Abstract: A nano-fuse structural arrangement, includes, for example, a semiconductor substrate having an electrically conductive region formed thereon; an electrically conductive elongated nano-structure having a maximum diameter of less than approximately 50 nm and a maximum length of approximately 250 nm and being formed on the electrically conductive region; a barrier having barrier parts completely spaced from and completely surrounding elongated outer surfaces of the nano-structure, the spaces between the barrier and surfaces consisting essentially of a vacuum and being approximately equally spaced, so that the electrically conductive elongated nano-structure is blowable responsive to an electrical current flowable there through in a range of approximately 4 ?A to approximately 120 ?A.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device including an n-type device and a p-type device. In an aspect of the invention, the method involves forming a shallow-trench-isolation oxide (STI) isolating the n-type device from the p-type device. The method further involves adjusting the shallow-trench-isolation oxide corresponding to at least one of the n-type device and the p-type device such that a thickness of the shallow-trench-isolation oxide adjacent to the n-type device is different from a thickness of the shallow-trench-isolation oxide adjacent to the p-type device, and forming a strain layer over the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Some non-limiting example embodiments comprise a disposable spacer formation and removal process and a stress capping layer process. We provide a gate structure over a substrate. We form disposable spacers abutting the at least one gate sidewall. We form S/D regions adjacent the disposable spacers. We remove the disposable spacers. We can form silicide regions over the S/D and gate. In an aspect, we can deposit a stress inducing layer over the gate and surface portions of the substrate adjacent to the gate, wherein the stress inducing liner provides a stress to a portion of the substrate underlying the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided comprising an oxide layer over a first silicon layer and a second silicon layer over the oxide layer, wherein the oxide layer is between the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer. The first silicon layer and the second silicon layer comprise the same crystalline orientation. The device further includes a graded germanium layer on the first silicon layer, wherein the graded germanium layer contacts a spacer and the first silicon layer and does not contact the oxide layer. A lower portion of the graded germanium layer comprises a higher concentration of germanium than an upper portion of the graded germanium layer, wherein a top surface of the graded germanium layer lacks germanium.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a hybrid orientation substrate provides for: (1) a horizontal epitaxial augmentation of a masked surface semiconductor layer that leaves exposed a portion of a base semiconductor substrate; and (2) a vertical epitaxial augmentation of the exposed portion of the base semiconductor substrate. The resulting surface semiconductor layer and epitaxial surface semiconductor layer adjoin with an interface that is not perpendicular to the base semiconductor substrate. The method also includes implanting through the surface semiconductor layer and the epitaxial surface semiconductor layer a dielectric forming ion to provide a buried dielectric layer that separates the surface semiconductor layer and the epitaxial surface semiconductor layer from the base semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconducting material that has all the advantages of prior art SOI substrates including, for example, low parasitic capacitance and leakage, without having floating body effects is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a Semiconductor-on-Pores (SOP) material that includes a top semiconductor layer and a bottom semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layers are separated in at least one region by a porous semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures including the SOP material as a substrate as well as a method of fabricating the SOP material are also provided. The method includes forming a p-type region with a first semiconductor layer, converting the p-type region to a porous semiconductor material, sealing the upper surface of the porous semiconductor material by annealing, and forming a second semiconductor layer atop the porous semiconductor material.

Abstract: A semiconductor fuse and methods of making the same. The fuse includes a fuse element and a compressive stress liner that reduces the electro-migration resistance of the fuse element. The method includes forming a substrate, forming a trench feature in the substrate, depositing fuse material in the trench feature, depositing compressive stress liner material over the fuse material, and patterning the compressive stress liner material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided which includes a first field effect transistor (“FET”) having a first channel region, a first source region, a first drain region and a first gate conductor overlying the first channel region. A second FET is included which has a second channel region, a second source region, a second drain region and a second gate conductor overlying the second channel region. The first and second gate conductors are portions of a single elongated conductive member extending over both the first and second channel regions. A first stressed film overlies the first FET, the first stressed film applying a stress having a first value to the first channel region. A second stressed film overlies the second FET, the second stressed film applying a stress having a second value to the second channel region. The second value is substantially different from the first value.

Abstract: A method for increasing carrier mobility of transistors included in an semiconductor device includes forming a stress inducing layer over a plurality of transistors, the transistors formed in regions of varying transistor density, wherein the stress inducing layer is formed at a varying thickness depending on the transistor density, such that the stress inducing layer is thicker in regions of increased transistor density and thinner in regions of decreased transistor density.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device having a stress relief layer under a stress layer in one region of a substrate. In a first example, a stress relief layer is formed over a first region of the substrate (e.g., PFET region) and not over a second region (e.g., NFET region). A stress layer is over the stress relief layer in the first region and over the devices and substrate/silicide in the second region. The NFET transistor performance is enhanced due to the overall tensile stress in the NFET channel while the degradation in the PFET transistor performance is reduced/eliminated due to the inclusion of the stress relief layer. In a second example embodiment, the stress relief layer is formed over the second region, but not the first region and the stress of the stress layer is reversed.

Abstract: An example embodiment for a method of fabrication of a semiconductor device comprises the following. We provide a substrate with a first device region and a second device region. We provide a first type FET transistor in the first device region and provide a second type FET transistor in the second device region. We form an etch stop layer over the first and second device regions and forming a first stressor layer over the first device region. The first stressor layer puts a first type stress on the substrate in the first device region. We form a second stressor layer over the second device region. The second stressor layer puts a second type stress on the substrate in the second device region. Another example embodiment is the structure of a dual stress layer device having an etch stop layer.

Abstract: An n-type field effect transistor (NFET) and methods of forming a halo for an NFET to control the short channel effect are disclosed. One method includes forming a gate over a silicon substrate; recessing the silicon adjacent to the gate; forming a halo by epitaxially growing boron in-situ doped silicon germanium (SiGe) in the recess; and epitaxially growing silicon over the silicon germanium. Alternatively, the halo can be formed by ion implanting boron into an embedded SiGe region within the silicon substrate. The resulting NFET includes a boron doped SiGe halo embedded within the silicon substrate. The embedded SiGe layer may be a relaxed layer without inserting strain in the channel. The high solid solubility of boron in SiGe and low diffusion rate allows formation of a halo that will maintain the sharp profile, which provides better control of the short channel effect and increasing control over NFET threshold voltage roll-off.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices with stressed channel regions. Specifically, each improved CMOS device comprises an field effect transistor (FET) having a channel region located in a semiconductor device structure, which has a top surface oriented along one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes and one or more additional surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. Such additional surfaces can be readily formed by crystallographic etching. Further, one or more stressor layers with intrinsic compressive or tensile stress are located over the additional surfaces of the semiconductor device structure and are arranged and constructed to apply tensile or compressive stress to the channel region of the FET. Such stressor layers can be formed by pseudomorphic growth of a semiconductor material having a lattice constant different from the semiconductor device structure.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device having a stress relief layer under a stress layer in one region of a substrate. In a first example, a stress relief layer is formed over a first region of the substrate (e.g., PFET region) and not over a second region (e.g., NFET region). A stress layer is over the stress relief layer in the first region and over the devices and substrate/silicide in the second region. The NFET transistor performance is enhanced due to the overall tensile stress in the NFET channel while the degradation in the PFET transistor performance is reduced/eliminated due to the inclusion of the stress relief layer. In a second example embodiment, the stress relief layer is formed over the second region, but not the first region and the stress of the stress layer is reversed.

Abstract: An etch resistant liner covering sidewalls of a transistor gate stack and along a portion of the substrate at a base of the transistor gate stack. The liner prevents silicide formation on the sidewalls of the gate stack, which may produce electrical shorting, and determines the location of silicide formation within source and drain regions within the substrate at the base of the transistor gate stack. The liner also covers a resistor gate stack preventing silicide formation within or adjacent to the resistor gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided which includes a first field effect transistor (“FET”) having a first channel region, a first source region, a first drain region and a first gate conductor overlying the first channel region. A second FET is included which has a second channel region, a second source region, a second drain region and a second gate conductor overlying the second channel region. The first and second gate conductors are portions of a single elongated conductive member extending over both the first and second channel regions. A first stressed film overlies the first FET, the first stressed film applying a stress having a first value to the first channel region. A second stressed film overlies the second FET, the second stressed film applying a stress having a second value to the second channel region. The second value is substantially different from the first value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device comprising at least one field effect transistor (FET) having source and drain (S/D) metal silicide layers with intrinsic tensile or compressive stress. First, a metal layer containing a silicide metal M is formed over S/D regions of a FET, followed by a first annealing step to form S/D metal silicide layers that comprise a metal silicide of a first phase (MSix). A silicon nitride layer is then formed over the FET, followed by a second annealing step. During the second annealing step, the metal silicide is converted from the first phase (MSix) into a second phase (MSiy) with x<y. The metal silicide conversion causes either volumetric shrinkage or expansion in the S/D metal silicide layers of the FET, which in turn generates intrinsic tensile or compressive stress in the S/D metal silicide layers under confinement by the silicon nitride layer.

Abstract: A method is provided in which an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) and a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) each have a channel region disposed in a first single-crystal semiconductor region having a first composition. A stress is applied at a first magnitude to a channel region of the PFET but not at that magnitude to the channel region of the NFET. The stress is applied by a single-crystal semiconductor layer having a second composition such that the single-crystal semiconductor layer is lattice-mismatched to the first region. The semiconductor layer is formed over the source and drain regions and optionally over the extension regions of the PFET at a first distance from the channel region of the PFET and is formed over the source and drain regions of the NFET at a second, greater distance from the channel region of the NFET, or the semiconductor layer having the second composition is not formed at all in the NFET.

Abstract: A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) of an integrated circuit are provided. A first strain is applied to the channel region of the PFET but not the NFET via a lattice-mismatched semiconductor layer such as silicon germanium disposed in source and drain regions of only the PFET and not of the NFET. A process of making the PFET and NFET is provided. Trenches are etched in the areas to become the source and drain regions of the PFET and a lattice-mismatched silicon germanium layer is grown epitaxially therein to apply a strain to the channel region of the PFET adjacent thereto. A layer of silicon can be grown over the silicon germanium layer and a salicide formed from the layer of silicon to provide low-resistance source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming contact vias. A dielectric region is formed to overlie substantially all of a transistor structure, the dielectric region having a substantially planar upper surface. A dielectric barrier layer is formed to overlie the upper surface of the dielectric region, the dielectric barrier layer being adapted to substantially prevent diffusion of one or more materials from above the dielectric barrier layer into the dielectric region. A first contact via is formed to extend through the dielectric barrier layer and the dielectric region to provide conductive communication with a conductive member of the transistor structure. A second contact via is formed to extend through the dielectric barrier layer and the dielectric region to provide conductive communication with one of a source region or a drain region of the transistor structure.