Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, among other steps, may include forming a gate structure over a substrate, forming at least a portion of gate sidewall spacers proximate sidewalls of the gate structure, and subjecting the at least a portion of the gate sidewall spacers to an energy beam treatment, the energy beam treatment configured to change a stress of the at least a portion of the gate sidewall spacers, and thus change a stress in the substrate therebelow.

Abstract: There is presented a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming gate structures including forming gate electrodes over a semiconductor substrate and forming spacers adjacent the gate electrodes. Source/drains are formed adjacent the gate structures, and a laminated stress layer is formed over the gate structure and the semiconductor substrate. The formation of the laminated stress layer includes cycling a deposition process to form a first stress layer over the gate structures and the semiconductor substrate and at least a second stress layer over the first stress layer. After the laminated layer is formed, it is subjected to an anneal process conducted at a temperature of about 900° C. or greater.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of forming an n-type doped active area on a semiconductor substrate that presents an improved placement profile. The method comprises the placement of arsenic in the presence of a carbon-containing arsenic diffusion suppressant in order to reduce the diffusion of the arsenic out of the target area during heat-induced annealing. The method may additionally include the placement of an amorphizer, such as germanium, in the target area in order to reduce channeling of the arsenic ions through the crystalline lattice. The method may also include the use of arsenic in addition to another n-type dopant, e.g. phosphorus, in order to offset some of the disadvantages of a pure arsenic dopant. The disclosure also relates to a semiconductor component, e.g. an NMOS transistor, formed in accordance with the described methods.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of processing a semiconductor device. During the method an amorphization implant is performed to amorphize a selected region of a semiconductor structure. The amorphized selected region is then removed by performing a recess etch that is selective thereto. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device featuring a high-stress dielectric layer is disclosed. The method involves the deposition of a comparatively thick liner layer that exerts increased strain on an underlying gate and active areas, resulting in enhanced carrier mobility through the transistor and heightened transistor performance. The method also involves the amelioration of fabrication problems that might arise from the deposition of a comparatively thick liner layer by forming such layer with at least a partially direction deposition process. Also disclosed are semiconductor devices manufactured in accordance with the disclosed methods.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for forming isolation structures and STI trenches in a semiconductor device, which may be carried out in a variety of semiconductor manufacturing processes. One embodiment of the invention relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device having isolation structures. In this method, trench regions are formed within a semiconductor body, and then surfaces of the trench regions are nitrided. Then the nitrided surfaces are subjected to a condition that limits nitrogen desorption from the nitrided surfaces. The nitrided surfaces of the trench regions are then oxidized to form nitrogen containing liners, after which the isolation trench is filled with a dielectric material. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, among others, may include forming one or more layers of material within an opening in a substrate, the opening and the one or more layers forming at least a portion of an isolation structure, and subjecting at least one of the one or more layers to an energy beam treatment, the energy beam treatment configured to change a stress of the one or more layers subjected thereto, and thus change a stress in the substrate.

Abstract: Slim spacers are implemented in transistor fabrication. More particularly, wide sidewall spacers are initially formed and used to guide dopants into source/drain regions in a semiconductor substrate. The wide sidewall spacers are then removed and slim sidewall spacers are formed alongside a gate stack of the transistor. The slim spacers facilitate transferring stress from an overlying pre metal dielectric (PMD) liner to a channel of the transistor, and also facilitate reducing a resistance in the transistor by allowing silicide regions to be formed closer to the channel. This mitigates yield loss by facilitating predictable or otherwise desirable behavior of the transistor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device includes, among other steps, forming a gate structure over a substrate, the gate structure having source/drain regions proximate thereto and in, on or over the substrate, forming a pre-metal dielectric layer over the gate structure and source/drain regions, and subjecting the pre-metal dielectric layer to an energy beam treatment, the energy beam treatment configured to change a stress of the pre-metal dielectric layer, and thus change a stress in the substrate therebelow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, among other steps, may include forming a gate structure over a substrate, forming at least a portion of gate sidewall spacers proximate sidewalls of the gate structure, and subjecting the at least a portion of the gate sidewall spacers to an energy beam treatment, the energy beam treatment configured to change a stress of the at least a portion of the gate sidewall spacers, and thus change a stress in the substrate therebelow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, among other steps, includes forming a capping layer (210) over a transistor device having source/drain regions (150, 155) located over a substrate (110), the capping layer (210) having a degree of reflectivity, and annealing the transistor device through the capping layer (210) using photons (310), the annealing of the transistor device affected by the degree of reflectivity.

Abstract: A method (200) of forming an isolation structure is presented, in which a hard mask layer (304, 308) is formed (204, 206) over the isolation and active regions (305, 303) of a semiconductor body (306), and a dopant is selectively provided to a portion of the active region (303) proximate the isolation region (305) to create a threshold voltage compensation region (318). After the compensation region (318) is created, the hard mask layer (304, 308) is patterned (218) to create a patterned hard mask. The patterned hard mask is then used in forming (222) a trench (323) in the isolation region (305) near the compensation region (318), and the trench (323) is then filled (224) with a dielectric material (338).

Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that apply tensile strain to channel regions of devices while mitigating unwanted dopant diffusion, which degrades device performance. Source/drain regions are formed in active regions of a PMOS region (102). A first thermal process is performed that activates the formed source/drain regions and drives in implanted dopants (104). Subsequently, source/drain regions are formed in active regions of an NMOS region (106). Then, a capped poly layer is formed over the device (108). A second thermal process is performed (110) that causes the capped poly layer to induce strain into the channel regions of devices. Because of the first thermal process, unwanted dopant diffusion, particularly unwanted p-type dopant diffusion, during the second thermal process is mitigated.

Abstract: A method (1300) of forming a semiconductor device comprising an isolation structure is disclosed, and includes forming a trench region within a semiconductor body (1308). Then, surfaces of the trench region are nitrided (1310) via a nitridation process. An oxidation process is performed that combines with the nitrided surfaces (1312) to form a nitrogen containing liner. Subsequently, the trench region is filled with dielectric material (1316) and then planarized (1318) to remove excess dielectric fill material.

Abstract: A method (1300) of forming a semiconductor device comprising an isolation structure is disclosed, and includes forming a trench region within a semiconductor body (1308). Then, surfaces of the trench region are nitrided (1310) via a nitridation process. An oxidation process is performed that combines with the nitrided surfaces (1312) to form a nitrogen containing liner. Subsequently, the trench region is filled with dielectric material (1316) and then planarized (1318) to remove excess dielectric fill material.

Abstract: A method (10) of forming an isolation structure (140, 142) in a semiconductor substrate (102) is disclosed, wherein the isolation structure (140, 142) can be formed in a controlled manner so as to regulate stresses exerted by the structure on one or more active regions (106) of the substrate (102) located adjacent to the structure (140, 142).

Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that apply tensile strain to channel regions of devices while mitigating unwanted dopant diffusion, which degrades device performance. Source/drain regions are formed in active regions of a PMOS region (102). A first thermal process is performed that activates the formed source/drain regions and drives in implanted dopants (104). Subsequently, source/drain regions are formed in active regions of an NMOS region (106). Then, a capped poly layer is formed over the device (108). A second thermal process is performed (110) that causes the capped poly layer to induce strain into the channel regions of devices. Because of the first thermal process, unwanted dopant diffusion, particularly unwanted p-type dopant diffusion, during the second thermal process is mitigated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, among other steps, includes forming a capping layer (210) over a transistor device having source/drain regions (150, 155) located over a substrate (110), the capping layer (210) having a degree of reflectivity, and annealing the transistor device through the capping layer (210) using photons (310), the annealing of the transistor device affected by the degree of reflectivity.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method for improving the uniformity of silicide 190 in semiconductor wafers 10. The method may include etching source/drain sidewall spacers 150, performing an oxidation of semiconductor wafer 10, and then performing a wet clean of semiconductor wafer 10.

Abstract: A method (200) of forming an isolation structure is presented, in which a hard mask layer (304, 308) is formed (204, 206) over the isolation and active regions (305, 303) of a semiconductor body (306), and a dopant is selectively provided to a portion of the active region (303) proximate the isolation region (305) to create a threshold voltage compensation region (318). After the compensation region (318) is created, the hard mask layer (304, 308) is patterned (218) to create a patterned hard mask. The patterned hard mask is then used in forming (222) a trench (323) in the isolation region (305) near the compensation region (318), and the trench (323) is then filled (224) with a dielectric material (338).