Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, the method includes forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, exposing the gate dielectric to a halogen, and incorporating the halogen into the gate dielectric. In one embodiment, the halogen is fluorine. In one embodiment, the gate dielectric is also exposed to nitrogen and the nitrogen is incorporated into the gate dielectric. In one embodiment, the gate dielectric is a metal oxide.

Abstract: A metal layer etch process deposits, patterns and anisotropically etches a polysilicon layer (24) down to an underlying metal layer (22) to form an etched polysilicon structure (54) with polymer layers (50, 52) formed on its sidewall surfaces. The polymer layer (50, 52) are removed to expose an additional surface area (60, 62) of the metal layer (22), and dielectric layers (80, 82) are formed on the sidewall surfaces of the etched polysilicon structure (54). Next, the metal layer (22) is plasma etched to form an etched metal layer (95) with substantially vertical sidewall surfaces (97, 99) by simultaneously charging the dielectric layers (80, 82) to change plasma ion trajectories near the dielectric layers (80, 82) so that plasma ions (92, 94) impact the sidewall surfaces (97, 99) in a more perpendicular angle to enhance etching of the sidewall surfaces (97, 99) of the etched metal layer (95).

Abstract: A method for forming a capacitor includes providing a metal-containing bottom electrode, forming a capacitor insulator over the metal-containing bottom electrode, forming a metal-containing top electrode over the capacitor insulator, and forming a dielectric-containing field modification layer over the capacitor insulator and at least partially surrounding the metal-containing top electrode. Forming the dielectric-containing field modification layer may include oxidizing a sidewall of the metal-containing field modification layer. A barrier layer may be formed over the capacitor insulator prior to forming the metal-containing top electrode.

Abstract: A method for forming at least a portion of a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate and epitaxially forming an etch stop layer over the substrate. A first layer is provided over the etch stop layer, wherein the first layer is selectively etchable with regard to the etch stop layer. A structure is provided over a region of the first layer, wherein the region is not all of the first layer. In addition, the method includes etching at least a portion of the first layer that is outside of the region, wherein the etch stop layer is used an as etch stop. A strained layer is epitaxially grown in the etch-recessed region.

Abstract: A process for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure includes forming a recess in the dielectric layer (20) of a semiconductor substrate (10). A first capacitor electrode (30, 40) is formed in the recess having a copper first metal layer (30) with a conductive oxidation barrier (40) formed over the first metal layer (30). The first capacitor electrode (30, 40) is planarized relative to the dielectric layer (20). An insulator (50) is formed over the first capacitor electrode (30, 40) and a second capacitor electrode (65) is formed over the insulator (50). Forming the first capacitor electrode (30, 40) in the recess maintains the alignment of a periphery of the copper first metal layer (30) with the conductive oxidation barrier (40).