Abstract: A CMOS device is provided having a high concentration of nitrogen atoms at the SiO.sub.2 /Si interface reducing hot carrier effects associated with operating shorter devices at voltage levels typically used with longer devices. In one embodiment, the process for providing the CMOS device resistant to hot carrier effects makes use of a sacrificial oxide layer through which the nitrogen atoms are implanted and is then removed. Following removal of the sacrificial oxide layer, a gate oxide is grown giving a CMOS device having high nitrogen concentration at the SiO.sub.2 /Si interface. In an alternate embodiment, nitrogen atoms are implanted through the final gate oxide using an implantation energy which does not damage the oxide layer.

Abstract: N.sub.2 implantation is used to increase the etch rate of a sacrificial oxide (sometimes referred to as the first gate oxide) in integrated circuitry. This implantation allows etching selectivity by changing the relative etch rates of materials. In the specific implementation described, a field oxide is also provided and this implantation increases the etch rate of the sacrificial oxide relative to that of the field oxide. No heat treatment is applied to the implanted material prior to etching having the ability to repair the damage caused by the bombardment.

Abstract: A method of controlling gate oxide thickness in the fabrication of semiconductor devices wherein a sacrificial gate oxide layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate surface. Nitrogens ions are implanted into select locations of the substrate through the sacrificial gate oxide layer, and the substrate and the gate oxide layer are then thermally annealed. The sacrificial gate oxide layer is then removed and a gate oxide layer is then formed on the substrate layer wherein the portion of the gate oxide layer formed on the nitrogen ion implanted portion of the substrate is thinner than the portion of the gate oxide layer formed on the non-nitrogen ion implanted portion.

Abstract: An improved process for planarizing an isolation barrier in the fabrication of a semiconductor chip involves reducing the etch rate of the field oxide independently of the sacrificial oxide layer. The field oxide layer is implanted with nitrogen ions and then thermally annealed resulting in a hardened and densified field oxide. In subsequent operations, a sacrificial oxide layer is formed on the semiconductor top surface by thermal oxidation. Upon etching with HF, the etch rate of the hardened field oxide is significantly reduced relative to untreated field oxide. Thus, the exposed hardened field oxide is etched at about the same rate as the sacrificial oxide layer. In the example given, the etch rate of untreated densified TEOS field oxide in 10:1 HF is 6.90 .ANG./sec, while the etch rate of TEOS field oxide hardened according to the processes of this invention is 5.90 .ANG./sec. After planarization using the hardened field oxide, depressions in the isolation barrier are eliminated.