US3386867A - Method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of gaas - Google Patents
Method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of gaas Download PDFInfo
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- US3386867A US3386867A US489271A US48927165A US3386867A US 3386867 A US3386867 A US 3386867A US 489271 A US489271 A US 489271A US 48927165 A US48927165 A US 48927165A US 3386867 A US3386867 A US 3386867A
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- BYDQGSVXQDOSJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Ge].[Au] Chemical compound [Ge].[Au] BYDQGSVXQDOSJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000000374 eutectic mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 27
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 44
- 235000012431 wafers Nutrition 0.000 description 37
- JBRZTFJDHDCESZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N AsGa Chemical compound [As]#[Ga] JBRZTFJDHDCESZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 33
- 229910001218 Gallium arsenide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 33
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 21
- 230000005496 eutectics Effects 0.000 description 16
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 12
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 9
- 229910052732 germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N germanium atom Chemical compound [Ge] GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical group [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007772 electrode material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Gallium Chemical compound [Ga] GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N arsenic atom Chemical compound [As] RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052733 gallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000005764 inhibitory process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012827 research and development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036962 time dependent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009827 uniform distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007740 vapor deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005019 vapor deposition process Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/06—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the coating material
- C23C14/14—Metallic material, boron or silicon
- C23C14/16—Metallic material, boron or silicon on metallic substrates or on substrates of boron or silicon
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/58—After-treatment
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/58—After-treatment
- C23C14/5806—Thermal treatment
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C26/00—Coating not provided for in groups C23C2/00 - C23C24/00
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N80/00—Bulk negative-resistance effect devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N80/00—Bulk negative-resistance effect devices
- H10N80/01—Manufacture or treatment
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S438/00—Semiconductor device manufacturing: process
- Y10S438/90—Bulk effect device making
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
- Y10T428/12493—Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, joint, etc.]
- Y10T428/12528—Semiconductor component
Definitions
- This invention relates to the manufacture of electrical contacts, and more particularly to the manufacture of electrical contacts for N-type GaAs.
- the electrical contacts for the wafer of GaAs had to have very low resistance, less than 0:19. Moreover, such contacts, in the presence of a strong electric field, had to exhibit linear conductivity, be non-injecting and geometrically regular.
- a successful electrical contact comprises the use of a eutectic composition of gold and germanium.
- the deposition of such eutectic composition on N-type gallium arsenide has resulted in low resistance-type contacts mentioned in the article by J. B. Gunn.
- alloying After evaporation of the eutectic mixture on the GaAS substrate at room temperature, alloying must be accomplished by raising the substrate temperature to over 450 C. until the reaction between the gold-germanium eutectic and the substrate surface is complete (30 sec. 1 min.). Since the gold-germanium eutectic temperature is approximately 325 C., the eutectic mixture becomes fluid and begins to globulate prior to reaching the alloy reaction temperature. The result upon attaining alloy reaction temperature is an array of electrically discontinuous puddles or globules alloyed to the substrate surface in a random manner.
- the Au and Ge depositions recombine to form the eutectic compositions at approximately 325 C. and, owing to the low solubility of Ni in AuGe at the alloying temperature, the Ni layer remains intact and retains the liquid AuGe in uniform intimate contact with the substrate surface until the alloy reaction temperature (450-480 C.) is reached and the reaction is completed.
- Another object is to employ a metal having a much higher melting point than the eutectic gold-germanium during the deposition of gold-germanium onto N-type gallium arsenide but low solubility in said eutectic composition.
- Still another object is to employ nickel as the high melting point metal when evaporating a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto an N-type gallium arsenide substrate.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of a suitable vacuum chamber for vap'or depositing nickel and a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium.
- FIG. -2 shows an erratic deposition of the electrodes onto a gallium arsenide water when the invention is not practiced.
- FIG. 3 shows the manner in which uniformity of electrode deposition is obtained when nickel is employed during the vapor deposition process.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.
- the gallium arsenide wafer 2 is supported in a suitable vacuum chamber 4.
- the eutectic mixture of gold-germanium is placed as a pellet 6 within crucible '8.
- Such eutectic mixture is 88% gold and 12% germanium by weight.
- Such pellets are heated by conventional means, such as a source of electrical energy 3 supplying current to contacts 5 and 7 so as to raise the temperature of crucible 8, in the evaporation chamber to completion, leaving a thin film of the eutectic mixture on one surface of the wafer 2.
- the rate of heating is controlled by well known means and such means are not shown in that they do not contribute toward a better understanding of the invention.
- the wafer is inverted in the vacuum chamber so that a similar film of gold-germanium can be deposited on the opposite side of the wafer.
- the wafer is transferred to an oven, the latter also being in a vacuum.
- the gallium arsenide and its deposited layers of gold-germanium are heated to about 480 C.
- an alloying reaction takes place between the film of goldgermanium and the substrate material gallium arsenide.
- the gold-germanium tends to globulate at a temperature range between 325 C. and 450 C.
- the end product is shown in FIG. 2.
- Representative globules 10; 12; 14; 16; etc. indicate how erratic the alloyed electrodes are distributed over the gallium arsen'ide substrate 2.
- the pellet 6 evaporates first and, at somewhat higher temperatures, thenickel evaporates as a layer above the eutectic deposition of gold-germanium. Both sides of the wafer 2 are deposited with the eutectic composition and the flash of nickel over such eutectic composition. Now, when the Wafer 2 is placed in an oven located in a vacuum chamher, the gold-germanium attempts to globulate at the temperature range of 325 C. to 450 C., but the film of nickel acts as a barrier preventing such puddling when the alloying temperature of 450 C. is reached.
- Such alloying which consists of heating the wafer and its deposited layers for approximately a minute, causes a uniform distribution of electrode material over the entire surface (top and bottom) of the wafer 2.
- the wafer is allowed to gradually cool to room temperature, at which time it is ready to be sliced into uniform chips.
- the distribution of the eutectic compositions 7 and 9 is uniform and kept so by the nickel coatings 11 and 13 so that the wafer 2 can now be sliced to produce many small units of a gallium arsenide material having two alloyed contacts on both sides of such gallium arsenide chip.
- the amount of nickel 18 that is placed in the crucible 8 with the pellet 6 is 2 to 11% by weight of the eutectic mixture of gold and germanium and approximates the optimum percentage of nickel to be employed. It is not certain why the presence of nickel produces the inhibition of globulation of the gold-germanium mixture. It is believed that the nickel has very low solubility in gold or germanium.
- the end product would comprise the middle layer 2 of gallium arsenide and on either side of such layer would be the eutectic layers 7 and 9 and above each of such layers is the nickel layer 11.
- germanium-gold eutectic is desinable as an electrode material for gallium arsenide, such electrode materials could not be employed in the process of batch fabricating chips of gallium arsenide and electrical contacts alloyed thereto.
- the present invention results in mechanically and electrically uniform contacts over a large area of substrates and is particularly suitable for batch fabrication techniques where uniformity of contacts is essential.
- a method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
- said metal having a higher melting point than said eutectic mixture and a low solubility therein, and alloying said gold-germanium to said wafer.
- a method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber
- a method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of N-type GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
- a method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of N-type GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
- An electrical unit comprising a GaAs wafer having at least two opposing faces, a eutectic mixture of goldger'm-anium intimately afiixed to said faces, and a coating of nickel on said eutectic mixture.
- An electrical unit comprising an N-type GaAs wafer having at least two opposing face-s, a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium intimately affixed to said faces, and a. coating of nickel on said eutectic mixture.
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Description
J. L. STAPLES June 4, 1968 METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL CONTACTS TO A WAFER OF GaAs Filed Sept. 22, 1965 FIG.
FIG. 2
INVENTOR. JOHN L. STAPLES ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,386,867 METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL CONTACTS TO A WAFER OF GaAs John L. Staples, Pearl River, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.,
a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,271 7 Claims. (Cl. 148-180) This invention relates to the manufacture of electrical contacts, and more particularly to the manufacture of electrical contacts for N-type GaAs.
A new phenomenon, called the Gunn Effect, is described in the April 1964 issue of the IBM Journal of Research and Development, vol. 8, 'No. 2. On pages 141- 159 of said Journal, the new phenomenon is described by the discoverer, J. B. Gunn, in an article entitled, Instabilities of Current in III-V Semiconductors. Gunn discovered that the application of an electric field, i.e., a few thousand volts per centimeter, to a homogeneous sample of N-type Ga'As produces, once a well-defined threshold field is reached, a time dependent decrease in current, the latter being substantially independent of external circuit conditions. For short specimens of GaAs,
' coherent oscillations are observed whose period is equal to the transit time of electrons between ohmic electrodes connected on either side of the GaAs water.
As is set forth in certain sections of the above-noted paper by J. B. Gunn, the electrical contacts for the wafer of GaAs had to have very low resistance, less than 0:19. Moreover, such contacts, in the presence of a strong electric field, had to exhibit linear conductivity, be non-injecting and geometrically regular.
A successful electrical contact comprises the use of a eutectic composition of gold and germanium. The deposition of such eutectic composition on N-type gallium arsenide has resulted in low resistance-type contacts mentioned in the article by J. B. Gunn.
After evaporation of the eutectic mixture on the GaAS substrate at room temperature, alloying must be accomplished by raising the substrate temperature to over 450 C. until the reaction between the gold-germanium eutectic and the substrate surface is complete (30 sec. 1 min.). Since the gold-germanium eutectic temperature is approximately 325 C., the eutectic mixture becomes fluid and begins to globulate prior to reaching the alloy reaction temperature. The result upon attaining alloy reaction temperature is an array of electrically discontinuous puddles or globules alloyed to the substrate surface in a random manner.
Since it is desired to batch fabricate electrical contacts to gallium arsenide, such erratic distribution of the electrical contacts on the surface of the gallium arsenide make it difiicult to obtain uniform units comprising a substrate of gallium arsenide and an alloyed electrode.
What is desired in the batch fabrication of units of gallium arsenide with suitable electrical contacts attached thereto is the ability to uniformly distribute the goldgermanium composition over the entire surface of a relatively large wafer of gallium arsenide. Moreover, such distribution should be free of erratic globules of goldgermanium so that when the Wafer is sliced, after the deposition of gold-germanium, such slices will result in uniform ohmic contacts on each slice cut from the wafer.
Applicant has discovered that the addition of nickel to the eutectic mixture of gold and germanium acts as a film that discourages the globulation or puddling of the gold-germanium mixture andthus permits such eutectic mixture to remain in intimate contact with the gallium arsenide substrate. The order of deposition of the contact constituents during vapor deposition is in direct proportion to the temperature required to attain a specified vapor 3,386,867 Patented June 4, 1968 pressure. Therefore germanium 1251 C. 10 microns Hg vapor pressure) evaporates first and coats the substrate followed by gold 1465 C. 10 microns Hg) and nickel 1.5 10 C. 10 microns Hg). During the alloying cycle the Au and Ge depositions recombine to form the eutectic compositions at approximately 325 C. and, owing to the low solubility of Ni in AuGe at the alloying temperature, the Ni layer remains intact and retains the liquid AuGe in uniform intimate contact with the substrate surface until the alloy reaction temperature (450-480 C.) is reached and the reaction is completed.
It is an object of this invention to provide improved electrical contacts for gallium arsenide wafers.
It is yet another object to provide a method for making electrical contacts for N-type gallium arsenide substrates that is particularly suitable for batch fabrication techniques.
Another object is to employ a metal having a much higher melting point than the eutectic gold-germanium during the deposition of gold-germanium onto N-type gallium arsenide but low solubility in said eutectic composition.
Still another object is to employ nickel as the high melting point metal when evaporating a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto an N-type gallium arsenide substrate.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of a suitable vacuum chamber for vap'or depositing nickel and a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium.
FIG. -2 shows an erratic deposition of the electrodes onto a gallium arsenide water when the invention is not practiced.
FIG. 3 shows the manner in which uniformity of electrode deposition is obtained when nickel is employed during the vapor deposition process.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.
In the normal process of making ohmic contacts to gallium arsenide, the gallium arsenide wafer 2 is supported in a suitable vacuum chamber 4. The eutectic mixture of gold-germanium is placed as a pellet 6 within crucible '8. Such eutectic mixture is 88% gold and 12% germanium by weight. Such pellets are heated by conventional means, such as a source of electrical energy 3 supplying current to contacts 5 and 7 so as to raise the temperature of crucible 8, in the evaporation chamber to completion, leaving a thin film of the eutectic mixture on one surface of the wafer 2. The rate of heating is controlled by well known means and such means are not shown in that they do not contribute toward a better understanding of the invention. When one side of the wafer has been treated in this manner, the wafer is inverted in the vacuum chamber so that a similar film of gold-germanium can be deposited on the opposite side of the wafer.
After such two depositions have been completed, the wafer is transferred to an oven, the latter also being in a vacuum. The gallium arsenide and its deposited layers of gold-germanium are heated to about 480 C. However, an alloying reaction takes place between the film of goldgermanium and the substrate material gallium arsenide. Before the alloying temperature of 450 C. is reached, the gold-germanium tends to globulate at a temperature range between 325 C. and 450 C. When such occurs, the end product is shown in FIG. 2. Representative globules 10; 12; 14; 16; etc., indicate how erratic the alloyed electrodes are distributed over the gallium arsen'ide substrate 2. Consequently, it is impossible to slice the finished product in a uniform manner to obtain an end product that would comprise a sandwich consisting of a central portion of gallium arsenide and two outer portions of alloyed electrodes comprising the eutectic composition of gold-germanium.
If during the deposition process shown in FIG. 1, a strip of nickel 18 is inserted in the crucible 8 with the pellet 6, the following takes place: the pellet 6 evaporates first and, at somewhat higher temperatures, thenickel evaporates as a layer above the eutectic deposition of gold-germanium. Both sides of the wafer 2 are deposited with the eutectic composition and the flash of nickel over such eutectic composition. Now, when the Wafer 2 is placed in an oven located in a vacuum chamher, the gold-germanium attempts to globulate at the temperature range of 325 C. to 450 C., but the film of nickel acts as a barrier preventing such puddling when the alloying temperature of 450 C. is reached. Such alloying, which consists of heating the wafer and its deposited layers for approximately a minute, causes a uniform distribution of electrode material over the entire surface (top and bottom) of the wafer 2. The wafer is allowed to gradually cool to room temperature, at which time it is ready to be sliced into uniform chips. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the distribution of the eutectic compositions 7 and 9 is uniform and kept so by the nickel coatings 11 and 13 so that the wafer 2 can now be sliced to produce many small units of a gallium arsenide material having two alloyed contacts on both sides of such gallium arsenide chip.
The amount of nickel 18 that is placed in the crucible 8 with the pellet 6 is 2 to 11% by weight of the eutectic mixture of gold and germanium and approximates the optimum percentage of nickel to be employed. It is not certain why the presence of nickel produces the inhibition of globulation of the gold-germanium mixture. It is believed that the nickel has very low solubility in gold or germanium. The nickel, by not being dissolved su=bstantially in the gold germanium mixture, stiffens the eutectic layer and helps to maintain such eutectic layer in intimate contact with the substrate 2. As seen in FIG. 4, the end product would comprise the middle layer 2 of gallium arsenide and on either side of such layer would be the eutectic layers 7 and 9 and above each of such layers is the nickel layer 11.
Although germanium-gold eutectic is desinable as an electrode material for gallium arsenide, such electrode materials could not be employed in the process of batch fabricating chips of gallium arsenide and electrical contacts alloyed thereto. The present invention results in mechanically and electrically uniform contacts over a large area of substrates and is particularly suitable for batch fabrication techniques where uniformity of contacts is essential.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
vapor depositing a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto said wafer,
vapor depositing a metal onto said eutectic mixture,
said metal having a higher melting point than said eutectic mixture and a low solubility therein, and alloying said gold-germanium to said wafer.
2. A method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
vapor depositing a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto said wafer,
vapor depositing nickel over said eutectic mixture,
and then alloying said gold-germanium to said wafer.
3. A method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of N-type GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
vapor depositing a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto said wafer,
vapor depositing nickel over said eutectic mixture,
and then alloying said gold-germanium to said wafer.
4. A method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of N-type GaAs comprising the steps of maintaining said wafer in an evacuated chamber,
vapor depositing a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium onto said wafer,
vapor depositing nickel over said eutectic mixture,
and then heating said wafer to a temperature of 450 C.
and maintaining said temperature for a period of about 30 seconds to a minute so as to alloy said gold-germanium to said wafer.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said nickel is between 2-ll% by weight of the eutectic mixture of goldgermanium.
6. An electrical unit comprising a GaAs wafer having at least two opposing faces, a eutectic mixture of goldger'm-anium intimately afiixed to said faces, and a coating of nickel on said eutectic mixture.
7. An electrical unit comprising an N-type GaAs wafer having at least two opposing face-s, a eutectic mixture of gold-germanium intimately affixed to said faces, and a. coating of nickel on said eutectic mixture.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,012, 12/1961 Jones et al. 148l85 3,1'14,088 12/ 196-3 A'be'rcrombie 148- 3,208,889 9/ 1965 Emeis 148-185 3,337,378 8/1967 Mig'itaka 148- 185 HY-LAND BIZOT, Primary Examiner. RICHARD O. DEAN, Examiner.
Claims (1)
1. A METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL CONTACTS TO A WAFER OF GAAS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF MAINTAINING SAID WAFER IN AN EVACUATED CHAMBER, VAPOR DEPOSITING A EUTECTIC MIXTURE OF GOLD-GERMANIUM ONTO SAID WAFER, VAPOR DEPOSITING A METAL ONTO SAID EUTECTIC MIXTURE, SAID METAL HAVING A HIGHER MELTING POINT THAN SAID EUTECTIC MIXTURE AND A LOW SOLUBILITY THEREIN, AND ALLOYING SAID GOLD-GERMANIUM TO SAID WAFER.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US489271A US3386867A (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1965-09-22 | Method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of gaas |
FR8000A FR1490410A (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1966-08-18 | Electrical contacts |
GB40098/66A GB1085477A (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1966-09-08 | Method of making electrical contact to gallium arsenide and product thereof |
DE19661521336 DE1521336A1 (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1966-09-17 | Process for the production of rod-shaped bodies made of gallium arsenide, provided on both faces with uniform, low-resistance contacts |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US489271A US3386867A (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1965-09-22 | Method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of gaas |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3386867A true US3386867A (en) | 1968-06-04 |
Family
ID=23943131
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US489271A Expired - Lifetime US3386867A (en) | 1965-09-22 | 1965-09-22 | Method for providing electrical contacts to a wafer of gaas |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3386867A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1521336A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR1490410A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1085477A (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3532562A (en) * | 1968-10-28 | 1970-10-06 | Us Navy | Ohmic low resistance contact to gallium arsenide |
FR2106379A1 (en) * | 1970-09-08 | 1972-05-05 | Philips Nv | |
US3871008A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-11 | Gen Electric | Reflective multiple contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
US3871016A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-11 | Gen Electric | Reflective coated contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
US3889286A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-06-10 | Gen Electric | Transparent multiple contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
DE2359640A1 (en) * | 1973-11-30 | 1975-06-12 | Licentia Gmbh | Electric contact on semiconductor with low soldering temp. - consisting of gold, nickel, doped germanium and gold layers |
US3909929A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-10-07 | Gen Electric | Method of making contacts to semiconductor light conversion elements |
US4011583A (en) * | 1974-09-03 | 1977-03-08 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Ohmics contacts of germanium and palladium alloy from group III-V n-type semiconductors |
US4218271A (en) * | 1977-04-13 | 1980-08-19 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices utilizing a sure-step molecular beam deposition |
US4853346A (en) * | 1987-12-31 | 1989-08-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Ohmic contacts for semiconductor devices and method for forming ohmic contacts |
US6900475B2 (en) | 1999-04-23 | 2005-05-31 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US20060223209A1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2006-10-05 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US20080254566A1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2008-10-16 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3012175A (en) * | 1960-01-20 | 1961-12-05 | Texas Instruments Inc | Contact for gallium arsenide |
US3114088A (en) * | 1960-08-23 | 1963-12-10 | Texas Instruments Inc | Gallium arsenide devices and contact therefor |
US3208889A (en) * | 1962-05-29 | 1965-09-28 | Siemens Ag | Method for producing a highly doped p-type conductance region in a semiconductor body, particularly of silicon and product thereof |
US3337378A (en) * | 1963-09-06 | 1967-08-22 | Hitachi Ltd | Method for the production of semiconductor devices |
-
1965
- 1965-09-22 US US489271A patent/US3386867A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1966
- 1966-08-18 FR FR8000A patent/FR1490410A/en not_active Expired
- 1966-09-08 GB GB40098/66A patent/GB1085477A/en not_active Expired
- 1966-09-17 DE DE19661521336 patent/DE1521336A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3012175A (en) * | 1960-01-20 | 1961-12-05 | Texas Instruments Inc | Contact for gallium arsenide |
US3114088A (en) * | 1960-08-23 | 1963-12-10 | Texas Instruments Inc | Gallium arsenide devices and contact therefor |
US3208889A (en) * | 1962-05-29 | 1965-09-28 | Siemens Ag | Method for producing a highly doped p-type conductance region in a semiconductor body, particularly of silicon and product thereof |
US3337378A (en) * | 1963-09-06 | 1967-08-22 | Hitachi Ltd | Method for the production of semiconductor devices |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3532562A (en) * | 1968-10-28 | 1970-10-06 | Us Navy | Ohmic low resistance contact to gallium arsenide |
FR2106379A1 (en) * | 1970-09-08 | 1972-05-05 | Philips Nv | |
DE2359640A1 (en) * | 1973-11-30 | 1975-06-12 | Licentia Gmbh | Electric contact on semiconductor with low soldering temp. - consisting of gold, nickel, doped germanium and gold layers |
US3871008A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-11 | Gen Electric | Reflective multiple contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
US3871016A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-11 | Gen Electric | Reflective coated contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
US3889286A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-06-10 | Gen Electric | Transparent multiple contact for semiconductor light conversion elements |
US3909929A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-10-07 | Gen Electric | Method of making contacts to semiconductor light conversion elements |
US4011583A (en) * | 1974-09-03 | 1977-03-08 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Ohmics contacts of germanium and palladium alloy from group III-V n-type semiconductors |
US4218271A (en) * | 1977-04-13 | 1980-08-19 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices utilizing a sure-step molecular beam deposition |
US4853346A (en) * | 1987-12-31 | 1989-08-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Ohmic contacts for semiconductor devices and method for forming ohmic contacts |
US6900475B2 (en) | 1999-04-23 | 2005-05-31 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US20050186693A1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2005-08-25 | Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US20060223209A1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2006-10-05 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US7368316B2 (en) | 1999-04-23 | 2008-05-06 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US20080254566A1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2008-10-16 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
US7881359B2 (en) | 1999-04-23 | 2011-02-01 | The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd | Surface-emission semiconductor laser device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR1490410A (en) | 1967-07-28 |
GB1085477A (en) | 1967-10-04 |
DE1521336A1 (en) | 1969-07-31 |
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