Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a vertical transistor comprises: a first diffusion region on a substrate; a channel region on the first diffusion region and extending in a vertical direction; a second diffusion region on the channel region; and a gate electrode at a sidewall of, and insulated from, the channel region. A horizontal transistor is positioned on the substrate, the horizontal transistor comprising: a first diffusion region and a second diffusion region on the substrate and spaced apart from each other; a channel region on the substrate between the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region; and a gate electrode on the channel region and isolated from the channel region. A portion of a gate electrode of the vertical transistor and a portion of the gate electrode of the horizontal transistor are at a same vertical position in the vertical direction relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and process of fabricating the same, the semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode having sidewalls, on the gate insulating layer, first spacers on the sidewalls of the gate electrode, a source/drain region in the semiconductor substrate, aligned with the sidewalls, a silicide layer on the gate electrode, a silicide layer on the source/drain region, and second spacers covering the first spacers and end parts of a surface of the silicide layer on the source drain region.

Abstract: A gate structure includes a gate insulation layer pattern, a gate electrode, a first spacer and a protecting layer pattern. The gate insulation layer pattern is on a substrate. The gate electrode is on the gate insulation layer pattern, the gate electrode including a lower portion having a first width, a central portion having a second width smaller than the first width and an upper portion having a third width. The first spacer is on a lower sidewall of the gate electrode. The protecting layer pattern is on a central sidewall of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Semiconductor fabrication processes are provided for removing sidewall spacers from gate structures while mitigating or otherwise preventing defect mechanisms such as damage to metal silicide structures or otherwise impeding or placing limitations on subsequent process flows.

Abstract: Provided are exemplary methods for forming a nickel silicide layer and semiconductor devices incorporating a nickel silicide layer that provides increased stability for subsequent processing at temperatures above 450° C. In particular, the nickel silicide layer is formed from a nickel alloy having a minor portion of an alloying metal, such as tantalum, and exhibits reduced agglomeration and retarded the phase transition between NiSi and NiSi2 to suppress increases in the sheet resistance and improve the utility for use with fine patterns. As formed, the nickel silicide layer includes both a lower layer consisting primarily of nickel and silicon and a thinner upper layer that incorporates the majority of the alloying metal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a test structure for inspection of integrated circuits. The test structure may be fabricated on a semiconductor wafer together with one or more integrated circuits. The test structure may include a common reference point for voltage reference; a plurality of voltage dropping devices being connected to the common reference point; and a plurality of electron-collecting pads being connected, respectively, to a plurality of contact points of the plurality of voltage dropping devices. A brightness shown by the plurality of electron-collecting pads during an inspection of the integrated circuits may be associated with a pre-determined voltage.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated test structures are designed for electron beam inspection of semiconductor wafers. The test structures include pattern features that are formed in designated test regions of the wafer concurrently with pattern features of integrated circuits formed on the wafer. The test structures include conductive structures that are designed to enable differential charging between defective and non-defective features (or defective and non-defection portions of a given feature) to facilitate voltage contrast defect detection of CMOS devices, for example, using a single, low energy electron beam scan, notwithstanding the existence of p/n junctions in the wafer substrate or other elements/features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and process of fabricating the same, the semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode having sidewalls, on the gate insulating layer, first spacers on the sidewalls of the gate electrode, a source/drain region in the semiconductor substrate, aligned with the sidewalls, a silicide layer on the gate electrode, a silicide layer on the source/drain region, and second spacers covering the first spacers and end parts of a surface of the silicide layer on the source drain region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a metal gate electrode and an electronic fuse. The method may include forming a gate dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first metal layer on the gate dielectric layer, forming a portion of the first metal layer in a first device region, forming a second metal layer on the semiconductor substrate comprising the portion of the first metal layer, forming a portion of the second metal layer in a second device region, forming a low-resistance layer on the semiconductor substrate comprising the portion of the first metal layer and the portion of the second metal layer, and patterning the low-resistance layer to form gate electrodes, and a fuse pattern of the low-resistance layer in a fuse region.

Abstract: A test structure of a semiconductor device with improved test reliability is provided. The test structure includes first and second active regions which are electrically isolated from each other and on which silicided first and second junction regions are formed, respectively, a semiconductor substrate or a well which is formed on lower parts of the first and second junction regions and has a conductivity type different from the first and second junction regions, and first and second pads through which an electrical signal is applied to the first and second junction regions and detected, and which are formed on the same level as a lower part of a metal layer or on the same level as the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Semiconductor fabrication processes are provided for removing sidewall spacers from gate structures while mitigating or otherwise preventing defect mechanisms such as damage to metal silicide structures or otherwise impeding or placing limitations on subsequent process flows.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes dual spacers is provided. A nitrogen atmosphere may be created and maintained in a reaction chamber by supplying a nitrogen source gas. A silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas may then be supplied to the reaction chamber to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, which may include a conductive material layer. A silicon nitride layer may then be formed on the silicon oxide layer by performing a general CVD process. Next, the silicon nitride layer may be etched until the silicon oxide layer is exposed. Because of the difference in etching selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon oxide, portions of the silicon nitride layer may remain on sidewalls of the conductive material layer. As a result, dual spacers formed of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer may be formed on the sidewalls.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated test structures are designed for electron beam inspection of semiconductor wafers. The test structures include pattern features that are formed in designated test regions of the wafer concurrently with pattern features of integrated circuits formed on the wafer. The test structures include conductive structures that are designed to enable differential charging between defective and non-defective features (or defective and non-defection portions of a given feature) to facilitate voltage contrast defect detection of CMOS devices, for example, using a single, low energy electron beam scan, notwithstanding the existence of p/n junctions in the wafer substrate or other elements/features.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a test structure for inspection of integrated circuits. The test structure may be fabricated on a semiconductor wafer together with one or more integrated circuits. The test structure may include a common reference point for voltage reference; a plurality of voltage dropping devices being connected to the common reference point; and a plurality of electron-collecting pads being connected, respectively, to a plurality of contact points of the plurality of voltage dropping devices. A brightness shown by the plurality of electron-collecting pads during an inspection of the integrated circuits may be associated with a pre-determined voltage.

Abstract: Methods of forming field effect transistors include methods of forming PMOS and NMOS transistors by forming first and second gate electrodes on a substrate and then forming an electrically insulating layer having etch-enhancing impurities therein, on the first and second gate electrodes. The electrically insulating layer may be formed as a boron-doped silicon nitride layer or an electrically insulating layer that is doped with germanium and/or fluorine. The electrically insulating layer is etched-back to define first sidewall spacers on the first gate electrode and second sidewall spacers on the second gate electrode. P-type source and drain region dopants are then implanted into the semiconductor substrate, using the first sidewall spacers as a first implant mask. The second sidewall spacers on the second gate electrode are then etched back to reduce their lateral dimensions.

Abstract: A test structure of a semiconductor device is provided. The test structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor which includes a gate electrode formed on first and second active regions defined within the semiconductor substrate, and first and second junction regions which are arranged at both sidewalls of the gate electrode to reside within the first and second active regions and are silicided, and first and second pads through which electrical signals are applied to the silicided first and second junction regions and detected and which are formed on the same level as the gate electrode or the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device fabricated thereby. The method of fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate; forming source/drain regions within the semiconductor substrate so as to be located at both sides of each of the gate electrodes; forming a nickel silicide layer on surfaces of the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions by evaporating nickel or nickel alloy on the semiconductor substrate formed with the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions and then performing a thermal process on the nickel or the nickel alloy; forming an interlayer insulating layer, which is formed with contact holes through which a surface of the nickel silicide layer is exposed, on a surface obtained after the above processes have been performed; forming an ohmic layer by evaporating a refractory metal conformably along the contact holes, the refractory metal being converted to silicide at a temperature of 500° C.

Abstract: Integrated circuit field effect transistors include a substrate, an isolation region in the substrate that defines an active region in the substrate, spaced apart source/drain regions in the active region, a channel region in the active region between the spaced apart source/drain regions and an insulated gate on the channel region. A differential mechanical stress-producing region is configured to produce different mechanical stress in the channel region adjacent the isolation region compared to remote from the isolation region. The differential mechanical stress-producing region may be formed using patterned stress management films, patterned stress-changing implants and/or patterned silicide films, and can reduce undesired comer effects. Related fabrication methods also are described.

Abstract: Provided are exemplary methods for forming a semiconductor devices incorporating silicide layers formed at temperatures below about 700° C., such as nickel silicides, that are formed after completion of a silicide blocking layer (SBL). The formation of the SBL tends to deactivate dopant species in the gate, lightly-doped drain and/or source/drain regions. The exemplary methods include a post-SBL activation anneal either in place of or in addition to the traditional post-implant activation anneal. The use of the post-SBL anneal produces CMOS transistors having properties that reflect reactivation of sufficient dopant to overcome the SBL process effects, while allowing the use of lower temperature silicides, including nickel silicides and, in particular, nickel silicides incorporating a minor portion of an alloying metal, such as tantalum, the exhibits reduced agglomeration and improved temperature stability.

Abstract: Integrated circuit field effect transistors include a substrate, an isolation region in the substrate that defines an active region in the substrate, spaced apart source/drain regions in the active region, a channel region in the active region between the spaced apart source/drain regions and an insulated gate on the channel region. A differential mechanical stress-producing region is configured to produce different mechanical stress in the channel region adjacent the isolation region compared to remote from the isolation region. The differential mechanical stress-producing region may be formed using patterned stress management films, patterned stress-changing implants and/or patterned silicide films, and can reduce undesired comer effects. Related fabrication methods also are described.