Abstract: A thermal oxidation method for forming a gate dielectric layer for use within a field effect transistor device employs a thermal oxidizing atmosphere comprising a halogen getter material. By employing the halogen getter material, the field effect transistor device is formed with enhanced performance, in particular with respect to negative bias temperature instability lifetime.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving Idsat in NMOS and PMOS transistors. A silicon nitride etch stop layer is deposited by a PECVD technique on STI and silicide regions and on sidewall spacers during a MOSFET manufacturing scheme. A dielectric layer is formed on the nitride and then contact holes are fabricated through the dielectric layer and nitride layer to silicide regions and are filled with a metal. For NMOS transistors, silane and NH3 flow rates and a 400° C. temperature are critical in improving NMOS short channel Idsat. Hydrogen content in the nitride is increased by higher NH3 and SiH4 flow rates but does not significantly degrade HCE and Vt. With PMOS transistors, deposition temperature is increased to 550° C. to reduce hydrogen content and improve HCE and Vt stability.

Abstract: Within a method for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrication, there is employed a planarizing method for forming, in a self aligned fashion, a patterned second gate electrode material layer laterally adjacent but not over a patterned first gate electrode material layer, such that upon further patterning of the patterned first gate electrode material layer and the patterned second gate electrode material layer there may be formed a first gate electrode over a first active region of a semiconductor substrate and a second gate electrode over a laterally adjacent second active region of the semiconductor substrate. The method is particularly useful within the context of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrications.

Abstract: Within a method for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrication, there is employed a planarizing method for forming, in a self aligned fashion, a patterned second gate electrode material layer laterally adjacent but not over a patterned first gate electrode material layer, such that upon further patterning of the patterned first gate electrode material layer and the patterned second gate electrode material layer there may be formed a first gate electrode over a first active region of a semiconductor substrate and a second gate electrode over a laterally adjacent second active region of the semiconductor substrate. The method is particularly useful within the context of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor integrated circuit microelectronic fabrications.