Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a physical vapor deposited (PVD) layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. A barrier layer is deposited on the PVD amorphous silicon layer. The metal is then formed on the barrier layer. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the PVD amorphous silicon layer. The barrier layer prevents interaction between the PVD amorphous silicon layer and the metal, thereby allowing higher temperature subsequent processing while preserving the work function of the gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) device includes a buried insulator layer and an overlying semiconductor layer. Portions of the insulator layer are doped with the same dopant material, for example boron, as is in corresponding portions of the overlying surface semiconductor layer. A peak concentration of the dopant material may be located in the insulator material, or may be located in a lower portion of the surface semiconductor layer. The dopant material in the insulator layer may prevent depletion of dopant material from portions of the surface semiconductor layer, such as from channel portions of NMOS transistors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of forming a silicon-on-insulator substrate, involving the steps of providing a first silicon substrate and a second silicon substrate; surface modifying at least one of the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate by forming a pattern thereon; forming a first insulation layer over the first silicon substrate to provide a first structure and a second insulation layer over the second silicon substrate to provide a second structure; bonding the first structure and the second structure together so that the first insulation layer is adjacent the second insulation layer; and removing a portion of the first or second silicon substrate thereby providing the silicon-on-insulator substrate.

Abstract: A self-aligned silicide process that can accommodate a low thermal budget and form silicide regions of small dimensions in a controlled reaction. In a first temperature treatment, nickel metal or nickel alloy is reacted with a silicon material to form at least one high resistance nickel silicide region. Unreacted nickel is removed. A dielectric layer is then deposited over a high resistance nickel silicide regions. In a second temperature treatment, the at least one high resistance nickel silicide region and dielectric layer are reacted at a prescribed temperature to form at least one low resistance silicide region and process the dielectric layer. Bridging between regions is avoided by the two-step process as silicide growth is controlled, and unreacted nickel between silicide regions is removed after the first temperature treatment. The processing of the high resistance nickel silicide regions and the dielectric layer are conveniently combined into a single temperature treatment.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a physical vapor deposited (PVD) layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. The metal is then formed on the PVD amorphous silicon layer. Additional dopants are implanted into the PVD amorphous silicon layer. An annealing process forms silicide in the gate, with a layer of silicon remaining unreacted. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the PVD amorphous silicon layer, while the additional doping of the PVD amorphous silicon layer lowers the resistivity of the gate electrode.

Abstract: MOS transistor and CMOS devices comprising a plurality of transistors including in-laid, metal-based gate electrodes of different composition are formed by a process comprising: depositing a first blanket layer of a first metal filling openings in an insulative layer at the bottom of which openings gate insulator layer segments of MOS transistor precursor regions formed in a semiconductor substrate are exposed; selectively forming at least one masking layer segment on the first blanket layer overlying selected ones of the MOS transistor precursor regions; depositing a second blanket layer of a second metal or silicon over the thus-formed structure, and effecting alloying or silicidation reaction between contacting portions of the first and second blanket layers overlying other ones of the MOS transistor precursor regions. Unnecessary layers remaining after alloying or silicidation reaction are then removed by performing planarization processing, e.g., by CMP.

Abstract: A method of forming a fully silicidized gate of a semiconductor device includes forming silicide in active regions and a portion of a gate. A shield layer is blanket deposited over the device. The top surface of the gate electrode is then exposed. A refractory metal layer is deposited and annealing is performed to cause the metal to react with the gate and fully silicidize the gate, with the shield layer protecting the active regions of the device from further silicidization to thereby prevent spiking and current leakage in the active regions.

Abstract: High quality dielectric layers, e.g., high-k dielectric layers comprised of at least one refractory or lanthanum series transition metal oxide or silicate, for use as gate insulator layers in in-laid metal gate MOS transistors and CMOS devices, are formed by electrolessly plating a metal or metal-based dielectric precursor layer comprising at least one refractory or lanthanum series transition metal, such as of Zr and/or Hf, on a silicon-based semiconductor substrate and then reacting the precursor layer with oxygen or with oxygen and the Si-based semiconductor substrate to form the at least one metal oxide or silicate. The inventive methodology prevents, or at least substantially reduces, oxygen access to the substrate surface during at least the initial stage(s) of formation of the gate insulator layer, thereby minimizing deleterious formation of oxygen-induced surface states at the semiconductor substrate/gate insulator interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of forming a silicon-on-insulator substrate, involving the steps of providing a first silicon substrate; forming a beryllium oxide layer over the first silicon substrate, the beryllium oxide layer having one of a first thickness from about 100 Å to about 900 Å and a second thickness from about 1,500 Å to about 3,000 Å; forming a first insulation layer over the beryllium oxide layer to provide a first structure; providing a second structure comprising a second silicon layer and a second insulation layer; bonding the first structure and the second structure together so that the first insulation layer is adjacent the second insulation layer; and removing a portion of the second silicon layer thereby providing the silicon-on-insulator substrate.

Abstract: Deleterious roughness of metal silicide/doped Si interfaces arising during conventional salicide processing for forming shallow-depth source and drain junction regions of MOS transistors and/or CMOS devices is avoided, or at least substantially reduced, by increasing the dopant implantation energy to position the maximum source/drain dopant concentration depth below rather than above the depth to which silicidation reaction occurs, thereby minimizing the concentration of dopant in the metal silicide. The invention enjoys particular utility in forming NiSi layers on As-doped Si substrates.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device and a method of isolation of active islands on a silicon-on-insulator semiconductor device, comprising the steps of providing a silicon-on-insulator semiconductor wafer having a silicon active layer, a dielectric isolation layer and a silicon substrate, in which the silicon active layer is formed on the dielectric isolation layer and the dielectric isolation layer is formed on the silicon substrate; forming an isolation trench, the isolation trench defining an active island in the silicon active layer; rounding at least one corner in the active island by application of a high RF bias power high density plasma; and filling the isolation trench with a dielectric trench isolation material by application of a low RF bias power high density plasma. In one embodiment, the rounding step comprises application of a HDP under etching conditions, and the filling step comprises application of a HDP under deposition conditions.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) is formed on a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate in the thin silicon layer above the insulating buried oxide layer. The channel region is lightly doped with an impurity to increase free carrier conductivity. The source region and the drain region are heavily doped with the impurity. A gate and a back gate are positioned along the side of the channel region and extending from the source region and each are fabricated of a metal with an energy gap greater than silicon to form Schottky junctions with the channel region.

Abstract: A method for preventing the thermal decomposition of a high-K dielectric layer of a gate electrode during the formation of a metal silicide on the gate electrode by using nickel as the metal component of the silicide.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a chemical vapor deposited layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. The metal is then formed on the CVD amorphous silicon layer. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the CVD amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A damascene gate semiconductor structure that is formed utilizing a silicide stop layer. Initially, a gate opening is provided in an insulating layer on a substrate. A first dielectric layer is deposited in the gate opening over the substrate. A silicide stop layer is then deposited in the gate opening over the first silicon layer. A second silicon layer is then deposited in the gate opening over the silicide stop layer. A metal or alloy layer is then deposited over the insulating and the second silicon layer. The damascene semiconductor structure is then temperature treated to react the metal or alloy layer with the second silicon layer to form a silicide layer. Any unreated metal or alloy is then removed from the metal or alloy layer.

Abstract: MOS transistors and CMOS devices comprising a plurality of transistors including metal-based gate electrodes of different composition are formed by a process comprising: depositing a first blanket layer of a first metal on a thin gate insulator layer extending over first and second active device (e.g.

Abstract: Work function control layers are provided in in-laid, metal gate electrode, Si-based MOS transistors and CMOS devices by a process which avoids deleterious dopant implantation processing resulting in damage to the thin gate insulator layer and undesirable doping of the underlying channel region. According to the invention, an amorphous Si layer is formed over the thin gate insulator layer by a low energy deposition process which does not adversely affect the gate insulator layer and subsequently doped by means of another low energy process, e.g., low sheath voltage plasma doping, which does not damage the gate insulator layer or dope the underlying channel region of the Si-based substrate. Subsequent thermal processing during device manufacture results in activation of the dopant species and conversion of the a-Si layer to a doped polycrystalline Si layer of substantially increased electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Disadvantageous roughness of interfaces between electrically conductive NiSi layers and n-doped Si interfaces arising during conventional salicide processing for forming shallow-depth source and drain junction regions of NMOS transistors and/or CMOS devices is avoided, or at least substantially reduced, by substituting implanted non-As-containing n-type dopant ions, such as P and/or Sb ions, for the conventionally utilized implanted As n-type dopant ions. If desired, shallow-depth source and drain extensions may be formed by implantation of As-containing n-type dopant ions above the region comprising the non-As-containing dopant ions without causing roughness of the NiSi/n-doped Si interface.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal or metal nitride layer interface between a copper layer and a silicon nitride layer can include providing a metal organic gas or metal/metal nitride precursor over a copper layer, forming a metal or metal nitride layer from reactions between the metal organic gas or metal/metal nitride precursor and the copper layer, and depositing a silicon nitride layer over the metal or metal nitride layer and copper layer. The metal or metal nitride layer can provide a better interface adhesion between the silicon nitride layer and the copper layer. The metal layer can improve the interface between the copper layer and the silicon nitride layer, improving electromigration reliability and, thus, integrated circuit device performance.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) is formed on a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate in the thin silicon layer above the insulating buried oxide layer. The channel region is lightly doped with a first impurity to increase free carrier conductivity of a first type. The source region and the drain region are heavily dopes with the first impurity. A gate and a back gate are positioned along the side of the channel region and extending from the source region and is implanted with a second semiconductor with an energy gap greater than silicon and is implanted with an impurity to increase free carrier flow of a second type.