Abstract: A contact can be formed by forming a layer of dielectric material on a silicon-containing region of a semiconductor substrate. An opening is created through the layer of dielectric material that exposes the silicon-containing region. A metal stack is formed within the opening. The metal stack includes at least a first metal film having a first and second type of metal and a second metal film. The metal stack and the silicon-containing region of the semiconductor substrate are annealed to form a silicide that includes the first and second types of metal and that is in contact with the semiconductor substrate. A first liner is formed within the opening and a fill metal is deposited in the opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a precision resistor or an e-fuse structure where tungsten silicon is used. The tungsten silicon layer is modified by implanting nitrogen into the structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a precision resistor or an e-fuse structure where tungsten silicon is used. The tungsten silicon layer is modified by changing the crystalline structure to a tetragonal tungsten silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride (TiN) diffusion barrier includes exposing a deposition surface to a first pulse of a titanium-containing precursor and to a first pulse of a nitrogen-rich plasma to form a first TiN layer with a first nitrogen concentration making a lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first nitrogen concentration of the first TiN layer is increased by the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma reducing a reactivity of the lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier to prevent fluorine diffusion. The first TiN layer is exposed to second pulses of the titanium-containing precursor and the nitrogen-rich plasma to form a second TiN layer with a second nitrogen concentration above the first TiN layer making an upper portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma has a substantially longer duration than the second pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor device includes forming an interfacial layer and a dielectric layer over a substrate; and forming a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) workfunction metal layer over the dielectric layer, the workfunction metal layer comprising a lower titanium nitride (TiN) first layer and a second layer including one of titanium-aluminum-carbide (TiAlC) and tantalum-aluminum-carbide (TaAlC) formed on the lower TiN first layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming an n-FET device and a p-FET device on a substrate, each of the n-FET device and the p-FET device include a metal gate stack consisting of a titanium-aluminum carbide (TiAlC) layer above and in direct contact with a titanium nitride (TiN) cap, and removing, from the p-FET device, the TiAlC layer selective to the TiN cap. The removal of the TiAlC layer includes using a selective TiAlC to TiN wet etch chemistry solution with a substantially high TiAlC to TiN etch ratio such that the TiN cap remains in the p-FET device.

Abstract: In a replacement gate scheme, a continuous material layer is deposited on a bottom surface and a sidewall surface in a gate cavity. A vertical portion of the continuous material layer is removed to form a gate component of which a vertical portion does not extend to a top of the gate cavity. The gate component can be employed as a gate dielectric or a work function metal portion to form a gate structure that enhances performance of a replacement gate field effect transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor chips with curable out of specification measured values of an anneal-activated parameter are identified at a test step. A plurality of anneal plans are generated to include at least one of the identified semiconductor chips. A net yield improvement is calculated for each anneal plan. Each anneal plan includes the paths of a laser beam across the wafer to be irradiated, and optionally includes an azimuthal angle of the wafer as a function of time. The net yield improvement is the difference between an estimated yield improvement from selected target semiconductor chips for irradiation and an estimated yield loss due to collateral irradiation of functional semiconductor chips for each anneal plan. After simulating the net yield improvements for all the anneal plans, the anneal plan providing the greatest net yield improvement can be selected and utilized.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a channel region and a ferromagnetic gate is provided. The channel region can be formed within a semiconductor nanowire. The ferromagnetic gate is programmed with a selected orientation of magnetization by the electrical current that passes through the channel region in one direction or another. The orientation of the magnetization in the ferromagnetic gate can be detected by changes in the threshold voltage of a field effect transistor employing the ferromagnetic gate as a gate electrode, or can be detected by the resistance of the channel region that changes with the orientation of the magnetization in a two terminal device.

Abstract: A gate structure in a semiconductor device includes: a gate stack formed on a substrate with three sections, a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sacrificial cap layer over the top portion; gate spacers, source and drain regions, a nitride encapsulation over top and sidewalls of the gate stack after removal of the sacrificial cap layer, an organic planarizing layer over the nitride encapsulation, planarizing the encapsulation, and silicidation performed over the source and drain regions and the bottom portion after removal of the nitride encapsulation, the organic planarizing layer, and the top portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride (TiN) diffusion barrier includes exposing a deposition surface to a first pulse of a titanium-containing precursor and to a first pulse of a nitrogen-rich plasma to form a first TiN layer with a first nitrogen concentration making a lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first nitrogen concentration of the first TiN layer is increased by the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma reducing a reactivity of the lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier to prevent fluorine diffusion. The first TiN layer is exposed to second pulses of the titanium-containing precursor and the nitrogen-rich plasma to form a second TiN layer with a second nitrogen concentration above the first TiN layer making an upper portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma has a substantially longer duration than the second pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma.

Abstract: A gate structure in a semiconductor device includes: a gate stack formed on a substrate with three sections, a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sacrificial cap layer over the top portion; gate spacers, source and drain regions, a nitride encapsulation over top and sidewalls of the gate stack after removal of the sacrificial cap layer, an organic planarizing layer over the nitride encapsulation, planarizing the encapsulation, and silicidation performed over the source and drain regions and the bottom portion after removal of the nitride encapsulation, the organic planarizing layer, and the top portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. An upper layer of the gate stack is a metal gate conductor and a lower layer of the gate stack is a gate dielectric. A gate contact is in direct contact with the metal gate conductor.

Abstract: An electrical fuse device is disclosed. A circuit apparatus can include the fuse device, a first circuit element and a second circuit element. The fuse includes a first contact that has a first electromigration resistance, a second contact that has a second electromigration resistance and a metal line, which is coupled to the first contact and to the second contact, that has a third electromigration resistance that is lower than the second electromigration resistance. The first circuit element is coupled to the first contact and the second circuit element coupled to the second contact. The fuse is configured to conduct a programming current from the first contact to the second contact through the metal line. Further, the programming current causes the metal line to electromigrate away from the second contact to electrically isolate the second circuit element from the first circuit element.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first metal liner conformally along a sidewall and a bottom of a contact opening. A second metal liner is formed above and in direct contact with the first metal liner, a grain size of the first metal liner is larger than a grain size of the second metal liner. A barrier layer is formed above and in direct contact with the second metal liner and the contact opening is filled with a conductive material to form a middle-of-the-line contact.

Abstract: Structure and methods for forming a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a plurality of layers comprising at least one copper interconnect layer. The copper interconnect layer provides an electrical conduit between one of physically adjacent layers in the semiconductor structure and an integrated circuit in the semiconductor structure and an electronic device. A plurality of studs is positioned within the at least one copper interconnect layer. The studs are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to a Blech length of the at least one copper interconnect layer. The Blech length is a length below which damage due to electromigration of metal atoms within the at least one copper interconnect layer does not occur. The plurality of studs comprises copper atom diffusion barriers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. An upper layer of the gate stack is a metal gate conductor and a lower layer of the gate stack is a gate dielectric. A gate contact is in direct contact with the metal gate conductor.

Abstract: FinFET structures and methods of manufacturing the FinFET structures are disclosed. The method includes performing an oxygen anneal process on a gate stack of a FinFET structure to induce Vt shift. The oxygen anneal process is performed after sidewall pull down and post silicide.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a channel region and a ferromagnetic gate is provided. The channel region can be formed within a semiconductor nanowire. The ferromagnetic gate is programmed with a selected orientation of magnetization by the electrical current that passes through the channel region in one direction or another. The orientation of the magnetization in the ferromagnetic gate can be detected by changes in the threshold voltage of a field effect transistor employing the ferromagnetic gate as a gate electrode, or can be detected by the resistance of the channel region that changes with the orientation of the magnetization in a two terminal device.

Abstract: A contact can be formed by forming a layer of dielectric material on a silicon-containing region of a semiconductor substrate. An opening is created through the layer of dielectric material that exposes the silicon-containing region. A metal stack is formed within the opening. The metal stack includes at least a first metal film having a first and second type of metal and a second metal film. The metal stack and the silicon-containing region of the semiconductor substrate are annealed to form a silicide that includes the first and second types of metal and that is in contact with the semiconductor substrate. A first liner is formed within the opening and a fill metal is deposited in the opening.