US20210104605A1 - Silicon Carbide Device with an Implantation Tail Compensation Region - Google Patents
Silicon Carbide Device with an Implantation Tail Compensation Region Download PDFInfo
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- US20210104605A1 US20210104605A1 US16/595,375 US201916595375A US2021104605A1 US 20210104605 A1 US20210104605 A1 US 20210104605A1 US 201916595375 A US201916595375 A US 201916595375A US 2021104605 A1 US2021104605 A1 US 2021104605A1
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- H10D62/106—Constructional design considerations for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse-biased devices by having particular doping profiles, shapes or arrangements of PN junctions; by having supplementary regions, e.g. junction termination extension [JTE] having supplementary regions doped oppositely to or in rectifying contact with regions of the semiconductor bodies, e.g. guard rings with PN or Schottky junctions
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- H10D62/83—Semiconductor bodies, or regions thereof, of devices having potential barriers characterised by the materials being Group IV materials, e.g. B-doped Si or undoped Ge
- H10D62/834—Semiconductor bodies, or regions thereof, of devices having potential barriers characterised by the materials being Group IV materials, e.g. B-doped Si or undoped Ge further characterised by the dopants
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- H10D30/028—Manufacture or treatment of FETs having insulated gates [IGFET] of double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor [DMOS] FETs
- H10D30/0291—Manufacture or treatment of FETs having insulated gates [IGFET] of double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor [DMOS] FETs of vertical DMOS [VDMOS] FETs
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- H10D30/66—Vertical DMOS [VDMOS] FETs
- H10D30/662—Vertical DMOS [VDMOS] FETs having a drift region having a doping concentration that is higher between adjacent body regions relative to other parts of the drift region
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- H10D62/102—Constructional design considerations for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration
- H10D62/103—Constructional design considerations for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse-biased devices
- H10D62/105—Constructional design considerations for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse-biased devices by having particular doping profiles, shapes or arrangements of PN junctions; by having supplementary regions, e.g. junction termination extension [JTE]
- H10D62/106—Constructional design considerations for preventing surface leakage or controlling electric field concentration for increasing or controlling the breakdown voltage of reverse-biased devices by having particular doping profiles, shapes or arrangements of PN junctions; by having supplementary regions, e.g. junction termination extension [JTE] having supplementary regions doped oppositely to or in rectifying contact with regions of the semiconductor bodies, e.g. guard rings with PN or Schottky junctions
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- H10D62/149—Source or drain regions of field-effect devices
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- H10D62/83—Semiconductor bodies, or regions thereof, of devices having potential barriers characterised by the materials being Group IV materials, e.g. B-doped Si or undoped Ge
- H10D62/832—Semiconductor bodies, or regions thereof, of devices having potential barriers characterised by the materials being Group IV materials, e.g. B-doped Si or undoped Ge being Group IV materials comprising two or more elements, e.g. SiGe
- H10D62/8325—Silicon carbide
Definitions
- Doping of silicon (Si) devices can be easily realized by both implantation and diffusion, Doping of silicon carbide (SiC) devices can be easily realized only by implantation, except for diffusion of boron. This poses challenges for achieving smooth implantation profiles in SiC devices, and leads to peak-like structures of doping profiles into the depth of SiC devices and also mask edge effects. For example, at mask edges, deep implantations lead to an implantation tail reaching up to the surface of the SiC substrate. The implantation tail affects doping profiles close to the surface.
- a planar SiC MOSFET metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor
- the gate oxide is shielded against electric fields for large source-drain voltages by a p-type buried region formed below the channel/body region. Since the implants to form both the p-type buried region and the channel/body region typically use the same mask, the p-type buried region often has an implantation tail which adjoins the end of the channel on the drain side of the device. Since the edge angle of the implantation mask changes due to process variation, the doping of the p-type implantation tail changes. This affects the inversion condition for the voltage-controlled channel and thus the threshold voltage for turn-on. In this way, process variations of the mask angle lead to strong variations of the threshold voltage and thus variations in specific on-resistance (RonA).
- RonA specific on-resistance
- DIBL drain-induced barrier lowering
- the semiconductor device comprises a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending from the first surface to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- SiC silicon carbide
- the method comprises: forming a drift region of a first conductivity type in a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate; forming a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; forming an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending from the first surface to the drift region; forming a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region, the buried region having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and forming a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second
- the SiC device comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends upward toward the channel region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of the channel region opposite the first end.
- the buried region extends under the compensation region.
- An average doping concentration of the compensation region is greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region; so that the compensation region overcompensates the tail of the buried region and separates the tail from the second end of the channel region.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region.
- FIGS. 2A through 2F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown in FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region.
- FIGS. 5A through 5G illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown in FIG. 4 .
- FIGS. 6A through 6F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown in FIG. 4 , according to another embodiment.
- the embodiments described herein provide a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region (also referred to as tail of the buried region in the following), and methods of manufacturing such a SiC device.
- the compensation region is of the opposite conductivity type as the buried (shielding) region, and has a doping concentration sufficient for overcompensating the tail of the buried region.
- the term “overcompensating” means outnumbering dopant impurities of one conductivity type with dopant impurities of the opposite conductivity type in the same region of the SiC device.
- an initially p-type semiconductor region becomes at least weakly n-type when overcompensated.
- an initially n-type semiconductor region becomes at least weakly p-type when overcompensated.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of two adjacent transistor cells T 1 , T 2 of a semiconductor device 100 .
- the semiconductor device 100 may include tens, hundreds, thousands or even more of such transistor cells.
- the semiconductor device 100 includes a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate 102 .
- the SiC substrate 102 may include a SiC base 104 such as a SiC growth substrate or an epitaxial layer and one or more epitaxial layers 106 grown on the SiC base 104 .
- a drift region 108 of a first conductivity type is formed in the SiC substrate 102 and shared by the transistor cells T 1 , T 2 .
- Each transistor cell T 1 T 2 includes a body region 110 of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate 102 above the drift region 108 .
- the body region 110 has a channel region 112 which adjoins a first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- a source region 116 of the first conductivity type is formed in the body region 110 and adjoins a first end of the channel region 112 .
- a drain region 118 of the first conductivity type is formed in the SiC substrate 102 below the drift region 108 .
- the drain region 118 adjoins a drain contact 119 at a second surface 120 of the SiC substrate 102 opposite the first surface 114 .
- An extension region 122 of the first conductivity type is formed at the opposite side of the body region 110 as the source region 116 .
- the extension region 122 vertically extends to the drift region 108 .
- the extension region 122 provides a conducting path between the drift region 108 and a compensation region 124 of the first conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate 102 .
- the compensation region 124 laterally protrudes from the extension region 122 into the body region 110 along the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the compensation region 124 extends uninterrupted along the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 between the body regions 110 of the adjacent transistor cells T 1 , T 2 .
- the SiC device 100 also includes an insulated gate 126 formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 for controlling the conducting state of the channel region 112 of each transistor cell T 1 , T 2 .
- the SiC device 100 is a planar gate device and the insulated gate 126 includes a gate dielectric 128 and a gate electrode 130 .
- the gate dielectric 128 separates the gate electrode 130 from the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the conducting state of the channel region 112 of each transistor cell T 1 , T 2 is controlled by applying a voltage between the gate electrode 130 and the corresponding source region 116 .
- the compensation region 124 may laterally extend further along the insulated gate 126 toward the source region 116 than the extension region 122 , for example, having the form of a peninsula or an elongated structure.
- Each transistor cell T 1 , T 2 also includes a buried region 132 of the second conductivity type formed in the SiC substrate 102 below the body region 110 , and with the extension region 122 forms a pn-JFET (junction field-effect transistor).
- the buried region 132 shields the gate dielectric 128 against high electric fields for large source-drain voltages. Due to the imperfect nature of lithographic and etching processes employed in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, the mask (not shown) used to implant the buried (shielding) region 132 of each transistor cell T 1 , T 2 has a sloped (angled) sidewall.
- the resulting buried region 132 therefore has an implantation tail 134 which extends toward the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 , since the implantation mask does not have full blocking capability in this region.
- the tail 134 of the buried region 132 adjoins the extension region 122 of the first conductivity type formed at the opposite side of the body region 110 as the source region 116 .
- the tail 134 of each buried region 132 is represented by a respective set of dashed lines in FIG. 1 .
- the compensation region 124 terminates at a second end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 , and is provided for overcompensating the tail 134 of the buried region 132 so that the tail 134 is separated from the second end of the channel region 112 .
- At least the upper part of the tail 134 closest to the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 is overcompensated by the compensation region 124 , meaning that the initial conductivity type of at least the upper part of the tail 134 has been overcome by the opposite conductivity type due to the presence of the compensation region 124 .
- the second end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 would adjoin a region of the second conductivity type instead of the first conductivity type.
- the first conductivity type is n-type and the second conductivity type is p-type.
- the first conductivity type is p-type and the second conductivity type is n-type in the case of a p-channel SiC device.
- the upper part of the tail 134 which was initially p-type is overcompensated by the compensation region 124 and therefore is now n-type.
- the upper part of the tail 134 which was initially n-type is overcompensated by the compensation region 124 and therefore is now p-type.
- the compensation region 124 separates the tail 134 of the buried region 132 from the end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 and forms a lateral connection between the channel region 112 and the extension region 122 .
- the SiC device 100 is less susceptible to adverse effects associated with the edge/sidewall angle of the implantation mask used to form the buried region 132 of each transistor cell T 1 , T 2 .
- the tail 134 of the buried region 132 has little or no effect on the channel region 112 and thus threshold voltage.
- the buried region 132 is effectively extended to accommodate the lateral space for the resulting nose.
- Such an extended buried region 132 can shield the end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 more effectively against the electric field induced by the drain potential. This may lead to lower DIBL.
- the compensation region 124 extends the length of the p-n JFET junction region formed between the buried region 132 and the extension region 122 , thereby reducing saturation current. Even without the implantation tail 134 , reduced saturation current results due to the extended JFET region enabled by the compensation region 124 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a shallower average depth in the SiC substrate 102 than both the source region 116 and the body region 110 as measured from the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a larger doping concentration than the extension region 122 .
- this comparison may refer to only a non-overlapping part of the two regions if said two regions partially overlap.
- the net doping concentration of the compensation region 124 may be in a range of about 3e16 cm ⁇ 3 to about 3e17 cm ⁇ 3 and the net doping concentration of the extension region 122 may be in a range of about 3e16 cm ⁇ 3 to about 1e17 cm ⁇ 3 in a non-overlapping part of the two regions 122 , 124 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a slightly lower net doping concentration as the body region 110 at the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 where the channel region 112 is formed.
- the compensation region 124 and the channel region 112 may each have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm ⁇ 3 to about 3e17 cm ⁇ 3 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration which is about a factor of about 10 lower than the net doping concentration of the buried (shielding) region 132 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm ⁇ 3 to about 3e17 cm ⁇ 3 and the buried region 132 may have a net doping concentration of about 3e18 cm ⁇ 3 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration which is much lower than the net doping concentration of the source region 116 .
- the compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm ⁇ 3 to about 3e17 cm ⁇ 3 and the source region 116 may have a net doping concentration of about 2e19 cm ⁇ 3 .
- the doping concentration examples provided above may vary in a window around these values.
- FIGS. 2A through 2F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region 124 during different stages of producing the semiconductor device 100 shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 2A shows the SiC substrate 102 during blanket implanting 200 of dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 to define a doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 .
- the dose of the blanket implant 200 is chosen so that the doping profile 202 yields an average doping concentration for the compensation region 124 which is greater than the average doping concentration of the tail 134 of the buried region 132 which is to be subsequently formed. If the average doping concentration of the compensation region 124 is too low, the resistance of the device in this region may be too large and worst case the compensation region 124 cannot overcompensate the tail 134 of the buried region 132 .
- the minimum doping of the compensation region 124 depends on several factors, including the dose of the buried region implantation, the energy of the buried region implantation, and the angle ( ⁇ ) of the edge/sidewall 216 of the mask 204 used during the buried region implantation. If the angle ⁇ between the edge/sidewall 216 of the buried region implantation mask 204 and the implantation direction is large, the resulting tail 134 will be very pronounced and a higher implantation dose is used to form the compensation region 124 .
- the angle a between the edge/sidewall 216 of the buried region implantation mask 204 and the implantation direction is small (e.g. close to 0 degrees) and/or the edge/sidewall 216 of the buried region implantation mask 204 is nearly perpendicular to the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 (e.g. close to 90 degrees), the resulting tail 134 is barely present and the dose for the compensation region 124 may be reduced accordingly.
- a mask 204 is formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 as shown in FIG. 2B .
- the mask 204 has an opening 206 which defines a location for the source region 116 .
- the mask 204 is an oxide hard mask and the opening 206 is etched through the oxide hard mask 204 using a polysilicon mask 210 .
- the source region 116 is formed by implanting 208 of dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the opening 206 in the mask 204 .
- the opening 206 in the mask 204 is widened to define a location for the body region 110 as shown in FIG. 2C .
- a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the body region 110 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the body region 110 is then formed by implanting 212 of dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 as shown in FIG. 2D or through the opening in the new mask (not shown).
- the body region 110 has a slightly higher or roughly the same magnitude net doping concentration as the doping profile 202 for the compensation region 124 at the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 where the channel region 112 is formed, to define the border/edge between the compensation region 124 and the channel region 112 .
- the opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 is widened again to define a location for the buried (shielding) region 132 as shown in FIG. 2E .
- a new mask with an opening that defines the location for the buried region 132 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- implantation 214 of dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 is performed through the widened opening 206 ′′ in the mask 204 as shown in FIG. 2F or through the opening in the new mask (not shown), to define a doping profile of the buried region 132 .
- the mask 204 used to implant the buried (shielding) region 132 has a sloped/angled sidewall 216 .
- the doping profile of the buried region 132 therefore includes an implantation tail 134 which extends toward the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 , since the mask 204 does not have full blocking capability in this region.
- the dopants 214 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region 132 are implanted at a higher dose but also at a greater energy than the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 , so that the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 overcompensate the implantation tail 134 at the end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 .
- the tail 134 of the buried region 132 is represented by a set of dashed lines in FIG. 2F , to indicate that at least the upper part of the tail 134 closest to the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 has been overcompensated by the compensation region 124 .
- FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region 124 during different stages of producing the semiconductor device 100 shown in FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment.
- the processing shown in FIGS. 3A through 3C corresponds to the processing shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C , respectively. Hence, no further description of FIGS. 3A through 3C is provided.
- the buried region 132 is formed before the body region 110 .
- the opening 206 in the mask 204 is widened to define a location for the buried region 132 as shown in FIG. 3D .
- a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the buried region 132 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the dopants 300 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region 132 are implanted at a higher dose but also at a greater energy than the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 , so that the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 overcompensate the implantation tail 134 at the end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 , thereby defining a border/edge between the compensation region 124 and the channel region 112 .
- the widened opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 is narrowed to define a location for the body region 110 .
- the widened opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 is narrowed by forming a spacer 302 on the sloped/angled sidewall 216 of the widened opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 .
- the spacer 302 may be formed, for example, by depositing a spacer material on the SiC substrate 102 and patterning the spacer material so as to leave the spacer 302 on the sloped/angled sidewall 216 of the widened opening 206 ′ in the mask 204 .
- a new mask with an opening that defines the location for the body region 110 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the dopants 304 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region 110 are implanted at a higher dose than the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile 202 of the compensation region 124 , so that the dopants 304 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region 110 overcompensate the dopants 200 of the first conductivity type in the channel region 112 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of two adjacent transistor cells T 1 , T 2 of a semiconductor device 400 .
- the semiconductor device 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 is similar to the semiconductor device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the compensation region 124 does not extend uninterrupted along the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 between the body regions 110 of the adjacent transistor cells T 1 , T 2 .
- each compensation region 124 is localized to the corresponding transistor cell T 1 , T 2 .
- a part of the extension region 122 which adjoins the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 separates the compensation regions 124 of adjacent transistor cells T 1 , T 2 .
- the localized compensation regions 124 may be formed by a masked implantation, instead of the blanket implantation 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A .
- FIGS. 5A through 5G illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the localized compensation region 124 during different stages of producing the semiconductor device 400 shown in FIG. 4 .
- a mask 500 is formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the mask 500 has an opening 502 with a first width which defines a location for the source region 116 .
- the mask 500 is an oxide hard mask and the opening 502 is etched through the oxide hard mask 500 using a polysilicon mask 504 .
- the source region 116 is formed by implanting 506 of dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the opening 502 in the mask 500 .
- FIG. 5C shows implanting 510 of dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502 ′ in the mask or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the body region 110 , to define a doping profile of the body region 110 .
- FIG. 5D shows widening 512 the opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 to a third width greater than the second width to define a location for the buried region 132 .
- a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the buried region 132 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the dopants 514 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region 132 are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants 506 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region 116 .
- the dopants 514 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region 132 are implanted at a greater energy than the dopants 510 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region 110 , so that the buried region 132 is formed below the body region 110 in the SiC substrate 102 .
- FIG. 5F shows widening 516 the opening 502 ′′ in the mask 500 to a fourth width greater than the third width to define a location for the compensation region 124 .
- a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the compensation region 124 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- FIG. 5G shows implanting 518 dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502 ′′′ in the mask 500 or through the opening in a new mask (not shown) that defines the location for the compensation region 124 , to define a doping profile of the compensation region 124 .
- a targeted implantation 518 of the first conductivity type is performed only where needed to compensate the implantation tail 134 of the buried region 132 .
- FIGS. 6A through 6F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region 124 during different stages of producing the semiconductor device 400 shown in FIG. 4 , according to another embodiment.
- the processing shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B corresponds to the processing shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively. Hence, no further description of FIGS. 6A and 6B is provided.
- FIG. 6C shows implanting 600 dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the buried region 132 , to define a doping profile of the buried region 132 .
- the mask 500 used to implant the buried (shielding) region 132 may have a sloped/angled sidewall 512 .
- dopants may be implanted at a high energy and/or a higher dose.
- Either a mask 500 with a sloped/angled sidewall 512 or a high implantation energy or a combination of both may result in a doping profile of the buried region 132 that includes an implantation tail 134 which extends toward the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- the widened opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 is narrowed to a width between the width 502 ′ used to form the buried region 132 and the width 502 used to form the source region 116 as shown in FIG. 6D , to define a location for the body region 110 .
- the widened opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 used to form the buried region 132 is narrowed by forming a spacer 602 on the sloped/angled sidewall 516 of the widened opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 .
- FIG. 6D also shows implanting 604 dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the narrowed opening 502 ′′ in the mask 500 or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the body region 110 , to define a doping profile of the body region 110 .
- the dopants 604 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region 110 are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants 506 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region 116 .
- the dopants 600 of the second conductivity type which defined the doping profile of the buried region 132 were implanted at a greater energy than the dopants 604 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region 110 , so that the buried region 132 is formed below the body region 110 in the SiC substrate 102 .
- FIG. 6E shows widening 606 the opening 502 ′′ in the mask 500 to a width greater than the width 502 ′ used to form the buried region 132 . If a spacer 602 was previously used to narrow the opening 502 ′ in the mask 500 to form the body region 110 , the spacer 602 is removed as part of the mask widening process. Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the compensation region 124 may be formed on the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 .
- FIG. 6F shows implanting 608 dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502 ′′′ in the mask 500 or through the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the compensation region 124 , to define a doping profile of the compensation region 124 .
- the dopants 608 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region 124 are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than the dopants 600 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region 132 , so that the dopants 608 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region 124 overcompensate the implantation tail 134 at the end of the channel region 112 opposite the source region 116 .
- FIGS. 5A-5G and 6A-6F avoid implanting the dopants used to form the compensation region 124 into the extension region 122 , thereby lower the electric field in the gate dielectric 128 compared to the blanket implantation process used to form the compensation region 124 in FIGS. 2A-2F and 3A-3F .
- the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2F and 3A-3F are simpler to implement, since a blanket implantation instead of a targeted implantation is used to form the compensation region 124 .
- a SiC that includes: a drift region 108 of a first conductivity type; a body region 110 of a second conductivity type above the drift region 108 and having a channel region 112 ; a source region 116 of the first conductivity type in the body region 110 and adjoining a first end of the channel region 112 ; a buried region 132 of the second conductivity type below the body region 110 and having a tail 134 which extends upward toward the channel region 112 ; and a compensation region 124 of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of the channel region 112 opposite the first end, wherein the buried region 132 extends under the compensation region 124 , and wherein an average doping concentration of the compensation region 124 is greater than an average doping concentration of the tail 134 of the buried region 132 , so that the compensation region 124 overcompensates the tail 134 of the buried
- Example 1 A semiconductor device, comprising: a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- SiC silicon carbide
- Example 2 The semiconductor device of example 1, wherein the compensation region has a shallower average depth in the SiC substrate than both the source region and the body region as measured from the first surface.
- Example 3 The semiconductor device of examples 1 or 2, wherein the compensation region is doped more heavily than the extension region.
- Example 4 The semiconductor device of any one of examples 1 through 3, wherein the semiconductor device further comprises an insulated gate on the first surface and configured to control a conducting state of the channel region, wherein the compensation region laterally extends further along the insulated gate toward the source region than the extension region.
- Example 5 The semiconductor device of any one of examples 1 through 4, wherein the semiconductor device further comprises a drain region of the first conductivity type below the drift region and adjoining a second surface of the SiC substrate opposite the first surface.
- Example 6 A method of producing a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a drift region of a first conductivity type in a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate; forming a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; forming an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; forming a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region, the buried region having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and forming a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- Example 7 The method of example 6, wherein forming the compensation region comprises blanket implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate to define a doping profile of the compensation region, the doping profile having an average doping concentration greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region.
- Example 8 The method of example 7, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after the blanket implanting, forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening which defines a location for the source region; after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and after forming the body region, further widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region and then implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which corresponds to the tail of the buried region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a higher dose and at a greater energy than the dopants of the first conductivity type
- Example 9 The method of example 7, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after the blanket implanting, forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening which defines a location for the source region; after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a higher dose and at a greater energy than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail
- Example 10 The method of example 9, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the buried region, narrowing the widened opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region are implanted at a higher dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region, so that the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region overcompensate the dopants of the first conductivity type in the channel region.
- Example 11 The method of example 10, wherein narrowing the widened opening in the mask comprises forming a spacer on a sidewall of the widened opening in the mask.
- Example 12 The method of example 6, wherein forming the source region comprises: forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening with a first width which defines a location for the source region; and implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask to define a doping profile of the source region.
- Example 13 The method of example 12, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask to a second width greater than the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region.
- Example 14 The method of example 13, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after forming the body region, widening the opening in the mask to a third width greater than the second width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a greater energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region, so that the buried region is formed
- Example 15 The method of example 14, wherein forming the compensation region comprises: after forming the buried region, implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask having the third width or a new mask having an opening that defines a location for the compensation region, to define a doping profile of the compensation region, wherein the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 16 The method of example 12, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask to a second width greater than the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface.
- Example 17 The method of example 16, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the buried region, narrowing the opening in the mask to a third width between the second width and the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a greater energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region, so that the buried region is formed below the body region.
- Example 18 The method of example 17, wherein narrowing the opening in the mask to the third width comprises forming a spacer on a sidewall of the opening in the mask having the second width.
- Example 19 The method of examples 17 or 18, wherein forming the compensation region comprises: after forming the body region, widening the opening in the mask to a fourth width greater than the third width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the compensation region; and implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the compensation region, to define a doping profile of the compensation region, wherein the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 20 A silicon carbide (SiC) device, comprising: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends upward toward the channel region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, wherein the buried region extends under the compensation region, wherein an average doping concentration of the compensation region is greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region, so that the compensation region overcompensates the tail of the buried region and separates the tail from the second end of the channel region.
- SiC silicon carbide
- Example 21 A semiconductor device, comprising a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end.
- SiC silicon carbide
- Example 22 A semiconductor device, comprising a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type at least partially surrounded by the body region at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end and at least partially surrounded or overlapped by the extension region at a bottom of the compensation region.
- SiC silicon carbide
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- Junction Field-Effect Transistors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- Doping of silicon (Si) devices can be easily realized by both implantation and diffusion, Doping of silicon carbide (SiC) devices can be easily realized only by implantation, except for diffusion of boron. This poses challenges for achieving smooth implantation profiles in SiC devices, and leads to peak-like structures of doping profiles into the depth of SiC devices and also mask edge effects. For example, at mask edges, deep implantations lead to an implantation tail reaching up to the surface of the SiC substrate. The implantation tail affects doping profiles close to the surface.
- For example, in a planar SiC MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) structure, mask edge effects have an unwanted effect on channel doping. In power MOSFETs particularly, the gate oxide is shielded against electric fields for large source-drain voltages by a p-type buried region formed below the channel/body region. Since the implants to form both the p-type buried region and the channel/body region typically use the same mask, the p-type buried region often has an implantation tail which adjoins the end of the channel on the drain side of the device. Since the edge angle of the implantation mask changes due to process variation, the doping of the p-type implantation tail changes. This affects the inversion condition for the voltage-controlled channel and thus the threshold voltage for turn-on. In this way, process variations of the mask angle lead to strong variations of the threshold voltage and thus variations in specific on-resistance (RonA).
- Other adverse effects on device performance or lifetime, such as large drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL), may also be worsened by such mask edge effects. In some cases, DIBL is a limiting factor for the design of planar MOSFETs. Among other effects, DIBL negatively impacts the short circuit time of the device.
- Thus, there is a need for an improved SiC device and methods of manufacturing thereof.
- According to an embodiment of a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device comprises a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending from the first surface to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- According to an embodiment of a method of producing a semiconductor device, the method comprises: forming a drift region of a first conductivity type in a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate; forming a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; forming an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending from the first surface to the drift region; forming a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region, the buried region having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and forming a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- According to an embodiment of a silicon carbide (SiC) device, the SiC device comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends upward toward the channel region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of the channel region opposite the first end. The buried region extends under the compensation region. An average doping concentration of the compensation region is greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region; so that the compensation region overcompensates the tail of the buried region and separates the tail from the second end of the channel region.
- Those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.
- The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts. The features of the various illustrated embodiments can be combined unless they exclude each other. Embodiments are depicted in the drawings and are detailed in the description which follows.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region. -
FIGS. 2A through 2F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown inFIG. 1 , according to another embodiment. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region. -
FIGS. 5A through 5G illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown inFIG. 4 . -
FIGS. 6A through 6F illustrate respective partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with the compensation region during different stages of producing the SiC device shown inFIG. 4 , according to another embodiment. - The embodiments described herein provide a SiC device having a buried region for shielding the gate dielectric of the device against high electric fields and a compensation region for overcompensating an implantation tail of the buried region (also referred to as tail of the buried region in the following), and methods of manufacturing such a SiC device. The compensation region is of the opposite conductivity type as the buried (shielding) region, and has a doping concentration sufficient for overcompensating the tail of the buried region. As used herein, the term “overcompensating” means outnumbering dopant impurities of one conductivity type with dopant impurities of the opposite conductivity type in the same region of the SiC device. For example, an initially p-type semiconductor region becomes at least weakly n-type when overcompensated. Likewise, an initially n-type semiconductor region becomes at least weakly p-type when overcompensated. By overcompensating the tail of the buried region in the manner described herein, the tail is separated from the channel region of the device by a region having the opposite conductivity type as the buried region. This way, the SiC device may be less susceptible to adverse effects associated with the edge angle of the implantation mask used to form the buried region.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of two adjacent transistor cells T1, T2 of asemiconductor device 100. Thesemiconductor device 100 may include tens, hundreds, thousands or even more of such transistor cells. Thesemiconductor device 100 includes a silicon carbide (SiC)substrate 102. TheSiC substrate 102 may include aSiC base 104 such as a SiC growth substrate or an epitaxial layer and one or moreepitaxial layers 106 grown on theSiC base 104. Adrift region 108 of a first conductivity type is formed in theSiC substrate 102 and shared by the transistor cells T1, T2. - Each transistor cell T1 T2 includes a
body region 110 of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type formed in theSiC substrate 102 above thedrift region 108. Thebody region 110 has achannel region 112 which adjoins afirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. Asource region 116 of the first conductivity type is formed in thebody region 110 and adjoins a first end of thechannel region 112. - A
drain region 118 of the first conductivity type is formed in theSiC substrate 102 below thedrift region 108. Thedrain region 118 adjoins adrain contact 119 at asecond surface 120 of theSiC substrate 102 opposite thefirst surface 114. - An
extension region 122 of the first conductivity type is formed at the opposite side of thebody region 110 as thesource region 116. Theextension region 122 vertically extends to thedrift region 108. Theextension region 122 provides a conducting path between thedrift region 108 and acompensation region 124 of the first conductivity type formed in theSiC substrate 102. Thecompensation region 124 laterally protrudes from theextension region 122 into thebody region 110 along thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1 , thecompensation region 124 extends uninterrupted along thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 between thebody regions 110 of the adjacent transistor cells T1, T2. - The
SiC device 100 also includes aninsulated gate 126 formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 for controlling the conducting state of thechannel region 112 of each transistor cell T1, T2. According to this embodiment, theSiC device 100 is a planar gate device and theinsulated gate 126 includes a gate dielectric 128 and agate electrode 130. The gate dielectric 128 separates thegate electrode 130 from thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. The conducting state of thechannel region 112 of each transistor cell T1, T2 is controlled by applying a voltage between thegate electrode 130 and thecorresponding source region 116. Thecompensation region 124 may laterally extend further along theinsulated gate 126 toward thesource region 116 than theextension region 122, for example, having the form of a peninsula or an elongated structure. - Each transistor cell T1, T2 also includes a buried
region 132 of the second conductivity type formed in theSiC substrate 102 below thebody region 110, and with theextension region 122 forms a pn-JFET (junction field-effect transistor). The buriedregion 132 shields thegate dielectric 128 against high electric fields for large source-drain voltages. Due to the imperfect nature of lithographic and etching processes employed in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, the mask (not shown) used to implant the buried (shielding)region 132 of each transistor cell T1, T2 has a sloped (angled) sidewall. The resulting buriedregion 132 therefore has animplantation tail 134 which extends toward thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102, since the implantation mask does not have full blocking capability in this region. Thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 adjoins theextension region 122 of the first conductivity type formed at the opposite side of thebody region 110 as thesource region 116. Thetail 134 of each buriedregion 132 is represented by a respective set of dashed lines inFIG. 1 . - The
compensation region 124 terminates at a second end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116, and is provided for overcompensating thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 so that thetail 134 is separated from the second end of thechannel region 112. At least the upper part of thetail 134 closest to thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 is overcompensated by thecompensation region 124, meaning that the initial conductivity type of at least the upper part of thetail 134 has been overcome by the opposite conductivity type due to the presence of thecompensation region 124. In other words, if not for the presence of thecompensation region 124, the second end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116 would adjoin a region of the second conductivity type instead of the first conductivity type. - In the case of an n-channel SiC device, the first conductivity type is n-type and the second conductivity type is p-type. Conversely, the first conductivity type is p-type and the second conductivity type is n-type in the case of a p-channel SiC device. For an n-channel SiC device, at least the upper part of the
tail 134 which was initially p-type is overcompensated by thecompensation region 124 and therefore is now n-type. For a p-channel SIC device, at least the upper part of thetail 134 which was initially n-type is overcompensated by thecompensation region 124 and therefore is now p-type. - In both (n- and p-channel) types of SiC devices, the
compensation region 124 separates thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 from the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116 and forms a lateral connection between thechannel region 112 and theextension region 122. This way, theSiC device 100 is less susceptible to adverse effects associated with the edge/sidewall angle of the implantation mask used to form the buriedregion 132 of each transistor cell T1, T2. - For example, by including the
compensation region 124 in theSiC device 100, thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 has little or no effect on thechannel region 112 and thus threshold voltage. By providing thecompensation region 124, the buriedregion 132 is effectively extended to accommodate the lateral space for the resulting nose. Such an extendedburied region 132 can shield the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116 more effectively against the electric field induced by the drain potential. This may lead to lower DIBL. In addition, thecompensation region 124 extends the length of the p-n JFET junction region formed between the buriedregion 132 and theextension region 122, thereby reducing saturation current. Even without theimplantation tail 134, reduced saturation current results due to the extended JFET region enabled by thecompensation region 124. - The
compensation region 124 may have a shallower average depth in theSiC substrate 102 than both thesource region 116 and thebody region 110 as measured from thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - Separately or in combination, the
compensation region 124 may have a larger doping concentration than theextension region 122. In general, throughout this application, if the doping concentrations of two regions (e.g., thecompensation region 124 and the extension region 122) are compared, this comparison may refer to only a non-overlapping part of the two regions if said two regions partially overlap. For example, the net doping concentration of thecompensation region 124 may be in a range of about 3e16 cm−3 to about 3e17 cm−3 and the net doping concentration of theextension region 122 may be in a range of about 3e16 cm−3 to about 1e17 cm−3 in a non-overlapping part of the tworegions - Separately or in combination, the
compensation region 124 may have a slightly lower net doping concentration as thebody region 110 at thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 where thechannel region 112 is formed. For example, thecompensation region 124 and thechannel region 112 may each have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm−3 to about 3e17 cm−3. - Separately or in combination, the
compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration which is about a factor of about 10 lower than the net doping concentration of the buried (shielding)region 132. For example, thecompensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm−3 to about 3e17 cm−3 and the buriedregion 132 may have a net doping concentration of about 3e18 cm−3. - Separately or in combination, the
compensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration which is much lower than the net doping concentration of thesource region 116. For example, thecompensation region 124 may have a net doping concentration in a range of about 3e16 cm−3 to about 3e17 cm−3 and thesource region 116 may have a net doping concentration of about 2e19 cm−3. The doping concentration examples provided above may vary in a window around these values. -
FIGS. 2A through 2F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with thecompensation region 124 during different stages of producing thesemiconductor device 100 shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 2A shows theSiC substrate 102 during blanket implanting 200 of dopants of the first conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 to define adoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124. The dose of theblanket implant 200 is chosen so that thedoping profile 202 yields an average doping concentration for thecompensation region 124 which is greater than the average doping concentration of thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 which is to be subsequently formed. If the average doping concentration of thecompensation region 124 is too low, the resistance of the device in this region may be too large and worst case thecompensation region 124 cannot overcompensate thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132. If the average doping concentration of thecompensation region 124 is too high, the electric field increases which may cause a reliability problem for thegate dielectric 128. The minimum doping of thecompensation region 124 depends on several factors, including the dose of the buried region implantation, the energy of the buried region implantation, and the angle (α) of the edge/sidewall 216 of themask 204 used during the buried region implantation. If the angle α between the edge/sidewall 216 of the buriedregion implantation mask 204 and the implantation direction is large, the resultingtail 134 will be very pronounced and a higher implantation dose is used to form thecompensation region 124. Conversely, if the angle a between the edge/sidewall 216 of the buriedregion implantation mask 204 and the implantation direction is small (e.g. close to 0 degrees) and/or the edge/sidewall 216 of the buriedregion implantation mask 204 is nearly perpendicular to thefirst surface 114 of the SiC substrate 102 (e.g. close to 90 degrees), the resultingtail 134 is barely present and the dose for thecompensation region 124 may be reduced accordingly. - After the blanket implanting 200, a
mask 204 is formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 as shown inFIG. 2B . Themask 204 has anopening 206 which defines a location for thesource region 116. In one embodiment, themask 204 is an oxide hard mask and theopening 206 is etched through the oxidehard mask 204 using a polysilicon mask 210. Thesource region 116 is formed by implanting 208 of dopants of the first conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through theopening 206 in themask 204. - After forming the
source region 116, theopening 206 in themask 204 is widened to define a location for thebody region 110 as shown inFIG. 2C . Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for thebody region 110 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case, the
body region 110 is then formed by implanting 212 of dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 206′ in themask 204 as shown inFIG. 2D or through the opening in the new mask (not shown). Thebody region 110 has a slightly higher or roughly the same magnitude net doping concentration as thedoping profile 202 for thecompensation region 124 at thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 where thechannel region 112 is formed, to define the border/edge between thecompensation region 124 and thechannel region 112. - After forming the
body region 110, theopening 206′ in themask 204 is widened again to define a location for the buried (shielding)region 132 as shown inFIG. 2E . Alternatively, a new mask with an opening that defines the location for the buriedregion 132 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case,
implantation 214 of dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 is performed through the widenedopening 206″ in themask 204 as shown inFIG. 2F or through the opening in the new mask (not shown), to define a doping profile of the buriedregion 132. Due to the imperfect nature of lithographic and etching processes employed in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, themask 204 used to implant the buried (shielding)region 132 has a sloped/angled sidewall 216. The doping profile of the buriedregion 132 therefore includes animplantation tail 134 which extends toward thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102, since themask 204 does not have full blocking capability in this region. Thedopants 214 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 are implanted at a higher dose but also at a greater energy than thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define thedoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124, so that thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define thedoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124 overcompensate theimplantation tail 134 at the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116. Thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 is represented by a set of dashed lines inFIG. 2F , to indicate that at least the upper part of thetail 134 closest to thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 has been overcompensated by thecompensation region 124. -
FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with thecompensation region 124 during different stages of producing thesemiconductor device 100 shown inFIG. 1 , according to another embodiment. The processing shown inFIGS. 3A through 3C corresponds to the processing shown inFIGS. 2A through 2C , respectively. Hence, no further description ofFIGS. 3A through 3C is provided. - However, according to the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 3A through 3F , the buriedregion 132 is formed before thebody region 110. - More particularly, after forming the
source region 116 and before forming thebody region 110, theopening 206 in themask 204 is widened to define a location for the buriedregion 132 as shown inFIG. 3D . Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the buriedregion 132 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case,
implantation 300 of dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 is performed through the widened opening 206′ in themask 204 as shown inFIG. 3D or the opening in the new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the buriedregion 132, to define a doping profile of the buriedregion 132. As explained above, themask 204 used to implant the buried (shielding)region 132 has a sloped/angled sidewall 216. Hence, the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 includes animplantation tail 134 which extends toward thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. Thedopants 300 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 are implanted at a higher dose but also at a greater energy than thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define thedoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124, so that thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define thedoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124 overcompensate theimplantation tail 134 at the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116, thereby defining a border/edge between thecompensation region 124 and thechannel region 112. - After forming the buried
region 132, the widened opening 206′ in themask 204 is narrowed to define a location for thebody region 110. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3E , the widened opening 206′ in themask 204 is narrowed by forming aspacer 302 on the sloped/angled sidewall 216 of the widened opening 206′ in themask 204. Thespacer 302 may be formed, for example, by depositing a spacer material on theSiC substrate 102 and patterning the spacer material so as to leave thespacer 302 on the sloped/angled sidewall 216 of the widened opening 206′ in themask 204. In another embodiment, a new mask with an opening that defines the location for thebody region 110 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In each case, implanting 304 of dopants of the second conductivity type into the
first surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 is performed through the narrowedopening 206″′ in themask 204 as shown inFIG. 3F or the opening in the new mask (not shown) which defines the location for thebody region 110, to define a doping profile of thebody region 110. Thedopants 304 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of thebody region 110 are implanted at a higher dose than thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type which define thedoping profile 202 of thecompensation region 124, so that thedopants 304 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of thebody region 110 overcompensate thedopants 200 of the first conductivity type in thechannel region 112. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of two adjacent transistor cells T1, T2 of asemiconductor device 400. Thesemiconductor device 400 illustrated inFIG. 4 is similar to thesemiconductor device 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 . Different, however, thecompensation region 124 does not extend uninterrupted along thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 between thebody regions 110 of the adjacent transistor cells T1, T2. Instead, eachcompensation region 124 is localized to the corresponding transistor cell T1, T2. According to this embodiment, a part of theextension region 122 which adjoins thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 separates thecompensation regions 124 of adjacent transistor cells T1, T2. Thelocalized compensation regions 124 may be formed by a masked implantation, instead of theblanket implantation 200 shown inFIGS. 2A and 3A . -
FIGS. 5A through 5G illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with thelocalized compensation region 124 during different stages of producing thesemiconductor device 400 shown inFIG. 4 . - In
FIG. 5A , amask 500 is formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. Themask 500 has anopening 502 with a first width which defines a location for thesource region 116. In one embodiment, themask 500 is an oxide hard mask and theopening 502 is etched through the oxidehard mask 500 using apolysilicon mask 504. Thesource region 116 is formed by implanting 506 of dopants of the first conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through theopening 502 in themask 500. - After forming the
source region 116, theopening 502 in themask 500 is widened 508 to a second width define a location for thebody region 110 as shown inFIG. 5B . Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for thebody region 110 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. -
FIG. 5C shows implanting 510 of dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502′ in the mask or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for thebody region 110, to define a doping profile of thebody region 110. - After forming the
body region 110,FIG. 5D shows widening 512 theopening 502′ in themask 500 to a third width greater than the second width to define a location for the buriedregion 132. Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the buriedregion 132 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case,
FIG. 5E shows implanting 514 dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widenedopening 502″ in themask 500 or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the buriedregion 132, to define a doping profile of the buriedregion 132. As explained above, themask 500 used to implant the buried (shielding)region 132 has a sloped/angled sidewall 516. Hence, the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 includes animplantation tail 134 which extends toward thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 since themask 500 does not have full blocking capability in this region. - The
dopants 514 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 are implanted at a lower dose than thedopants 506 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thesource region 116. Thedopants 514 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 are implanted at a greater energy than thedopants 510 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of thebody region 110, so that the buriedregion 132 is formed below thebody region 110 in theSiC substrate 102. - After forming the buried
region 132,FIG. 5F shows widening 516 theopening 502″ in themask 500 to a fourth width greater than the third width to define a location for thecompensation region 124. Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for thecompensation region 124 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case,
FIG. 5G shows implanting 518 dopants of the first conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widenedopening 502″′ in themask 500 or through the opening in a new mask (not shown) that defines the location for thecompensation region 124, to define a doping profile of thecompensation region 124. According to this embodiment, a targetedimplantation 518 of the first conductivity type is performed only where needed to compensate theimplantation tail 134 of the buriedregion 132. - The
dopants 518 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thecompensation region 124 are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than thedopants 514 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132, so that thedopants 518 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thecompensation region 124 overcompensate theimplantation tail 134 at the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116. Thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 is represented by a set of dashed lines inFIG. 5G , to indicate that at least the upper part of thetail 134 closest to thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 has been overcompensated by thecompensation region 124. -
FIGS. 6A through 6F illustrate respective simplified partial cross-sectional views of one transistor cell with thecompensation region 124 during different stages of producing thesemiconductor device 400 shown inFIG. 4 , according to another embodiment. The processing shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B corresponds to the processing shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively. Hence, no further description ofFIGS. 6A and 6B is provided. - However, according to the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 6A through 6F , the buriedregion 132 is formed before thebody region 110. - More particularly, after forming the
source region 116 and widening 508 theopening 502 in themask 500 or forming a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for the buriedregion 132,FIG. 6C shows implanting 600 dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widened opening 502′ in themask 500 or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for the buriedregion 132, to define a doping profile of the buriedregion 132. As explained above, themask 500 used to implant the buried (shielding)region 132 may have a sloped/angled sidewall 512. In addition or as an alternative, dopants may be implanted at a high energy and/or a higher dose. Either amask 500 with a sloped/angled sidewall 512 or a high implantation energy or a combination of both may result in a doping profile of the buriedregion 132 that includes animplantation tail 134 which extends toward thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - After forming the buried
region 132, the widened opening 502′ in themask 500 is narrowed to a width between thewidth 502′ used to form the buriedregion 132 and thewidth 502 used to form thesource region 116 as shown inFIG. 6D , to define a location for thebody region 110. According to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6D , the widened opening 502′ in themask 500 used to form the buriedregion 132 is narrowed by forming aspacer 602 on the sloped/angled sidewall 516 of the widened opening 502′ in themask 500. Thespacer 602 may be formed, for example, by depositing a spacer material on theSiC substrate 102 and patterning the spacer material so as to leave thespacer 602 on the sloped/angled sidewall 516 of the widened opening 502′ in themask 500. In another embodiment, a new mask with an opening that defines the location for thebody region 110 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. -
FIG. 6D also shows implanting 604 dopants of the second conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the narrowedopening 502″ in themask 500 or the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for thebody region 110, to define a doping profile of thebody region 110. Thedopants 604 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of thebody region 110 are implanted at a lower dose than thedopants 506 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thesource region 116. Thedopants 600 of the second conductivity type which defined the doping profile of the buriedregion 132 were implanted at a greater energy than thedopants 604 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of thebody region 110, so that the buriedregion 132 is formed below thebody region 110 in theSiC substrate 102. - After forming the
body region 110,FIG. 6E shows widening 606 theopening 502″ in themask 500 to a width greater than thewidth 502′ used to form the buriedregion 132. If aspacer 602 was previously used to narrow theopening 502′ in themask 500 to form thebody region 110, thespacer 602 is removed as part of the mask widening process. Alternatively, a new mask (not shown) with an opening that defines the location for thecompensation region 124 may be formed on thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102. - In either case,
FIG. 6F shows implanting 608 dopants of the first conductivity type into thefirst surface 114 of theSiC substrate 102 through the widenedopening 502″′ in themask 500 or through the opening in a new mask (not shown) which defines the location for thecompensation region 124, to define a doping profile of thecompensation region 124. Thedopants 608 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thecompensation region 124 are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than thedopants 600 of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buriedregion 132, so that thedopants 608 of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of thecompensation region 124 overcompensate theimplantation tail 134 at the end of thechannel region 112 opposite thesource region 116. - The embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 5A-5G and 6A-6F avoid implanting the dopants used to form thecompensation region 124 into theextension region 122, thereby lower the electric field in thegate dielectric 128 compared to the blanket implantation process used to form thecompensation region 124 inFIGS. 2A-2F and 3A-3F . The embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2F and 3A-3F are simpler to implement, since a blanket implantation instead of a targeted implantation is used to form thecompensation region 124. - Each of the method embodiments described above and illustrated in
FIGS. 2A-2F, 3A-3F, 5A-5G and 6A-6F yield a SiC that includes: adrift region 108 of a first conductivity type; abody region 110 of a second conductivity type above thedrift region 108 and having achannel region 112; asource region 116 of the first conductivity type in thebody region 110 and adjoining a first end of thechannel region 112; a buriedregion 132 of the second conductivity type below thebody region 110 and having atail 134 which extends upward toward thechannel region 112; and acompensation region 124 of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of thechannel region 112 opposite the first end, wherein the buriedregion 132 extends under thecompensation region 124, and wherein an average doping concentration of thecompensation region 124 is greater than an average doping concentration of thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132, so that thecompensation region 124 overcompensates thetail 134 of the buriedregion 132 and separates thetail 134 from the second end of thechannel region 112. - Although the present disclosure is not so limited, the following numbered examples demonstrate one or more aspects of the disclosure
- Example 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- Example 2. The semiconductor device of example 1, wherein the compensation region has a shallower average depth in the SiC substrate than both the source region and the body region as measured from the first surface.
- Example 3. The semiconductor device of examples 1 or 2, wherein the compensation region is doped more heavily than the extension region.
- Example 4. The semiconductor device of any one of examples 1 through 3, wherein the semiconductor device further comprises an insulated gate on the first surface and configured to control a conducting state of the channel region, wherein the compensation region laterally extends further along the insulated gate toward the source region than the extension region.
- Example 5. The semiconductor device of any one of examples 1 through 4, wherein the semiconductor device further comprises a drain region of the first conductivity type below the drift region and adjoining a second surface of the SiC substrate opposite the first surface.
- Example 6. A method of producing a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a drift region of a first conductivity type in a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate; forming a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; forming an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; forming a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region, the buried region having a tail which extends toward the first surface and adjoins the extension region; and forming a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, the compensation region overcompensating the tail of the buried region so that the tail is separated from the second end of the channel region.
- Example 7. The method of example 6, wherein forming the compensation region comprises blanket implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate to define a doping profile of the compensation region, the doping profile having an average doping concentration greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region.
- Example 8. The method of example 7, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after the blanket implanting, forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening which defines a location for the source region; after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and after forming the body region, further widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region and then implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which corresponds to the tail of the buried region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a higher dose and at a greater energy than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 9. The method of example 7, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after the blanket implanting, forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening which defines a location for the source region; after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a higher dose and at a greater energy than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 10. The method of example 9, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the buried region, narrowing the widened opening in the mask or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region are implanted at a higher dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region, so that the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region overcompensate the dopants of the first conductivity type in the channel region.
- Example 11, The method of example 10, wherein narrowing the widened opening in the mask comprises forming a spacer on a sidewall of the widened opening in the mask.
- Example 12. The method of example 6, wherein forming the source region comprises: forming a mask on the first surface of the SiC substrate, the mask having an opening with a first width which defines a location for the source region; and implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask to define a doping profile of the source region.
- Example 13. The method of example 12, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask to a second width greater than the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region.
- Example 14. The method of example 13, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after forming the body region, widening the opening in the mask to a third width greater than the second width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a greater energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region, so that the buried region is formed below the body region.
- Example 15. The method of example 14, wherein forming the compensation region comprises: after forming the buried region, implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask having the third width or a new mask having an opening that defines a location for the compensation region, to define a doping profile of the compensation region, wherein the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 16. The method of example 12, wherein forming the buried region comprises: after forming the source region, widening the opening in the mask to a second width greater than the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the buried region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the buried region, to define a doping profile of the buried region, the doping profile of the buried region including an implantation tail which extends toward the first surface.
- Example 17. The method of example 16, wherein forming the body region comprises: after forming the buried region, narrowing the opening in the mask to a third width between the second width and the first width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the body region; and implanting dopants of the second conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the body region, to define a doping profile of the body region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region are implanted at a lower dose than the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the source region, wherein the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region are implanted at a greater energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the body region, so that the buried region is formed below the body region.
- Example 18. The method of example 17, wherein narrowing the opening in the mask to the third width comprises forming a spacer on a sidewall of the opening in the mask having the second width.
- Example 19. The method of examples 17 or 18, wherein forming the compensation region comprises: after forming the body region, widening the opening in the mask to a fourth width greater than the third width or forming a new mask with an opening to define a location for the compensation region; and implanting dopants of the first conductivity type into the first surface of the SiC substrate through the opening in the mask or new mask which defines the location for the compensation region, to define a doping profile of the compensation region, wherein the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region are implanted at a lower dose and at a lower energy than the dopants of the second conductivity type which define the doping profile of the buried region, so that the dopants of the first conductivity type which define the doping profile of the compensation region overcompensate the implantation tail at the second end of the channel region.
- Example 20. A silicon carbide (SiC) device, comprising: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region and having a tail which extends upward toward the channel region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type adjoining a second end of the channel region opposite the first end, wherein the buried region extends under the compensation region, wherein an average doping concentration of the compensation region is greater than an average doping concentration of the tail of the buried region, so that the compensation region overcompensates the tail of the buried region and separates the tail from the second end of the channel region.
- Example 21. A semiconductor device, comprising a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type protruding from the extension region into the body region along the first surface and terminating at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end.
- Example 22. A semiconductor device, comprising a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate which comprises: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a body region of a second conductivity type above the drift region and having a channel region which adjoins a first surface of the SiC substrate; a source region of the first conductivity type in the body region and adjoining a first end of the channel region; an extension region of the first conductivity type at an opposite side of the body region as the source region and vertically extending to the drift region; a buried region of the second conductivity type below the body region; and a compensation region of the first conductivity type at least partially surrounded by the body region at a second end of the channel region opposite the first end and at least partially surrounded or overlapped by the extension region at a bottom of the compensation region.
- Terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.
- As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
- It is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.
- Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims (20)
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US16/595,375 US10957768B1 (en) | 2019-10-07 | 2019-10-07 | Silicon carbide device with an implantation tail compensation region |
CN202011051349.XA CN112701153B (en) | 2019-10-07 | 2020-09-29 | Silicon carbide device with implanted tail compensation zone |
EP20200282.0A EP3806161A1 (en) | 2019-10-07 | 2020-10-06 | Silicon carbide device with an implantation tail compensation region |
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US16/595,375 US10957768B1 (en) | 2019-10-07 | 2019-10-07 | Silicon carbide device with an implantation tail compensation region |
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US20220384565A1 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2022-12-01 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | Method and manufacture of robust, high-performance devices |
US20240222505A1 (en) * | 2022-03-04 | 2024-07-04 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | DESIGNS FOR SILICON CARBIDE MOSFETs |
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US11031461B2 (en) * | 2019-08-25 | 2021-06-08 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | Manufacture of robust, high-performance devices |
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US20160056266A1 (en) * | 2008-03-03 | 2016-02-25 | Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. | Trench gate type semiconductor device and method of producing the same |
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US7118970B2 (en) | 2004-06-22 | 2006-10-10 | Cree, Inc. | Methods of fabricating silicon carbide devices with hybrid well regions |
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US20220384565A1 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2022-12-01 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | Method and manufacture of robust, high-performance devices |
US11682694B2 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2023-06-20 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | Method and manufacture of robust, high-performance devices |
US20240222505A1 (en) * | 2022-03-04 | 2024-07-04 | Genesic Semiconductor Inc. | DESIGNS FOR SILICON CARBIDE MOSFETs |
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