Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first metal silicide layer, a second metal silicide layer, and an isolation structure. The first transistor includes a first channel layer, a first gate structure, and first source/drain epitaxy structures. The second transistor includes a second channel layer, a second gate structure, and second source/drain epitaxy structures. The first metal silicide layer is over one of the first source/drain epitaxy structures. The second metal silicide layer is over one of the second source/drain epitaxy structures. The isolation structure covers the one of the first source/drain epitaxy structures and the one of the second source/drain epitaxy structures, wherein in a cross-sectional view, the one of the first source/drain epitaxy structures is separated from the isolation structure through the first metal silicide layer, while the one of the second source/drain epitaxy structures is in contact with the isolation structure.

Abstract: Provided is a conductive structure and a method for forming such a structure. The method includes forming a treatable layer by depositing a layer comprising a metal over a structure; performing a directional treatment process on a targeted portion of the treatable layer to convert the targeted portion to a material different from a non-targeted portion of the treatable layer, wherein the directional treatment process is selected from the group consisting of nitridation, oxidation, chlorination, carbonization; and selectively removing the non-targeted portion from the structure, wherein the targeted portion remains over the structure.

Abstract: A pre-cleaning technique described herein may be used to remove native oxides and/or other contaminants from a semiconductor device in a manner in which the likelihood of chopping, clipping, and/or sidewall spacer thickness reduction is reduced. As described herein, a protection layer is formed on a capping layer over a gate structure of a transistor. A pre-cleaning operation is then performed to remove native oxides from the top surface of a source/drain region of the transistor. In the pre-cleaning operation, the protection layer is consumed instead of the material of the capping layer. In this way, the use of the protection layer reduces the likelihood of removal of material from the capping layer and/or reduces the amount of material that is removed from the capping layer during the pre-cleaning operation.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first gate stack over a substrate. The first gate stack includes a gate electrode, a first hard mask (HM) disposed over the gate electrode, and sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first gate stack. The method also includes forming a first dielectric layer over the first gate stack, forming a second HM over the first HM and top surfaces of sidewall spacers, forming a second dielectric layer over the second HM and the first dielectric layer and removing the second and first dielectric layers to form a trench to expose a portion of the substrate while the second HM is disposed over the first gate stack.

Abstract: A method includes forming an Inter-layer Dielectric (ILD) having a portion at a same level as a metal gate of a transistor. The ILD and the metal gate are parts of a wafer. The ILD is etched to form a contact opening. The wafer is placed into a PVD tool, with a metal target in the PVD tool. The metal target has a first spacing from a magnet over the metal target, and a second spacing from the wafer. A ratio of the first spacing to the second spacing is greater than about 0.02. A metal layer is deposited on the wafer, with the metal layer having a bottom portion in the contact opening, and a sidewall portion in the contact opening. An anneal is performed to react the bottom portion of the metal layer with the source/drain region to form a silicide region.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack, a spacer layer, and a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method includes removing a first portion of the dielectric layer to form a first hole in the dielectric layer. A second portion of the dielectric layer is under the first hole. The method includes forming a first protection layer over the gate stack and the spacer layer. The method includes forming a second protection layer over the first protection layer. The second protection layer includes a metal compound material, and the first protection layer and the second protection layer includes a same metal element. The method includes removing the second portion of the dielectric layer to form a through hole. The method includes forming a conductive contact structure in the through hole.

Abstract: A method includes forming an Inter-layer Dielectric (ILD) having a portion at a same level as a metal gate of a transistor. The ILD and the metal gate are parts of a wafer. The ILD is etched to form a contact opening. The wafer is placed into a PVD tool, with a metal target in the PVD tool. The metal target has a first spacing from a magnet over the metal target, and a second spacing from the wafer. A ratio of the first spacing to the second spacing is greater than about 0.02. A metal layer is deposited on the wafer, with the metal layer having a bottom portion in the contact opening, and a sidewall portion in the contact opening. An anneal is performed to react the bottom portion of the metal layer with the source/drain region to form a silicide region.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack, a spacer layer, and a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method includes removing a first portion of the dielectric layer to form a first hole in the dielectric layer. A second portion of the dielectric layer is under the first hole. The method includes forming a first protection layer over the gate stack and the spacer layer. The method includes forming a second protection layer over the first protection layer. The second protection layer includes a metal compound material, and the first protection layer and the second protection layer includes a same metal element. The method includes removing the second portion of the dielectric layer to form a through hole. The method includes forming a conductive contact structure in the through hole.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack, a spacer layer, and a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method includes removing a first portion of the dielectric layer to form a first hole in the dielectric layer. A second portion of the dielectric layer is under the first hole. The method includes forming a first protection layer over the gate stack and the spacer layer. The method includes forming a second protection layer over the first protection layer. The second protection layer includes a metal compound material, and the first protection layer and the second protection layer includes a same metal element. The method includes removing the second portion of the dielectric layer to form a through hole. The method includes forming a conductive contact structure in the through hole.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack, a spacer layer, and a dielectric layer over a substrate. The method includes removing a first portion of the dielectric layer to form a first hole in the dielectric layer. A second portion of the dielectric layer is under the first hole. The method includes forming a first protection layer over the gate stack and the spacer layer. The method includes forming a second protection layer over the first protection layer. The second protection layer includes a metal compound material, and the first protection layer and the second protection layer includes a same metal element. The method includes removing the second portion of the dielectric layer to form a through hole. The method includes forming a conductive contact structure in the through hole.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first gate stack over a substrate. The first gate stack includes a gate electrode, a first hard mask (HM) disposed over the gate electrode, and sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first gate stack. The method also includes forming a first dielectric layer over the first gate stack, forming a second HM over the first HM and top surfaces of sidewall spacers, forming a second dielectric layer over the second HM and the first dielectric layer and removing the second and first dielectric layers to form a trench to expose a portion of the substrate while the second HM is disposed over the first gate stack.

Abstract: Methods for forming electrical contacts are provided. First and second FETs are formed over a semiconductor substrate. Openings are etched in a dielectric layer formed over the substrate, where the openings extend to source and drain regions of the FETs. A hard mask is formed over the source and drain regions of FETs. A first portion of the hard mask is removed, where the first portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. First silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. A second portion of the hard mask is removed, where the second portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. Second silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. A metal layer is deposited within the openings to fill the openings.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, a metal gate stack, and an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The metal gate stack is between the source region and the drain region. The insulating layer surrounds the metal gate stack. The method includes forming contact openings passing through the insulating layer to expose the source region and the drain region, respectively. The method includes performing a first pre-amorphized implantation process to form amorphous regions in the source region and the drain region exposed by the contact openings. The method includes after the first pre-amorphized implantation process, forming a dielectric spacer liner layer over sidewalls of the contact openings. The dielectric spacer liner layer has holes exposing portions of the amorphous regions, respectively.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening, with an underlying region underlying the dielectric layer exposed to the opening, and performing a bombardment to bombard a surface region of the underlying region through the opening. After the bombardment, the surface region is reacted with a process gas to form a reaction layer. An anneal is then performed to remove the reaction layer.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening, with an underlying region underlying the dielectric layer exposed to the opening, and performing a bombardment to bombard a surface region of the underlying region through the opening. After the bombardment, the surface region is reacted with a process gas to form a reaction layer. An anneal is then performed to remove the reaction layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, a metal gate stack, and an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The metal gate stack is between the source region and the drain region. The insulating layer surrounds the metal gate stack. The method includes forming contact openings passing through the insulating layer to expose the source region and the drain region, respectively. The method includes performing a first pre-amorphized implantation process to form amorphous regions in the source region and the drain region exposed by the contact openings. The method includes after the first pre-amorphized implantation process, forming a dielectric spacer liner layer over sidewalls of the contact openings. The dielectric spacer liner layer has holes exposing portions of the amorphous regions, respectively.

Abstract: Methods for forming electrical contacts are provided. First and second FETs are formed over a semiconductor substrate. Openings are etched in a dielectric layer formed over the substrate, where the openings extend to source and drain regions of the FETs. A hard mask is formed over the source and drain regions of FETs. A first portion of the hard mask is removed, where the first portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. First silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. A second portion of the hard mask is removed, where the second portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. Second silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. A metal layer is deposited within the openings to fill the openings.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening, with an underlying region underlying the dielectric layer exposed to the opening, and performing a bombardment to bombard a surface region of the underlying region through the opening. After the bombardment, the surface region is reacted with a process gas to form a reaction layer. An anneal is then performed to remove the reaction layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. A source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate, and metal silicide regions are formed in the source region and the drain region, respectively. The semiconductor device further includes a metal gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The semiconductor device also includes an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the metal gate stack, wherein the insulating layer has contact openings exposing the metal silicide regions, respectively. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric spacer liner layer formed over inner walls of the contact openings, wherein the whole of the dielectric spacer liner layer is right above the metal silicide regions. The semiconductor device includes contact plugs formed in the contact openings.

Abstract: Methods for forming electrical contacts are provided. First and second FETs are formed over a semiconductor substrate. Openings are etched in a dielectric layer formed over the substrate, where the openings extend to source and drain regions of the FETs. A hard mask is formed over the source and drain regions of FETs. A first portion of the hard mask is removed, where the first portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. First silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the first FET. A second portion of the hard mask is removed, where the second portion is formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. Second silicide layers are formed over the source and drain regions of the second FET. A metal layer is deposited within the openings to fill the openings.