Abstract:
A method is disclosed for forming narrow thermal silicon dioxide side isolation regions in a semiconductor substrate and MOS or CMOS semiconductor devices fabricated by this method. A thin oxynitride lateral diffusion barrier to oxygen is used in conjunction with a polysilicon buffering stress relief layer on the surface of a semiconductor substrate prior to the field oxidation process to restrict lateral silicon dioxide expansion thereby permitting the creation of narrow thermal silicon dioxide side isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate.