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Semiconductor Glossary book, click here to see new prices!
With over 2000 terms defined and explained, Semiconductor Glossary is the most complete reference in the field of semiconductors on the market today.
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Including some 500 new terms defined and remaining terms updated and modified, a 2nd edition book version of this glossary is now available.
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dopant
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element introduced into semiconductor to establish either p- type (acceptors) or n- type (donors) conductivity; common dopants in silicon: p-type, boron, B; n-type phosphorous, P, arsenic, As ,antimony, Sb.
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acceptor
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element introduced to semiconductor to generate free hole (by "accepting" electron from semiconductor atom and "releasing" hole at the same time); acceptor atom must have one valence electron less than host semiconductor; boron (B) is the most common acceptor in silicon technology; alternatives include indium and gallium (gallium features high diffusivity in SiO2, and hence, oxide cannot be used as mask during Ga diffusion)
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Term (Index)
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Definition
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dopant activation
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thermal treatment causing release of a free electron (or hole) after dopant has been implanted in semiconductor.
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ionization energy
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energy needed to ionize dopant atom in semiconductor, i.e. to have dopant atom to release one free electron (donor) or one free hole (acceptor).
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Term (Index)
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Definition
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dopant de-activation
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dopant atom becomes inactive, i.e. is unable to release free charge carrier, if bonded with alien element in semiconductor; most common example in silicon: de-activation of p-type dopant boron, B, by hydrogen.
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Term (Index)
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Definition
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dopant redistribution
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term typically refers to possible undesired changes in dopant profile during high-temeperature treatments applied, for various reasons, after dopant atoms have been introduced; in the case dopant redistribution is not desired only low thermal budget thermal treatments should be used.
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RTA
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Rapid Thermal Annealing; annealing process carried out for a very short time; typically performed for the purpose of improving properties of materials and/or device structures.
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thermal budget
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term defines total amount of thermal energy transferred to the wafer during the given elevated temperature operation; proportional to temperature and duration of the process; low thermal budget is desired in ultra-small IC manufacturing to prevent dopant redistribution; low thermal budget is possible even at a very high temperature if time of the process is very short (can be as short as few seconds); RTP.
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limited-source diffusion
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also known as drive-in; concentration of diffusant (dopant) on the surface decreases during the diffusion process, i.e. while some dopant atoms diffuse into the substrate no new dopant atoms are supplied to the surface of the wafer.
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Term (Index)
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Definition
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surface dopant concentration
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dopant concentration in the region immediately adjacent to the surface of doped semiconductor; may be different the dopant concentration in the bulk of semiconductor; needs to be monitored particularly in the case of epitaxial layers.
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Jerzy Ruzyllo is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Penn State University.
This book gives a complete account of semiconductor engineering covering semiconductor properties, semiconductor materials, semiconductor devices and their uses, process technology, fabrication processes, and semiconductor materials and process characterization.
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