INTEGRATED SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND FABRICATION METHOD

Disclosed is a submicron-wide single-crystal silicon structure protruding form a monolithic silicon body (32). This three-dimensional structure includes a lower section (68) of a first (N) conductivity type and an upper section (50) of a second (P) conductivity type. The upper section (50), consisting of narrow top and bottom portions (70, 72) separated by a relatively wide middle portion (56), consitutes the silicon material from which various active or passive integrated circuit devices may be fabricated. For example, in the case of an NPN transistor, the central region of the middle portion (56) constitutes the base region, the emitter and collector being enbed- ded in the two outer side regions thereof in a mutually facing relationship. Electrical contacts to the elements of the structure are established on the top and/or Isides of the protrusion. Owing to its freestanding self-isolated characteristic, dielectric isolation of the device is not necessary. Alternatively, total dielectric isolation of the IC may be achieved by utilizing a dielectric material for the bottom of the protrusion.Disclosed also is a process of fabricating the above structure. In one embodiment, starting with a single crystal N silicon body (32) having a P region, an insulator stud (48) of submicron width and length dictated by the limits of lithography is formed on the P region. Using the stud (48) as a mask, the P 'region is etched forming a narrow top portion (70) having the stud width projecting from the silicon body (32). On the exposed sides of the top portion - (70) oxide walls (52, 54) are formed and the etching continued forming the middle portion (56) of a width exceeding that of the top portion (70). An oxide-nitride wall (58, 60) is established on the exposed sides of the middle portion (56) and, using the resulting structure as a mask, the etching is continued to completely etch through the P region and a substantial portion of the underlying N silicon body - (32) thereby forming a free-standing silicon protrusion structure. By thermal oxidation, thick oxide walls (64, 66) are then formed on the just exposed sides of the silicon. Alternatively, the exposed sides of silicon may be completely oxidized to obtain a fully dielectrically isolated silicon protruding structure.