Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots

This paper introduces a novel integration method of localized metallic back-gates into fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) multi-gate FETs, enabling robust front-to-back electrostatic coupling from room temperature to cryogenic conditions, without the need for substrate implantation. The fab...

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Main Authors: Fabio Bersano, Niccolo Martinolli, Ilan Bouquet, Michele Ghini, Eloi Collette, Liza Zaper, Floris Braakman, Martino Poggio, Mathieu Luisier, Adrian Mihai Ionescu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10902357/
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author Fabio Bersano
Niccolo Martinolli
Ilan Bouquet
Michele Ghini
Eloi Collette
Liza Zaper
Floris Braakman
Martino Poggio
Mathieu Luisier
Adrian Mihai Ionescu
author_facet Fabio Bersano
Niccolo Martinolli
Ilan Bouquet
Michele Ghini
Eloi Collette
Liza Zaper
Floris Braakman
Martino Poggio
Mathieu Luisier
Adrian Mihai Ionescu
author_sort Fabio Bersano
collection DOAJ
description This paper introduces a novel integration method of localized metallic back-gates into fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) multi-gate FETs, enabling robust front-to-back electrostatic coupling from room temperature to cryogenic conditions, without the need for substrate implantation. The fabrication process, termed the Nanomole process, utilizes nanometric vapor-phase etching of the buried oxide or silicon substrate with vapor-HF and XeF2 gases. This is followed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a dielectric material and Pt, with precise patterning achieved through inductively coupled plasma etching. Detailed analysis of the process demonstrates controllable etch rates based on device geometry, providing calibrated guidelines for scalable manufacturing. Symmetric mid-k dual-gating is reported in devices featuring a Si-film thickness of 24 nm, with a top and bottom gate oxide equivalent thickness (EOT) of 6.5 nm. Electrical characterization of multi-gate FDSOI SETs, operated as FETs, confirms effective threshold voltage tuning through dual-gate operation, with consistent performance from room temperature to millikelvin regimes. Additionally, quantum mechanical simulations based on the effective mass approximation at 4 K offer insights into the electrostatic behavior of dual-gated SOI quantum dot devices in both planar and nanowire geometries. This scalable and versatile technological solution opens new possibilities for advanced quantum devices, such as charge and spin qubits, by enabling in situ control over volume inversion, electron valley splitting, and spin-orbit interaction.
format Article
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issn 2168-6734
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
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series IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
spelling doaj-art-dfefadd84b1b4f328331a218eda07f452025-08-20T02:41:58ZengIEEEIEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society2168-67342025-01-011321021810.1109/JEDS.2025.354566110902357Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum DotsFabio Bersano0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8190-6719Niccolo Martinolli1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2221-3055Ilan Bouquet2Michele Ghini3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6927-0699Eloi Collette4https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3281-9728Liza Zaper5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3902-5729Floris Braakman6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3442-0110Martino Poggio7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5327-051XMathieu Luisier8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2212-7972Adrian Mihai Ionescu9https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2314-8887Nanoelectronic Devices Laboratory, IEM EPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandNanoelectronic Devices Laboratory, IEM EPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandIntegrated Systems Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandNanoelectronic Devices Laboratory, IEM EPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandNanoelectronic Devices Laboratory, IEM EPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandDepartment of Physics, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Physics, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Physics, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandIntegrated Systems Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandNanoelectronic Devices Laboratory, IEM EPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandThis paper introduces a novel integration method of localized metallic back-gates into fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) multi-gate FETs, enabling robust front-to-back electrostatic coupling from room temperature to cryogenic conditions, without the need for substrate implantation. The fabrication process, termed the Nanomole process, utilizes nanometric vapor-phase etching of the buried oxide or silicon substrate with vapor-HF and XeF2 gases. This is followed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a dielectric material and Pt, with precise patterning achieved through inductively coupled plasma etching. Detailed analysis of the process demonstrates controllable etch rates based on device geometry, providing calibrated guidelines for scalable manufacturing. Symmetric mid-k dual-gating is reported in devices featuring a Si-film thickness of 24 nm, with a top and bottom gate oxide equivalent thickness (EOT) of 6.5 nm. Electrical characterization of multi-gate FDSOI SETs, operated as FETs, confirms effective threshold voltage tuning through dual-gate operation, with consistent performance from room temperature to millikelvin regimes. Additionally, quantum mechanical simulations based on the effective mass approximation at 4 K offer insights into the electrostatic behavior of dual-gated SOI quantum dot devices in both planar and nanowire geometries. This scalable and versatile technological solution opens new possibilities for advanced quantum devices, such as charge and spin qubits, by enabling in situ control over volume inversion, electron valley splitting, and spin-orbit interaction.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10902357/Cryo-CMOSFDSOIquantum dotsvapor phase etchingback-gatedual-gate control
spellingShingle Fabio Bersano
Niccolo Martinolli
Ilan Bouquet
Michele Ghini
Eloi Collette
Liza Zaper
Floris Braakman
Martino Poggio
Mathieu Luisier
Adrian Mihai Ionescu
Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society
Cryo-CMOS
FDSOI
quantum dots
vapor phase etching
back-gate
dual-gate control
title Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
title_full Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
title_fullStr Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
title_full_unstemmed Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
title_short Nanomole Process: Enabling Localized Metallic Back-Gates for Enhanced Cryogenic Front-to-Back Coupling in FDSOI Quantum Dots
title_sort nanomole process enabling localized metallic back gates for enhanced cryogenic front to back coupling in fdsoi quantum dots
topic Cryo-CMOS
FDSOI
quantum dots
vapor phase etching
back-gate
dual-gate control
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10902357/
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