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Method of producing a thin silicon-on-insulator layer

  • US 5,234,535 A
  • Filed: 12/10/1992
  • Issued: 08/10/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a thin semiconductor layer substantially free of defects upon which semiconductor structures can be subsequently formed, comprising the steps of:

  • a) providing a first wafer comprising a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type, a diffusion layer of a second conductivity type formed thereon and having a first etch characteristic, a thin epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type formed upon the diffusion layer and having a second etch characteristic different from the first etch characteristic of the diffusion layer, and a thin oxide layer formed upon the thin epitaxial layer;

    b) providing a second wafer comprising a silicon substrate having a thin oxide layer formed on a surface thereof;

    c) wafer bonding said first wafer to said second wafer;

    d) removing the silicon substrate of said first wafer in a controlled mechanical manner; and

    e) removing the diffusion layer of said first wafer using a selective low energy dry plasma process to expose the underlying thin epitaxial layer, the selective dry plasma process providing an etch ratio of the first etch characteristic to the second etch characteristic such that the diffusion layer is removed with minimal formation of any shallow plasma radiation damage to the expose underlying thin epitaxial layer.

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