Strain-Engineered MOSFETs

This book brings together new developments in the area of strain-engineered MOSFETs using high-mibility substrates such as SIGe, strained-Si, germanium-on-insulator and III-V semiconductors into a single text which will cover the materials aspects, principles, and design of advanced devices, their fabrication and applications. The book presents a full TCAD methodology for strain-engineering in Si CMOS technology involving data flow from process simulation to systematic process variability simulation and generation of SPICE process compact models for manufacturing for yield optimization

Design and simulation of strained-Si/strained-SiGe dual channel hetero-structure MOSFETs

With a unified physics-based model linking MOSFET performance to carrier mobility and drive current, it is shown that nearly continuous carrier mobility increase has been achieved by introduction of process-induced and global-induced strain, which has been responsible for increase in device performance commensurately with scaling. Strained silicon-germanium technology is a hot research area, explored by many different research groups for present and future CMOS technology, due to its high hole mobility and easy process integration with silicon. Several heterostructure architectures for strained Si/SiGe have been shown in the literature. A dual channel heterostructure consisting of strained Si/Si1-xGex on a relaxed SiGe buffer provides a platform for fabricating MOS transistors with high drive currents, resulting from high carrier mobility and carrier velocity, due to presence of compressively strained silicon germanium layer. This works reports the design, modeling and simulation of NMOS and PMOS transistors with a tensile strained Si channel layer and compressively strained SiGe channel layer for a 65 nm logic technology node. Since most of the recent work on development of strained Si/SiGe has been experimental in nature, developments of compact models are necessary to predict the device behavior. A unified modeling approach consisting of different physics-based models has been formulated in this work and their ability to predict the device behavior has been investigated. In addition to this, quantum mechanical simulations were performed in order to investigate and model the device behavior. High p/n-channel drive currents of 0.43 and 0.98 mA/Gm, respectively, are reported in this work. However with improved performance, ~ 10% electrostatic degradation was observed in PMOS due to buried channel device

Multigate MOSFETs for digital performance and high linearity, and their fabrication techniques

The aggressive downscaling of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology is facing great challenges to overcome severe short-channel effects. Multigate MOSFETs are one of the most promising candidates for scaling beyond Si CMOS, due to better electrostatic control as compared to conventional planar MOSFETs. Conventional dry etching-induced surface damage is one of the main sources of performance degradation for multigate transistors, especially for III-V high mobility materials. It is also challenging to increase the fin aspect ratio by dry etching because of the non-ideal anisotropic etching profile. Here, we report a novel method, inverse metal-assisted chemical etching (i-MacEtch), in lieu of conventional RIE etching, for 3D fin channel formation. InP junctionless FinFETs with record high-aspect-ratio (~ 50:1) fins are demonstrated by this method for the first time. The i-MacEtch process flow eliminates dry-etching-induced plasma damage, high energy ion implantation damage, and high temperature annealing, allowing for the fabrication of InP fin channels with atomically smooth sidewalls. The sidewall features resulting from this unique and simplified process ensure high interface quality between high-k dielectric layer and InP fin channel. Experimental and theoretical analyses show that high-aspect-ratio FinFETs, which could deliver more current per area under much relaxed horizontal geometry requirements, are promising in pushing the technology node ahead where conventional scaling has met its physical limits. The performance of the FinFET was further investigated through numerical simulation. A new kind of FinFET with asymmetric gate and source/drain contacts has been proposed and simulated. By benchmarking with conventional symmetric FinFET, better short-channel behavior with much higher current density is confirmed. The design guidelines are provided. The overall circuit delay can be minimized by optimizing gate lengths according to different local parasites among circuits in interconnection-delay-dominated SoC applications. Continued transistor scaling requires even stronger gate electrostatic control over the channel. The ultimate scaling structure would be gate-all-around nanowire MOSFETs. We demonstrate III-V junctionless gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire (NW) MOSFETs for the first time. For the first time, source/drain (S/D) resistance and thermal budget are minimized by regrowth using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) in III-V MOSFETs. The fabricated short-channel (Lg=80 nm) GaAs GAA NWFETs with extremely narrow nanowire width (WNW= 9 nm) show excellent transconductance (gm) linearity at biases (300 mV), characterized by the high third intercept point (2.6 dBm). The high linearity is especially important for low power applications because it is insensitive to bias conditions

Strain integration and performance optimization in sub-20nm FDSOI CMOS technology

La technologie CMOS à base de Silicium complètement déserté sur isolant (FDSOI) est considérée comme une option privilégiée pour les applications à faible consommation telles que les applications mobiles ou les objets connectés. Elle doit cela à son architecture garantissant un excellent comportement électrostatique des transistors ainsi qu'à l'intégration de canaux contraints améliorant la mobilité des porteurs. Ce travail de thèse explore des solutions innovantes en FDSOI pour nœuds 20nm et en deçà, comprenant l'ingénierie de la contrainte mécanique à travers des études sur les matériaux, les dispositifs, les procédés d'intégration et les dessins des circuits. Des simulations mécaniques, caractérisations physiques (µRaman), et intégrations expérimentales de canaux contraints (sSOI, SiGe) ou de procédés générant de la contrainte (nitrure, fluage de l'oxyde enterré) nous permettent d'apporter des recommandations pour la technologie et le dessin physique des transistors en FDSOI. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons étudié le transport dans les dispositifs à canal court, ce qui nous a amené à proposer une méthode originale pour extraire simultanément la mobilité des porteurs et la résistance d'accès. Nous mettons ainsi en évidence la sensibilité de la résistance d'accès à la contrainte que ce soit pour des transistors FDSOI ou nanofils. Nous mettons en évidence et modélisons la relaxation de la contrainte dans le SiGe apparaissant lors de la gravure des motifs et causant des effets géométriques (LLE) dans les technologies FDSOI avancées. Nous proposons des solutions de type dessin ainsi que des solutions technologiques afin d'améliorer la performance des cellules standard digitales et de mémoire vive statique (SRAM). En particulier, nous démontrons l'efficacité d'une isolation duale pour la gestion de la contrainte et l'extension de la capacité de polarisation arrière, qui un atout majeur de la technologie FDSOI. Enfin, la technologie 3D séquentielle rend possible la polarisation arrière en régime dynamique, à travers une co-optimisation dessin/technologie (DTCO).The Ultra-Thin Body and Buried oxide Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator (UTBB FDSOI) CMOS technology has been demonstrated to be highly efficient for low power and low leakage applications such as mobile, internet of things or wearable. This is mainly due to the excellent electrostatics in the transistor and the successful integration of strained channel as a carrier mobility booster. This work explores scaling solutions of FDSOI for sub-20nm nodes, including innovative strain engineering, relying on material, device, process integration and circuit design layout studies. Thanks to mechanical simulations, physical characterizations and experimental integration of strained channels (sSOI, SiGe) and local stressors (nitride, oxide creeping, SiGe source/drain) into FDSOI CMOS transistors, we provide guidelines for technology and physical circuit design. In this PhD, we have in-depth studied the carrier transport in short devices, leading us to propose an original method to extract simultaneously the carrier mobility and the access resistance and to clearly evidence and extract the strain sensitivity of the access resistance, not only in FDSOI but also in strained nanowire transistors. Most of all, we evidence and model the patterning-induced SiGe strain relaxation, which is responsible for electrical Local Layout Effects (LLE) in advanced FDSOI transistors. Taking into account these geometrical effects observed at the nano-scale, we propose design and technology solutions to enhance Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and digital standard cells performance and especially an original dual active isolation integration. Such a solution is not only stress-friendly but can also extend the powerful back-bias capability, which is a key differentiating feature of FDSOI. Eventually the 3D monolithic integration can also leverage planar Fully-Depleted devices by enabling dynamic back-bias owing to a Design/Technology Co-Optimization

Simulation study of scaling design, performance characterization, statistical variability and reliability of decananometer MOSFETs

This thesis describes a comprehensive, simulation based scaling study – including device design, performance characterization, and the impact of statistical variability – on deca-nanometer bulk MOSFETs. After careful calibration of fabrication processes and electrical characteristics for n- and p-MOSFETs with 35 nm physical gate length, 1 nm EOT and stress engineering, the simulated devices closely match the performance of contemporary 45 nm CMOS technologies. Scaling to 25 nm, 18 nm and 13 nm gate length n and p devices follows generalized scaling rules, augmented by physically realistic constraints and the introduction of high-k/metal-gate stacks. The scaled devices attain the performance stipulated by the ITRS. Device a.c. performance is analyzed, at device and circuit level. Extrinsic parasitics become critical to nano-CMOS device performance. The thesis describes device capacitance components, analyzes the CMOS inverter, and obtains new insights into the inverter propagation delay in nano-CMOS. The projection of a.c. performance of scaled devices is obtained. The statistical variability of electrical characteristics, due to intrinsic parameter fluctuation sources, in contemporary and scaled decananometer MOSFETs is systematically investigated for the first time. The statistical variability sources: random discrete dopants, gate line edge roughness and poly-silicon granularity are simulated, in combination, in an ensemble of microscopically different devices. An increasing trend in the standard deviation of the threshold voltage as a function of scaling is observed. The introduction of high-k/metal gates improves electrostatic integrity and slows this trend. Statistical evaluations of variability in Ion and Ioff as a function of scaling are also performed. For the first time, the impact of strain on statistical variability is studied. Gate line edge roughness results in areas of local channel shortening, accompanied by locally increased strain, both effects increasing the local current. Variations are observed in both the drive current, and in the drive current enhancement normally expected from the application of strain. In addition, the effects of shallow trench isolation (STI) on MOSFET performance and on its statistical variability are investigated for the first time. The inverse-narrow-width effect of STI enhances the current density adjacent to it. This leads to a local enhancement of the influence of junction shapes adjacent to the STI. There is also a statistical impact on the threshold voltage due to random STI induced traps at the silicon/oxide interface

SOI nanodevices and materials for CMOS ULSI, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2007, nr 2

A review of recently explored new effects in SOI nanodevices and materials is given. Recent advances in the understanding of the sensitivity of electron and hole transport to the tensile or compressive uniaxial and biaxial strains in thin film SOI are presented. The performance and physical mechanisms are also addressed in multi-gate Si, SiGe and Ge MOSFETs. The impact of gate misalignment or underlap, as well as the use of the back gate for charge storage in double-gate nanodevices and of capacitorless DRAMare also outlined

Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2007, nr 2

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Multi-gate Si nanowire MOSFETs:fabrication, strain engineering and transport analysis

Multi-gate devices e.g. gate-all-around (GAA) Si nanowires and FinFETs are promising can- didates for aggressive CMOS downscaling. Optimum subthreshold slope, immunity against short channel effect and optimized power consumption are the major benefits of such archi- tectures due to higher electrostatic control of the channel. On the other hand, Si nanowires show excellent mechanical properties e.g. yield and fracture strengths of 10±2% and 30±1% in comparison to 3.7% and 4.0% for bulk Si, respectively, a strong motivation to be used as exclusive platforms for innovative nanoelectronic applications e.g. novel strain engineering techniques for carrier transport enhancement in multi-gate 3D suspended channels or lo- cal band-gap modulation using > 4 GPa uniaxial tensile stress in suspended Si channels to enhance the band-to-band tunneling current in multi-gate Tunnel-FETs, all without plastic deformation and therefore, no carrier mobility degradation in deeply scaled channels. In this thesis and as a first step, a precise built-in stress analysis during local thermal oxidation of suspended Si NWs in the presence of a Si3N4 tensile hard mask was done. Accumulation of up to 2.6 GPa uniaxial tensile stress in the buckled NWs is reported. The contribution of hard mask/spacer engineering on the stress level and the NW formation was studied and buckled self-aligned dual NW MOSFETs on bulk Si with two sub-100 nm cross-sectional Si cores including ∼0.8 uniaxial tensile stress are reported. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was widely used in this thesis to measure stress in the buckled NWs on both bulk and SOI substrates. A process flow was designed to make dense array of GAA sub-5 nm cross-sectional Si NWs using a SOI substrate including a high level of stress. The NW stress level can be engineered simply using e.g. metal-gate thin film stress suitable for both NMOS and PMOS devices. Lately, highly and heavily doped architectures with a single-type doping profile from source to drain, called junctionless and accumulation-mode devices, are proposed to significantly simplify the fabrication process, address a few technical limitations e.g. ultra-abrupt junctions in order to fabricate shorter channel length devices. Therefore, in this process flow, a highly doped accumulation-mode was targeted as the operation mechanism. Finally, extensive TCAD device simulation was done on GAA Si NW JL MOSFETs to study the corner effects on the device characteristics, from subthreshold to strong accumulation, report the concept of local volume accumulation/depletion, quantum flat-band voltage, significant bias-dependent series resistance in junctionless MOSFETs and finally, support the experimental data to extract precisely the carrier mobility in sub-5 nm Si NW MOSFETs

Design and characterization of Si/SiGe heterostructure sub-100 nm bulk p-MOSFET

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-107).As the gate length of CMOS device is scaled down to the sub-100 nanometer node, the development of devices faces many technological challenges, which are related to material and process integration. As a new channel material, compressively strained SiGe layer grown directly on the bulk Si is attractive for the p-MOSFET because of its integration compatibility with the Si-based process. The goal of this thesis is to design and fabricate bulk Si/SiGe heterostructure nano scale p-MOSFETs and characterize their performance. In designing the sub-100 nm Si/SiGe heterostructure devices, low temperature process is necessary because of the high diffusivity of Ge in the strained SiGe layer and shallow source/drain structure. In this work, nickel silicidation is used as a low temperature process for low resistance source/drain and fully silicided (FUSI) gate. E-beam lithography is used for patterning nano scale gate with hydrogen silsequioxane (HSQ) e-beam resist and proper cleaning process for CMOS process compatibility. Extraction of carrier transport parameters for deep submicron devices will be also discussed as a performance indicator for characterizing Si/SiGe heterostructure p-MOSFET with special consideration of strain and defect effects. The degradation of effective mobility and velocity was observed in nano-scale Si/SiGe p-MOSFETs. This is mainly due to the increased coulombic scattering by the increased doping concentration in the channel. The defects and strain relaxation are other two possible mechanisms of mobility degradation.(cont.) For further down scaling and mobility enhancement of p-MOSFETs, an additional uniaxial strain is desirable for SiGe material with careful optimization of the channel doping.by Jae-kyu Lee.Ph.D

Transport properties and low-frequency noise in low-dimensional structures

Les propriétés électriques et physiques de structures à faible dimensionalité ont été étudiées pour des applications dans des domaines divers comme l électronique, les capteurs. La mesure du bruit bruit à basse fréquence est un outil très utile pour obtenir des informations relatives à la dynamique des porteurs, au piègeage des charges ou aux mécanismes de collision. Dans cette thèse, le transport électronique et le bruit basse fréquence mesurés dans des structures à faible dimensionnalité comme les dispositifs multi-grilles (FinFET, JLT ), les nanofils 3D en Si/SiGe, les nanotubes de carbone ou à base de graphène sont présentés. Pour les approches top-down et bottom-up , l impact du bruit est analysé en fonction de la dimensionalité, du type de conduction (volume vs surface), de la contrainte mécanique et de la présence de jonction metal-semiconducteur.Electrical and physical properties of low-dimensional structures have been studied for the various applications such as electronics, sensors, and etc. Low-frequency noise measurement is also a useful technique to give more information for the carrier dynamics correlated to the oxide traps, channel defects, and scattering. In this thesis, the electrical transport and low-frequency noise of low-dimensional structure devices such as multi-gate structures (e.g. FinFETs and Junctionless FETs), 3-D stacked Si/SiGe nanowire FETs, carbon nanotubes, and graphene are presented. From the view point of top-down and bottom-up approaches, the impacts of LF noise are investigated according to the dimensionality, conduction mechanism (surface or volume conduction), strain technique, and metal-semiconductor junctions.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF