Motorola Corporation

Keenan L Evans

Young Sir Chung

Henry G Hughes

Ronald J Gutteridge

Hang M Liaw

Jong-Kai Lin

William Glaunsinger

Ian W Sorensen

A method for forming a semiconductor sensor FET device (2) comprises the steps of forming spaced-apart doped source (6) and drain (8) regions in a semiconductor substrate (4) with electrically conductive paths (16, 18) to each region. The region between the source (6) and drain (8) regions defines a gate region (12). An insulating layer (14, 15) is formed on the substrate (4) and source and drain regions (8), and a cantilever gate structure is formed using a sacrificial layer (60), such that a gate electrode (26) is supported on a cantilever support (28) and a cavity (22) separates the gate electrode (26) from the gate region (12). A conductive layer (34) is formed overlying the gate electrode (26) to provide a heater for the gate electrode (26). The chemical species collect in the cavity (22) and react with the surface (27) of the gate electrode (26).

Method for forming a semiconductor sensor FET device

A sensor (10) includes a gate electrode (20) overlying a channel region (34). A gap (22) between the gate electrode (20) and the channel region (34) allows a surface (28) of the gate electrode (20) to be exposed to a chemical. Upon exposure to the chemical, a surface potential or an electrical impedance of the gate electrode (20) may change. Comparing the changes in surface potential versus the changes in electrical impedance provides a method to distinguish between similar chemical species and also to extend the detection range of the sensor (10).

Method of sensing a chemical and sensor therefor

A method for enhancing aluminum nitride includes, in one version, annealing sputtered aluminum nitride in a reducing atmosphere (11), and subsequently annealing the sputtered aluminum nitride in an inert atmosphere (12). A superior aluminum nitride thin film (13) results. The films can withstand exposure to boiling water for times up to twenty minutes and maintain a refractive index, N.sub.f, greater than 2.0, and a preferred crystalline orientation ratio, I(002)/I(102), in excess of 1000.

Method for enhancing aluminum nitride

An embodiment of a sensing element (10) for a gas vapor detector (24) is formed from a gold-palladium alloy. The sensing element (10) is highly sensitive to phosphine or arsine gas. The by volume palladium concentration of the sensing element is typically less than 20%. The sensing element (10) is used as an active element in a gas vapor detector (24).

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Tempe, AZ, United States of America

Keenan L Evans