Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator wafer. The SOI wafer comprises a top silicon layer, a silicon substrate, and an oxide insulator layer disposed across the wafer and between the silicon substrate and the top silicon layer. The oxide insulator layer has at least one of a contoured top surface and a contoured bottom surface. Also provided are processes for manufacturing such a SOI wafer.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator wafer. The SOI wafer comprises a top silicon layer, a silicon substrate, and an oxide insulator layer disposed across the wafer and between the silicon substrate and the top silicon layer. The oxide insulator layer has at least one of a contoured top surface and a contoured bottom surface. Also provided are processes for manufacturing such a SOI wafer.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator wafer (10). The SOI wafer (10) comprises a top silicon layer (6), a silicon substrate (4), and an oxide insulator layer (2) disposed across the wafer (10) and between the silicon substrate (4) and the top silicon layer (6). The oxide insulator layer (2) has at least one of a contoured top surface (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) and a contoured bottom surface (12e). Also provided are processes for manufacturing such a SOI wafer (10).

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator wafer (10). The SOI wafer (10) comprises a top silicon layer (6), a silicon substrate (4), and an oxide insulator layer (2) disposed across the wafer (10) and between the silicon substrate (4) and the top silicon layer (6). The oxide insulator layer (2) has at least one of a contoured top surface (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) and a contoured bottom surface (12e). Also provided are processes for manufacturing such a SOI wafer (10).

Abstract: A silicide cap structure and method of fabricating a silicide cap having a low sheet resistance. The method provides a semiconductor substrate and a MOSFET structure comprising a gate insulator on the substrate, an Si-containing gate electrode on the gate insulator layer, and source/drain diffusions. Atop the gate electrode and source/drain diffusions is formed a layer of metal used in forming a silicide region atop the transistor gate electrode and diffusions; an intermediate metal barrier layer formed atop the silicide forming metal layer; and, an oxygen barrier layer formed atop the intermediate metal barrier layer. As a result of annealing the MOSFET structure, resulting formed silicide regions exhibit a lower sheet resistance. As the intermediate metal barrier layer comprises a material exhibiting tensile stress, the oxygen barrier layer may comprise a compressive material for minimizing a total mechanical stress of the cap structure and underlying layers during the applied anneal.

Abstract: A suicide cap structure and method of fabricating a suicide cap having a low sheet resistance. The method provides a semiconductor substrate and a MOSFET structure comprising a gate insulator on the substrate, an Si-containing gate electrode on the gate insulator layer, and source/drain diffusions. Atop the gate electrode and source/drain diffusions is formed a layer of metal used in forming a silicide region atop the transistor gate electrode and diffusions; an intermediate metal barrier layer formed atop the silicide forming metal layer; and, an oxygen barrier layer formed atop the intermediate metal barrier layer. As a result of annealing the MOSFET structure, resulting formed silicide regions exhibit a lower sheet resistance. As the intermediate metal barrier layer comprises a material exhibiting tensile stress, the oxygen barrier layer may comprise a compressive material for minimizing a total mechanical stress of the cap structure and underlying layers during the applied anneal.