A comprehensive study of 3D nano structures characteristics and novel devices

textSilicon based 3D fin structure is believed to be the potential future of current semiconductor technology. However, there are significant challenges still exist in realizing a manufacturable fin based process. In this work, we have studied the effects of hydrogen anneal on the structural and electrical characteristics of silicon fin based devices: tri-gate, finFET to name a few. H₂ anneal is shown to play a major role in structural integrity and manufacturability of 3D fin structure which is the most critical feature for these types of devices. Both the temperature and the pressure of H₂ anneal can result in significant alteration of fin height and shape as well as electrical characteristics. Optimum H₂ anneal is required in order to improve carrier mobility and device reliability as shown in this work. A new hard-mask based process was developed to retain H₂ anneal related benefit while eliminating detrimental effects such as reduction of device drive current due to fin height reduction. We have also demonstrated a novel 1T-1C pseudo Static Random Access Memory (1T-1C pseudo SRAM) memory cell using low cost conventional tri-gate process by utilizing selective H₂ anneal and other clever process techniques. TCAD-based simulation was also provided to show its competitive advantage over other types of static and dynamic memories in 45nm and beyond technologies. A high gain bipolar based on silicon fin process flow was proposed for the first time that can be used in BiCMOS technology suitable for low cost mixed signal and RF products. TCAD-based simulation results proved the concept with gain as high 100 for a NPN device using single additional mask. Overall, this work has shown that several novel process techniques and selective use of optimum H₂ anneal can lead to various high performance and low cost devices and memory cells those are much better than the devices using current conventional 3D fin based process techniques.Electrical and Computer Engineerin