Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a metallic gate layer over a gate dielectric layer where the metallic gate layer has a crystallographic orientation, and re-orienting the crystallographic orientation of the metallic gate layer by subjecting the metallic gate layer to a hydrogen anneal.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate adjacent to an active semiconductor region. A selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is formed on the surface of the shallow trench isolation structure that includes a dielectric oxide material. The formation of the selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is selective in that it is not formed on the surface the active semiconductor region having a semiconductor surface. The selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is a self-assembled monomer layer of a chemical which is a derivative of alkylsilanes including at least one alkylene moiety. The silicon containing portion of the chemical forms polysiloxane, which is bonded to surface silanol groups via Si—O—Si bonds. The monolayer of the chemical is the selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer that prevents diffusion of oxygen to a high dielectric constant material layer that is subsequently deposited as a gate dielectric.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide triple-gate semiconductor devices isolated by reverse shallow trench isolation (STI) structures and methods for their manufacture. In an example process, stacked layers including a form layer over a dielectric layer can be formed over a semiconductor substrate. One or more trenches can be formed by etching through the stacked layers. The one or more trenches can be filled by an active area material to form one or more active areas, which can be isolated by remaining portions of the dielectric layer. Bodies of the active area material can be exposed by removing the form layer. One or more triple-gate devices can then be formed on the exposed active area material. The example triple-gate semiconductor devices can control the dimensions for the active areas and provide less isolation spacing between the active areas, which optimizes manufacturing efficiency and device integration quality.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having insulating layers thereon; forming a first trench in a first region of the substrate and a second trench in a second region of the substrate; thermally growing layers of oxide along the sides of the trenches; filling the first trench and the second trench with a polysilicon material, planarizing the polysilicon material, and creating a shallow trench isolation between the first region and the second region, wherein the step f) of creating the shallow trench isolation is performed only after the steps of d) filling and e) planarizing.

Abstract: A method of setting a work function of a filly silicided semiconductor device, and related device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate (the gate stack comprising a dielectric layer, a suicide layer on the dielectric layer that defines a metal-dielectric layer interface, and a polysilicon layer on the suicide layer), depositing a metal layer over the gate stack, annealing to induce a reaction between the polysilicon layer and the metal layer, and delivering a work function-setting dopant to the metal-dielectric layer interface by way of the reaction.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having insulating layers thereon; forming a first trench in a first region of the substrate and a second trench in a second region of the substrate; thermally growing layers of oxide along the sides of the trenches; filling the first trench and the second trench with a polysilicon material, planarizing the polysilicon material, and creating a shallow trench isolation between the first region and the second region, wherein the step f) of creating the shallow trench isolation is performed only after the steps of d) filling and e) planarizing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a metallic gate layer over a gate dielectric layer where the metallic gate layer has a crystallographic orientation, and re-orienting the crystallographic orientation of the metallic gate layer by subjecting the metallic gate layer to a hydrogen anneal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a metallic gate layer over a gate dielectric layer where the metallic gate layer has a crystallographic orientation, and re-orienting the crystallographic orientation of the metallic gate layer by subjecting the metallic gate layer to a hydrogen anneal.

Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.

Abstract: A method of setting a work function of a fully silicided semiconductor device, and related device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate (the gate stack comprising a dielectric layer, a silicide layer on the dielectric layer that defines a metal-dielectric layer interface, and a polysilicon layer on the silicide layer), depositing a metal layer over the gate stack, annealing to induce a reaction between the polysilicon layer and the metal layer, and delivering a work function-setting dopant to the metal-dielectric layer interface by way of the reaction.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit. In the method, p-type polysilicon is provided over a semiconductor body, where the p-type polysilicon has a first depth as measured from a top surface of the p-type polysilicon. An n-type dopant is implanted into the p-type polysilicon to form a counter-doped layer at the top-surface of the p-type polysilicon, where the counter-doped layer has a second depth that is less than the first depth. A catalyst metal is provided that associates with the counter-doped layer to form a catalytic surface. A metal is deposited over the catalytic surface. A thermal process is performed that reacts the metal with the p-type polysilicon in the presence of the catalytic surface to form a metal silicide. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate adjacent to an active semiconductor region. A selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is formed on the surface of the shallow trench isolation structure that includes a dielectric oxide material. The formation of the selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is selective in that it is not formed on the surface the active semiconductor region having a semiconductor surface. The selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer is a self-assembled monomer layer of a chemical which is a derivative of alkylsilanes including at least one alkylene moiety. The silicon containing portion of the chemical forms polysiloxane, which is bonded to surface silanol groups via Si—O—Si bonds. The monolayer of the chemical is the selective self-assembling oxygen barrier layer that prevents diffusion of oxygen to a high dielectric constant material layer that is subsequently deposited as a gate dielectric.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. This method includes forming gate structures over a substrate, wherein the gate structures include gate electrodes located adjacent source/drain regions. A protective layer is formed over the gate structures and a CMP layer is formed over the protective layer. A portion of the CMP layer and the protective layer is removed to expose a portion of the gate electrodes with remaining portions of the CMP layer and the protective layer remaining over the source/drain regions. The exposed portions of the gate electrodes are doped with an n-type dopant or a p-type dopant, and the remaining portions of the CMP layer and the protective layer located over the source/drain regions are removed subsequent to the doping.

Abstract: A method of setting a work function of a fully silicided semiconductor device, and related device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate (the gate stack comprising a dielectric layer, a silicide layer on the dielectric layer that defines a metal-dielectric layer interface, and a polysilicon layer on the silicide layer), depositing a metal layer over the gate stack, annealing to induce a reaction between the polysilicon layer and the metal layer, and delivering a work function-setting dopant to the metal-dielectric layer interface by way of the reaction.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates a semiconductor device formed by utilizing a two step deposition method for forming a gate electrode without causing damages to an underlying gate dielectric material. In one embodiment, a first layer of gate electrode material (first gate electrode layer) is formed onto the surface of a gate dielectric material using a deposition that does not damage the gate dielectric material (e.g., physical vapor deposition) thereby resulting in a damage free interface between the gate dielectric material and the gate electrode material. A second layer of gate electrode material (second gate electrode layer) is then formed onto the first layer of gate electrode material using a chemical deposition method that provides increased deposition control (e.g., good layer uniformity, impurity control, etc.). The first and second gate electrode layers are then selectively patterned to cumulatively form a semiconductor device's gate electrode.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a blocking layer, a CMP stop layer and a bulk oxide layer over an oxide cap layer that is located over gate structures and source/drains located adjacent thereto. The bulk oxide layer and the CMP stop layer are removed with a CMP process to expose the top of gate electrodes and are removed from over the source/drain areas with a wet etch. The CMP stop layer has a CMP removal rate that is less than a CMP removal rate of the bulk oxide layer and has a wet etch removal rate that is greater than a wet etch removal rate of the blocking layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual metal gate structures in a semiconductor device, the method comprising forming a gate dielectric layer above a semiconductor body, forming a work function adjusting layer on the dielectric gate layer in the PMOS region, depositing a tungsten germanium gate electrode layer above the work function adjusting material in the PMOS region, depositing a tungsten germanium gate electrode layer above the gate dielectric in the NMOS region annealing the semiconductor device, depositing a metal nitride barrier layer on the tungsten germanium layer, depositing a polysilicon layer over the metal nitride, patterning the polysilicon layer, the metal nitride layer, the tungsten germanium layer, work function adjusting layer and the gate dielectric layer to form a gate structure, and forming a source/drain on opposite sides of the gate structure.

Abstract: A method for improving high-? gate dielectric film (104) properties. The high-? film (104) is subjected to a two step anneal sequence. The first anneal is performed in a reducing ambient (106) with low partial pressure of oxidizer to promote film relaxation and increase by-product diffusion and desorption. The second anneal is performed in an oxidizing ambient (108) with a low partial pressure of reducer to remove defects and impurities.

Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit. In the method, p-type polysilicon is provided over a semiconductor body, where the p-type polysilicon has a first depth as measured from a top surface of the p-type polysilicon. An n-type dopant is implanted into the p-type polysilicon to form a counter-doped layer at the top-surface of the p-type polysilicon, where the counter-doped layer has a second depth that is less than the first depth. A catalyst metal is provided that associates with the counter-doped layer to form a catalytic surface. A metal is deposited over the catalytic surface. A thermal process is performed that reacts the metal with the p-type polysilicon in the presence of the catalytic surface to form a metal silicide. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.