Abstract: One or more impurities may be incorporated within a metal-containing layer of a metal-containing gate electrode to modify the work function of the metal-containing gate electrode of a transistor can affect the threshold voltage of the transistor. In one embodiment, the impurity can be used in a p-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the valence band for silicon. In another embodiment, the impurity can be used in an n-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the conduction band for silicon. In a particular embodiment, a boron-containing species is implanted into a metal-containing layer within the metal-containing gate electrode within a p-channel transistor, so that the metal-containing gate electrode has a work function closer to the valence band for silicon as compared to the metal-containing gate electrode without the boron-containing species.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus uses a predetermined sequence of patterning and etching steps to etch a gate stack (32) formed over a substrate (11), thereby forming an etched gate (92, 94) having a vertical sidewall profile by implanting the gate stack (32) with a nitrogen (42) and a dopant (52) and then heating the polysilicon gate stack (32) at a selected temperature using rapid thermal annealing (62) to anneal the nitrogen and dopant so that subsequent etching of the polysilicon gate stack (32) creates an etched gate (92, 94) having more idealized vertical gate sidewall profiles.

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 method for making a semiconductor device includes providing a first substrate region and a second substrate region, wherein at least a part of the first substrate region has a first conductivity type and at least a part of the second substrate region has a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer over at least a portion of the first substrate region and at least a portion of the second substrate region. The method further includes forming a metal-containing gate layer over at least a portion of the dielectric layer overlying the first substrate region. The method further includes introducing dopants into at least a portion of the first substrate region through the metal-containing gate layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus fabricate a metal gate electrode by forming a first conductive layer (22) over a gate dielectric layer (11), forming a transition layer (32) over the first conductive layer using an atomic layer deposition process in which an amorphizing material is increasingly added as the transition layer is formed, forming a capping conductive layer (44) over the transition layer, and then selectively etching the capping conductive layer, transition layer, and first conductive layer, resulting in the formation of an etched gate stack (52). By forming the transition layer (32) with an atomic layer deposition process in which the amorphizing material (such as silicon, carbon, or nitrogen) is increasingly added, the transition layer (32) is constructed having a lower region (e.g., 31, 33) with a polycrystalline structure and an upper region (e.g., 37, 39) with an amorphous structure that blocks silicon diffusion.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus uses a predetermined sequence of patterning and etching steps to etch a gate stack (30, 32) formed over a substrate (36), thereby forming an etched gate (33) having a vertical sidewall profile (35). By constructing the gate stack (30, 32) with a graded material composition of silicon-based layers, the composition of which is selected to counteract the etching tendencies of the predetermined sequence of patterning and etching steps, a more idealized vertical gate sidewall profile (35) may be obtained.

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 semiconductor process and apparatus provide a polysilicon structure (10) and source/drain regions (12, 14) formed adjacent thereto in which a dual silicide scheme is used to form first silicide regions in the polysilicon, source and drain regions (30, 32, 34) using a first metal (e.g., cobalt). After forming sidewall spacers (40, 42), a second metal (e.g., nickel ) is used to form second silicide regions in the polysilicon, source and drain regions (60, 62, 64) to reduce encroachment by the second silicide in the source/drain (62, 64) and to reduce resistance in the polysilicon structure caused by agglomeration and voiding from the first silicide (30).

Abstract: A wafer having an SOI configuration and active regions having different surface orientations for different channel type transistors. In one example, semiconductor structures having a first surface orientation are formed on a donor wafer. Semiconductor structures having a second surface orientation are formed on a second wafer. Receptor openings are formed on the second wafer. The semiconductor structures having the first surface orientation are located in the receptor openings and transferred to the second wafer. The resultant wafer has semiconductor regions having a first surface orientation for a first channel type of transistor and semiconductor regions having a second surface orientation for a second channel type transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a dielectric layer is provided. The method may include providing a semiconductor surface and etching a thin layer of the semiconductor substrate to expose a surface of the semiconductor surface, wherein the exposed surface is hydrophobic. The method may further include treating the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate with plasma to neutralize a hydrophobicity associated with the exposed surface, wherein the exposed surface is treated using plasma with a power in a range of 100 watts to 500 watts and for duration in a range of 1 to 60 seconds. The method may further include forming a metal-containing layer on a top surface of the plasma treated surface using an atomic layer deposition process.

Abstract: A transistor structure of an electronic device can include a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode can have a surface portion between the gate dielectric layer and the rest of the gate electrode. The surface portion can be formed such that another portion of the gate electrode primarily sets the effective work function in the finished transistor structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming first and second metal gate electrodes (151, 161) over a hybrid substrate (17) by forming the first gate electrode (151) over a first high-k gate dielectric (121) and forming the second gate electrode (161) over at least a second high-k gate dielectric (122) different from the first gate dielectric (121). By forming the first gate electrode (151) over a first SOI substrate (90) formed by depositing (100) silicon and forming the second gate electrode (161) over an epitaxially grown (110) SiGe substrate (70), a high performance CMOS device is obtained which includes high-k metal PMOS gate electrodes (161) having improved hole mobility.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming a semiconductor device by depositing a layer of nitride (20) over a semiconductor structure (10), patterning and etching the nitride layer to form a patterned nitride layer (42, 44), depositing a layer of polysilicon (62), planarizing the polysilicon layer with a CMP process to remove any portion of the polysilicon layer (62) above the patterned dielectric layer (42, 44), and then removing the patterned nitride layer (42, 44), thereby defining one or more polysilicon features (72, 74, 76) that can be used as floating gates, transistors gates, bit lines or any other semiconductor device feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process for forming a gate dielectric includes depositing a high-k dielectric stack including incorporating nitrogen into the high-k dielectric stack in-situ. A top high-k dielectric is formed overlying the dielectric stack and the dielectric stack and the top dielectric are annealed. Depositing the dielectric stack may include depositing a plurality of high-k dielectric layers where each layer is formed in a distinct processing step or set of steps. Depositing one of the dielectric layers may include performing a plurality of atomic layer deposition processes to form a plurality of high-k sublayers, wherein each sublayer is a monolayer film. Depositing the plurality of sublayers may include depositing a nitrogen free sublayer and depositing a nitrogen bearing sublayer. Depositing the nitrogen free sublayer may include pulsing an ALD chamber with HfCl4, purging the chamber with an inert, pulsing the chamber with an H2O or D2O, and purging the chamber with an inert.

Abstract: A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming first and second gate electrodes (151, 161) by forming the first gate electrode (151) over a first high-k gate dielectric (121) and forming the second gate electrode (161) over at least a second high-k gate dielectric (122) different from the first gate dielectric (121). Either or both of the high-k gate dielectric layers (121, 122) may be formed by depositing and selectively etching an initial layer of high-k dielectric material (e.g., 14). As deposited, the initial layer (14) has an exposed surface (18) and an initial predetermined crystalline structure. An exposed thin surface layer (20) of the initial layer (14) is prepared for etching by modifying the initial crystalline structure in the exposed thin surface layer. The modified crystalline structure in the exposed thin surface layer may be removed by applying a selective etch, such as HF or HCl.

Abstract: A metal oxide is formed over a high quality oxide which has been deposited over a substrate. An anneal drives a reaction to form a metal oxysilicon nitride layer which is then used as a part of a gate stack. The novel integration scheme allows for improved scalablity of devices as well as improved leakage currents.

Abstract: A gate dielectric structure (201) fabrication process includes forming a transitional dielectric film (205) overlying a silicon oxide film (204). A high dielectric constant film (206) is then formed overlying an upper surface of the transitional dielectric film (205). The composition of the transitional dielectric film (205) at the silicon oxide film (204) interface primarily comprises silicon and oxygen. The high K dielectric (206) and the composition of the transitional dielectric film (205) near the upper surface primarily comprise a metal element and oxygen. Forming the transitional dielectric film (205) may include forming a plurality of transitional dielectric layers (207) where the composition of each successive transitional dielectric layer (207) has a higher concentration of the metal element and a lower concentration of silicon.

Abstract: A gate dielectric is treated with a nitridation step and an anneal. After this, an additional nitridation step and anneal is performed. The second nitridation and anneal results in an improvement in the relationship between gate leakage current density and current drive of the transistors that are ultimately formed.

Abstract: One or more impurities may be incorporated within a metal-containing layer of a metal-containing gate electrode to modify the work function of the metal-containing gate electrode of a transistor can affect the threshold voltage of the transistor. In one embodiment, the impurity can be used in a p-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the valence band for silicon. In another embodiment, the impurity can be used in an n-channel transistor to allow the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode to be closer to the conduction band for silicon. In a particular embodiment, a boron-containing species is implanted into a metal-containing layer within the metal-containing gate electrode within a p-channel transistor, so that the metal-containing gate electrode has a work function closer to the valence band for silicon as compared to the metal-containing gate electrode without the boron-containing species.

Abstract: A CMOS device is provided which comprises (a) a substrate (103); (b) a gate dielectric layer (107) disposed on the substrate, the gate dielectric comprising a metal oxide; (c) an NMOS electrode (105) disposed on a first region of said gate dielectric; and (d) a PMOS electrode (115) disposed on a second region of said gate dielectric, the PMOS electrode comprising a conductive metal oxide; wherein the surface of said second region of said gate dielectric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxynitrides and metal silicon-oxynitrides.