Abstract: A method and structure for a metal oxide semiconductor transistor having a substrate, a well region in the substrate, source and drain regions on opposite sides of the well region in the substrate, a gate insulator over the well region of the substrate, a polysilicon gate conductor over the gate insulator, and metallic spacers on sides of the gate conductor.

Abstract: A method for providing a low resistance non-agglomerated Ni monosilicide contact that is useful in semiconductor devices. Where the inventive method of fabricating a substantially non-agglomerated Ni alloy monosilicide comprises the steps of: forming a metal alloy layer over a portion of a Si-containing substrate, wherein said metal alloy layer comprises of Ni and one or multiple alloying additive(s), where said alloying additive is Ti, V, Ge, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Rh, Pd or Pt or mixtures thereof; annealing the metal alloy layer at a temperature to convert a portion of said metal alloy layer into a Ni alloy monosilicide layer; and removing remaining metal alloy layer not converted into Ni alloy monosilicide. The alloying additives are selected for phase stability and to retard agglomeration. The alloying additives most efficient in retarding agglomeration are most efficient in producing silicides with low sheet resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an interconnect to a cobalt or nickel silicide having a TiN diffusion barrier. The inventive method comprises providing an initial structure having vias to exposed silicide regions positioned on a substrate; annealing the initial structure in a nitrogen-containing ambient, wherein a nitrogen passivation layer is formed atop the exposed silicide region; depositing Ti atop the nitrogen passivation layer; annealing the Ti in a nitrogen-containing ambient to form a TiN diffusion barrier and an amorphous Ti cobalt silicide between the TiN diffusion layer and the cobalt or nickel silicide and depositing an interconnect metal within the vias and atop the TiN diffusion barrier. The nitrogen passivation layer substantially restricts diffusion between the Ti and silicide layers minimizing the amorphous Ti cobalt silicide layer that forms. Therefore, the amorphous Ti cobalt or Ti nickel silicide is restricted to a thickness of less than about 3.0 nm.

Abstract: A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor. Initially, the resistor is provided, wherein the resistor has a length L and an electrical resistance R1. A portion of the resistor is exposed to a laser radiation, wherein the portion includes a fraction F of the length L of the resistor. After the resistor has been exposed to the laser radiation, the resistor has an electrical resistance R2, wherein R2 is unequal to R1.

Abstract: Methods of forming complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices having multiple-threshold voltages which are easily tunable are provided. Total salicidation with a metal bilayer (representative of the first method of the present invention) or metal alloy (representative of the second method of the present invention) is provided. CMOS devices having multiple-threshold voltages provided by the present methods are also described.

Abstract: An electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors and a method for fabricating such structure are disclosed. The electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors consists of a first plurality of conductive elements formed in an insulating material layer, a plurality of electrically resistive vias formed on top and in electrical communication with at least one of the first plurality of conductive elements, and a second plurality of conductive elements formed on top of and in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of electrically resistive vias. The present invention novel structure may further be formed in a multi-level configuration such that multi-level resistors may be connected in-series to provide larger resistance values. The present invention novel structure may further be combined with a capacitor network to form desirable RC circuits.

Abstract: An electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors and a method for fabricating such structure are disclosed. The electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors consists of a first plurality of conductive elements formed in an insulating material layer, a plurality of electrically resistive vias formed on top and in electrical communication with at least one of the first plurality of conductive elements, and a second plurality of conductive elements formed on top of and in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of electrically resistive vias. The present invention novel structure may further be formed in a multi-level configuration such that multi-level resistors may be connected in-series to provide larger resistance values. The present invention novel structure may further be combined with a capacitor network to form desirable RC circuits.

Abstract: A method of producing electrical contacts having reduced interface roughness as well as the electrical contacts themselves are disclosed herein. The method of the present invention comprises (a) forming an alloy layer having the formula MX, wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni and X is an alloying additives over a silicon-containing substrate; (b) optionally forming an optional oxygen barrier layer over said alloy layer; (c) annealing said alloy layer at a temperature sufficient to form a MXSi layer in said structure; (d) removing said optional oxygen barrier layer and any remaining alloy layer; and optionally (e) annealing said MXSi layer at a temperature sufficient to form a MXSi2 layer in said structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes at least one circuit element of a fuse, a diffusion barrier or a capacitor that is formed by refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen is disclosed. A method for fabricating such semiconductor structure that includes a fuse element, a diffusion barrier, a resistor or a capacitor by a refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen material is further disclosed. A suitable refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen material to be used is TaSiN which provides a wide range of resistivity by changing the ratio of Ta:Si:N. The invention provides the benefit that the various components of diffusion barriers, fuses, capacitors and resistors may be formed by a single deposition process of a TaSiN layer, the various components are then selectively masked and treated by either heat-treating or ion-implantation to vary their resistivity selectively while keeping the other shielded elements at the same resistivity.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, source and drain regions are formed as well as source and drain contact regions. Thereafter source and drain extension regions are formed. In another embodiment, elevated source and drain regions are formed as well as source and drain extension regions. Thereafter source and drain contact regions are formed at a temperature up to about 600° C. and an annealing time of up to about one minute.

Abstract: An integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which comprises at least a ferroelectric material, a pair of electrodes in contact with opposite surfaces of the ferroelectric material, where the electrodes do not decompose at deposition or annealing, and an oxygen source layer in contact with at least one of said electrodes, said oxygen source layer being a metal oxide which at least partially decomposes during deposition and/or subsequent processing is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same.

Abstract: A method of reducing the contact resistance of metal silicides to the p+ silicon area or the n+ silicon area of the substrate comprising: (a) forming a metal germanium (Ge) layer over a silicon-containing substrate, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ti, Ni and mixtures thereof; (b) optionally forming an oxygen barrier layer over said metal germanium layer; (c) annealing said metal germanium layer at a temperature which is effective in converting at least a portion thereof into a substantially non-etchable metal silicide layer, while forming a Si—Ge interlayer between said silicon-containing substrate and said substantially non-etchable metal silicide layer; and (d) removing said optional oxygen barrier layer and any remaining alloy layer. When a Co or Ti alloy is employed, e.g.

Abstract: A method (and resultant structure) for forming a metal silicide contact on a silicon-containing region having controlled consumption of said silicon-containing region, includes implanting Ge into the silicon-containing region, forming a blanket metal-silicon mixture layer over the silicon-containing region, reacting the metal-silicon mixture with silicon at a first temperature to form a metal silicon alloy, etching unreacted portions of the metal-silicon mixture layer, forming a blanket silicon layer over the metal silicon alloy layer, annealing at a second temperature to form an alloy of metal-Si2, and selectively etching the unreacted silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen capacitor in a semiconductor structure and the structure formed are described. In the method, a pre-processed semiconductor substrate is first positioned in a sputtering chamber. Ar gas is then flown into the sputtering chamber to sputter deposit a first refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen layer on the substrate from a refractory metal silicide target, or from two targets of a refractory metal and a silicon. N2 gas is then flown into the sputtering chamber until that the concentration of N2 gas in the chamber is at least 35% to sputter deposit a second refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen layer on top of the first refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen layer. The N2 gas flow is then stopped to sputter deposit a third refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen layer on top of the second refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen layer. The multi-layer stack of the refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen is then photolithographically formed into a capacitor.

Abstract: An electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors and a method for fabricating such structure are disclosed. The electronic structure that has in-situ formed unit resistors consists of a first plurality of conductive elements formed in an insulating material layer, a plurality of electrically resistive vias formed on top and in electrical communication with at least one of the first plurality of conductive elements, and a second plurality of conductive elements formed on top of and in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of electrically resistive vias. The present invention novel structure may further be formed in a multi-level configuration such that multi-level resistors may be connected in-series to provide larger resistance values. The present invention novel structure may further be combined with a capacitor network to form desirable RC circuits.

Abstract: A method (and structure) of forming a vertically-self-aligned silicide contact to an underlying SiGe layer, includes forming a layer of silicon of a first predetermined thickness on the SiGe layer and forming a layer of metal on the silicon layer, where the metal layer has a second predetermined thickness. A thermal annealing process at a predetermined temperature then forms a silicide of the silicon and metal, where the predetermined temperature is chosen to substantially preclude penetration of the silicide into the underlying SiGe layer.

Abstract: A method for changing an electrical resistance of a resistor. Initially, the resistor is provided, wherein the resistor has a length L and an electrical resistance R1. A portion of the resistor is exposed to a laser radiation, wherein the portion includes a fraction F of the length L of the resistor. After the resistor has been exposed to the laser radiation, the resistor has an electrical resistance R2, wherein R2 is unequal to R1.

Abstract: A method (and structure formed thereby) of forming a metal silicide contact on a non-planar silicon containing region having controlled consumption of the silicon containing region, includes forming a blanket metal layer over the silicon containing region, forming a silicon layer over the metal layer, etching anisotropically and selectively with respect to the metal the silicon layer, reacting the metal with silicon at a first temperature to form a metal silicon alloy, etching unreacted portions of the metal layer, annealing at a second temperature to form an alloy of metal-Si2, and selectively etching the unreacted silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a copper conductor in an electronic structure by first depositing a copper composition in a receptacle formed in the electronic structure, and then adding impurities into the copper composition such that its electromigration resistance is improved. In the method, the copper composition can be deposited by a variety of techniques such as electroplating, physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. The impurities which can be implanted include those of C, O, Cl, S and N at a suitable concentration range between about 0.01 ppm by weight and about 1000 ppm by weight. The impurities can be added by different methods such as ion implantation, annealing and diffusion.

Abstract: A method for forming metal interconnect in a semiconductor structure and the structure formed are disclosed. In the method, a seed layer of a first metal is first deposited into an interconnect opening wherein the seed layer has an average grain size of at least 0.0005 &mgr;m. The semiconductor structure is then annealed at a temperature sufficient to grow the average grain size in the seed layer to at least the film thickness. A filler layer of a second metal is then deposited to fill the interconnect opening overlaying the seed layer such that the filler layer has an average grain size of larger than 0.0005 &mgr;m and comparable to the annealed seed layer.