Abstract: An improved method of forming a conductive line on a semiconductor substrate is described. A conductive layer is formed on the substrate. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the conductive layer. A first etching step is performed on the conductive layer to define the conductive layer and to form a conductive line. A second etching step is performed on the conductive line to undercut the conductive line so as to make the conductive line have smaller bottom and to increase a distance between neighboring conductive lines. A third etching step is performed to remove residue generated on the substrate during the first and the second etching steps. A dielectric layer is formed to cover the conductive line. A planarization process is performed.

Abstract: The method of the present invention includes forming a MOS on a semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a silicon-rich metal silicide layer is deposited on the MOS and substrate by using chemical vapor deposition to act as a silicon material source. Then, a thermal process is carried out to separate a portion of the silicon out of the metal silicide layer, thereby forming a silicon layer on top of the gate of the MOS, source/drain. The nest step is to remove the metal suicide layer. A self-aligned metal silicide layer is formed on the silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact via includes forming a wiring, a first insulator layer, and a spin-on glass layer, respectively, over a semiconductor substrate. Fluorine ions are implanted into the spin-on glass layer. A second insulator layer is formed over the spin-on glass layer. The wiring is exposed by patterning the second insulator layer, the spin-on glass layer, and the first insulator layer, respectively.

Abstract: A method of fabricating salicide and self-aligned barrier simultaneously is disclosed. The initial steps include sputtering a metal stack (Ti--TiN--Ti) and forming a salicide layer by thermally reacting the metal stack and the wafer followed by a chemical etching which removes the unreacted portions of the metal stack. The portions of the metal stack on Si can react with Si to form a TiSi.sub.2 layer, thus forming TiSi.sub.2 --TiN--TiSi.sub.2. The TiSi.sub.2 layer over the TiN layer acts as a mask in the chemical etching and protects the TiN layer from been etched. The diffusion barrier layer is thus formed simultaneously within the fabricating of salicide.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing epitaxial titanium silicide in a metal silicide processing has a lower than usual processing temperature requirement, and is therefore suitable for use in the manufacturing of integrated circuits. The epitaxial titanium silicide so formed is made without a grain boundary and is thus capable of lowering the electrical resistance of the titanium silicide. First, a silicon substrate with an exposed crystalline silicon layer on the surface is provided. Then a titanium layer and a titanium nitride layer are sequentially formed. Finally, using a rapid thermal processing, an epitaxial titanium silicide layer is formed.