Abstract:
A method for manufacturing of a device (300, 410-412) comprising a substrate (201) comprising a plurality of sets of nanostructures (207) arranged on the substrate, wherein each of the sets of nanostructures is individually electrically addressable, the method comprising the steps of: providing (101) the substrate (200) having a first (202) face, the substrate having an insulating layer (210) comprising an insulating material arranged on the first face (202) of the substrate forming an interface (203) between the insulating layer and the substrate; providing (102) a plurality of stacks (204) on the substrate, the stacks being spaced apart from each other, wherein each stack comprises a first conductive layer (205) comprising a first conductive material and a second conductive layer (206) comprising a second conductive material different from the first material, the second conductive layer being arranged on the first conductive layer for catalyzing nanostructure growth; heating (103) the substrate having the plurality of stacks arranged thereon in a reducing atmosphere to enable formation of nanostructures on the second conductive material; heating (103) the substrate having the plurality of stacks (204) arranged thereon in an atmosphere such that nanostructures (207) are formed on the second layer (206); wherein the insulating material and the first conductive material are selected such that during the heating steps, the first conductive material interacts with the insulating material to form an electrically conductive portion (208) within the insulating layer (201) below each of the stacks (204), wherein the electrically conductive portion comprises a mixture of the first conductive material and the insulating material and/or reaction adducts thereof.
Abstract:
Self-assembled polymer technology is used to form at least one ordered nanosized pattern within material that is present in a conductive contact region of a semiconductor structure. The material having the ordered, nanosized pattern is a conductive material of an interconnect structure or semiconductor source and drain diffusion regions of a field effect transistor. The presence of the ordered, nanosized pattern material within the contact region increases the overall area (i.e., interface area) for subsequent contact formation which, in turn, reduces the contact resistance of the structure. The reduction in contact resistance in turn improves the flow of current through the structure. In addition to the above, the inventive methods and structures do not affect the junction capacitance of the structure since the junction area remains unchanged.
Abstract:
While embedded silicon germanium alloy and silicon carbon alloy provide many useful applications, especially for enhancing the mobility of MOSFETs through stress engineering, formation of alloyed suicide on these surfaces degrades device performance. The present invention provides structures and methods for providing unalloyed suicide on such silicon alloy surfaces placed on semiconductor substrates. This enables the formation of low resistance contacts for both mobility enhanced PFETs with embedded SiGe and mobility enhanced NFETs with embedded Si:C on the same semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, this invention provides methods for thick epitaxial silicon alloy, especially thick epitaxial Si:C alloy, above the level of the gate dielectric to increase the stress on the channel on the transistor devices.
Abstract:
A method of forming a capping layer on a copper interconnect line (14). The method comprises providing a layer (20) of Aluminium over the interconnect line (14) and the dielectric layer (10) in which it is embedded. This may be achieved by deposition or chemical exposure. The structure is then subjected to a process, such as annealing or further chemical exposure, in an environment containing, for example, Nitrogen atoms, so as to cause indiffusion of Al into the copper line (14) and nitridation to form a diffusion barrier 26 of the intermetallic compound CuAlN.
Abstract:
A method of forming self-passivating interconnects. At least one of two mating bond structures (213, 223) is formed, at least in part, from an alloy of a first metal and a second metal (or other element) . The second metal is capable of migrating through the first metal to free surfaces of the mating bond structures. During bonding, the two mating bond structures (213, 223) are bonded together to form an interconnect, and the second metal segregates to free surfaces of this interconnect to form a passivation layer (240) . Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for a semiconductor device having a semiconductor device having increased conductive material reliability is described. That method and apparatus comprises forming a conductive path on a substrate. The conductive path made of a first material. A second material is then deposited on the conductive path. Once the second material is deposited on the conductive path, the diffusion of the second material into the conductive path is facilitated. The second material has a predetermined solubility to substantially diffuse to grain boundaries within the first material.
Abstract:
A method for reducing the resistivity of a copper layer on a wafer. A moisture containing seed layer of copper is formed over a layer of material on a wafer. The copper seed layer is treated by either heat or ions from a plasma to anneal out moisture thereby reducing its resistivity and improving its adhesion to the underlying layer. A moisture free copper layer is then deposited on top of the "clean" or treated copper seed layer.