Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator structure includes a substrate and a buried insulator layer overlying the substrate. A plurality of semiconductor islands overlie the buried insulator layer. The semiconductor islands are isolated from one another by trenches. A plurality of recess resistant regions overlie the buried insulator layer at a lower surface of the trenches.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip includes a silicon layer of a predetermined thickness overlying an insulator layer. A multiple-gate fully-depleted SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region is formed on a first portion of the silicon layer. A planar SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region formed on another portion of the silicon layer. For example, the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar fully-depleted SOI (FD-SOI) MOSFET or the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar partially-depleted SOI (PD-SOI) MOSFET.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator device includes a silicon active layer with a <100> crystal direction placed over an insulator layer. The insulator layer is placed onto a substrate with a <110> crystal direction. Transistors oriented on a <100> direction are formed on the silicon active layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer, a third epitaxial layer, a first trench, and a second trench. The first epitaxial layer is formed on the substrate. The first layer has lattice mismatch relative to the substrate. The second epitaxial layer is formed on the first layer, and the second layer has lattice mismatch relative to the first layer. The third epitaxial layer is formed on the second layer, and the third layer has lattice mismatch relative to the second layer. Hence, the third layer may be strained silicon. The first trench extends through the first layer. The second trench extends through the third layer and at least partially through the second layer. At least part of the second trench is aligned with at least part of the first trench, and the second trench is at least partially filled with an insulating material.

Abstract: A MOSFET includes a gate having a high-k gate dielectric on a substrate and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric. The gate dielectric protrudes beyond the gate electrode. A deep source and drain having shallow extensions are formed on either side of the gate. The deep source and drain are formed by selective in-situ doped epitaxy or by ion implantation and the extensions are formed by selective, in-situ doped epitaxy. The extensions lie beneath the gate in contact with the gate dielectric. The material of the gate dielectric and the amount of its protrusion beyond the gate electrode are selected so that epitaxial procedures and related procedures do not cause bridging between the gate electrode and the source/drain extensions. Methods of fabricating the MOSFET are described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a region of semiconductor material with first and second isolation trenches formed therein. The first isolation trench is lined with a first material having a low oxygen diffusion rate and is filled with an insulating material. The second isolation trench is not lined with the first material but is filled with an insulating material. A first transistor is formed adjacent the first isolation region and a second transistor formed adjacent the second isolation region.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the semiconductor devices using an HTS (High Temperature Superconductor) layer in combination with a typical diffusion layer between the dielectric material and the copper (or other metal) conductive wiring. The HTS layer includes a superconductor material comprised of barium copper oxide and a rare earth element. The rare earth element yttrium is particularly suitable. For semiconductor devices having other semiconductor circuits or elements above the wiring, a capping layer of HTS material is deposited over the wiring before a cover layer of dielectric is deposited.

Abstract: A high performance semiconductor device and the method for making same is disclosed with an improved drive current. The semiconductor device has source and drain regions built on an active region, a length of the device being different than a width thereof. One or more isolation regions are fabricated surrounding the active region, the isolation regions are then filled with an predetermined isolation material whose volume shrinkage exceeds 0.5% after an anneal process. A gate electrode is formed over the active region, and one or more dielectric spacers are made next to the gate electrode. Then, a contact etch stopper layer is put over the device, wherein the isolation regions, spacers and contact etch layer contribute to modulating a net strain imposed on the active region so as to improve the drive current.

Abstract: A method of forming a strained silicon layer on a relaxed, low defect density semiconductor alloy layer such as SiGe, has been developed. In a first embodiment of this invention the relaxed, low density SiGe layer is epitaxially grown on an silicon layer which in turn is located on an underlying SiGe layer. During the epitaxial growth of the overlying SiGe layer defects are formed in the underlying silicon layer resulting in the desired, relaxation, and decreased defect density for the SiGe layer. A second embodiment features an anneal procedure performed during growth of the relaxed SiGe layer, resulting in additional relaxation and decreased defect density, while a third embodiment features an anneal procedure performed to the underlying silicon layer prior to epitaxial growth of the relaxed SiGe layer, again allowing optimized relaxation and defect density to be realized for the SiGe layer.

Abstract: A device having a raised segment, and a manufacturing method for same. An SOI wafer is provided having a substrate, an insulating layer disposed over the substrate, and a layer of semiconductor material disposed over the insulating layer. The semiconductor material is patterned to form a mesa structure. The wafer is annealed to form a raised segment on the mesa structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a plurality of silicided polysilicon structures in which the silicidation of the polysilicon structures is approximately uniform is provided. Dummy polysilicon structures are formed on the substrate prior to silicidation. The dummy polysilicon structures allow the surface of the wafer to be planarized without an excessive recess and causes the amount of metal available for the silicidation process to be approximately uniformly distributed among the various polysilicon structures.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip includes a silicon layer of a predetermined thickness overlying an insulator layer. A multiple-gate fully-depleted SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region is formed on a first portion of the silicon layer. A planar SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region formed on another portion of the silicon layer. For example, the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar fully-depleted SOI (FD-SOI) MOSFET or the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar partially-depleted SOI (PD-SOI) MOSFET.

Abstract: A method is described for forming three or more spacer widths in transistor regions on a substrate. In one embodiment, different silicon nitride thicknesses are formed above gate electrodes followed by nitride etching to form spacers. Optionally, different gate electrode thicknesses may be fabricated and a conformal oxide layer is deposited which is subsequently etched to form different oxide spacer widths. A third embodiment involves a combination of different gate electrode thickness and different nitride thicknesses. A fourth embodiment involves selectively thinning an oxide layer over certain gate electrodes before etching to form spacers. Therefore, spacer widths can be independently optimized for different transistor regions on a substrate to enable better drive current in transistors with narrow spacers and improved SCE control in neighboring transistors with wider spacers. Better drive current is also obtained in transistors with shorter polysilicon thickness.

Abstract: Composite ALD-formed diffusion barrier layers. In a preferred embodiment, a composite conductive layer is composed of a diffusion barrier layer and/or a low-resistivity metal layer formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD) lining a damascene opening in dielectrics, serving as diffusion blocking and/or adhesion improvement. The preferred composite diffusion barrier layers are dual titanium nitride layers or dual tantalum nitride layers, triply laminar of tantalum, tantalum nitride and tantalum-rich nitride, or tantalum, tantalum nitride and tantalum, formed sequentially on the opening by way of ALD.

Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor static random access memory cell that is formed by a pair of P-channel multiple-gate field-effect transistors (P-MGFETs), a pair of N-channel multiple-gate field-effect transistors (N-MGFETs), a second pair of N-MGFETs that has a drain respectively connected to a connection linking the respective drain of the N-MGFET of the first pair of N-MGFET to the drain of the P-MGFET of the pair of P-MGFETs; a pair of complementary bit lines, each respectively connected to the source of the N-MGFET of the second pair of N-MGFETS; and a word line connected to the gates of the N-MGFETs of the second pair of N-MGFETs.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator structure includes a substrate and a buried insulator layer overlying the substrate. A plurality of semiconductor islands overlie the buried insulator layer. The semiconductor islands are isolated from one another by trenches. A plurality of recess resistant regions overlie the buried insulator layer at a lower surface of the trenches.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device and a method for its fabrication. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first silicide in a first region of the substrate, and a second silicide in a second region of the substrate. The first silicide may differ from the second silicide. The first silicide and the second silicide may be an alloy silicide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (100), including a dielectric pedestal (220) located above and integral to a substrate (110) and having first sidewalls (230), a channel region (210) located above the dielectric pedestal (220) and having second sidewalls (240), and source and drain regions (410) opposing the channel region (210) and each substantially spanning one of the second sidewalls (240). An integrated circuit (800) incorporating the semiconductor device (100) is also disclosed, as well as a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device (100).

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a dielectric/metal/2nd energy bandgap (Eg) semiconductor/1st Eg substrate structure. In order to reduce the contact resistance, a semiconductor with a lower energy bandgap (2nd Eg) is put in contact with metal. The energy bandgap of the 2nd Eg semiconductor is lower than the energy bandgap of the 1st Eg semiconductor and preferably lower than 1.1 eV. In addition, a layer of dielectric may be deposited on the metal. The dielectric layer has built-in stress to compensate for the stress in the metal, 2nd Eg semiconductor and 1st Eg substrate. A process of making the structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A resistor 100 is formed in a semiconductor layer 106, e.g., a silicon layer on an SOI substrate. A body region 108 is formed in a portion of the semiconductor layer 106 and is doped to a first conductivity type (e.g., n-type or p-type). A first contact region 110, which is also doped to the first conductivity type, is formed in the semiconductor layer 106 adjacent the body region 108. A second contact region 112 is also formed in the semiconductor layer 106 and is spaced from the first contact region 110 by the body region 108. A dielectric layer 116 overlies the body region and is formed from a material with a relative permittivity greater than about 8. An electrode 114 overlies the dielectric 116.