An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a radiation sensing member, a device layer, and a color filter layer. The semiconductor substrate has a photosensitive region and an isolation region surrounding the photosensitive region. The radiation sensing member is embedded in the photosensitive region of the semiconductor substrate. The radiation sensing member has a material different from a material of the semiconductor substrate, and an interface between the radiation sensing member and the isolation region of the semiconductor substrate includes a direct band gap material. The device layer is under the semiconductor substrate and the radiation sensing member. The color filter layer is over the radiation sensing member and the semiconductor substrate.

A silicon nitride core is formed on a silicon core via a first silicon oxide layer, and a germanium pattern caused to selectively grow in an opening penetrating through a second silicon oxide layer formed on the silicon nitride core and the first silicon oxide layer is formed on a lower silicon pattern formed to be continuous with the silicon core, thereby constituting a Ge photodiode.

A silicon nitride core is formed on a silicon core via a first silicon oxide layer, and a germanium pattern caused to selectively grow in an opening penetrating through a second silicon oxide layer formed on the silicon nitride core and the first silicon oxide layer is formed on a lower silicon pattern formed to be continuous with the silicon core, thereby constituting a Ge photodiode.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a photodiode with an integrated, light focusing elements and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a trench photodiode comprising a domed structure; and a doped material on the domed structure, the doped material having a concave underside surface.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a photodiode with an integrated, light focusing elements and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a trench photodiode comprising a domed structure; and a doped material on the domed structure, the doped material having a concave underside surface.

Systems and methods for monitoring copper corrosion in an integrated circuit (IC) device are disclosed. A corrosion-sensitive structure formed in the IC device may include a p-type active region adjacent an n-type active region to define a p-n junction space charge region. A copper region formed over the silicon may be connected to both the p-region and n-region by respective contacts, to thereby define a short circuit. Light incident on the p-n junction space charge region, e.g., during a CMP process, creates a current flow through the metal region via the short circuit, which drives chemical reactions that cause corrosion in the copper region. Due to the short circuit configuration, the copper region is highly sensitive to corrosion. The corrosion-sensitive structure may be arranged with less corrosion-sensitive copper structures in the IC device, with the corrosion-sensitive structure used as a proxy to monitor for copper corrosion in the IC device.

Systems and methods for monitoring copper corrosion in an integrated circuit (IC) device are disclosed. A corrosion-sensitive structure formed in the IC device may include a p-type active region adjacent an n-type active region to define a p-n junction space charge region. A copper region formed over the silicon may be connected to both the p-region and n-region by respective contacts, to thereby define a short circuit. Light incident on the p-n junction space charge region, e.g., during a CMP process, creates a current flow through the metal region via the short circuit, which drives chemical reactions that cause corrosion in the copper region. Due to the short circuit configuration, the copper region is highly sensitive to corrosion. The corrosion-sensitive structure may be arranged with less corrosion-sensitive copper structures in the IC device, with the corrosion-sensitive structure used as a proxy to monitor for copper corrosion in the IC device.

Germanium-based sensors are disclosed herein. An exemplary germanium-based sensor includes a germanium photodiode and a junction field effect transistor (JFET) formed from a germanium layer disposed on and/or in a silicon substrate. A doped silicon layer, which can be formed by in-situ doping epitaxially grown silicon, is disposed between the germanium layer and the silicon substrate. In embodiments where the germanium layer is on the silicon substrate, the doped silicon layer is disposed between the germanium layer and an oxide layer. The JFET has a doped polysilicon gate, and in some embodiments, a gate diffusion region is disposed in the germanium layer under the doped polysilicon gate. In some embodiments, a pinned photodiode passivation layer is disposed in the germanium layer. In some embodiments, a pair of doped regions in the germanium layer is configured as an e-lens of the germanium-based sensor.

Provided is a semiconductor epitaxial wafer, including a substrate, a first epitaxial structure, a first ohmic contact layer and a second epitaxial stack structure. It is characterized in that the ohmic contact layer includes a compound with low nitrogen content, and the ohmic contact layer does not induce significant stress during the crystal growth process. Accordingly, the second epitaxial stack structure formed on the ohmic contact layer can have good epitaxial quality, thereby providing a high-quality semiconductor epitaxial wafer for fabricating a GaAs integrated circuit or a InP integrated circuit. At the same time, the ohmic contact properties of ohmic contact layers are not affected, and the reactants generated during each dry etching process are reduced.

Disclosed are devices for optical sensing and manufacturing method thereof. In one embodiment, a device for optical sensing includes a substrate, a photodetector and a reflector. The photodetector is disposed in the substrate. The reflector is disposed in the substrate and spaced apart from the photodetector, wherein the reflector has a reflective surface inclined relative to the photodetector that reflects light transmitted thereto to the photodetector.