Abstract: Disclosed is a process of electrically coupling the gate electrodes of an N-type transistor and a P-type transistor without causing substantial cross diffusion of P-type dopants into the N-type gate electrode and N-type dopants into the P-type gate electrode. This is possible because some or all annealing and diffusion steps are performed while the N-type and P-type gate electrodes are physically isolated from one another. Also disclosed is a Silicide as Diffusion Source process in which dopant atoms implanted in silicide regions diffuses out of the silicide regions and into the substrate to form source and drain diffusions. During this diffusion step adjacent N-type and P-type gate electrodes remain unconnected to prevent cross diffusion. Then, these two electrodes are electrically connected by a local interconnect. The local interconnection is a conductive path formed at about the level of the polysilicon (i.e.

Abstract: A composite metal line structure for an integrated circuit structure on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed which comprises: a low resistance metal core layer; a first thin protective layer of electrically conductive material on the upper surface of the metal core layer capable of protecting the metal core layer from reaction with tungsten; a layer of tungsten formed over the first protective layer to function as an etch stop layer for vias subsequently formed in an overlying dielectric layer; and a second thin protective layer of electrically conductive material over the tungsten layer and capable of functioning as an antireflective coating (ARC).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming vias and trenches in two separate dielectric layers, which may be separated by an etch stop, while avoiding the etch mask stress complicated resist masks, or high aspect ratio openings of the prior art. A first dielectric layer 10 is formed over an integrated circuit structure 2 on a semiconductor substrate, and a thin second dielectric layer 20 is formed over the first dielectric layer. A first resist mask, is formed over the second dielectric layer, and the first and second dielectric layers are etched through to form one or more vias 18, 28 extending through both the first and second dielectric layers. The first resist mask is then removed and a third dielectric layer 70, having different etch characteristics than the second dielectric layer, is deposited over the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of electrically coupling the gate electrodes of an N-type transistor and a P-type transistor without causing substantial cross diffusion of P-type dopants into the N-type gate electrode and N-type dopants into the P-type gate electrode. This is possible because some or all annealing and diffusion steps are performed while the N-type and P-type gate electrodes are physically isolated from one another. Also disclosed is a Silicide as Diffusion Source process in which dopant atoms implanted in silicide regions diffuses out of the silicide regions and into the substrate to form source and drain diffusions. During this diffusion step adjacent N-type and P-type gate electrodes remain unconnected to prevent cross diffusion. Then, these two electrodes are electrically connected by a local interconnect. The local interconnection is a conductive path formed at about the level of the polysilicon (i.e.

Abstract: A metal silicide blocking process for preventing formation of metal silicide on a first device and allowing formation of metal silicide on elements of a second device of an integrated circuit substrate is described.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for amorphizing portions of a silicon substrate and a polysilicon gate electrode surface to be converted to metal silicide by subsequent reaction of the amorphized silicon with a metal layer applied over the silicon substrate and polysilicon gate electrode after the amorphizing step. The improvement comprises implanting the exposed surface of the silicon substrate and the surface of the polysilicon gate electrode with a beam of amorphizing ions at an angle of at least 15.degree. to a line perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the silicon substrate to thereby inhibit channeling of the implanted ions through the gate electrode to the underlying gate oxide and channel of the MOS structure. The implant angle of the beam of amorphizing ions is preferably at least 30.degree., but should not exceed 60.degree., with respect to a line perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A process which is capable of forming shallow source/drain regions in a silicon substrate and a doped gate electrode by implantation of cobalt silicide contacts of uniform thickness previously formed on the substrate followed by diffusion of the dopant into the substrate to form the desired source/drain regions, and into the polysilicon gate electrode to provide the desired conductivity is described.

Abstract: A process for forming improved metal silicide contacts over the gate electrode and source/drain regions of MOS devices of an integrated circuit structure formed in a silicon substrate is described. The metal silicide contacts are formed by first forming a silicon oxide layer over exposed portions of the silicon substrate and over exposed surfaces of previously formed polysilicon gate electrodes. Silicon nitride sidewall spacers are then formed over the oxide on the sidewalls of the gate electrode by depositing a silicon nitride layer over the entire structure and then anisotropically etching the silicon nitride layer. Source/drain regions are then formed in the silicon substrate adjacent the nitride spacers and the structure is then contacted with an oxide etch to remove oxide from the upper surface of the gate electrode and the substrate surface over the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method of improving the high temperature stability of PtSi/Si structure is disclosed. A sufficient amount of fluorine-contained ion is implanted into the PtSi/Si structure or Pt/Si structure or Si substrate. The characteristics of the resulted PtSi/Si structure remain unchanged even after annealing at 800.degree. C. in contrast to the conventional PtSi/Si structure whose characteristics start to degrade at 700.degree. C. All devices contacted by PtSi, either ohmic or Schottky contact, are able to withstand an 800.degree. C. high temperature treatment without degradation.