Method of forming an oxide liner and active area mask for selective epitaxial growth in an isolation trench.

摘要

A new method is used to fabricate an isolation trench to prevent spurious epitaxial growth at the top edge of the trench opening and at pin holes in oxide over the active area. The method involves etching a deep trench into a semiconductor wafer that is patterned with a mask oxide layer, and then depositing a low temperature oxide, followed by growing a thermal oxide layer under the mask oxide and in the trench. When the oxide at the bottom of the trench is removed to provide a seed for the growth of selective epitaxial silicon, an oxide layer thick enough to leave a protective coating over the active area and at the trench opening is provided which prevents spurious epitaxial silicon growth.