Abstract: A strained silicon MOSFET employs a high thermal conductivity insulating material in the trench isolations to dissipate thermal energy generated in the MOSFET and to avoid self-heating caused by the poor thermal conductivity of an underlying silicon germanium layer. The high thermal conductivity material is preferably silicon carbide, and the isolations preferably extend through the silicon germanium layer to contact an underlying silicon layer so as to conduct thermal energy from the active region to the silicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor on insulator (SOI) device is comprised of a layer of a dielectric material having a perovskite lattice, such as a rare earth scandate. The dielectric material is selected to have an effective lattice constant that enables growth of semiconductor material having a diamond lattice directly on the dielectric. Examples of the rare earth scandate dielectric include gadolinium scandate (GdScO3), dysprosium scandate (DyScO3), and alloys of gadolinium and dysprosium scandate (Gd1-xDyxScO3).

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation region formed in a layer of semiconductor material. The shallow trench isolation region includes a trench formed in the layer of semiconductor material, the trench being defined by sidewalls and a bottom; a liner within the trench formed from a high-K material, the liner conforming to the sidewalls and bottom of the trench; and a fill section made from isolating material, and disposed within and conforming to the high-K liner. A method of forming the shallow trench isolation region is also disclosed.

Abstract: Ultra narrow and thin polycrystalline silicon gate electrodes are formed by patterning a polysilicon gate precursor, reducing its width and height by selectively oxidizing its upper and side surfaces, and then removing the oxidized surfaces. Embodiments include patterning the polysilicon gate precursor with an oxide layer thereunder, ion implanting to form deep source/drain regions, forming a nitride layer on the substrate surface on each side of the polysilicon gate precursor, thermally oxidizing the upper and side surfaces of the polysilicon gate precursor thereby consuming silicon, and then removing the oxidized upper and side surfaces leaving a polysilicon gate electrode with a reduced width and a reduced height. Subsequent processing includes forming shallow source/drain extensions, forming dielectric sidewall spacers on the polysilicon gate electrode and then forming metal silicide layers on the upper surface of the polysilicon gate electrode and over the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in a strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed from a layer deposited in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be an LPCVD. An annealing step can be utilized to form the liner.

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: A semiconductor on insulator (SOI) device is comprised of a layer of a dielectric material having a perovskite lattice, such as a rare earth scandate. The dielectric material is selected to have an effective lattice constant that enables growth of semiconductor material having a diamond lattice directly on the dielectric. Examples of the rare earth scandate dielectric include gadolinium scandate (GdScO3), dysprosium scandate (DyScO3), and alloys of gadolinium and dysprosium scandate (Gd1-xDyxScO3).

Abstract: A method of performing decontamination of a chamber for use in an IC fabrication system includes providing wet oxygen or a mixture comprising hydrochloric gas and oxygen in the chamber and raising the temperature in the chamber from a first lower temperature to a second higher temperature to cause the wet oxygen or the mixture comprising hydrochloric gas and oxygen to react with the germanium.

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: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a strained-silicon semiconductor layer over a silicon germanium layer, and partially removing a first portion of the strained-silicon layer. The strained-silicon layer includes the first portion and a second portion, and a thickness of the second portion is greater than a thickness of the first portion. Initially, the first and second portions of the strained-silicon layer initially can have the same thickness. A p-channel transistor is formed over the first portion, and a n-channel transistor is formed over the second portion. A semiconductor device is also disclosed.

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 formation of shallow trench isolations in a strained silicon MOSFET includes performing ion implantation in the strained silicon layer in the regions to be etched to form the trenches of the shallow trench isolations. The dosage of the implanted ions and the energy of implantation are chosen so as to damage the crystal lattice of the strained silicon throughout the thickness of the strained silicon layer in the shallow trench isolation regions to such a degree that the etch rate of the strained silicon in those regions is increased to approximately the same as or greater than the etch rate of the underlying undamaged silicon germanium. Subsequent etching yields trenches with significantly reduced or eliminated undercutting of the silicon germanium relative to the strained silicon. This in turn substantially prevents the formation of fully depleted silicon on insulator regions under the ends of the gate, thus improving the MOSFET leakage current.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit having a gate structure above a substrate that includes germanium utilizes at least one layer as a seal. The layer advantageously can prevent back sputtering and outdiffusion. A transistor can be formed in the substrate by doping through the layer. Another layer can be provided below the first layer. Layers of silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, titanium/titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, and silicon carbide can be used.

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: 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 fabricating an SMOS integrated circuit with source and drain junctions utilizes an offset gate spacer for N-type transistors. Ions are implanted to form the source and drain regions in a strained layer. The offset spacer reduces problems associated with Arsenic (As) diffusion on strained semiconductor layers. The process can be utilized for SMOS metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). The strained layer can be a strained silicon layer formed above a germanium layer.

Abstract: A method of programming a fuse utilizes a fuse including a material having a first phase and a second phase. The first phase has a different resistivity than the second phase. The method includes providing a current or voltage to the fuse and changing the material from the first phase to the second phase with the current. The material can be a silicide material such as nickel silicide.

Abstract: A strained silicon layer is grown on a layer of silicon germanium and a second layer of silicon germanium is grown on the layer of strained silicon in a single continuous in situ deposition process. Both layers of silicon germanium may be grown in situ with the strained silicon. This construction effectively provides dual substrates at both sides of the strained silicon layer to support the tensile strain of the strained silicon layer and to resist the formation of misfit dislocations that may be induced by temperature changes during processing. Consequently the critical thickness of strained silicon that can be grown on substrates having a given germanium content is effectively doubled. The silicon germanium layer overlying the strained silicon layer may be maintained during MOSFET processing to resist creation of misfit dislocations in the strained silicon layer up to the time of formation of gate insulating material.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming a field-effect transistor on a substrate comprises a step of forming a high-k dielectric layer over the substrate. The high-k dielectric layer may be, for example, hafnium oxide or zirconium oxide. The method further comprises forming a first polysilicon layer over the high-k dielectric layer, where the first polysilicon layer is formed by utilizing a precursor does not comprise hydrogen. The first polysilicon layer can have a thickness of between approximately 50.0 Angstroms and approximately 200.0 Angstroms, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, the method can further comprise forming a second polysilicon layer over the first polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer may be formed, for example, by utilizing a precursor that comprises hydrogen, where the first polysilicon layer prevents the hydrogen from interacting with the high-k dielectric layer.