Abstract: A method is disclosed in which differing metal layers are sequentially deposited on silicon-containing regions so that the type and thickness of the metal layers may be adapted to specific characteristics of the underlying silicon-containing regions. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed to convert the metals into metal silicides so as to improve the electrical conductivity of the silicon-containing regions. In this way, silicide portions may be formed that are individually adapted to specific silicon-containing regions so that device performance of individual semiconductor elements or the overall performance of a plurality of semiconductor elements may be significantly improved. Moreover, a semiconductor device is disclosed comprising at least two silicon-containing regions having formed therein differing silicide portions, wherein at least one silicide portion comprises a noble metal.

Abstract: By heat treating a silicon dioxide liner prior to patterning a silicon nitride spacer layer, the etch selectivity of the silicon dioxide with respect to the silicon nitride is increased, thereby reducing or eliminating the problem of pitting through the silicon dioxide layer. This allows further scaling of the devices, wherein an extremely thin silicon dioxide liner is required to obtain an accurate lateral patterning of the dopant profile in the drain and source regions.

Abstract: Polysilicon lines are formed, featuring an upper portion extending beyond the lower portion that defines the required CD. Accordingly, metal silicide layers of increased dimensions can be formed on the upper portion of the polysilicon lines so that the resulting gate structures exhibit a very low final sheet resistance. Moreover, in situ sidewall spacers are realized during the process for forming the polysilicon lines and without additional steps and/or costs.

Abstract: By locally adapting the blocking capability of gate insulation layers for N-channel transistors and P-channel transistors, the reliability and threshold stability of the P-channel transistor may be enhanced, while nevertheless electron mobility of the N-channel transistor may be kept at a high level. This may be accomplished by incorporating a different amount of a dielectric dopant into respective gate insulation layer portions.

Abstract: By maintaining the gate electrode covered during the process flow for forming metal silicide regions in the drain and source of a field effect transistor, an appropriate metal silicide may be formed on the gate electrode which meets the requirement for aggressive gate length scaling. Preferably, a nickel silicide is formed on the gate electrode, whereas the drain and source regions receive the well-established cobalt disilicide. Additionally, the gate electrode dopant profile is effectively decoupled from the drain and source dopant profile.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device different types of a metal-semiconductor compound are formed on or in at least two different conductive semiconductor regions so that for each semiconductor region the metal-semiconductor compound region may be formed to obtain an optimum overall performance of the semiconductor device. On one of the two semiconductor regions, the metal-semiconductor compound is formed of at least two different metal layers, whereas the metal-semiconductor compound in or on the other semiconductor region is formed from a single metal layer.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for forming different types of gate insulation layers, wherein the formation of one type of gate insulation layer is highly decoupled from the formation of the other type of gate insulation layer. Thus, in some embodiments, critical oxidation processes may finely be tuned on an individual basis. This is accomplished by providing a mask layer that may substantially prevent any impact on an initially made insulation layer during a subsequent manufacturing process of a second gate insulation layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for forming a metal silicide, such as a cobalt disilicide, even at extremely scaled device dimensions without unduly degrading the film integrity of the metal silicide. To this end, an ion implantation may be performed, advantageously with silicon, prior to a final anneal cycle, thereby correspondingly modifying the grain structure of the precursor of the metal silicide.

Abstract: SRAM devices utilizing tensile-stressed strain films and methods for fabricating such SRAM devices are provided. An SRAM device, in one embodiment, comprises an NFET and a PFET that are electrically coupled and physically isolated. The PFET has a gate region, a source region, and a drain region. A tensile-strained stress film is disposed on the gate region and at least a portion of the source region and the drain region of the PFET. A method for fabricating a cell of an SRAM device comprises fabricating an NFET and a PFET overlying a substrate. The PFET and the NFET are electically coupled and are physically isolated. A tensile-strained stress film is deposited on the gate region and at least a portion of the source region and the drain region of the PFET.

Abstract: A method for improving the etch behavior of disposable features in the fabrication of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device comprises a bottom anti-reflective coating layer and/or a disposable sidewall spacer which are to be removed in a subsequent etch removal process. The bottom anti-reflective coating layer and/or the disposable sidewall spacer are irradiated by heavy inert ions to alter the structure of the irradiated features and to increase concurrently the etch rate of the employed materials, for example, silicon nitride or silicon reacted nitride.

Abstract: By predoping of a layer of deposited semiconductor gate material by incorporating dopants during the deposition process, a high uniformity of the dopant distribution may be achieved in the gate electrodes of CMOS devices subsequently formed in the layer of gate material. The improved uniformity of the dopant distribution results in reduced gate depletion and reduced threshold voltage shift in the transistors of the CMOS devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprising a first transistor element and a second transistor element is provided. Stress in channel regions of the first and the second transistor element is controlled by forming stressed layers having a predetermined stress over the transistors. The stressed layers may be used as etch stop layers in the formation of contact vias through an interlayer dielectric formed over the transistors.

Abstract: A test structure for assessing the reliability of a dielectric of a circuit element in an integrated circuit includes a plurality of test circuit elements and a plurality of contact pads, wherein at least some of the test circuit elements share one or more of the contact pads. In this way, a failure event can be detected with a reduced number of contact pads, thereby significantly reducing the area of floor space occupied by the test structure.

Abstract: By providing a test structure including a plurality of test pads, the anisotropic behavior of stress and strain influenced electrical characteristics, such as the electron mobility, may be determined in a highly efficient manner. Moreover, the test pads may enable the detection of stress and strain induced modifications with a spatial resolution in the order of magnitude of individual circuit elements.

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (100) having reduced gate resistance and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device (100). A gate structure (112) is formed on a major surface (104) of a semiconductor substrate (102). Successive nitride spacers (118, 128) are formed adjacent the sidewalls of the gate structure (112). The nitride spacers (118, 128) are etched and recessed using a single etch to expose the upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112). Source (132) and drain (134) regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate (102). Silicide regions (140, 142, 144) are formed on the top surface (109) and the exposed upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112) and the source region (132) and the drain region (134). Electrodes (150, 152, 154) are formed in contact with the silicide (140, 142, 144) of the respective gate structure (112), source region (132), and the drain region (134).

Abstract: An epitaxially grown channel layer is provided on a well structure after ion implantation steps and heat treatment steps are performed to establish a required dopant profile in the well structure. The channel layer may be undoped or slightly doped, as required, so that the finally obtained dopant concentration in the channel layer is significantly reduced compared to a conventional device to thereby provide a retrograde dopant profile in a channel region of a field effect transistor. Additionally, a barrier diffusion layer may be provided between the well structure and the channel layer to reduce up-diffusion during any heat treatments carried out after the formation of the channel layer. The final dopant profile in the channel region may be adjusted by the thickness of the channel layer, the thickness and the composition of the diffusion barrier layer and any additional implantation steps to introduce dopant atoms in the channel layer.

Abstract: A field effect transistor comprises a gate insulation layer including an anisotropic dielectric. The orientation is selected such that a first permittivity parallel to the gate insulation layer is significantly less than a second permittivity perpendicular to the gate insulation layer.

Abstract: By heat treating a silicon dioxide liner prior to patterning a silicon nitride spacer layer, the etch selectivity of the silicon dioxide with respect to the silicon nitride is increased, thereby reducing or eliminating the problem of pitting through the silicon dioxide layer. This allows further scaling of the devices, wherein an extremely thin silicon dioxide liner is required to obtain an accurate lateral patterning of the dopant profile in the drain and source regions.

Abstract: A method for forming a reliable and ultra-thin oxide layer, such as a gate oxide layer of an MOS transistor, comprises an annealing step immediately performed prior to oxidizing a substrate. The annealing step is performed in an inert gas ambient to avoid oxidation of the semiconductor surface prior to achieving a required low oxidizing temperature. Preferably, the annealing step and the oxidizing step are carried out as an in situ process, thereby minimizing the thermal budget of the overall process.

Abstract: High-k dielectric spacer elements on the gate electrode of a field effects transistor in combination with an extension region that is formed by dopant diffusion from the high-k spacer elements into the underlying semiconductor region provides for an increased charge carrier density in the extension region. In this way, the limitation of the charge carrier density to approximately the solid solubility of dopants in the extension region may be overcome, thereby allowing extremely shallow extension regions without unduly compromising the transistor performance.