Process for producing a semiconductor device including an ion implantation step in combination with direct thermal nitridation of the silicon substrate

Claim 2

A process for producing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: forming a silicon nitride film by direct thermal nitridation of the silicon of a semiconductor silicon substrate; implanting impurity ions into said semiconductor silicon substrate, and; heating said semiconductor substrate to a temperature for electrically activating said impurities and for correcting damage to said semiconductor substrate caused by the ion implantation, while maintaining essentially the entire amount of the ion implanted impurities at the surface of said semiconductor silicon substrate.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1, wherein said impurity ions are implanted through said silicon nitride film.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 2, wherein said impurity ions are implanted through a conductive material film deposited on said silicon nitride film and then through said silicon nitride film.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1, wherein said impurity ions are implanted directly into said semiconductor silicon substrate.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the thickness of said silicon nitride film is in the range of from 20 to 100 angstroms.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of said silicon nitride is in the range of from 50 to 90 angstroms.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 2, wherein the ion energy of said impurities is in the range of from 10 to 400 KeV.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 7, wherein said ion energy is in the range of from 20 to 200 KeV.

Claim 10

A process for producing a semiconductor device comprising MISFET elements comprising the steps of: forming an insulation film on the surface of a semiconductor silicon substrate; selectively removing said insulation film and forming windows through said insulation film, thereby exposing surface portions for forming each of said MISFET elements; cleaning said exposed surface portions with an acid solution; forming a silicon nitride film by direct thermal nitridation of the silicon of said exposed surface portions of said semiconductor silicon substrate; implanting impurity ions into said semiconductor silicon substrate; heating said semiconductor substrate to a temperature for electrically activating said impurities and for correcting damage to said semiconductor substrate caused by the ion implantation, while maintaining essentially the entire amount of the ion implanted impurities at the surface of said semiconductor silicon substrate; depositing a conductive material film over said silicon nitride film; selectively removing said conductive material film and said silicon nitride film, and forming windows through these films, said windows exposing portions of the ion implanted surface of said semiconductor silicon substrate, and; diffusing impurities into said semiconductor silicon substrate, while maintaining essentially the entire amount of the ion implanted impurities at the semiconductor substrate surface below the remaining silicon nitride film.

Claim 11

A process for producing a semiconductor device comprising MISFET elements comprising the steps of: forming an insulation film on the surface of a semiconductor silicon substrate; selectively removing said insulation film and forming windows through said insulation film, thereby exposing surface portions for forming each of said MISFET elements; cleaning said exposed surface portions with an acid solution; forming a silicon nitride film by direct thermal nitridation of the silicon of said exposed surface portions of said semiconductor silicon substrate; implanting impurity ions into said semiconductor silicon substrate; heating said semiconductor substrate to a temperature for electrically activating said impurities and for correcting damage to said semiconductor substrate caused by the ion implantation, while maintaining essentially the entire amount of the ion implanted impurities at the surface of said semiconductor silicon substrate; depositing a conductive material film over said silicon nitride film; selectively removing said conductive material film and said silicon nitride film, and forming windows through these films, said windows exposing portions of the ion implanted surface of said semiconductor silicon substrate, and; diffusing impurities into said semiconductor silicon substrate, while maintaining essentially the entire amount of the ion implanted impurities at the semiconductor substrate surface below the remaining silicon nitride film.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 8, wherein said impurity ions are implanted through said silicon nitride film.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 10, wherein said impurity ions are implanted through a conductive material film deposited on said silicon nitride film and then said silicon nitride film.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 8, wherein said impurity ions are implanted directly into said semiconductor silicon substrate.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the thickness of said silicon nitride film is in the range of from 20 to 100 angstroms.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of said silicon nitride is in the range of from 50 to 90 angstroms.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the ion energy of said impurities is in the range of from 10 to 400 KeV.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 15, wherein said ion energy is in the range of from 20 to 200 KeV.