Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A process for manufacturing a granulated silicon layer on a substrate, the method comprising: sequentially depositing a first insulating layer, a first silicon layer and a second insulating layer on the substrate; performing an ion-implanting process on the second insulating layer; depositing a second silicon layer on the second insulating layer which simultaneously unevenly etches away the second insulating layer forming a plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to expose the first silicon layer thereunder at each pin hole; etching the second silicon layer to expose the second insulating layer and the first silicon layer exposed at each pin hole of the plurality of pin holes formed in the second insulating layer; etching the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to form a plurality of cavities in the first silicon layer; and removing the second insulating layer while simultaneously deepening each cavity of the plurality of cavities to form a granulated silicon layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for manufacturing a granulated silicon layer on a substrate, the method comprising: sequentially depositing a first insulating layer, a first silicon layer and a second insulating layer on the substrate; performing an ion-implanting process on the second insulating layer; depositing a second silicon layer on the second insulating layer which simultaneously unevenly etches away the second insulating layer forming a plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to expose the first silicon layer thereunder at each pin hole; etching the second silicon layer to expose the second insulating layer and the first silicon layer exposed at each pin hole of the plurality of pin holes formed in the second insulating layer; etching the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to form a plurality of cavities in the first silicon layer; and removing the second insulating layer while simultaneously deepening each cavity of the plurality of cavities to form a granulated silicon layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the second insulating layer is removed while simultaneously deepening each cavity of said plurality of cavities by performing an over-etching process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is deepened by wet-etching until the second insulating layer is completely removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a third silicon layer is deposited on the entire surface of the first silicon layer to repair any damage to the surface of the first silicon layer caused by removing the second insulating layer thereby forming a damage protected and highly granulated silicon layer having an increased surface area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer are selected from a group consisting of polysilicon and amorphous silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the third silicon layer is polysilicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the third silicon layer is an amorphous silicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second insulating layer formed on the first silicon layer is formed with an oxide layer by forming the oxide layer to a thickness of 5-30 Angstroms on the first silicon layer in a solution of H 2 SO 4 and H 2 O 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second insulating layer formed on the first silicon layer is formed with an oxide layer by forming the oxide layer to a thickness of 100-500 Angstroms on the first silicon layer at a temperature of 800-900 degrees Celsius in the presence of oxygen; and dry-etching the resulting oxide layer to a thickness of 50-200 Angstroms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cavities formed into the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer are formed by anisotropically etching the second silicon layer, any remaining layer of the second insulating layer and the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes, such that the ratio of the etching selectivity of the first and second silicon layer to the remaining layer of the second insulating layer is over 5:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the anisotropic etching is conducted in the presence of a gas selected from the group consisting of Cl 2 and SF 6 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for manufacturing a granulated silicon layer on a substrate, the method comprising: sequentially depositing a first insulating layer and a first silicon layer on the surface of the substrate; depositing a second insulating layer on the first silicon layer; performing an ion-implanting process on the second insulating layer deposited on the first silicon layer; etching the second insulating layer to unevenly erode the second insulating layer such that the thickness of the second insulating layer varies and a plurality of pin holes is formed in the second insulating layer with each hole exposing a portion of the first silicon layer; etching the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to form a plurality of cavities in the first silicon layer, and further etching the unevenly eroded second insulating layer; and selectively etching the plurality of cavities formed in first silicon layer to deepen each cavity and to remove the second insulating layer to form a granulated silicon layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for manufacturing a granulated silicon layer on a substrate, the method comprising: sequentially depositing a first insulating layer and a first silicon layer on the surface of the substrate; depositing a second insulating layer on the first silicon layer; performing an ion-implanting process on the second insulating layer deposited on the first silicon layer; etching the second insulating layer to unevenly erode the second insulating layer such that the thickness of the second insulating layer varies and a plurality of pin holes is formed in the second insulating layer with each hole exposing a portion of the first silicon layer; etching the first silicon layer exposed by the plurality of pin holes in the second insulating layer to form a plurality of cavities in the first silicon layer, and further etching the unevenly eroded second insulating layer; and selectively etching the plurality of cavities formed in first silicon layer to deepen each cavity and to remove the second insulating layer to form a granulated silicon layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the first insulating layer is selected from the group consisting of an oxide or a nitride.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the first silicon layer is selected from a group consisting of polysilicon and amorphous silicon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the second insulating layer is an oxide having a thickness of 100-500 Angstroms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the second insulating layer is etched by dry-etching.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the second insulating layer is etched by sputter-etching.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the selective etching step is performed by anisotropic etching with a gas selected from the group consisting of Cl 2 or SF 6 and the ratio of the etching selectivity of the first silicon layer to the remaining second insulating layer is over 5:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 18 wherein after etching the plurality of cavities a wet-etching process is performed by dipping the resulting structure into HF solution in order to ensure that the second insulating layer is completely removed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 19 wherein a third silicon layer is deposited on the entire surface of the first silicon layer to repair any damage that may have occurred to the surface of the first silicon layer caused by removing the second insulating layer to form a damage protected and highly granulated silicon layer having increased surface area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the first silicon layer is from several hundred to several thousand Angstroms.