Abstract: A method is disclosed to make a strained-silicon PMOS or CMOS transistor, in which, a compressive stress film is formed by reacting a silane having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl, hydrocarboxy, carbonyl, formyl, carboxylic group, ester group, and halo group and ammonia, or a conventional compressive stress film is implanted with fluorine atoms, oxygen atoms, or carbon atoms, so as to improve the properties of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI).

Abstract: A method for fabricating strained silicon transistors is disclosed. First, a semiconductor substrate is provided, in which the semiconductor substrate includes a gate, at least a spacer, and a source/drain region formed thereon. Next, a precursor, silane, and ammonia are injected, in which the precursor is reacted with silane and ammonia to form a high compressive stress film on the surface of the gate, the spacer, and the source/drain region. Preferably, the high compressive stress film can be utilized in the fabrication of a poly stressor, a contact etch stop layer, and dual contact etch stop layers.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate and a method for etching a conductive layer are provided. First, a substrate is provided, including a dielectric layer and a conductive layer on its surface in order. Subsequently, a patterned silicon nitride layer is formed on the conductive layer as a hard mask, and the hydrogen concentration of the patterned silicon nitride layer is more than 1022 atoms/cm3. Thereafter, the conductive layer and the dielectric layer are etched utilizing the hard mask as a mask. Finally, an etching solution is utilized to remove the hard mask.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device. The method comprises steps of providing a substrate having a first transistor, a second transistor and non-salicide device formed thereon and the conductive type of the first transistor is different from that of the second transistor. A buffer layer is formed over the substrate and a tensile material layer is formed over the buffer layer. A portion of the tensile material layer over the second transistor is thinned and a spike annealing process is performed. The tensile material layer is removed to expose the buffer layer over the substrate and a patterned salicide blocking layer is formed over the non-salicide device. A salicide process is performed for forming a salicide layer on a portion of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: A method of forming a shallow trench isolation region is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a top surface; forming an opening extending from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate; performing a conformal deposition method to fill a dielectric material into the opening; performing a first treatment on the dielectric material, wherein the first treatment provides an energy high enough for breaking bonds in the dielectric material; and performing a steam anneal on the dielectric material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for etching an integrated circuit structure within a trench. A layer to be etched is applied over the structure and within the trench. A CF-based polymer is deposited over the layer to be etched followed by deposition of a capping layer of SiOCl-based polymer. The CF-based polymer reduces the width of the trench to such an extent that little or no SiOCl-based polymer is deposited at the bottom of the trench. An O2 plasma etch is performed to etch through the CF-based polymer at the bottom of the trench. The O2 plasma etch has little effect on the SiOCl-based polymer, the thus the upper surfaces of the structure remain covered with polymer. Thus, these upper surfaces remain fully protected during subsequent etching of the layer to be etched.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact is provided. A substrate having at least two metal oxide semiconductor devices is provided and a gap is formed between the two devices. A first stress layer is formed over the substrate to cover the metal-oxide semiconductor devices and the substrate. The first stress layer is formed by first forming a first stress material layer over the substrate to cover the metal-oxide semiconductor devices and to fill the gap, the stress material inside the gap. An etching back process is then performed to remove a portion of the stress material layer inside the gap. A second stress layer and a dielectric layer are sequentially formed on the first stress layer. A portion of the second stress layer is removed to form a contact opening. A first conductive layer is filled into the contact opening to form a contact.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a silicon nitride layer is described. First, a substrate is provided. Then, a silicon nitride layer is formed on the substrate. The silicon nitride layer is UV-cured in an atmosphere lower than the standard atmospheric pressure. Through the UV curing treatment, the tensile stress of the silicon nitride layer is increased.

Abstract: A method for filling silicon oxide materials into a trench includes providing a substrate having a plurality of trenches, performing a first deposition process to form a first silicon oxide layer in the trenches, and performing a second deposition process to form a second silicon oxide layer in the trenches. The reactant gas of the first deposition process has a first O3/TEOS flow ratio larger than a second O3/TEOS flow ratio of the reactant gas of the second deposition process.

Abstract: A method of forming a shallow trench isolation region is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a top surface; forming an opening extending from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate; performing a first deposition step to fill a first dielectric material into the opening using a first deposition method. The first deposition method has a bottom deposition rate substantially greater than a sidewall deposition rate. The method further includes isotropically etching the first dielectric material, wherein at least a bottom portion of the first dielectric material remains after the etching; and performing a second deposition step to fill a remaining portion of the opening with a second dielectric material. The first deposition method may be a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition. The second deposition method may be a high-aspect ratio process.

Abstract: A substrate having at least two metal oxide semiconductor devices of a same conductive type and a gap formed between the two devices is provided. A first stress layer is formed over the substrate to cover the metal-oxide semiconductor devices and the substrate, filling the gap. An etching back process is then performed to remove a portion of the stress material layer inside the gap. A second stress layer and a dielectric layer are sequentially formed on the first stress layer. The first stress layer and the second stress layer provide a same type of stress. A portion of the second stress layer is removed to form a contact opening. A second conductive layer is filled into the contact opening to form a contact.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MOS transistor device is provided. First, a semiconductor substrate having a gate structure is prepared. The gate structure has two sidewalls and a liner on the sidewalls. Subsequently, a stressed cap layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and covers the gate structure and the liner. Next, an activating process is performed. Furthermore, the stressed cap layer is etched to be a salicide block. Afterward, a salicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the regions that are not covered by the stressed cap layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a silicon nitride gap-filling layer is provided. A pre-multi-step formation process is performed to form a stacked layer constituting as a dense film on a substrate. Then, a post-single step deposition process is conducted to form a cap layer constituting as a sparse film on the stacked layer, wherein the cap layer has a thickness of at least 10% of the total film thickness.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MOS transistor device. First, a semiconductor substrate having a gate structure is prepared. The gate structure has two sidewalls and a liner on the sidewalls. Subsequently, a stressed cap layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and covers the gate structure and the liner. Next, an activating process is performed. Furthermore, the stressed cap layer is etched to be a salicide block. Afterward, a salicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the regions that are not covered by the stressed cap layer.

Abstract: A method of forming compressive nitride film is provided. The method includes performing a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a nitride film on a substrate, and the method is characterized by adding a certain gas, selected from among Ar, N2, Kr, Xe, and mixtures thereof. Due to the addition of the foregoing certain gas, it can increase the compressive stress, thereby increasing PMOS drive current gain.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fabricating a high tensile stress film includes providing a substrate, forming a poly stressor on the substrate, and performing an ultra violet rapid thermal process (UVRTP) for curing the poly stressor and adjusting its tensile stress status, thus the poly stressor serves as a high tensile stress film. Due to a combination of energy from photons and heat, the tensile stress status of the high tensile stress film is adjusted in a relatively shorter process period or under a relatively lower temperature.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor device is disclosed. A semiconductor substrate is prepared first, and the semiconductor substrate has a gate structure, a source region and a drain region. Subsequently, a stress buffer layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and covers the gate structure, the source region and the drain region. Thereafter, a stressed cap layer is formed on the stress buffer layer, and a tensile stress value of the stressed cap layer is higher than a tensile stress value of the stress buffer layer. Since the stress buffer layer can prevent the stressed cap layer from breaking, the MOS transistor device can be covered by a stressed cap layer having an extremely high tensile stress value in the present invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to make a strained-silicon PMOS or CMOS transistor, in which, a compressive stress film is formed by reacting a silane having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl, hydrocarboxy, carbonyl, formyl, carboxylic group, ester group, and halo group and ammonia, or a conventional compressive stress film is implanted with fluorine atoms, oxygen atoms, or carbon atoms, so as to improve the properties of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI).

Abstract: A method for fabricating strained silicon transistors is disclosed. First, a semiconductor substrate is provided, in which the semiconductor substrate includes a gate, at least a spacer, and a source/drain region formed thereon. Next, a precursor, silane, and ammonia are injected, in which the precursor is reacted with silane and ammonia to form a high compressive stress film on the surface of the gate, the spacer, and the source/drain region. Preferably, the high compressive stress film can be utilized in the fabrication of a poly stressor, a contact etch stop layer, and dual contact etch stop layers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A MOS transistor is formed on a substrate, and then a contact etching stop layer (CESL) is formed over the substrate. A first UV-curing process is performed to increase the stress of the CESL. A dielectric layer is formed on the CESL, and then a second UV-curing process is performed to increase the stress of the dielectric layer. A CMP process is conducted, and then a cap layer is formed on the dielectric layer.