Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes channels for a pFET and an NFET. An SiGe layer is grown in the channel of the NFET channel and a Si:C layer is grown in the pFET channel. The SiGe and Si:C layer match a lattice network of the underlying Si layer to create a stress component in an overlying grown epitaxial layer. In one implementation, this causes a compressive component in the pFET channel and a tensile component in the NFET channel. In a further implementation, the SiGe layer is grown in both the NFET and pFET channels. In this implementation, the stress level in the pFET channel should be greater than approximately 3 GPa.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit having a plurality of semiconductor devices including an n-type field effect transistor and a p-type field effect transistor on a semiconductor wafer by creating a spacer having a first width for the n-type field effect transistor and creating a spacer having a second width for the p-type field effect transistor, the first width being greater than the second width and depositing silicide material on the semiconductor wafer such that tensile mechanical stresses are formed within a channel of the n-type field effect transistor and compressive stresses are formed within a channel of the p-type field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor devices including an n-type field effect transistor and a p-type field effect transistor by covering the p-type field effect transistor with a mask, and oxidizing a portion of a gate polysilicon of the n-type field effect transistor, such that tensile mechanical stresses are formed within a channel of the n-type field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor substrate structure is provided. A compressively strained SiGe layer is formed on a silicon substrate. Atoms are ion-implanted onto the SiGe layer to cause end-of-range damage. Annealing is performed to relax the strained SiGe layer. During the annealing, interstitial dislocation loops are formed as uniformly distributed in the SiGe layer. The interstitial dislocation loops provide a basis for nucleation of misfit dislocations between the SiGe layer and the silicon substrate. Since the interstitial dislocation loops are distributed uniformly, the misfit locations are also distributed uniformly, thereby relaxing the SiGe layer. A tensilely strained silicon layer is formed on the relaxed SiGe layer.

Abstract: A double-gate transistor has front (upper) and back gates aligned laterally by a process of forming symmetric sidewalls in proximity to the front gate and then oxidizing the back gate electrode at a temperature of at least 1000 degrees for a time sufficient to relieve stress in the structure, the oxide penetrating from the side of the transistor body to thicken the back gate oxide on the outer edges, leaving an effective thickness of gate oxide at the center, aligned with the front gate electrode. Optionally, an angled implant from the sides of an oxide enhancing species encourages relatively thicker oxide in the outer implanted areas and an oxide-retarding implant across the transistor body retards oxidation in the vertical direction, thereby permitting increase of the lateral extent of the oxidation.

Abstract: A structure and method are provided in which an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) and a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) each have a channel region disposed in a single-crystal layer of a first semiconductor and a stress is applied at a first magnitude to a channel region of the PFET but not at that magnitude to the channel region of the NFET. The stress is applied by a layer of a second semiconductor which is lattice-mismatched to the first semiconductor. The layer of second semiconductor is formed over the source and drain regions and extensions of the PFET at a first distance from the channel region of the PFET and is formed over the source and drain regions of the NFET at a second, greater distance from the channel region of the NFET, or not formed at all in the NFET.

Abstract: The first source and drain regions are formed in an upper surface of a SiGe substrate. The first source and drain regions containing an N type impurity. Vacancy concentration in the first source and drain regions are reduced in order to reduce diffusion of the N type impurity contained in the first source and drain regions. The vacancy concentration is reduced by an interstitial element or a vacancy-trapping element in the first source and drain regions. The interstitial element or the vacancy-trapping element is provided by ion-implantation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit that has a plurality of semiconductor devices including an n-type field effect transistor and a p-type field effect transistor. This method involves depositing oxide fill on the n-type transistor and the p-type transistor and chemical/mechanical polishing the deposited oxide fill such that a gate stack of the n-type transistor and a gate stack of the p-type transistor, which each have spacers which are surrounded with oxide. The method further involves etching a portion of the polysilicon from a gate of the p-type field effect transistor, depositing a low resistance material (e.g., Co, Ni, Ti, or other similar metals) on the n-type field effect transistor and the p-type field effect transistor, and heating the integrated circuit such that the deposited material reacts with the polysilicon of the n-type transistor and the polysilicon of the p-type transistor to form silicide.

Abstract: Described is a method for making thin channel silicon-on-insulator structures. The inventive method comprises forming a set of thin spacer abutting a gate region in a first device and a second device region; forming a raised source/drain region on either side of the gate region in the first device region and the second device region, implanting dopants of a first conductivity type into the raised source drain region in the first device region to form a first dopant impurity region, where the second device region is protected by a second device region block mask; implanting dopants of a second conductivity type into the raised source/drain region in the second device region to form a second dopant impurity region, where the first device region is protected by a first device region block mask; and activating the first dopant impurity region and the second dopant impurity region to provide a thin channel MOSFET.

Abstract: A substrate under tension and/or compression improves performance of devices fabricated therein. Tension and/or compression can be imposed on a substrate through selection of appropriate gate sidewall spacer material disposed above a device channel region wherein the spacers are formed adjacent both the gate and the substrate and impose forces on adjacent substrate areas. Another embodiment comprises compressive stresses imposed in the plane of the channel using SOI sidewall spacers made of polysilicon that is expanded by oxidation. The substrate areas under compression or tension exhibit charge mobility characteristics different from those of a non-stressed substrate. By controllably varying these stresses within NFET and PFET devices formed on a substrate, improvements in IC performance have been demonstrated.

Abstract: The inventive method for forming thin channel MOSFETS comprises: providing a structure including at least a substrate having a layer of semiconducting material atop an insulating layer and a gate region formed atop the layer of semiconducting material; forming a conformal oxide film atop the structure; implanting the conformal oxide film; forming a set of spacers atop the conformal oxide film, said set of sidewall spacers are adjacent to the gate region; removing portions of the oxide film, not protected by the set of spacers to expose a region of the semiconducting material; forming raised source/drain regions on the exposed region of the semiconducting material; implanting the raised source/drain regions with a second dopant impurity to form a second dopant impurity region; and annealing a final structure to provide a thin channel MOSFET.

Abstract: The speed of CMOS circuits is improved by imposing a longitudinal tensile stress on the NFETs and a longitudinal compressive stress on the PFETs, by implanting in the sources and drains of the NFETs ions from the eighth column of the periodic table and hydrogen and implanting in the sources and drains of the PFETs ions from the fourth and sixth columns of the periodic table.

Abstract: The speed of CMOS circuits is improved by imposing a longitudinal tensile stress on the NFETs and a longitudinal compressive stress on the PFETs, by implanting in the sources and drains of the NFETs ions from the eighth column of the periodic table and hydrogen and implanting in the sources and drains of the PFETs ions from the fourth and sixth columns of the periodic table.

Abstract: A method of planarization allows for the use of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) in starting structures having films not generally suitable for CMP processes. Two material layers are formed over a starting structure, and the upper layer is planarized in a CMP process. A nonselective etch is then used to transfer the planar topography to the lower level.

Abstract: A gate structure for a semiconductor transistor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the gate structure includes a lower polysilicon region doped at a first dopant concentration and an upper polysilicon region doped at a second concentration, with the second concentration being different than the first concentration. A conductive barrier layer is disposed between the lower and the upper polysilicon regions, wherein the conductive barrier layer prevents diffusion of impurities between the lower and the upper polysilicon regions.

Abstract: A gate structure for a semiconductor transistor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the gate structure includes a lower polysilicon region doped at a first dopant concentration and an upper polysilicon region doped at a second concentration, with the second concentration being different than the first concentration. A conductive barrier layer is disposed between the lower and the upper polysilicon regions, wherein the conductive barrier layer prevents diffusion of impurities between the lower and the upper polysilicon regions.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the rate of transistor gate corner oxidation, without significantly increasing the thermal budget of the overall processing scheme is provided. Specifically, the method of the present invention includes implanting ions into gate corners of a Si-containing transistor, and exposing the transistor including implanted transistor gate corners to an oxidizing ambient. The ions employed in the implant step include Si; non-retarding oxidation ions such as O, Ge, As, B, P, In, Sb, Ga, F, Cl, He, Ar, Kr, and Xe; and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the rate of transistor gate corner oxidation, without significantly increasing the thermal budget of the overall processing scheme is provided. Specifically, the method of the present invention includes implanting ions into gate corners of a Si-containing transistor, and exposing the transistor including implanted transistor gate corners to an oxidizing ambient. The ions employed in the implant step include Si; non-retarding oxidation ions such as O, Ge, As, B, P, In, Sb, Ga, F, Cl, He, Ar, Kr, and Xe; and mixtures thereof.