Abstract: A semiconductor device having a self-aligned silicide layer and a method thereof are provided. The device includes a device isolation layer formed on the substrate to define an active region and a gate pattern crossing over the active region. A spacer insulating layer is formed on both sidewalls of the gate pattern. First and second salicide layers are formed on an upper portion of the gate pattern, and the first salicide layer is formed on the active region between the spacer insulating layer and the device isolation layer. The first and the second salicide layers on the gate pattern are alternately formed to be connected with each other. The first salicide layer is agglomeratedly formed on a narrow gate pattern, and the second salicide layer is formed within interrupted portions of the first salicide layer, thereby forming a patched salicide layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a metal gate pattern is provided in which capping layers are used to control the relative oxidation rates of portions of the metal gate pattern during a oxidation process. The capping layer may be a multilayer structure and may be etched to form insulating spacers on the sidewalls of the metal gate pattern. The capping layer(s) allow the use of a selective oxidation process, which may be a wet oxidation process utilizing partial pressures of both H2O and H2 in an H2-rich atmosphere, to oxidize portions of the substrate and metal gate pattern while suppressing the oxidation of metal layers that may be included in the metal gate pattern. This allows etch damage to the silicon substrate and edges of the metal gate pattern to be reduced while substantially maintaining the original thickness of the gate insulating layer and the conductivity of the metal layer(s).

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a MOS transistor with a strained channel are provided. The method includes forming a MOS transistor at a portion of a semiconductor substrate. The MOS transistor is formed to have source/drain regions spaced apart from each other and a gate electrode located over a channel region between the source/drain regions. A stress layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate having the MOS transistor. The stress layer is then annealed to convert a physical stress of the stress layer into a tensile stress or increase a tensile stress of the stress layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: A test structure of a semiconductor device is provided. The test structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor which includes a gate electrode formed on first and second active regions defined within the semiconductor substrate, and first and second junction regions which are arranged at both sidewalls of the gate electrode to reside within the first and second active regions and are silicided, and first and second pads through which electrical signals are applied to the silicided first and second junction regions and detected and which are formed on the same level as the gate electrode or the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A test structure of a semiconductor device with improved test reliability is provided. The test structure includes first and second active regions which are electrically isolated from each other and on which silicided first and second junction regions are formed, respectively, a semiconductor substrate or a well which is formed on lower parts of the first and second junction regions and has a conductivity type different from the first and second junction regions, and first and second pads through which an electrical signal is applied to the first and second junction regions and detected, and which are formed on the same level as a lower part of a metal layer or on the same level as the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes dual spacers is provided. A nitrogen atmosphere may be created and maintained in a reaction chamber by supplying a nitrogen source gas. A silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas may then be supplied to the reaction chamber to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, which may include a conductive material layer. A silicon nitride layer may then be formed on the silicon oxide layer by performing a general CVD process. Next, the silicon nitride layer may be etched until the silicon oxide layer is exposed. Because of the difference in etching selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon oxide, portions of the silicon nitride layer may remain on sidewalls of the conductive material layer. As a result, dual spacers formed of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer may be formed on the sidewalls.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes dual spacers is provided. A nitrogen atmosphere may be created and maintained in a reaction chamber by supplying a nitrogen source gas. A silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas may then be supplied to the reaction chamber to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, which may include a conductive material layer. A silicon nitride layer may then be formed on the silicon oxide layer by performing a general CVD process. Next, the silicon nitride layer may be etched until the silicon oxide layer is exposed. Because of the difference in etching selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon oxide, portions of the silicon nitride layer may remain on sidewalls of the conductive material layer. As a result, dual spacers formed of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer may be formed on the sidewalls.

Abstract: A salicide process using a bi-metal layer and method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate using the same are disclosed herein. The salicide process includes forming a main metal layer on a semiconductor substrate containing silicon. A main metal alloy layer containing at least one species of alloy element is formed on the main metal layer. The semiconductor substrate having the main metal layer and the main metal alloy layer is annealed to form a main metal alloy silicide layer. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the main metal layer may be formed of a nickel (Ni) layer, and the main metal alloy layer may be formed of a nickel tantalum alloy layer. In this case, a nickel tantalum silicide layer having improved thermal stability and electrical characteristics are formed.

Abstract: In a method of forming a metal gate electrode, an annealing process is performed in a hydrogen-containing gas ambient following a selective oxidation process. During the annealing process, a metal oxide layer formed by the selective oxidation process is removed by a reduction reaction or hydrogen atoms are contained in the metal oxide layer to suppress whisker nucleation and surface mobility.

Abstract: Provided are exemplary methods for forming a nickel silicide layer and semiconductor devices incorporating a nickel silicide layer that provides increased stability for subsequent processing at temperatures above 450° C. In particular, the nickel silicide layer is formed from a nickel alloy having a minor portion of an alloying metal, such as tantalum, and exhibits reduced agglomeration and retarded the phase transition between NiSi and NiSi2 to suppress increases in the sheet resistance and improve the utility for use with fine patterns. As formed, the nickel silicide layer includes both a lower layer consisting primarily of nickel and silicon and a thinner upper layer that incorporates the majority of the alloying metal.

Abstract: A metal-containing film is formed on a silicon-containing conductive region at a temperature where the metal of the metal-containing film and silicon of the semiconductor substrate react with each other to form a diffusion restraint interface film interposed between the metal-containing film and silicon of the and the semiconductor substrate. The resultant structure is annealed so that metal of the metal-containing film and silicon of the silicon-containing conductive region react with each other to form a metal silicide film.

Abstract: A cobalt-containing film on a silicon-containing conductive region, and a titanium-rich capping layer is formed on cobalt-containing film. The atomic % ratio of titanium to other elements (if any) in the titanium-rich capping layer is more than one (1). The resultant structure is annealed so that cobalt of the cobalt-containing film and silicon of the silicon-containing conductive region react with each other to form a cobalt silicide film. When the formation of the cobalt-containing film is carried out at a high temperature, a diffusion restraint interface film is also formed.

Abstract: A nickel salicide process includes preparing a substrate having a silicon region and an insulating region containing silicon. Nickel is deposited on the substrate, and the nickel is annealed at a first temperature of 300° C. to 380° C. to selectively form a mono-nickel mono-silicide layer on the silicon region and to leave an unreacted nickel layer on the insulating region. The unreacted nickel layer is selectively removed to expose the insulating region and to leave the mono-nickel mono-silicide layer on the silicon region. Subsequently, the mono-nickel mono-silicide layer is annealed at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature to form a thermally stable mono-nickel mono-silicide layer and without a phase transition of the mono-nickel mono-silicide layer.

Abstract: Integrated circuit gates are fabricated by forming an insulated gate on an integrated circuit substrate, wherein the insulated gate includes a gate oxide on the integrated circuit substrate, a polysilicon pattern including polysilicon sidewalls, on the gate oxide, and a metal pattern on the polysilicon pattern. The insulated gate is pretreated with hydrogen and nitrogen gasses. The polysilicon sidewalls are then oxidized. The pretreating in hydrogen and nitrogen gasses prior to oxidizing can reduce growth in thickness of the gate oxide during the oxidizing and/or can reduce formation of whiskers on the metal pattern, compared to absence of the pretreatment.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: Provided are exemplary methods for forming a nickel silicide layer and semiconductor devices incorporating a nickel silicide layer that provides increased stability for subsequent processing at temperatures above 450° C. In particular, the nickel silicide layer is formed from a nickel alloy having a minor portion of an alloying metal, such as tantalum, and exhibits reduced agglomeration and retarded the phase transition between NiSi and NiSi2 to suppress increases in the sheet resistance and improve the utility for use with fine patterns. As formed, the nickel silicide layer includes both a lower layer consisting primarily of nickel and silicon and a thinner upper layer that incorporates the majority of the alloying metal.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a MOS transistor with a strained channel are provided. The method includes forming a MOS transistor at a portion of a semiconductor substrate. The MOS transistor is formed to have source/drain regions spaced apart from each other and a gate electrode located over a channel region between the source/drain regions. A stress layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate having the MOS transistor. The stress layer is then annealed to convert a physical stress of the stress layer into a tensile stress or increase a tensile stress of the stress layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include semiconductor devices that can be made with relatively low resistance, and methods of forming such devices. Between forming a polysilicon layer and a metal layer, an interface reaction preventing layer is created. This reaction preventing layer prevents a buildup of highly resistive materials that would otherwise occur when creating conventional semiconductor devices, as well as having other functions.