Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided wherein at least one offset spacer is reduced and a non-conformal stress liner is thereafter deposited. By depositing the non-conformal stress liner in accordance with the present invention in close stress proximity to the FET, the carrier mobility and the performance of said device is significantly enhanced. The present invention is her directed to a method of fabricating said semiconductor device.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include depositing an electrically insulating layer onto an integrated circuit substrate having integrated circuit structures thereon. This deposition step results in the formation of an electrically insulating layer having an undulating surface profile, which includes at least one peak and at least one valley adjacent to the at least one peak. A non-uniform thickening step is then performed. This non-uniform thickening step includes thickening a portion of the electrically insulating layer by redepositing portions of the electrically insulating layer from the least one peak to the at least one valley. This redeposition occurs using a sputter deposition technique that utilizes the electrically insulating layer as a sputter target.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode and silicided source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is used as an implantation mask when forming highly doped portions of the source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is then removed from the sidewall of the gate electrode. A stress-inducing electrically insulating layer, which is configured to induce a net tensile stress (for NMOS transistors) or compressive stress (for PMOS transistors) in a channel region of the field effect transistor, is then formed on the sidewall of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a trench in a surface of semiconductor substrate and filling the trench with an electrically insulating region having a seam therein. The trench may be filled by depositing a sufficiently thick electrically insulating layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench. Curing ions are then implanted into the electrically insulating region at a sufficient energy and dose to reduce a degree of atomic order therein. The curing ions may be ones selected from a group consisting of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), boron (B), arsenic (As), carbon (C), argon (Ar), germanium (Ge), helium (He), neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe). These curing ions may be implanted at an energy of at least about 80 KeV and a dose of at least about 5×1014 ions/cm2. The electrically insulating region is then annealed at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient duration to increase a degree of atomic order within the electrically insulating region.

Abstract: A method forms a gate conductor over a substrate, and simultaneously forms spacers on sides of the gate conductor and a gate cap on the top of the gate conductor. Isolation regions are formed in the substrate and the method implants an impurity into exposed regions of the substrate not protected by the gate conductor and the spacers to form source and drain regions. The method deposits a mask over the gate conductor, the spacers, and the source and drain regions. The mask is recessed to a level below a top of the gate conductor but above the source and drain regions, such that the spacers are exposed and the source and drain regions are protected by the mask. With the mask in place, the method then safely removes the spacers and the gate cap, without damaging the source/drain regions or the isolation regions (which are protected by the mask). Next, the method removes the mask and then forms silicide regions on the gate conductor and the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device is disclosed. A semiconductor body, a gate electrode and source/drain regions are provided. A liner is provided that covers the gate electrode and the source/drain regions. Silicide regions are formed on the semiconductor device by etching a contact hole through the liner.

Abstract: Dual stress liners for CMOS applications are provided. The dual stress liners can be formed from silicon nitride having a first portion for inducing a first stress and a second portion for inducing a second stress. An interface between the first and second stress portions is self-aligned and co-planar. To produce a co-planar self-aligned interface, polishing, for example, mechanical chemical polishing is used.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided which includes a first semiconductor device in a first active semiconductor region and a second semiconductor device in a second active semiconductor region. A first dielectric liner overlies the first semiconductor device and a second dielectric liner overlies the second semiconductor device, with the second dielectric liner overlapping the first dielectric liner at an overlap region. The second dielectric liner has a first portion having a first thickness contacting an apex of the second gate conductor and a second portion extending from peripheral edges of the second gate conductor which has a second thickness substantially greater than the first thickness. A first conductive via contacts at least one of the first or second gate conductors and the conductive via extends through the first and second dielectric liners at the overlap region. A second conductive via may contact at least one of a source region or a drain region of the second semiconductor device.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include depositing an electrically insulating layer onto an integrated circuit substrate having integrated circuit structures thereon. This deposition step results in the formation of an electrically insulating layer having an undulating surface profile, which includes at least one peak and at least on valley adjacent to the at least one peak. A non-uniform thickening step is then performed. This non-uniform thickening step includes thickening a portion of the electrically insulating layer by redepositing portions of the electrically insulating layer from the least one peak to the at least one valley. This redeposition occurs using a sputter deposition technique that utilizes the electrically insulating layer as a sputter target.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including a first region with a first device and a second device and a second region with a resistance device; configuring the first device, the second device, and the resistance device to include a first spacer and a second spacer; forming a stress inducing layer over the first region and the second region; processing at least a portion of the stress inducing layer formed over the first region to alter the stress within the stress inducing layer; and forming a third spacer adjacent the second spacer of the first device and the second device from the stress inducing layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system is provided including forming a circuit element on a wafer, forming a stress formation layer having a non-uniform profile over the wafer, and forming an interlayer dielectric over the stress formation layer and the wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided wherein at least one offset spacer is reduced and a non-conformal stress liner is thereafter deposited. By depositing the non-conformal stress liner in accordance with the present invention in close stress proximity to the FET, the carrier mobility and the performance of said device is significantly enhanced. The present invention is her directed to a method of fabricating said semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method forms a gate conductor over a substrate, and simultaneously forms spacers on sides of the gate conductor and a gate cap on the top of the gate conductor. Isolation regions are formed in the substrate and the method implants an impurity into exposed regions of the substrate not protected by the gate conductor and the spacers to form source and drain regions. The method deposits a mask over the gate conductor, the spacers, and the source and drain regions. The mask is recessed to a level below a top of the gate conductor but above the source and drain regions, such that the spacers are exposed and the source and drain regions are protected by the mask. With the mask in place, the method then safely removes the spacers and the gate cap, without damaging the source/drain regions or the isolation regions (which are protected by the mask). Next, the method removes the mask and then forms silicide regions on the gate conductor and the source and drain regions.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a dual stress liner for improving electron mobility, the dual stress liner includes a first liner portion formed on a PMOSFET and a second liner portion formed on an NMOSFET. The first liner portion has a first compressive stress, and the second liner portion has a second compressive stress smaller than the first compressive stress. The dual stress liner may be formed by forming a stress liner on a semiconductor substrate on which the PMOSFET and the NMOSFET are formed and selectively exposing a portion of the stress liner on the NMOSFET.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a dual stress liner for improving electron mobility, the dual stress liner includes a first liner portion formed on a PMOSFET and a second liner portion formed on an NMOSFET. The first liner portion has a first compressive stress, and the second liner portion has a second compressive stress smaller than the first compressive stress. The dual stress liner may be formed by forming a stress liner on a semiconductor substrate on which the PMOSFET and the NMOSFET are formed and selectively exposing a portion of the stress liner on the NMOSFET.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a dual stress liner for improving electron mobility, the dual stress liner includes a first liner portion formed on a PMOSFET and a second liner portion formed on an NMOSFET. The first liner portion has a first compressive stress, and the second liner portion has a second compressive stress smaller than the first compressive stress. The dual stress liner may be formed by forming a stress liner on a semiconductor substrate on which the PMOSFET and the NMOSFET are formed and selectively exposing a portion of the stress liner on the NMOSFET.