Process and Device Performance of Submicrometer-Channel CMOS Devices Using Deep-Trench Isolation and Self-Aligned TiSi/sub 2/ Technologies

According to our scaling study, a deeper n-well allows for a lower n-well surface concentration with improved short-channel effects in submicrometer-channel PMOS-FET's. The deep n-well, however, requires a large space between n- and p-channel devices. This large space limits the integration density in scaled bulk CMOS VLSI's. The deep-trench isolation combined with an epitaxial layer resolves this drawback with significantly improved device-to-device isolation and latchup susceptibility. The 6-/spl mu/m-deep with 2-/spl mu/m-wide deep trench is etched in the epitaxial layer and is refilled with 1500 /spl Aring/ of thermal silicon-dioxide film and 2/spl mu/m of polysilicon film. The sheet resistances of N/sup +/ and P/sup +/ diffusion and N/sup +/ -doped polysilicon layers were reduced to 3 to 4 /spl Omega//spl square/ by using the self-aligned TiSi/sub 2/ layer with an oxide sidewall spacer. As a result of this low sheet resistance, the saturation drain current of submicrometer n- and p-channel MOSFET's was improved approximately 33 to 37 percent compared with conventional MOSFET's without the self-aligned TiSi/sub 2/ layer. The 0.5-/spl mu/m-channel CMOS devices using the deep-trench isolation with an epitaxial layer and the self-aligned TiSi/sub 2/ layer operated at a propagation delay time of 140 ps with a power dissipation of 1.1 mW per inverter and attained a maximum clock frequency of 400 MHz in a static /spl divide/ 4 counter without suffering from Iatchup even at the Iatchup trigger current of 200 mA.