Abstract: DPN (decoupled plasma nitridation) is used to improve robustness of ultra thin gate oxides. Conventionally, this is followed by an anneal in pure helium to remove structural defects in the oxide. However, annealing under these conditions has been found to cause a deterioration of the electrical performance of devices. This problem has been overcome by annealing, in a 1:4 oxygen-nitrogen mixture (1,050° C. at about 10 torr) instead of in helium or nitrogen oxide. This results in a gate oxide that is resistant to boron contamination without suffering any loss in its electrical properties.

Abstract: A method of structures having dual gate oxide thicknesses, comprising the following steps. A substrate having first and second pillars is provided. The first and second pillars each having an outer side wall and an inner side wall. At least one of the outer or inner side walls of at least one of the first and second pillars is/are masked leaving at least one of the outer or inner side walls of at least one of the first and second pillars exposed. Dopants are then implanted through the at least one of the exposed outer or inner side walls modifying the surface of the at least one of the doped exposed outer or inner side walls. The at least one of the masked outer or inner side walls of at least one of the first and second pillars is/are unmasked.

Abstract: A method of forming narrow gates comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided having an overlying Si3N4 or an SiO2/Si3N4 stack gate dielectric layer. A gate material layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A hard mask layer is formed over the gate material layer. The hard mask layer and the gate material layer are patterned to form a hard mask/gate material layer stack. A planarized dielectric layer is formed surrounding the hard mask/gate material layer stack. The patterned hard mask layer is removed from over the patterned gate material layer to form a cavity having exposed dielectric layer side walls. Masking spacers are formed on the exposed dielectric layer side walls over a portion of the patterned gate material layer. The patterned gate material layer is etched using the masking spacers as masks to expose a portion of the gate dielectric layer. The planarized dielectric layer is removed. The masking spacers are removed to form narrow gates comprising gate material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating high quality passive components having reduced capacitive and magnetic effects by using a Schottky diode underlying the passive components in the manufacture of integrated circuits is described. A Schottky diode is formed completely covering an active area where passive devices are to be formed. The Schottky diode is covered with a dielectric layer. Passive components are formed overlying the dielectric layer wherein the Schottky diode reduces substrate noise resulting in high quality of the passive components.

Abstract: A method of forming small features, comprising the following steps. A substrate having a dielectric layer formed thereover is provided. A spacing layer is formed over the dielectric layer. The spacing layer has a thickness equal to the thickness of the small feature to be formed. A patterned, re-flowable masking layer is formed over the spacing layer. The masking layer having a first opening with a width “L”. The patterned, re-flowable masking layer is re-flowed to form a patterned, re-flowed masking layer having a re-flowed first opening with a lower width “1”. The re-flowed first opening lower width “1” being less than the pre-reflowed first opening width “L”. The spacing layer is etched down to the dielectric layer using the patterned, re-flowed masking layer as a mask to form a second opening within the etched spacing layer having a width equal to the re-flowed first opening lower width “1”. Removing the patterned, re-flowed masking layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a single gate having a dual work-function is described. A gate electrode is formed overlying a gate dielectric layer on a substrate. Sidewalls of the gate electrode are selectively doped whereby the doped sidewalls have a first work-function and whereby a central portion of the gate electrode not doped has a second work-function to complete formation of a single gate having multiple work-functions in the fabrication of integrated circuits.

Abstract: A method of fabricating dual gate oxide thicknesses comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided having a first pillar and a second pillar. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and the first and second pillars. First and second thin spacers are formed over the gate dielectric layer covered side walls of the first and second pillars respectively. The second pillar is masked leaving the first pillar unmasked. The first thin spacers are removed from the unmasked first pillar. The mask is removed from the masked second pillar. The structure is oxidized to convert the second thin spacers to second preliminary gate oxide over the previously masked second pillar and to form first preliminary gate oxide over the unmasked first pillar. The second gate oxide over the second pillar being thicker than the first gate oxide over the first pillar.

Abstract: A method of forming narrow gates comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided having an overlying Si3N4 or an SiO2/Si3N4 stack gate dielectric layer. A gate material layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A hard mask layer is formed over the gate material layer. The hard mask layer and the gate material layer are patterned to form a hard mask/gate material layer stack. A planarized dielectric layer is formed surrounding the hard mask/gate material layer stack. The patterned hard mask layer is removed from over the patterned gate material layer to form a cavity having exposed dielectric layer side walls. Masking spacers are formed on the exposed dielectric layer side walls over a portion of the patterned gate material layer. The patterned gate material layer is etched using the masking spacers as masks to expose a portion of the gate dielectric layer. The planarized dielectric layer is removed. The masking spacers are removed to form narrow gates comprising gate material.

Abstract: A method of forming a shallow trench isolation (STI), region in a semiconductor substrate featuring a process sequence that results in desired rounded corners for the sides of active device regions located butting the STI region, has been developed. The process sequence features formation of, followed by removal of, a silicon dioxide layer which was thermally grown in a top portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the top portion of semiconductor was subjected to an ion implantation procedure prior to the oxidation procedure. The above process sequence results in a recessed portion of semiconductor located adjacent to unoxidized portions of semiconductor which underlay an oxidation resistant shape, and feature rounded corners. Insulator spacers are then formed on the sides of the oxidation resistant shape, overlying and protecting the rounded comers of subsequent active device regions from a dry etch procedure used to selectively define a shallow trench shape in the exposed semiconductor region.

Abstract: A method for forming a sub-quarter micron MOSFET having an elevated source/drain structure is described. A gate electrode is formed over a gate dielectric on a semiconductor substrate. Ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate to form lightly doped regions using the gate electrode as a mask. Thereafter, dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the semiconductor substrate, gate electrode, and dielectric spacers wherein the polysilicon layer is heavily doped. The polysilicon layer is etched back to leave polysilicon spacers on the dielectric spacers. Dopant is diffused from the polysilicon spacers into the semiconductor substrate to form source and drain regions underlying the polysilicon spacers.

Abstract: A method to form a closely-spaced, vertical NMOS and PMOS transistor pair in an integrated circuit device is achieved. A substrate comprise silicon implanted oxide (SIMOX) wherein an oxide layer is sandwiched between underlying and overlying silicon layers. Ions are selectively implanted into a first part of the overlying silicon layer, to form a drain, channel region, and source for an NMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. Ions are selectively implanted into a second part of the overlying silicon layer to form a drain, channel region, and source for a PMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the PMOS channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. The PMOS transistor drain is in contact with said NMOS transistor drain.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vertical transistor. A doped region is formed in a substrate. We form sequentially on the substrate: a first spacer dielectric layer, a first gate electrode, a second spacer dielectric layer, a second gate electrode and a third spacer dielectric layer. A trench is formed through the first spacer dielectric layer, the first gate electrode, the second spacer dielectric layer, the second gate electrode and the third spacer dielectric layer. The trench has sidewalls. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the sidewalls of the trench. We form sequentially, in the trench: a first doped layer, a first channel layer, a second doped layer, a third doped layer, a second channel layer, and a fourth doped layer. A cap layer is formed over the structure. Contacts are preferably formed to the doped region, doped layers and gate electrodes.

Abstract: A new method of forming a sharp tip on a floating gate in the fabrication of a EEPROM memory cell is described. A first gate dielectric layer is provided on a substrate. A second gate dielectric layer is deposited overlying the first gate dielectric layer. A floating gate/control gate stack is formed overlying the second gate dielectric layer. One sidewall portion of the floating gate is covered with a mask. The second gate dielectric layer not covered by the mask is etched away whereby an undercut of the floating gate is formed in the second gate dielectric layer. The mask is removed. Polysilicon spacers are formed on sidewalls of the floating gate wherein one of the polysilicon spacers fills the undercut thereby forming a sharp polysilicon tip to improve the erase efficiency of the memory cell.

Abstract: A method to form elevated source/drain (S/D) over staircase shaped openings in insulating layers. A gate structure is formed over a substrate. The gate structure is preferably comprised of a gate dielectric layer, gate electrode, first spacers, and hard mask. A first insulating layer is formed over the substrate and the gate structure. A resist layer is formed having an opening over the gate structure and over a lateral area adjacent to the gate structure. We etch the insulating layer through the opening in the resist layer. The etching removes a first thickness of the insulating layer to form a source/drain (S/D) opening. We remove the first spacers and hardmask to form a source/drain (S/D) contact opening. We implant ions into the substrate through the source/drain (S/D) contact opening to form lightly doped drain regions.

Abstract: A method for forming a sub-quarter micron MOSFET having an elevated source/drain structure is described. A gate electrode is formed over a gate dielectric on a semiconductor substrate. Ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate to form lightly doped regions using the gate electrode as a mask. Thereafter, dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the semiconductor substrate, gate electrode, and dielectric spacers wherein the polysilicon layer is heavily doped. The polysilicon layer is etched back to leave polysilicon spacers on the dielectric spacers. Dopant is diffused from the polysilicon spacers into the semiconductor substrate to form source and drain regions underlying the polysilicon spacers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an isolated vertical transistor comprising the following steps. A wafer having a first implanted region selected from the group comprising a source region and a drain region is provided. The wafer further includes STI areas on either side of a center transistor area. The wafer is patterned down to the first implanted region to form a vertical pillar within the center transistor area using a patterned hardmask. The vertical pillar having side walls. A pad dielectric layer is formed over the wafer, lining the vertical pillar. A nitride layer is formed over the pad dielectric layer. The structure is patterned and etched through the nitride layer and the pad dielectric layer; and into the wafer within the STI areas to form STI trenches within the wafer. The STI trenches are filled with insulative material to form STIs within STI trenches. The patterned nitride and pad dielectric layers are removed. The patterned hardmask is removed.

Abstract: A method of forming a sloped staircase STI structure, comprising the following steps. a) A substrate having an upper surface is provided. b) A patterned masking layer is formed over the substrate to define an STI region. The patterned masking layer having exposed sidewalls. c) The substrate is etched a first time through the masking layer to form a first step trench within the STI region. The first step trench having exposed sidewalls. d) Continuous side wall spacers are formed on the exposed patterned masking layer and first step trench sidewalls. e) The substrate is etched a second time using the masking layer and the continuous sidewall spacers as masks to form a second step trench within the STI region. The second step trench having exposed sidewalls. f) Second side wall spacers are formed on the second step trench sidewalls. g) Steps e) and f) are repeated x more times to create x+2 total step trenches and x+2 total side wall spacers on x+2 total step trench sidewalls.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate dielectric having regions with different dielectric constants. A low-K dielectric layer is formed over a semiconductor structure. A dummy dielectric layer is formed over the low-K dielectric layer. The dummy dielectric layer and low-K dielectric layer are patterned to form an opening. The dummy dielectric layer is isontropically etched selectively to the low-K dielectric layer to form a stepped gate opening. A high-K dielectric layer is formed over the dummy dielectric and in the stepped gate opening. A gate electrode is formed on the high-K dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual gate electrode CMOS device having dual gate electrodes. An N+ poly gate is used for the nMOSFET and a metal gate is used for the pMOSFET. The N+ nMOSFET poly gate may be capped with a highly conductive metal to reduce its gate resistance. A sacrificial cap is used for the N+ poly gate to eliminate a mask level for the dual gate electrodes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an air-gap spacer of a semiconductor device, comprising the following steps. A semiconductor substrate having at least a pair of STIs defining an active region is provided. A gate electrode is formed on the substrate within the active region. The gate electrode having an underlying gate dielectric layer. A liner oxide layer is formed over the structure, covering the sidewalls of the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode, and over the top surface of the gate electrode. A liner nitride layer is formed over the liner oxide layer. A thick oxide layer is formed over the structure. The thick oxide, liner nitride, and liner oxide layers are planarized level with the top surface of the gate electrode, and exposing the liner oxide layer at either side of the gate electrode.