FORMING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE, SUCH AS A JBS OR MPS DIODE, BASED ON 3C-SIC, AND 3C-SIC ELECTRONIC DEVICE
20230299173 · 2023-09-21
Assignee
Inventors
- Simone Rascuna' (Catania, IT)
- Fabrizio Roccaforte (Mascalucia, IT)
- Gabriele Bellocchi (Catania, IT)
- Marilena VIVONA (Calatafimi Segesta, IT)
Cpc classification
H01L21/0445
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/049
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/02667
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/0455
ELECTRICITY
H01L29/6606
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/02631
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/268
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/0475
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01L29/66
ELECTRICITY
H01L29/16
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/04
ELECTRICITY
H01L21/268
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
Method for manufacturing an electronic device, comprising the steps of: forming, at a front side of a solid body of 4H-SiC having a first electrical conductivity, at least one implanted region having a second electrical conductivity opposite to the first electrical conductivity; forming, on the front side, a 3C-SiC layer; and forming, in the 3C-SiC layer, an ohmic contact region which extends through the entire thickness of the 3C-SiC layer, up to reaching the implanted region. A silicon layer may be present on the 3C-SiC layer; in this case, the ohmic contact also extends through the silicon layer.
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing an electronic device, the method comprising: forming, at a front side of a solid body of 4H-SiC having a first electrical conductivity, at least one implanted region having a second electrical conductivity opposite to the first electrical conductivity; forming, on the front side, a 3C-SiC layer; and forming, in the 3C-SiC layer, an ohmic contact region extending through an entire thickness of the 3C-SiC layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the 3C-SiC layer includes growing 3C-SiC by a vapor-liquid-sold technique or a sublimation epitaxy technique.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the 3C-SiC layer includes: heating, through a LASER beam, at least one portion of the front side of the solid body, at least up to a melting temperature of the 4H-SiC material; and allowing the cooling and crystallization of the melted portion of the solid body, forming a stack of superimposed layers including: the 3C-SiC layer in contact with the solid body, a silicon layer on the 3C-SiC layer, and a carbon-rich layer on the silicon layer.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising completely removing the carbon-rich layer and the silicon layer, exposing the 3C-SiC layer.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein completely removing the carbon-rich layer and the silicon layer includes oxidating the silicon layer and the carbon-rich layer, and subsequently etching the oxidized silicon layer and the oxidized carbon-rich layer.
6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising completely removing the carbon-rich layer exposing the silicon layer.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein completely removing the carbon-rich layer includes performing a selective etching for removing the carbon-rich layer preserving the silicon layer.
8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising forming the ohmic contact region also through the entirety of the thickness of the silicon layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming, on the 3C-SiC layer and on the ohmic contact region, a metal layer, thus forming a Schottky diode between the metal layer and the 3C-SiC layer and, simultaneously, a junction-barrier, JB, diode between the metal layer and the ohmic contact region.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: forming, at the metal layer, a first electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode; and forming, at a rear side opposite to the front side of the solid body, a second electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of: a Merged-PiN-Schottky, MPS, device; a Junction Barrier Schottky, JBS, device; a MOSFET; an IGBT; a JFET; a DMOS.
12. An electronic device, comprising: a solid body of 4H-SiC having a first electrical conductivity; at least one implanted region having a second electrical conductivity opposite to the first electrical conductivity extending at a front side of the solid body; a 3C-SiC layer on the front side; and an ohmic contact region through an entire thickness of the 3C-SiC layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a silicon layer on the 3C-SiC layer, the ohmic contact region also extending through the entire thickness of the silicon layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the solid body includes: a substrate of 4H-SiC; and an epitaxial layer of 4H-SiC on the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer is a drift layer of the electronic device.
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the first electrical conductivity is of N-type, and the second electrical conductivity is of P-type.
16. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a metal layer on the 3C-SiC layer and on the ohmic contact region, thus forming a Schottky diode between the metal layer and the 3C-SiC layer and a junction-barrier, JB, diode between the metal layer and the ohmic contact region.
17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising: a first electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode at the metal layer; and a second electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode at a rear side opposite to the front side of the solid body.
18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device is one of: a Merged-PiN-Schottky, MPS, device; a Junction Barrier Schottky, JBS, device; a MOSFET; an IGBT; a JFET; a DMOS.
19. An electronic device, comprising: a body of 4H-SiC having a first conductivity type; an implanted region of a second conductivity type in the body extending from a top surface of the body; a layer of 3C-SiC on the top surface of the body; a layer of silicon on the layer of 3C-SiC; an ohmic contact extending through layer of 3C-SiC and the layer of silicon and contacting the implanted region; an anode metalization on the ohmic contact and corresponding to an anode of a Schottky diode; and a cathode metalization below the body and corresponding to a cathode of the Schottky diode.
20. The electronic device of claim 19, comprising a protection ring of the second conductivity type extending downward from the top surface of the body and laterally surrounding the implanted region.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] For a better understanding of the present disclosure, preferred embodiments thereof are now described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Elements common to the JBS device 1 of
[0031] The JBS device 50 includes: the substrate 3, of N-type 4H-SiC, having the first dopant concentration; the (epitaxial) drift layer 2, of N-type 4H-SiC, having the second dopant concentration; a cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) layer 52 on the surface 2a; the anode metallization 8, for example of Ti/AlSiCu or Ni/AlSiCu, which extends on the 3C-SiC layer 52; the passivation layer 19 on the anode metallization 8; the plurality of implanted regions 9′ in the drift layer 2, facing the top surface 2a of the drift layer 2, at the interface with the 3C-SiC layer 52; a plurality of ohmic contacts 54, extending through the 3C-SiC layer at respective implanted regions 9′ and forming, with the latter, respective JB elements 59; the edge termination region, or protection ring, 10 (optional), in particular a P-type implanted region, which completely or partially surrounds the JB elements 9; the ohmic contact region, or layer, 6 (for example of Nickel Silicide), which extends on the surface 3b of the substrate 3; the cathode metallization 7, for example of Ti/NiV/Ag or Ti/NiV/Au, which extends on the ohmic contact region 6.
[0032] One or more Schottky diodes 57 extend at the interface between the 3C-SiC layer 52 and the anode metallization 8, lateral to the implanted regions 9′. In particular, one or more Schottky (semiconductor-metal) junctions are formed by portions of the 3C-SiC layer 52 in direct electrical contact with respective portions of the anode metallization 8.
[0033] The region of the JBS device 50 which includes the JB elements 59 and the Schottky diodes 57 (i.e., the region contained within the protection ring 10, if any) is the active area 4 of the JBS device 50.
[0034]
[0035] In particular, after performing the steps of
[0036] The growth of 3C-SiC on a 4H-SiC substrate/layer is known per se. A method for this purpose is known as the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) mechanism, for example described by Soueidan M. et al., “A Vapor-Liquid-Solid Mechanism for Growing 3C-SiC Single-Domain Layers on 6H-SiC(0001),” Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 16, pages 975-979, 02 May 2006.
[0037] Another method is known as Sublimation Epitaxy (SE), for example described by Valdas Jokubavicius et al., “Lateral Enlargement Growth Mechanism of 3C-SiC on Off-Oriented 4H-SiC Substrates,” Crystal Growth & Design 2014 14 (12), 6514-6520.
[0038] Another method is known from Rositsa Yakimova et al., “Growth, Defects and Doping of 3C-SiC on Hexagonal Polytypes,” ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, Volume 6, Number 10, p. 741, November 2017.
[0039] Then, the method proceeds,
[0040] After the step of
[0041]
[0042] In this case, the step of forming the cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) layer 52 on the surface 2a of the drift layer 2 may occur by melting and resolidification (crystallization) of the 4H-SiC material of the drift layer 2, for example as described by Choi, I., Jeong, H., Shin, H. et al., “Laser-induced phase separation of silicon carbide,” Nature Communications 7, 13562 (2016).
[0043] As illustrated in
[0044] Since this process entails a crystallographic change of a portion of the drift layer 2 at the top surface 2a, after the formation of the stack 60 the drift layer 2 has a reduced thickness. This melting and crystallization step does not damage the implanted regions 9′ from an electrical or functional point of view.
[0045] The 3C-SiC layer 52 and the silicon layer 56 have substantially the same doping as the drift layer 2 of 4H-SiC, since the melting and crystallization step does not entail a modification of the dose of dopants already present in the drift layer 2.
[0046] The melting of the 4H-SiC material of the drift layer 2 is performed, in particular, through LASER, whose configuration and operating parameters are the following: wavelength between 240 and 700 nm, in particular 308 nm; pulse duration between 20 ns and 500 ns, in particular 160 ns; number of pulses between 1 and 16, in particular 4; energy density between 1.6 and 4 J/cm.sup.2, in particular 2.6 J/cm.sup.2, (considered at the level of the top surface 2a); temperature between 1400° C. and 2600° C., in particular 2200° C. (considered at the level of the surface 2a).
[0047] The area of the spot of the beam 102 at the level of the front side 2a is, for example, between 0.7 and 1.5 cm.sup.2.
[0048] After the melting step, the crystallization of the portion(s) being melted occurs at a temperature between 1600 and 2600° C. for a time between 200 and 600 ns. The stack 60, previously described, is thus formed.
[0049] Then,
[0050] Then,
[0051] Then,
[0052] Using a suitably configured LASER source, it is possible to simultaneously melt the surface portion of the drift layer 2 (to form the 3C-SiC layer 52 as described above) and activate the doping species of the implanted regions 9′. The relevant LASER configuration parameters are the following: an energy density equal to, or greater than, 2.4 J/cm.sup.2 (considered at the level of the top surface 2a), a number of pulses between 1 and 16, for example equal to 4, a time duration of each pulse between 20 and 500 ns, for example equal to 160 ns, and a wavelength of the emitted radiation between 240 and 700, for example equal to 308 nm.
[0053] In this embodiment, the step of activating the dopants in the furnace described with reference to
[0054] After the step of
[0055]
[0056] Elements common to the JBS device 1 of
[0057] The JBS device 80 includes: the substrate 3, of N-type 4H-SiC, having the first dopant concentration; the (epitaxial) drift layer 2, of N-type 4H-SiC, having the second dopant concentration; the cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) layer 52 on the surface 2a; the silicon layer 56 on the 3C-SiC layer 52; the anode metallization 8, for example of Ti/AlSiCu or Ni/AlSiCu, which extends on the silicon layer 56; the passivation layer 19 on the anode metallization 8; the plurality of implanted regions 9′ in the drift layer 2, facing the top surface 2a of the drift layer 2, at the interface with the 3C-SiC layer 52; a plurality of ohmic contacts 84, extending through the 3C-SiC layer 52 and through the silicon layer 56 at respective implanted regions 9′ and forming, with the latter, respective JB elements 89; the edge termination region, or protection ring, 10 (optional), in particular a P-type implanted region, which completely or partially surrounds the JB elements 9; the ohmic contact region, or layer 6 (for example of Nickel Silicide), which extends on the surface 3b of the substrate 3; the cathode metallization 7, for example of Ti/NiV/Ag or Ti/NiV/Au, which extends on the ohmic contact region 6.
[0058] One or more Schottky diodes 87 extend at the interface between the silicon layer 56 and the anode metallization 8, lateral to the implanted regions 9′. In particular, one or more Schottky (semiconductor-metal) junctions are formed by portions of the silicon layer 56 in direct electrical contact with respective portions of the anode metallization 8.
[0059] The region of the JBS device 80 which includes the JB elements 89 and the Schottky diodes 87 (i.e., the region contained within the protection ring 10, if any) is the active area 4 of the JBS device 80.
[0060]
[0061] In this case, the steps of forming the cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) layer 52 and the silicon layer 56 occur by melting and resolidification (crystallization) of the 4H-SiC material of the drift layer 2, as already discussed with reference to
[0062] As illustrated in
[0063] Then,
[0064] Then,
[0065] Using a suitably configured LASER source, it is possible to simultaneously melt the surface portion of the drift layer 2 (to form the 3C-SiC layer 52 and the silicon layer 56 as described above) and activate the doping species of the implanted regions 9′. The relevant LASER configuration parameters are the following: an energy density equal to, or greater than, 2.4 J/cm.sup.2 (considered at the level of the top surface 2a), a number of pulses between 1 and 16, for example equal to 4, a time duration of each pulse between 20 and 500 ns, for example equal to 160 ns, and a wavelength of the emitted radiation between 240 and 700, for example equal to 308 nm.
[0066] In this embodiment, the step of activating the dopants in a furnace described with reference to
[0067] After the step of
[0068] From an examination of the characteristics of the disclosure provided according to the present description, the advantages that it affords are evident.
[0069] In particular, it is possible to take full advantage of the advantages of a 4H-SiC substrate in combination with the advantages resulting from the reduced bandgap value of 3C-SiC or silicon (in the respective embodiments) for the formation of the JB elements and the Schottky contacts, as previously discussed.
[0070] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to what has been described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined in the attached claims.
[0071] For example, the steps of melting 4H-SiC described with reference to
[0074] Moreover, the present disclosure is not limited to the manufacturing of 3C-SiC JBS devices, but extends to the formation of ohmic contacts in generic electronic devices, such as for example a MOSFET (in particular a vertical channel MOSFET), an IGBT, a JFET, a DMOS, a Merged-PN-Schottky (MPS) diode, etc. Forming the channel of a vertical MOSFET in a 3C-SiC layer (instead of in other SiC polytypes, such as 4H-SiC) brings a considerable advantage in terms of output resistance of the device, due to the different electron mobility between 3C-SiC and 4H-SiC.
[0075] In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an electronic device may be summarized as including the steps of forming, at a front side of a solid body of 4H-SiC having a first electrical conductivity (N), at least one implanted region having a second electrical conductivity (P) opposite to the first electrical conductivity (N); forming, on the front side, a 3C-SiC layer; and forming, in the 3C-SiC layer, an ohmic contact region which extends through the entire thickness of the 3C-SiC layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
[0076] Forming the 3C-SiC layer may include performing a step of growing 3C-SiC by VLS technique or SE technique.
[0077] Forming the 3C-SiC layer may include heating, through a LASER beam, at least one portion of the front side of the solid body, at least up to a melting temperature of the 4H-SiC material; and allowing the cooling and crystallization of the melted portion of the solid body, forming a stack of superimposed layers including: the 3C-SiC layer in contact with the solid body, a silicon layer on the 3C-SiC layer, and a carbon-rich layer on the silicon layer.
[0078] The method may further include the step of completely removing the carbon-rich layer and the silicon layer, exposing the 3C-SiC layer.
[0079] Completely removing the carbon-rich layer and the silicon layer may include performing a step of oxidating the silicon layer and the carbon-rich layer, and a subsequent step of etching the oxidized silicon layer and the oxidized carbon-rich layer.
[0080] The method may further include the step of completely removing the carbon-rich layer exposing the silicon layer.
[0081] Completely removing the carbon-rich layer may include performing a selective etching for removing the carbon-rich layer preserving the silicon layer.
[0082] The method may further include the step of forming the ohmic contact region also through the entire thickness of the silicon layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
[0083] The method may further include the step of forming, on the 3C-SiC layer and on the ohmic contact region, a metal layer, thus forming a Schottky diode between the metal layer and the 3C-SiC layer and, simultaneously, a junction-barrier, JB, diode between the metal layer and the ohmic contact region.
[0084] The method may further include the steps of forming, at the metal layer, a first electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode; and forming, at a rear side opposite to the front side of the solid body, a second electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode.
[0085] The electronic device may be one of: a Merged-PiN-Schottky, MPS, device; a Junction Barrier Schottky, JBS, device; a MOSFET; an IGBT; a JFET; a DMOS.
[0086] An electronic device, may be summarized as including a solid body of 4H-SiC having a first electrical conductivity (N); at least one implanted region having a second electrical conductivity (P) opposite to the first electrical conductivity (N) extending at a front side of the solid body; a 3C-SiC layer on the front side; and an ohmic contact region through the entire thickness of the 3C-SiC layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
[0087] The device may further include a silicon layer on the 3C-SiC layer, the ohmic contact region also extending through the entire thickness of the silicon layer, up to reaching the implanted region.
[0088] The solid body may include a substrate of 4H-SiC; and an epitaxial layer of 4H-SiC on the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer is a drift layer of the electronic device.
[0089] The first electrical conductivity may be of N-type, and the second electrical conductivity is of P-type.
[0090] The device may further include a metal layer on the 3C-SiC layer and on the ohmic contact region, thus forming a Schottky diode between the metal layer and the 3C-SiC layer and a junction-barrier, JB, diode between the metal layer and the ohmic contact region.
[0091] The device may further include a first electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode at the metal layer; and a second electrical terminal common to the JB diode and Schottky diode at a rear side opposite to the front side of the solid body.
[0092] The electronic device may be one of: a Merged-PiN-Schottky, MPS, device; a Junction Barrier Schottky, JBS, device; a MOSFET; an IGBT; a JFET; a DMOS.
[0093] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.