Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a transistor, a gate structure is formed on a substrate including silicon. An upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure is etched to form a first recess in the substrate. A preliminary first epitaxial layer including silicon-germanium is formed in the first recess. An upper portion of the preliminary first epitaxial layer is etched to form a second recess on the preliminary first epitaxial layer. In addition, a portion of the preliminary first epitaxial layer adjacent to the second recess is etched to thereby transform the preliminary first epitaxial layer into a first epitaxial layer. A second epitaxial layer including silicon-germanium is formed in the second recess located on the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a first active region has a first ?-shape, and the second active region has a second ?-shape. When a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a first gate electrode in the first region is defined as a first vertical line, when a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a second gate electrode in the second region is defined as a second vertical line, when a shortest distance between the first vertical line and the first trench is defined as a first horizontal distance, and when a shortest distance between the second vertical line and the second trench is defined as a second horizontal distance, a difference between the first horizontal distance and the second horizontal distance is equal to or less than 1 nm.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, including a device isolation layer arranged on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, the active region including a central top surface of a (100) crystal plane and an inclined edge surface extending from the central top surface to the device isolation layer, a semiconductor pattern covering the central top surface and the inclined edge surface of the active region, the semiconductor pattern including a flat top surface of a (100) crystal plane that is parallel with the central top surface of the active region and a sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the flat top surface, and a gate pattern overlapping the semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a channel region, forming a gate electrode structure on the channel region of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first trench in the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second trench in the semiconductor device. The first trench may include a first tip that protrudes toward the channel. The second trench may be an enlargement of the first trench and may include a second tip that also protrudes toward the channel region. In some examples, the second tip may protrude further towards the channel region than the first tip.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region, a gate insulation layer on the channel region, a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer, and source and drain regions in recesses in the substrate on both sides of the channel region, respectively. The source and drain regions include a lower main layer whose bottom surface is located at level above the bottom of a recess and lower than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and a top surface no higher than the level of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and an upper main layer contacting the lower main layer and whose top surface extends to a level higher than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and in which the lower layer has a Ge content higher than that of the upper layer.

Abstract: A method of evaluating an epitaxial growing process includes forming a mold layer on each of a plurality of substrates, forming a photoresist pattern on each mold layer, the photoresist pattern having opening portions, a total area of a bottom portion of the opening portions being different for each substrate, patterning each mold layer to expose a surface portion of the substrate to form an evaluation pattern on each substrate, evaluation patterns including opening portions corresponding to the opening portion in the photoresist pattern, determining substrate opening ratios for each substrate based on the opening portions in the evaluation pattern thereon, the substrate opening ratios being different for each substrate, performing a selective epitaxial process on each substrate to form an epitaxial layer, and evaluating characteristics of the epitaxial layer for each substrate to determine an optimal substrate opening ratio.

Abstract: A MOS transistor includes a pair of impurity regions formed in a substrate as spaced apart from each other, and a gate electrode formed on a region of the substrate located between the pair of impurity regions. Each of the impurity regions is formed of a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and a third epitaxial layer on the second epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer is formed of at least one first sub-epitaxial layer and a respective second sub-epitaxial layer stacked on each first sub-epitaxial layer. An impurity concentration of the first sub-epitaxial layer is less than that of the second sub-epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device isolation pattern, a gate line, and an epitaxial pattern. The device isolation pattern is disposed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active area. The gate line intersects the active area. The epitaxial pattern fills a recess region in the active area at one side of the gate line and includes a different constituent semiconductor element than the semiconductor substrate. The recess region includes a first inner sidewall that is adjacent to the device isolation pattern and extends in the lengthwise direction of the gate, and a second inner sidewall that extends in the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the gate line. The active area forms the first inner sidewall of the recess, while the device isolation layer forms at least a portion of the second inner sidewall of the recess. The epitaxial pattern contacts the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall of the recess region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a channel region, forming a gate electrode structure on the channel region of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first trench in the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second trench in the semiconductor device. The first trench may include a first tip that protrudes toward the channel. The second trench may be an enlargement of the first trench and may include a second tip that also protrudes toward the channel region. In some examples, the second tip may protrude further towards the channel region than the first tip.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more semiconductor devices includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing a cycling process to remove contaminants from the trench, and forming an epitaxial layer on the trench. The cycling process includes sequentially supplying a first reaction gas containing germane, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen and a second reaction gas containing hydrogen chloride and hydrogen onto the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a transistor, a gate structure is formed on a substrate including silicon. An upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure is etched to form a first recess in the substrate. A preliminary first epitaxial layer including silicon-germanium is formed in the first recess. An upper portion of the preliminary first epitaxial layer is etched to form a second recess on the preliminary first epitaxial layer. In addition, a portion of the preliminary first epitaxial layer adjacent to the second recess is etched to thereby transform the preliminary first epitaxial layer into a first epitaxial layer. A second epitaxial layer including silicon-germanium is formed in the second recess located on the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate and a sidewall spacer on the gate electrode. Then, a portion of the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the sidewall spacer is partially etched to form a trench. A SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed in the trench. A silicon layer is formed on the SiGe mixed crystal layer. A portion of the silicon layer is partially etched using an etching solution having different etching rates in accordance with a crystal direction of a face of the silicon layer to form a capping layer including a silicon facet having an (111) inclined face.

Abstract: A method of evaluating an epitaxial growing process includes forming a mold layer on each of a plurality of substrates, forming a photoresist pattern on each mold layer, the photoresist pattern having opening portions, a total area of a bottom portion of the opening portions being different for each substrate, patterning each mold layer to expose a surface portion of the substrate to form an evaluation pattern on each substrate, evaluation patterns including opening portions corresponding to the opening portion in the photoresist pattern, determining substrate opening ratios for each substrate based on the opening portions in the evaluation pattern thereon, the substrate opening ratios being different for each substrate, performing a selective epitaxial process on each substrate to form an epitaxial layer, and evaluating characteristics of the epitaxial layer for each substrate to determine an optimal substrate opening ratio.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a capping layer having a first thickness on the epitaxial layer; and oxidizing the capping layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form a first gate dielectric layer having a second thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device isolation pattern, a gate line, and an epitaxial pattern. The device isolation pattern is disposed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active area. The gate line intersects the active area. The epitaxial pattern fills a recess region in the active area at one side of the gate line and includes a different constituent semiconductor element than the semiconductor substrate. The recess region includes a first inner sidewall that is adjacent to the device isolation pattern and extends in the lengthwise direction of the gate, and a second inner sidewall that extends in the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the gate line. The active area forms the first inner sidewall of the recess, while the device isolation layer forms at least a portion of the second inner sidewall of the recess. The epitaxial pattern contacts the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall of the recess region.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming semiconductor devices. A method may include preparing a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region adjacent the first region. The method may also include forming sacrificial pattern covering the second region and exposing the first region. The method may further include forming a capping layer including a faceted sidewall on the first region using selective epitaxial growth (SEG). The faceted sidewall may be separate from the sacrificial pattern. The sacrificial pattern may be removed. Impurity ions may be implanted into the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate and a sidewall spacer on the gate electrode. Then, a portion of the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the sidewall spacer is partially etched to form a trench. A SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed in the trench. A silicon layer is formed on the SiGe mixed crystal layer. A portion of the silicon layer is partially etched using an etching solution having different etching rates in accordance with a crystal direction of a face of the silicon layer to form a capping layer including a silicon facet having an (111) inclined face.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, including a device isolation layer arranged on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, the active region including a central top surface of a (100) crystal plane and an inclined edge surface extending from the central top surface to the device isolation layer, a semiconductor pattern covering the central top surface and the inclined edge surface of the active region, the semiconductor pattern including a flat top surface of a (100) crystal plane that is parallel with the central top surface of the active region and a sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the flat top surface, and a gate pattern overlapping the semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided, the methods include forming a gate stack on a substrate, forming an insulation layer on the substrate to cover the gate stack, forming a spacer at both side walls of the gate stack by etching the insulation layer, and ion implanting impurities in the spacer or the insulation layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation region in a silicon substrate to define an nMOS region and a pMOS region. A p-well is formed in the nMOS region and an n-well in the pMOS region. Gate structures are formed over the p-well and n-well, each gate structure including a stacked structure comprising a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode. A resist mask covers the nMOS region and exposes the pMOS region. Trenches are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the gate structures of the pMOS region. SiGe layers are grown in the trenches of the pMOS region. The resist mask is removed from the nMOS region. Carbon is implanted to an implantation depth simultaneously on both the nMOS region and the pMOS region to form SiC on the nMOS region and SiGe on the pMOS region.