Lucent Technologies Inc.

Agere Systems Guardian Corp.

Michael A Laughery

Yi Ma

Pradip Kumar Roy

Brittin C Kane

Stephen Carl Kuehne

Stefanie Chaplin

A method and structure providing N-profile engineering at the poly/gate oxide and gate oxide/Si interfaces of a layered polysilicon/amorphous silicon structure of a semiconductor device. NH annealing provides for the introduction of nitrogen to the interface, where the nitrogen suppresses Boron diffusion, improves gate oxide integrity, and reduces the sites available for trapping hot carriers which degrade device performance.

N-profile engineering at the poly/gate oxide and gate oxide/SI interfaces through NH3 annealing of a layered poly/amorphous-silicon structure

A method for forming a gate dielectric for use in ultra-thin integrated circuit environments includes forming a nitride layer under conditions effective to introduce defects in the nitride layer. The nitride layer is formed so as to have a defect density which is sufficiently large to provide a low interfacial trap density, particularly after annealing, and thus eliminate the charge trap problems associated with traditional nitride layers. This nitride layer can be used in, for example, ON or ONO structures, which can themselves be employed as a gate dielectric. The ON and ONO structures are preferably formed under low temperature and low pressure conditions to more effectively control oxide and nitride formation. This allows for the formation of gate dielectrics that are less than 10 nm in thickness. Moreover, these ultra-thin dielectrics can be formed in a single furnace cluster.

Method for forming a nitride layer suitable for use in advanced gate dielectric materials

A method and structure providing a dual layer silicon gate film having a uniform boron distribution therein and an ordered, uniform grain structure. Rapid thermal annealing is used to cause the diffusion of boron from an originally doped film to an originally undoped film, resulting in a uniform boron distribution within the structure, thereby rendering the structure resistant to vertical and lateral diffusion of the boron during subsequent processing at elevated temperatures.

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Michael A Laughery