Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Kuei-Ming Chen

Chung-Yi Yu

Chi-Ming Chen

Po-Chun Liu

Chia-Shiung Tsai

Xin-Hua Huang

Wei-I Lee

Yen-Hsien Yeh

Chun Lin Tsai

Jiun-Lei Jerry Yu

Yung-Chang Chang

Man-Ho Kwan

Shih-Pang Chang

Chia-Ling Yeh

Yin-Hao Wu

Ying-Chia Hsu

Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. An exemplary semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region surrounding the first region, a III-V semiconductor layer disposed directly over the first region, a compound semiconductor device formed in and over the III-V semiconductor layer, a first plurality of conductive features disposed over and electrically coupled to a source contact of the compound semiconductor device, and a seal ring disposed directly over the second region and comprising a second plurality of conductive features, a top surface of a topmost conductive feature of the first plurality of conductive features is higher than a top surface of a topmost conductive feature of the second plurality of conductive features.

Semiconductor structures with improved reliability

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a first transistor on a semiconductor substrate. The first transistor includes a first gate structure over the semiconductor substrate, a first pair of source/drain regions on opposing sides of the first gate structure, and a pair of diffusion barrier structures between the first pair of source/drain regions and a lower region of the semiconductor substrate. The first pair of source/drain regions comprise a first dopant. The diffusion barrier structures are co-doped with the first dopant and a second dopant different from the first dopant. A doping concentration of the first dopant within the first pair of source/drain regions is greater than a doping concentration of the first dopant within the diffusion barrier structures.

Diffusion barrier layer for source and drain structures to increase transistor performance

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a group III-V device including a rough buffer layer. The rough buffer layer overlies a silicon substrate, a buffer structure overlies the rough buffer layer, and a heterojunction structure overlies the buffer structure. The buffer structure causes band bending and formation of a two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) in the rough buffer layer. The rough buffer layer includes silicon or some other suitable semiconductor material and, in some embodiments, is doped. A top surface of the rough buffer layer and/or a bottom surface of the rough buffer layer is/are rough to promote carrier scattering along the top and bottom surfaces. The carrier scattering reduces carrier mobility and increases resistance at the 2DHG. The increased resistance increases an overall resistance of the silicon substrate, which reduces substrate loses and increases a power added efficiency (PAE).

Rough buffer layer for group III-V devices on silicon

A method includes forming a gate structure over a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate comprising: a base semiconductor layer; an insulator layer over the base semiconductor layer; and a top semiconductor layer over the insulator layer. The method further includes depositing a gate spacer layer over a top surface and along a sidewall of the gate structure; etching the gate spacer layer to define a gate spacer on the sidewall of the gate structure; after etching the gate spacer layer, etching a recess into the top semiconductor layer using a first etch process; and after the first etch process, extending the recess further into the top semiconductor layer using a second etch process. The first etch process is different from the second etch process. The method further includes forming a source/drain region in the recess after the second etch process.

Source/drains in semiconductor devices and methods of forming thereof

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes at least the following steps. A sacrificial substrate is provided. An etch stop layer is formed on the sacrificial substrate. A portion of the etch stop layer is oxidized to form an oxide layer between the sacrificial substrate and the remaining etch stop layer. A capping layer is formed on the remaining etch stop layer. A device layer is formed on the capping layer. A first etching process is performed to remove the sacrificial substrate. A second etching process is performed to remove the oxide layer. A third etching process is performed to remove the remaining etch stop layer. A power rail is formed on the capping layer opposite to the device layer.

Manufacturing method of semiconductor device

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes at least the following steps. A sacrificial substrate is provided. An epitaxial layer is formed on the sacrificial substrate. An etch stop layer is formed on the epitaxial layer. Carbon atoms are implanted into the etch stop layer. A capping layer and a device layer are formed on the etch stop layer. A handle substrate is bonded to the device layer. The sacrificial substrate, the epitaxial layer, and the etch stop layer having the carbon atoms are removed from the handle substrate.

Depositing gallium nitride and carbon (GaN:C) (e.g., in the form of composite layers) when forming a gallium nitride drain of a transistor provides a buffer between the gallium nitride of the drain and silicon of a substrate in which the drain is formed. As a result, gaps and other defects caused by lattice mismatch are reduced, which improves electrical performance of the drain. Additionally, current leakage into the substrate is reduced, which further improves electrical performance of the drain. Additionally, or alternatively, implanting silicon in an aluminum nitride (AlN) liner for a gallium nitride drain reduces contact resistance at an interface between the gallium nitride and the silicon. As a result, electrical performance of the transistor is improved.

Gallium nitride drain structures and methods of forming the same

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a semiconductor device that is inverted and that overlies a dielectric region inset into a top of a semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure overlies the semiconductor substrate and the dielectric region and further comprises an intermetal dielectric (IMD) layer. The IMD layer is bonded to the top of the semiconductor substrate and accommodates a pad. A semiconductor layer overlies the interconnect structure, and the semiconductor device is in the semiconductor layer, between the semiconductor layer and the interconnect structure. The semiconductor device comprises a first source/drain electrode overlying the dielectric region and further overlying and electrically coupled to the pad. The dielectric region reduces substrate capacitance to decrease substrate power loss and may, for example, be a cavity or a dielectric layer. A contact extends through the semiconductor layer to the pad.

Substrate loss reduction for semiconductor devices

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor device including a gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial source/drain layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and is laterally adjacent to the gate electrode. The epitaxial source/drain layer comprises a first dopant. A diffusion barrier layer is between the epitaxial source/drain layer and the semiconductor substrate. The diffusion barrier layer comprises a barrier dopant that is different from the first dopant.

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Taipei, Taiwan

Kuei-Ming Chen