Abstract: Methods are provided for forming a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of forming a high-k dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal-comprising gate layer overlying the high-k dielectric layer, forming a doped silicon-comprising capping layer overlying the metal-comprising gate layer, and depositing a silicon-comprising gate layer overlying the doped silicon-comprising capping layer.

Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor device comprising a silicon-comprising substrate are provided. One exemplary method comprises depositing a polysilicon layer overlying the silicon-comprising substrate, amorphizing the polysilicon layer, etching the amorphized polysilicon layer to form a gate electrode, depositing a stress-inducing layer overlying the gate electrode, annealing the silicon-comprising substrate to recrystallize the gate electrode, removing the stress-inducing layer, etching recesses into the substrate using the gate electrode as an etch mask, and epitaxially growing impurity-doped, silicon-comprising regions in the recesses.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to semiconductor transistor devices and associated fabrication techniques that can be utilized to form silicide contacts having an increased effective size, relative to conventional silicide contacts. A semiconductor device fabricated in accordance with the processes disclosed herein includes a layer of semiconductor material and a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material. A channel region is formed in the layer of semiconductor material, the channel region underlying the gate structure. The semiconductor device also includes source and drain regions in the layer of semiconductor material, wherein the channel region is located between the source and drain regions. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes facet-shaped silicide contact areas overlying the source and drain regions.

Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor device comprising a silicon-comprising substrate are provided. One exemplary method comprises depositing a polysilicon layer overlying the silicon-comprising substrate, amorphizing the polysilicon layer, etching the amorphized polysilicon layer to form a gate electrode, depositing a stress-inducing layer overlying the gate electrode, annealing the silicon-comprising substrate to recrystallize the gate electrode, removing the stress-inducing layer, etching recesses into the substrate using the gate electrode as an etch mask, and epitaxially growing impurity-doped, silicon-comprising regions in the recesses.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device on and in a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method comprises forming a first gate stack overlying the first region and a second gate stack overlying the second region, etching into the substrate first recesses and second recesses, the first recesses aligned at least to the first gate stack in the first region, and the second recesses aligned at least to the second gate stack in the second region, epitaxially growing a first stress-inducing monocrystalline material in the first and second recesses, removing the first stress-inducing monocrystalline material from the first recesses, and epitaxially growing a second stress-inducing monocrystalline material in the first recesses, wherein the second stress-inducing monocrystalline material has a composition different from the first stress-inducing monocrystalline material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. One exemplary method comprises providing a silicon-comprising substrate having a first surface, etching a recess into the first surface, the recess having a side surface and a bottom surface, implanting carbon ions into the side surface and the bottom surface, and forming an impurity-doped, silicon-comprising region overlying the side surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor transistor device is provided. The fabrication method begins by forming a gate structure overlying a layer of semiconductor material, such as silicon. Then, spacers are formed about the sidewalls of the gate structure. Next, ions of an amorphizing species are implanted into the semiconductor material at a tilted angle toward the gate structure. The gate structure and the spacers are used as an ion implantation mask during this step. The ions form amorphized regions in the semiconductor material. Thereafter, the amorphized regions are selectively removed, resulting in corresponding recesses in the semiconductor material. In addition, the recesses are filled with stress inducing semiconductor material, and fabrication of the semiconductor transistor device is completed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a MOSFET (e.g., a PMOS FET) includes providing a semiconductor substrate having surface characterized by a (110) surface orientation or (110) sidewall surfaces, forming a gate structure on the surface, and forming a source extension and a drain extension in the semiconductor substrate asymmetrically positioned with respect to the gate structure. An ion implantation process is performed at a non-zero tilt angle. At least one spacer and the gate electrode mask a portion of the surface during the ion implantation process such that the source extension and drain extension are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the gate structure by an asymmetry measure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor transistor device is provided. The fabrication method begins by forming a gate structure overlying a layer of semiconductor material, such as silicon. Then, spacers are formed about the sidewalls of the gate structure. Next, ions of an amorphizing species are implanted into the semiconductor material at a tilted angle toward the gate structure. The gate structure and the spacers are used as an ion implantation mask during this step. The ions form amorphized regions in the semiconductor material. Thereafter, the amorphized regions are selectively removed, resulting in corresponding recesses in the semiconductor material. In addition, the recesses are filled with stress inducing semiconductor material, and fabrication of the semiconductor transistor device is completed.

Abstract: A metal oxide semiconductor transistor device having a reduced gate height is provided. One embodiment of the device includes a substrate having a layer of semiconductor material, a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material, and source/drain recesses formed in the semiconductor material adjacent to the gate structure, such that remaining semiconductor material is located below the source/drain recesses. The device also includes shallow source/drain implant regions formed in the remaining semiconductor material, and epitaxially grown, in situ doped, semiconductor material in the source/drain recesses.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of narrow gate pitch transistors (NPTs) and wide gate pitch transistors (WPTs) are formed on and in the semiconductor substrate. The NPTs are spaced apart by a first distance, and the WPTs are spaced apart by a second distance greater than the first distance. A first stress liner layer is deposited overlying the NPTs, the WPTs and the semiconductor layer, an etch stop layer is deposited overlying the first stress liner layer, and a second stress liner layer is deposited overlying the etch stop layer. A portion of the second stress liner layer which overlies the WPTs is covered, and an exposed portion of the second stress liner layer which overlies the NPTs is removed to expose an exposed portion of the etch stop layer. The exposed portion of the etch stop layer which overlies the NPTs is removed.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of narrow gate pitch transistors (NPTs) and wide gate pitch transistors (WPTs) are formed on and in the semiconductor substrate. The NPTs are spaced apart by a first distance, and the WPTs are spaced apart by a second distance greater than the first distance. A first stress liner layer is deposited overlying the NPTs, the WPTs and the semiconductor layer, an etch stop layer is deposited overlying the first stress liner layer, and a second stress liner layer is deposited overlying the etch stop layer. A portion of the second stress liner layer which overlies the WPTs is covered, and an exposed portion of the second stress liner layer which overlies the NPTs is removed to expose an exposed portion of the etch stop layer. The exposed portion of the etch stop layer which overlies the NPTs is removed.

Abstract: MOS transistors having high-k spacers and methods for fabricating such transistors are provided. One exemplary method comprises forming a gate stack overlying a semiconductor substrate and forming an offset spacer about sidewalls of the gate stack. The offset spacer is formed of a high-k dielectric material that results in a low interface trap density between the offset spacer and the semiconductor substrate. First ions of a conductivity-determining impurity type are implanted into the semiconductor substrate using the gate stack and the offset spacer as an implantation mask to form spaced-apart impurity-doped extensions.