Method and apparatus for forming a semiconductor substrate with a layer structure of activated dopants

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices with a layered structure of thin and well defined layer of activated dopants, are disclosed. In a preferred method, a region in a semiconductor substrate is amorphized, after which the region is implanted with a first dopant at a first doping concentration. Then a solid phase epitaxy regrowth step is performed on a thin layer of desired thickness of the amorphized region, in order to activate the first dopant only in this thin layer. Subsequently, a second dopant is implanted in the remaining amorphous region at a second doping concentration. Subsequent annealing of the substrate activates the second dopant only in said remaining region, so a very abrupt transition between dopant characteristics of the thin layer with first dopant and the region with the second dopant is obtained. (end of abstract)