Abstract: In a multiple gate transistor, the plurality of Fins of the drain or source of the transistor are electrically connected to each other by means of a common contact element, wherein enhanced uniformity of the corresponding contact regions may be accomplished by an enhanced silicidation process sequence. For this purpose, the Fins may be embedded into a dielectric material in which an appropriate contact opening may be formed to expose end faces of the Fins, which may then act as silicidation surface areas.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the sacrificial gate material is exposed on the basis of enhanced process uniformity, for instance during a wet chemical etch step or a CMP process, by forming a modified portion in the interlayer dielectric material by ion implantation. Consequently, the damaged portion may be removed with an increased removal rate while avoiding the creation of polymer contaminants when applying an etch process or avoiding over-polish time when applying a CMP process.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the sacrificial gate material is exposed on the basis of enhanced process uniformity, for instance during a wet chemical etch step or a CMP process, by forming a modified portion in the interlayer dielectric material by ion implantation. Consequently, the damaged portion may be removed with an increased removal rate while avoiding the creation of polymer contaminants when applying an etch process or avoiding over-polish time when applying a CMP process.

Abstract: By providing a CMP stop layer in a metal gate stack, the initial height thereof may be efficiently reduced after the definition of the deep drain and source areas, thereby providing enhanced process conditions for forming highly stressed dielectric materials. Consequently, the dielectric material may be positioned more closely to the channel region substantially without deteriorating gate conductivity.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the sacrificial gate material is exposed on the basis of enhanced process uniformity, for instance during a wet chemical etch step or a CMP process, by forming a modified portion in the interlayer dielectric material by ion implantation. Consequently, the damaged portion may be removed with an increased removal rate while avoiding the creation of polymer contaminants when applying an etch process or avoiding over-polish time when applying a CMP process.

Abstract: In a memory cell, the drive current capabilities of the transistors may be adjusted by locally providing an increased gate dielectric thickness and/or gate length of one or more of the transistors of the memory cell. That is, the gate length and/or the gate dielectric thickness may vary along the transistor width direction, thereby providing an efficient mechanism for adjusting the effective drive current capability while at the same time allowing the usage of a simplified geometry of the active region, which may result in enhanced production yield due to enhanced process uniformity. In particular, the probability of creating short circuits caused by nickel silicide portions may be reduced.

Abstract: Gate failures in sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures formed in an early manufacturing stage may be reduced by forming a protective liner material after the incorporation of a strain-inducing semiconductor alloy and prior to performing any critical wet chemical processes. In this manner, attacks in the sensitive gate materials after the incorporation of the strain-inducing semiconductor material may be avoided, without influencing the further processing of the device. In this manner, very sophisticated circuit designs may be applied in sophisticated gate first approaches.

Abstract: By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.

Abstract: By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.

Abstract: By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the sacrificial gate material is exposed on the basis of enhanced process uniformity, for instance during a wet chemical etch step or a CMP process, by forming a modified portion in the interlayer dielectric material by ion implantation. Consequently, the damaged portion may be removed with an increased removal rate while avoiding the creation of polymer contaminants when applying an etch process or avoiding over-polish time when applying a CMP process.

Abstract: By forming a non-oxidizable liner in an isolation trench and selectively modifying the liner within the isolation trench, the stress characteristics of the isolation trench may be adjusted. In one embodiment, a high compressive stress may be obtained by treating the liner with an ion bombardment and subsequently exposing the device to an oxidizing ambient at elevated temperatures, thereby incorporating silicon dioxide into the non-oxidizable material. Hence, an increased compressive stress may be generated within the non-oxidizable layer.

Abstract: By performing a silicidation process on the basis of a patterned dielectric layer, such as an interlayer dielectric material, the respective metal silicide portions may be provided in a highly localized manner at the respective contact regions, while the overall amount of metal silicide may be significantly reduced. In this way, a negative influence of the stress of metal silicide on the channel regions of field effect transistors may be significantly reduced, while nevertheless maintaining a low contact resistance.

Abstract: By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating low contact resistance CMOS integrated circuits are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a method for fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit including an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor disposed in and on a silicon-comprising substrate includes depositing a first silicide-forming metal on the NMOS and PMOS transistors. The first silicide-forming metal forms a silicide at a first temperature. At least a portion of the first silicide-forming metal is removed from the NMOS or PMOS transistor and a second silicide-forming metal is deposited. The second silicide-forming metal forms a silicide at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The first silicide-forming metal and the second silicide-forming metal are heated at a temperature that is no less than the higher of the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: By performing sophisticated anneal techniques, such as laser anneal, flash anneal and the like, for a metal silicide formation, such as nickel silicide, the risk of nickel silicide defects in sensitive device regions, such as SRAM pass gates, may be significantly reduced. Also, the activation of dopants may be performed in a highly localized manner, so that undue damage of gate insulation layers may be avoided when activating and re-crystallizing drain and source regions.

Abstract: By forming a substantially continuous and uniform semiconductor alloy in one active region while patterning the semiconductor alloy in a second active region so as to provide a base semiconductor material in a central portion thereof, different types of strain may be induced, while, after providing a corresponding cover layer of the base semiconductor material, well-established process techniques for forming the gate dielectric may be used. In some illustrative embodiments, a substantially self-aligned process is provided in which the gate electrode may be formed on the basis of layer, which has also been used for defining the central portion of the base semiconductor material of one of the active regions. Hence, by using a single semiconductor alloy, the performance of transistors of different conductivity types may be individually enhanced.

Abstract: In a multiple gate transistor, the plurality of Fins of the drain or source of the transistor are electrically connected to each other by means of a common contact element, wherein enhanced uniformity of the corresponding contact regions may be accomplished by an enhanced silicidation process sequence. For this purpose, the Fins may be embedded into a dielectric material in which an appropriate contact opening may be formed to expose end faces of the Fins, which may then act as silicidation surface areas.

Abstract: In a memory cell, the drive current capabilities of the transistors may be adjusted by locally providing an increased gate dielectric thickness and/or gate length of one or more of the transistors of the memory cell. That is, the gate length and/or the gate dielectric thickness may vary along the transistor width direction, thereby providing an efficient mechanism for adjusting the effective drive current capability while at the same time allowing the usage of a simplified geometry of the active region, which may result in enhanced production yield due to enhanced process uniformity. In particular, the probability of creating short circuits caused by nickel silicide portions may be reduced.

Abstract: Field effect transistors and methods for fabricating field effect transistors are provided. A method, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises forming a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode overlying a silicon substrate. The gate electrode has two parallel sidewalls. Two sidewall spacers are fabricated overlying the silicon substrate. Each of the two sidewall spacers has a sidewall that is adjacent to one of the two parallel sidewalls of the gate electrode. A portion of the gate electrode between the two sidewall spacers is removed.