Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a transistor with a metal gate electrode and a gate dielectric layer includes forming a protective layer on the gate dielectric layer and forming a metal gate electrode over the protective layer. The protective layer has a graded composition between the gate dielectric layer and the metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A strain enhanced semiconductor device and methods for its fabrication are provided. One method comprises embedding a strain inducing semiconductor material in the source and drain regions of the device to induce a strain in the device channel. Thin metal silicide contacts are formed to the source and drain regions so as not to relieve the induced strain. A layer of conductive material is selectively deposited in contact with the thin metal silicide contacts, and metallized contacts are formed to the conductive material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The strained material is formed after the trench is formed. The process can be utilized on a compound semiconductor layer above a box layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The strained material is formed after the trench is formed. The process can be utilized on a compound semiconductor layer above a box layer.

Abstract: A strain enhanced semiconductor device and methods for its fabrication are provided. One method comprises embedding a strain inducing semiconductor material in the source and drain regions of the device to induce a strain in the device channel. Thin metal silicide contacts are formed to the source and drain regions so as not to relieve the induced strain. A layer of conductive material is selectively deposited in contact with the thin metal silicide contacts, and metallized contacts are formed to the conductive material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The strained material is formed after the trench is formed. The process can be utilized on a compound semiconductor layer above a box layer.

Abstract: A multiple-channel semiconductor device has fully or partially depleted quantum wells and is especially useful in ultra large scale integration devices, such as CMOSFETs. Multiple channel regions are provided on a substrate with a gate electrode formed on the uppermost channel region, separated by a gate oxide, for example. The vertical stacking of multiple channels and the gate electrode permit increased drive current in a semiconductor device without increasing the silicon area occupied by the device.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of FinFET channel structure formation. The method can include providing a compound semiconductor layer above an insulating layer, providing a trench in the compound semiconductor layer, and providing a strained semiconductor layer above the compound semiconductor layer and within the trench. The method can also include removing the strained semiconductor layer from above the compound semiconductor layer, thereby leaving the strained semiconductor layer within the trench and removing the compound semiconductor layer to leave the strained semiconductor layer and form the fin-shaped channel region.

Abstract: A method of forming a finFET transistor using a sidewall epitaxial layer includes forming a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer above an oxide layer above a substrate, forming a cap layer above the SiGe layer, removing portions of the SiGe layer and the cap layer to form a feature, forming sidewalls along lateral walls of the feature, and removing the feature.

Abstract: A multiple-channel semiconductor device has fully or partially depleted quantum wells and is especially useful in ultra large scale integration devices, such as CMOSFETs. Multiple channel regions are provided on a substrate with a gate electrode formed on the uppermost channel region, separated by a gate oxide, for example. The vertical stacking of multiple channels and the gate electrode permit increased drive current in a semiconductor device without increasing the silicon area occupied by the device.

Abstract: A method of determining a work function of a metal to be used as a metal gate material provides a metal-on-silicon (MS) Schottky diode on a silicon substrate. The MS Schottky diode is formed by deposition of the metal in a single step deposition through a shadow mask that is secured on the silicon substrate.

Abstract: An SOI substrate comprises a layer of strained silicon sandwiched between a dielectric layer and a layer of strained silicon. The substrate may be used to form a strained silicon SOI MOSFET having a gate electrode that extends through the silicon germanium layer to a channel region formed in the strained silicon layer. The MOSFET may be formed in a fully depleted state by using a strained silicon layer of appropriate thickness.

Abstract: A metal gate electrode is formed with an intrinsic electric field to modify its work function and the threshold voltage of the transistor. Embodiments include forming an opening in a dielectric layer by removing a removable gate, depositing one or more layers of tantalum nitride such that the nitrogen content increases from the bottom of the layer adjacent the gate dielectric layer upwardly. Other embodiments include forming the intrinsic electric field to control the work function by doping one or more metal layers and forming metal alloys. Embodiments further include the use of barrier layers when forming metal gate electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming a channel region for a transistor includes forming a layer of silicon germanium (SiGe) above a substrate, forming an oxide layer above the SiGe layer wherein the oxide layer includes an aperture in a channel area and the aperture is filled with a SiGe feature, depositing a layer having a first thickness above the oxide layer and the SiGe feature, and forming source and drain regions in the layer.

Abstract: Strained silicon is grown on a dielectric material in a trench in a silicon germanium layer at a channel region of a MOSFET after fabrication of other MOSFET elements using a removable dummy gate process to form an SOI MOSFET. The MOSFET is fabricated with the dummy gate in place, the dummy gate is removed, and a trench is formed in the channel region. Dielectric material is grown in the trench, and strained silicon is then grown from the silicon germanium trench sidewalls to form a strained silicon layer that extends across the dielectric material. The silicon germanium sidewalls impart strain to the strained silicon, and the presence of the dielectric material allows the strained silicon to be grown as a thin fully depleted layer. A replacement gate is then formed by damascene processing.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of FinFET formation. The method can include providing a sacrificial fin structure, removing the sacrificial fin structure, and providing a strained silicon layer at the location of the removed sacrificial gate structure. The FinFET can include a strained-Si MOSFET channel region.

Abstract: The threshold voltage shift exhibited by strained silicon NMOS devices is compensated with respect to the threshold voltages of PMOS devices formed on the same substrate by increasing the work function of the NMOS gates. The NMOS gate work function exceeds the PMOS gate work function so as to compensate for a difference in the respective NMOS and PMOS threshold voltages. The NMOS gates are preferably fully silicided while the PMOS gates are partially silicided.

Abstract: The thermal conductivity of strained silicon MOSFETs and strained silicon SOI MOSFETs is improved by providing a silicon germanium carbide thermal dissipation layer beneath a silicon germanium layer on which strained silicon is grown. The silicon germanium carbide thermal dissipation layer has a higher thermal conductivity than silicon germanium, thus providing more efficient removal of thermal energy generated in active regions.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure removes the temporary gate formed on the dielectric layer to expose a recess in which oxygen-rich CVD oxide is deposited. A tantalum layer is then deposited by low-power physical vapor deposition on the CVD oxide. Annealing is then performed to create a Ta2O5 region and a Ta region from the deposited oxide and Ta. This creates a low carbon-content Ta2O5 and a metallic Ta gate in a single process step.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a lateral bipolar junction transistor in an active area of a substrate includes forming a base structure directly on a central portion of the active area without a gate oxide layer being formed on the substrate. The method also includes implanting a first type of dopant into the active area for forming an emitter region and a collector region, and forming contacts and interconnects for the base structure and emitter and collector regions.