Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a channel region in a workpiece, and forming a source or drain region proximate the channel region. The source or drain region includes a contact resistance-lowering material layer comprising SiP, SiAs, or a silicide. The source or drain region also includes a channel-stressing material layer comprising SiCP or SiCAs.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a channel region in a workpiece, and forming a source or drain region proximate the channel region. The source or drain region includes a contact resistance-lowering material layer comprising SiP, SiAs, or a silicide. The source or drain region also includes a channel-stressing material layer comprising SiCP or SiCAs.

Abstract: An SRAM having asymmetrical FET pass gates and a method of fabricating an SRAM having asymmetrical FET pass gates. The pass gates are asymmetrical with respect to current conduction from the drain to the source of the pass gate being different from current conduction from the source to the drain of the pass gate.

Abstract: An SRAM having asymmetrical FET pass gates and a method of fabricating an SRAM having asymmetrical FET pass gates. The pass gates are asymmetrical with respect to current conduction from the drain to the source of the pass gate being different from current conduction from the source to the drain of the pass gate.

Abstract: An advanced gate structure that includes a filly silicided metal gate and silicided source and drain regions in which the fully silicided metal gate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the silicided source/drain regions is provided. A method of forming the advanced gate structure is also provided in which the silicided source and drain regions are formed prior to formation of the silicided metal gate region.

Abstract: An opto-thermal annealing method for forming a field effect transistor uses a reflective metal gate so that electrical properties of the metal gate and also interface between the metal gate and a gate dielectric are not compromised when opto-thermal annealing a source/drain region adjacent the metal gate. Another opto-thermal annealing method may be used for simultaneously opto-thermally annealing: (1) a silicon layer and a silicide forming metal layer to form a fully silicided gate; and (2) a source/drain region to form an annealed source/drain region. An additional opto-thermal annealing method may use a thermal insulator layer in conjunction with a thermal absorber layer to selectively opto-thermally anneal a silicon layer and a silicide forming metal layer to form a fully silicide gate.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor structure including heterogeneous suicides or germanides located in different regions of a semiconductor structure are provided. The heterogeneous suicides or germanides are formed onto a semiconductor layer, a conductive layer or both. In accordance with the present invention, the inventive methods utilize a combination of sequential deposition of different metals and patterning to form different suicides or germanides in different regions of a semiconductor chip. The method includes providing a Si-containing or Ge layer having at least a first region and a second region; forming a first silicide or germanide on one of the first or second regions; and forming a second silicide or germanide that is compositionally different from the first silicide or germanide on the other region not including the first silicide or germanide, wherein the steps of forming the first and second suicides or germanides are performed sequentially or in a single step.

Abstract: An interconnect structure in the back end of the line of an integrated circuit forms contacts between successive layers by removing material in the top surface of the lower interconnect in a cone-shaped aperture, the removal process extending through the liner of the upper aperture, and depositing a second liner extending down into the cone-shaped aperture, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the contact, which then enhance the overall reliability of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming a contact to a semiconductor structure. A current-conducting member is formed which extends horizontally over a first portion of a semiconductor device region but not over a second portion of such semiconductor device region. A first film is formed which extends over the second portion and only partially over the member to expose a contact portion of the member. A first contact via is formed in conductive communication with the contact portion. The first contact via has a silicide-containing region self-aligned to an area of the member contacted by the contact via. A second contact via is formed in conductive communication with the second portion, the second contact via extending through the first film.

Abstract: Form a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate. Deposit an amorphous Si film or a poly-Si film on the dielectric layer. Then deposit a SiGe amorphous-Ge or polysilicon-Ge thin film theteover. Pattern and etch the SiGe film using a selective etch leaving the SiGe thin film intact in a PFET region and removing the SiGe film exposing the top surface of the Si film in an NFET region. Anneal to drive Ge into the Si film in the PFET region. Deposit a gate electrode layer covering the SiGe film in the PFET region and cover the exposed portion of the Si film in the NFET region. Pattern and etch the gate electrode layer to form gates. Form FET devices with sidewall spacers and source regions and drains regions in the substrate aligned with the gates.

Abstract: Form a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate. Deposit an amorphous Si film or a poly-Si film on the dielectric layer. Then deposit a SiGe amorphous-Ge or polysilicon-Ge thin film theteover. Pattern and etch the SiGe film using a selective etch leaving the SiGe thin film intact in a PFET region and removing the SiGe film exposing the top surface of the Si film in an NFET region. Anneal to drive Ge into the Si film in the PFET region. Deposit a gate electrode layer covering the SiGe film in the PFET region and cover the exposed portion of the Si film in the NFET region. Pattern and etch the gate electrode layer to form gates. Form FET devices with sidewall spacers and source regions and drains regions in the substrate aligned with the gates.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, wherein the method comprises forming a first well region in a semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a first type semiconductor device; forming a second well region in the semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a second type semiconductor device; shielding the first type semiconductor device with a mask; depositing a first metal layer over the second type semiconductor device; performing a first salicide formation on the second type semiconductor device; removing the mask; depositing a second metal layer over the first and second type semiconductor devices; and performing a second salicide formation on the first type semiconductor device. The method requires only one pattern level and it eliminates pattern overlay as it also simplifies the processes to form different silicide material over different devices.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, wherein the method comprises forming a first well region in a semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a first type semiconductor device; forming a second well region in the semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a second type semiconductor device; shielding the first type semiconductor device with a mask; depositing a first metal layer over the second type semiconductor device; performing a first salicide formation on the second type semiconductor device; removing the mask; depositing a second metal layer over the first and second type semiconductor devices; and performing a second salicide formation on the first type semiconductor device. The method requires only one pattern level and it eliminates pattern overlay as it also simplifies the processes to form different silicide material over different devices.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, wherein the method comprises forming a first well region in a semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a first type semiconductor device; forming a second well region in the semiconductor substrate for accommodation of a second type semiconductor device; shielding the first type semiconductor device with a mask; depositing a first metal layer over the second type semiconductor device; performing a first salicide formation on the second type semiconductor device; removing the mask; depositing a second metal layer over the first and second type semiconductor devices; and performing a second salicide formation on the first type semiconductor device. The method requires only one pattern level and it eliminates pattern overlay as it also simplifies the processes to form different silicide material over different devices.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual self-aligned fully silicided gate in a CMOS device requiring only one lithography level, wherein the method comprises forming a first type semiconductor device having a first well region in a semiconductor substrate, first source/drain silicide areas in the first well region, and a first type gate isolated from the first source/drain silicide areas; forming a second type semiconductor device having a second well region in the semiconductor substrate, second source/drain silicide areas in the second well region, and a second type gate isolated from the second source/drain silicide areas; selectively forming a first metal layer over the second type semiconductor device; performing a first fully silicided (FUSI) gate formation on only the second type gate; depositing a second metal layer over the first and second type semiconductor devices; and performing a second FUSI gate formation on only the first type gate.

Abstract: A structure is provided which includes a semiconductor device region including a first portion and a second portion. A current-conducting member is provided, which extends horizontally over the first portion but not over the second portion. A first film, such as a stress-imparting film, extends over the second portion and only partially over the current-conducting member to expose a contact portion of the member. A first contact via is provided in conductive communication with the contact portion of the member, the first contact via having a self-aligned silicide-containing region. A second contact via is provided in conductive communication with the second portion of the semiconductor device region, the second contact via extending through the first film.

Abstract: An advanced gate structure that includes a fully silicided metal gate and silicided source and drain regions in which the fully silicided metal gate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the silicided source/drain regions is provided. A method of forming the advanced gate structure is also provided in which the silicided source and drain regions are formed prior to formation of the silicided metal gate region.

Abstract: An SRAM in a CMOS integrated circuit is subjected to stress on the channels of its transistors; compressive stress on the pull-up and pass gate transistors and tensile stress on the pull-down transistors in a version designed to improve stability; and compressive stress on the pull-up transistors and tensile stress on the pull-down and pass gate transistors in a version designed to reduce the cell size and increase speed of operation.

Abstract: An SRAM in a CMOS integrated circuit is subjected to stress on the channels of its transistors; compressive stress on the pull-up and pass gate transistors and tensile stress on the pull-down transistors in a version designed to improve stability; and compressive stress on the pull-up transistors and tensile stress on the pull-down and pass gate transistors in a version designed to reduce the cell size and increase speed of operation.

Abstract: An interconnect structure in the back end of the line of an integrated circuit forms contacts between successive layers by removing material in the top surface of the lower interconnect in a cone-shaped aperture, the removal process extending through the liner of the upper aperture, and depositing a second liner extending down into the cone-shaped aperture, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the contact, which then enhance the overall reliability of the integrated circuit.