N-Channel Sub-Threshold Leakage “Pipes” Generated From Micro-Twinning Near Shallow Trench Isolation Interface
Abstract The pursuit of shorter and narrower channel transistor processes, especially those employing Shallow Trench Isolation (STI), can readily produce devices that are increasingly susceptible to the formation of sub-threshold, leakage-generating defects. Specifically, STI N-channel devices exhibiting lengths at or below 0.35 um and with widths below 1 um, are at a heightened risk of developing a channel micro-twin defect “pipe” due to the very high compressive stress within the silicon lattice. Wider, sub-0.35 um devices can also exhibit the problem if their channels are in extremely close proximity to an active/STI corner region. Modification of the relevant process parameters can significantly alleviate this stress and reduce the frequency of “pipe” formation.