Abstract: A passivating layer (220) is formed overlying portions of a mask (200). The mask (200) is used to pattern a semiconductor device substrate (62). In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the passivating layer (220) is removed prior to patterning the semiconductor device substrate (62). In yet another embodiment, the passivating layer (220) is cleaned prior to patterning the semiconductor device substrate (62) and then left to remain overlying portions of the mask (200) during the patterning process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal layer (18) is formed over a gate dielectric layer (14, 16) on a semiconductor substrate. A masking layer (20) is patterned to mask a portion of the metal layer (18). An exposed portion of the metal layer (18) is nitrided to form a conductive nitride layer (24). The masking layer (20) is removed and the conductive nitride layer (24) is patterned to form a first gate electrode (23) having a first work function value, and the conductive layer (18) is patterned to form a second gate electrode (25) having a second work function value which is different from that of the first work function value.

Abstract: The present invention includes a semiconductor device having a layer including an elemental metal and its conductive metal oxide, wherein the layer is capable being oxidized or reduced preferentially to an adjacent region of the device. The present invention also includes processes for forming the devices. Substrate regions, silicon-containing layers, dielectric layers, electrodes, barrier layers, contact and via plugs, interconnects, and ferroelectric capacitors may be protected by and/or formed with the layer. Examples of elemental metals and their conductive metal oxides that may be used with the present invention are: ruthenium and ruthenium dioxide, rhenium and rhenium dioxide, iridium and iridium dioxide, osmium and osmium tetraoxide, or the like.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of an X-ray absorbing mask includes providing a silicon substrate (10) having a front surface (16) and a back surface (18). A membrane layer (12) is formed on the front surface (16). In one embodiment of the invention, an etch stop layer (14) and an X-ray absorbing layer (20) are sequentially formed over the membrane layer (12). In a preferred embodiment, the X-ray absorbing layer (20) is tantalum silicon nitride deposited by RF sputter deposition directly onto the layers overlying the silicon substrate (10). The structure is then annealed at a temperature sufficient to reduce the internal stress in the X-ray absorbing layer (20). Finally, the X-ray absorbing layer is patterned to form a masking pattern (30, 36) on the membrane layer (12).

Abstract: The present invention includes a semiconductor device having a layer including an elemental metal and its conductive metal oxide, wherein the layer is capable being oxidized or reduced preferentially to an adjacent region of the device. The present invention also includes processes for forming the devices. Substrate regions, silicon-containing layers, dielectric layers, electrodes, barrier layers, contact and via plugs, interconnects, and ferroelectric capacitors may be protected by and/or formed with the layer. Examples of elemental metals and their conductive metal oxides that may be used with the present invention are: ruthenium and ruthenium dioxide, rhenium and rhenium dioxide, iridium and iridium dioxide, osmium and osmium tetraoxide, or the like.

Abstract: A high-permittivity dielectric capacitor (28) having a refractory-metal oxide layer (16) framing the first electrode (14) of the capacitor (28) and separating a high-permittivity dielectric layer (24) from an insulating layer (12) underlying the capacitor (28). The high-permittivity dielectric layer (16) makes contact with the first electrode (14) through an opening (18) in the refractory-metal oxide layer (16). The refractory-metal oxide layer (16) separates the high-permittivity dielectric layer (24) from the insulating layer (12) in all regions away from the opening (18) in the refractory-metal oxide layer (16). During fabrication of the capacitor (28), when the high-permittivity dielectric layer (24) is patterned, the refractory-metal oxide layer (16) provides an etch-stop.

Abstract: A method for patterning a conductive metal oxide film on a substrate surface by means of an oxygen plasma etching process. In one embodiment, a substrate (10) is provided having a ruthenium oxide layer (14) overlying a dielectric layer (12). The substrate is placed on an electrode (24) positioned in a vacuum chamber (20) and the vacuum chamber is evacuated to a low pressure. Oxygen gas is introduced to the vacuum chamber and RF power is applied to form an oxygen plasma within the vacuum chamber. The oxygen plasma preferentially etches the ruthenium oxide layer (14) and does not etch the underlying dielectric layer (12). The oxygen plasma etching process can be used to form high resolution ruthenium oxide features during semiconductor device fabrication of ferroelectric capacitors (60) and other electronic components.