microns to 12 microns below the top surface  118  of the substrate  102 . 
         [0014]    The n-type buried layer  108  includes a lightly-doped layer  120  extending at least 2 microns below the main layer  114 ; the lightly-doped layer  120  is disposed in the first epitaxial layer  104  over the lower layer  110 . The lightly-doped layer  120  has an average doping density of 1×10 16  cm −3  to 1×10 17  cm −3 . At least 90 percent of the n-type dopants in the lightly-doped layer  120  are phosphorus. The n-type buried layer  108  may extend substantially across the semiconductor device  100  as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0015]    During operation of the semiconductor device  100 , the n-type buried layer  108  may be biased 80 volts to 110 volts higher than the lower layer  110 . The structure of the n-type buried layer  108  with the lightly-doped layer  120  may advantageously prevent breakdown of a pn junction between the n-type buried layer  108  and the lower layer  110 , and may advantageously provide a desired low level of leakage current. Moreover, the structure of the n-type buried layer  108  with the main layer  114  advantageously provides a low sheet resistance so as to maintain a uniform bias for components in the upper layer  112  above the n-type buried layer  108 . 
         [0016]    The semiconductor device  100  may include a deep trench structure  122  which extends through the upper layer  112 , through the n-type buried layer  108 , and into the lower layer  110 . The deep trench structure  122  includes a dielectric liner  124  including silicon dioxide contacting the semiconductor material of the substrate  102 . The deep trench structure  122  may also include an electrically conductive fill material  126  such as polycrystalline silicon, referred to as polysilicon, on the dielectric liner  124 . The structure of the n-type buried layer  108  with the lightly-doped layer  120  is especially advantageous for preventing breakdown of the pn junction between the n-type buried layer  108  and the lower layer  110  at the dielectric liner  124 . The deep trench structure  122  may have a closed loop configuration as depicted in  FIG. 1  so that a portion  128  of the upper layer  112  is electrically isolated from the remaining upper layer  112  by the deep trench structure  122  and is electrically isolated from the lower layer  110  by the n-type buried layer  108 . Components in the portion  128  of the upper layer  112  may be advantageously operated at 85 volts to 110 volts components in the remaining upper layer  112  outside the deep trench structure  122 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 2F  are cross sections of a semiconductor device similar to that depicted in  FIG. 1 , shown in successive stages of fabrication. Referring to  FIG. 2A , fabrication of the semiconductor device  100  starts with the first epitaxial layer  104 . The first epitaxial layer  104  may be, for example, a top portion of a stack of epitaxial layers on a heavily-doped single crystal silicon wafer. The first epitaxial layer  104  is p-type with a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. A layer of pad oxide  130  is formed over the first epitaxial layer  104 , for example by thermal oxidation. 
         [0018]    N-type dopants  132  are implanted into the first epitaxial layer  104  to form a first implanted layer  134 . The n-type dopants include at least  50  percent arsenic and/or antimony. In one version of the instant example, the n-type dopants  132  may be substantially all antimony, as indicated in  FIG. 2A . The n-type dopants  132  are implanted at a dose greater than 5×10 14  cm −2 , for example, 1×10 15  cm −2  to 5×10 15  cm −2 . Antimony in the n-type dopants  132  may be implanted at energies less than 50 keV. Arsenic in the n-type dopants  132  may be implanted at energies less than 40 keV. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , phosphorus  136  is implanted into the first epitaxial layer  104  to form a second implanted layer  138  below the first implanted layer  134 . The phosphorus  136  is implanted at a dose of 1×10 13  cm −2  to 1×10 14  cm −2  and at an energy above 100 keV. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2C , a first thermal drive process  140  heats the first epitaxial layer  104  to a temperature of 1150° C. to 1225° C. for at least 30 minutes. The first thermal drive process  140  may be performed in a furnace with an oxidizing ambient which increases a thickness of the layer of pad oxide  130 . The first thermal drive process  140  causes the implanted n-type dopants in the first implanted layer  134  and the implanted phosphorus in the second implanted layer  138  to diffuse deeper into the first epitaxial layer  104 . The phosphorus in the second implanted layer  138  diffuses farther into the first epitaxial layer  104  than the arsenic and antimony in the first implanted layer  134 . The layer of pad oxide  130  is subsequently removed, for example by a wet etch using a dilute aqueous solution of buffered hydrofluoric acid. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2D , an epitaxy process grows the second epitaxial layer  106  on the first epitaxial layer  104 . The epitaxy process may use silane, dichlorosilane, or other silicon-containing reagents. During the epitaxy process, the n-type dopants in the first implanted layer  134  of  FIG. 2C  diffuse into the second epitaxial layer  106 , to form the main layer  114  of the n-type buried layer  108 . The main layer  114  straddles the boundary between the first epitaxial layer  104  and the second epitaxial layer  106 . The phosphorus in the second implanted layer  138  of  FIG. 2C  forms the lightly-doped layer  120  of the n-type buried layer  108 . The epitaxy process may use a boron-containing reagent such as diborane to provide p-type doping in the second epitaxial layer  106 . Alternatively, p-type dopants such as boron may be implanted into the second epitaxial layer  106  after the epitaxy process is completed. The first epitaxial layer  104  and the second epitaxial layer  106  provide a top portion of the substrate  102 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2E , a second thermal drive process  142  heats the substrate  102  to a temperature of 1125° C. to 1200° C. for at least 120 minutes. The second thermal drive process  142  may be performed in a furnace with a slightly oxidizing ambient. When the second thermal drive is completed, the main layer  114  of the n-type buried layer  108  extends at least a micron into the first epitaxial layer  104  and at least a micron into the second epitaxial layer  106 , and the lightly-doped layer  120  extends at least 2 microns below the main layer  114 . An average doping in the main layer  114  is greater than 5×10 18  cm −3 . An average doping in the lightly-doped layer  120  is 1×10 16  cm −3  to 1×10 17  cm −3 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2F , the deep trench structure  122  may be formed by etching a deep trench in the substrate  102  after the second thermal drive process  142  of  FIG. 2E . The dielectric liner  124  may be formed by thermal oxidation followed by deposition of silicon dioxide by a sub-atmospheric chemical vapor deposition (SACVD) process. The electrically conductive fill material  126  may be formed by depositing a conformal layer of polysilicon and subsequently removing the polysilicon from over a top surface of the substrate, for example by a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process. Optional n-type self-aligned sinkers  144  may be formed in the second epitaxial layer  106  abutting the deep trench structures by implanting n-type dopants into the second epitaxial layer  106  after the deep trenches are partially etched. The n-type self-aligned sinkers  144  provide electrical connections to the n-type buried layer  108 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 3F  are cross sections of another example semiconductor device containing a high voltage localized n-type buried layer, depicted in successive stages of fabrication. A localized n-type buried layer extends across only a portion of the semiconductor device. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the semiconductor device  300  is formed on a first epitaxial layer  304  containing a semiconductor material such as single crystal silicon. The first epitaxial layer  304  is p-type with a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. A layer of pad oxide  330  is formed over the first epitaxial layer  304 . In the instant example, an implant mask  346  is formed over the layer of pad oxide  330  so as to expose an area for the localized n-type buried layer  308 . The implant mask  346  may include photoresist formed by a photolithographic process, or may include hard mask material such as silicon dioxide formed by a thermal oxidation or a plasma enhanced chemical vapor (PECVD) process. Including hard mask material in the implant mask  346  may advantageously facilitate subsequent removal of the implant mask  346  after implanting phosphorus at high energies. 
         [0025]    N-type dopants  332  are implanted through the area exposed by the implant mask  346  into the first epitaxial layer  304  to form a first implanted layer  334 . The n-type dopants includes at least  50  percent arsenic and/or antimony. The n-type dopants  332  are implanted at a dose greater than 5×10 14  cm −2 , for example, 1×10 15  cm −2  to 5×10 15  cm −2 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3B , phosphorus  336  is implanted through the area exposed by the implant mask  346  into the first epitaxial layer  304  to form a second implanted layer  338  below the first implanted layer  334 . The phosphorus  336  is implanted at a dose of 1×10 13  cm −2  to 1×10 14  cm −2  and at an energy above 100 keV. Organic material in the implant mask  346  such as photoresist is removed before a subsequent first thermal drive process. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a first thermal drive process  340  heats the first epitaxial layer  304  to a temperature of 1150° C. to 1225° C. for at least 30 minutes, for example as described in reference to  FIG. 2C . The first thermal drive process  340  causes the implanted n-type dopants in the first implanted layer  334  and the implanted phosphorus in the second implanted layer  338  to diffuse deeper into the first epitaxial layer  304 . The phosphorus in the second implanted layer  338  diffuses farther into the first epitaxial layer  304  than the arsenic and antimony in the first implanted layer  334 . The implant mask  346  if present and the layer of pad oxide  330  are subsequently removed. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 3D , an epitaxy process grows a second epitaxial layer  306  on the first epitaxial layer  304  to provide a substrate  302  of the semiconductor device  300 . During the epitaxy process, the n-type dopants in the first implanted layer  334  of  FIG. 3C  diffuse into the second epitaxial layer  306 , to form a main layer  314  of the localized n-type buried layer  308 . The main layer  314  straddles a boundary between the first epitaxial layer  304  and the second epitaxial layer  306 . The phosphorus in the second implanted layer  338  of  FIG. 3C  forms a lightly-doped layer  320  of the localized n-type buried layer  308  below the main layer  314 . The second epitaxial layer  306  is p-type with a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. The first epitaxial layer  304  immediately below the n-type buried layer  308  is referred to as a lower layer  310 ; analogously, the second epitaxial layer  306  above the n-type buried layer  308  is referred to as an upper layer  312 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3E , a second thermal drive process  342  heats the substrate  302  to a temperature of 1125° C. to 1200° C. for at least 120 minutes. When the second thermal drive is completed, the main layer  314  of the localized n-type buried layer  308  extends at least a micron into the first epitaxial layer  304  and at least a micron into the second epitaxial layer  306 , and the lightly-doped layer  320  extends at least 2 microns below the main layer  314 . A top surface  316  of the main layer  314  is at least 5 microns below a top surface  318  of the substrate  302 . The top surface  316  of the main layer  314  may be 8 microns to 12 microns below the top surface  318  of the substrate  302 . An average doping in the main layer  314  is greater than 5×10 18  cm −3 . At least 50 percent of the n-type dopants in the main layer  314  are arsenic and/or antimony. 
         [0030]    The lightly-doped layer  320  extends at least 2 microns below the main layer  314 . An average doping in the lightly-doped layer  320  is 1×10 16  cm −3  to 1×10 17  cm −3 . At least 90 percent of the n-type dopants in the lightly-doped layer  320  are phosphorus. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3F , n-type sinkers  348  are formed in the second epitaxial layer  306 , extending down to the localized n-type buried layer  308 . The n-type sinkers  348  may have a closed-loop configuration so as to isolate a portion  328  of the upper layer  312  from the remaining upper layer  312 . The localized n-type buried layer  308  isolates the portion  328  of the upper layer  312  from the lower layer  310 . The structure of the localized n-type buried layer  308  with the main layer  314  and the lightly-doped layer  320  may advantageously provide a low sheet resistance in the localized n-type buried layer  308  while reducing leakage current and preventing breakdown of a pn junction between the localized n-type buried layer  308  and the lower layer  310 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of an alternate example semiconductor device containing a high voltage n-type buried layer. The semiconductor device  400  has a substrate  402  which includes a first epitaxial layer  404  of p-type semiconductor material such as single crystal silicon. The substrate  402  also includes a second epitaxial layer  406  disposed on the first epitaxial layer  404 . The second epitaxial layer  406  comprises a p-type semiconductor material which may have a same composition as the first epitaxial layer  404 . An n-type buried layer  408  is disposed in the substrate  402  at a boundary between the first epitaxial layer  404  and the second epitaxial layer  406 , extending into the first epitaxial layer  404  and the second epitaxial layer  406 . The first epitaxial layer  404  immediately below the n-type buried layer  408  is referred to as a lower layer  410 . The lower layer  410  is p-type and has a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. The second epitaxial layer  406  above the n-type buried layer  408  is referred to as an upper layer  412 . The upper layer  412  is p-type and has a resistivity of 5 ohm-cm to 10 ohm-cm. 
         [0033]    The n-type buried layer  408  includes a main layer  414  which straddles the boundary between the first epitaxial layer  404  and the second epitaxial layer  406 , extending at least a micron into the first epitaxial layer  404  and at least a micron into the second epitaxial layer  406 . The main layer  414  has an average doping density greater than 5×10 18  cm −3 . A top surface  416  of the main layer  414  is at least 5 microns below a top surface  418  of the substrate  402 . The top surface  416  of the main layer  414  may be 8 microns to 12 microns below the top surface  418  of the substrate  402  The n-type buried layer  408  includes a lightly-doped layer  420  extending at least 2 microns below the main layer  414 ; the lightly-doped layer  420  is disposed in the first epitaxial layer  404  over the lower layer  410 . The lightly-doped layer  420  has an average doping density of 1×10 16  cm −3  to 1×10 17  cm −3 . The n-type buried layer  408  may be formed as described in any of the examples herein. 
         [0034]    One or more deep trench structures  422  are disposed in the substrate  402 , extending below the buried layer  408  into the lower layer  410 . The deep trench structures  422  include dielectric liners  424  contacting the substrate  402 . The deep trench structures  422  include electrically conductive trench fill material  426  on the dielectric liners  424 . In the instant example, the dielectric liner  424  is removed at bottoms  450  of the deep trench structures  422  and the trench fill material  426  extends to the substrate  402 , making electrical connection to the substrate  402  through a p-type contact region  452 . The contact region  452  and the method of removing the dielectric liner  424  at the bottom  450  of each deep trench structure  422  may be done as described in the commonly assigned patent application having patent application Ser. No. 14/555,359 Attorney Docket Number TI-73743, filed concurrently with this application, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0035]    In the instant example, the trench fill material  426  includes a first layer of polysilicon  454  disposed on the dielectric liner  424 , extending to the bottoms  450  of the deep trench structures  422 , and a second layer of polysilicon  456  is disposed on the first layer of polysilicon  454 . Dopants are distributed in the first layer of polysilicon  454  and the second layer of polysilicon  456  with an average doping density of at least 1×10 18  cm −3 . The trench fill material  426  may be formed as described in the commonly assigned patent application having patent application Ser. No. 14/555,300 Attorney Docket Number TI-72572, filed concurrently with this application, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0036]    N-type self-aligned sinkers  444  are disposed in the upper layer  412  abutting the deep trench structures  422  and extending to the buried layer  408 . The self-aligned sinkers  444  provide electrical connections to the buried layer  408 . The self-aligned sinkers  444  may be formed as described in the commonly assigned patent application having patent application Ser. No. 14/555,209, Attorney Docket Number TI-72532, filed concurrently with this application, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0037]    While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the disclosure should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 5