Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a dual gate semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, patterning a photoresist over the nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer to expose the nitridated, high voltage dielectric within a low voltage region, wherein the patterning leaves an accelerant residue on the exposed nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer, and subjecting the exposed nitridated, high voltage dielectric to a high vacuum to remove the accelerant residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gate dielectric having a flat nitrogen profile, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including the flat nitrogen profile. In one embodiment, the method of manufacturing the gate dielectric includes forming a gate dielectric layer (410) on a substrate (310), and subjecting the gate dielectric layer (410) to a nitrogen containing plasma process (510), wherein the nitrogen containing plasma process (510) has a ratio of helium to nitrogen of 3:1 or greater.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit that comprises forming a circuit layer over a substrate, forming a resist layer on the circuit layer, and subjecting the resist layer to a rework process that includes exposing the resist layer to an organic wash. In another embodiment, the method of manufacturing an integrated circuit comprises forming a circuit layer over a substrate, forming a priming layer on the circuit layer, and subjecting the resist layer to the rework process. The reworking process includes exposing the substrate to a mild plasma ash to substantially remove portions of the resist layer but leave the priming layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gate dielectric having a flat nitrogen profile, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including the flat nitrogen profile. In one embodiment, the method of manufacturing the gate dielectric includes forming a gate dielectric layer (410) on a substrate (310), and subjecting the gate dielectric layer (410) to a nitrogen containing plasma process (510), wherein the nitrogen containing plasma process (510) has a ratio of helium to nitrogen of 3:1 or greater.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a dual gate semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, patterning a photoresist over the nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer to expose the nitridated, high voltage dielectric within a low voltage region wherein the patterning leaves an accelerant residue on the exposed nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer. The method further includes subjecting the exposed nitridated, high voltage dielectric to a plasma to remove the accelerant residue.

Abstract: The invention provides, one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method includes forming a carbide layer over a gate electrode and depositing a pre-metal dielectric layer over the carbide layer. The method provides a significant reduction in NBTI drift.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, a method of manufacture therefor, and an integrated circuit including the same. The CMOS device (100), in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device (120) having a first gate dielectric layer (133) and a first gate electrode layer (138) located over a substrate (110), wherein the first gate dielectric layer (133) has an amount of nitrogen located therein. In addition to the PMOS device (120), the CMOS device further includes an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device (160) having a second gate dielectric layer (173) and a second gate electrode layer (178) located over the substrate (110), wherein the second gate dielectric layer (173) has a different amount of nitrogen located therein. Accordingly, the present invention allows for the individual tuning of the threshold voltages for the PMOS device (120) and the NMOS device (160).

Abstract: A silicon nitrate layer (110) is formed over a transistor gate (40) and source and drain regions (70). The as-formed silicon nitride layer (110) comprises a first tensile stress and a high hydrogen concentration. The as-formed silicon nitride layer (110) is thermally annealed converting the first tensile stress into a second tensile stress that is larger than the first tensile stress. Following the thermal anneal, the hydrogen concentration in the silicon nitride layer (110) is greater than 12 atomic percent.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices (102) and fabrication methods (10) are provided, in which a nitride film (130) is formed over NMOS transistors to impart a tensile stress in all or a portion of the NMOS transistor to improve carrier mobility. The nitride layer (130) is initially deposited over the transistors at low temperature with high hydrogen content to provide a moderate tensile stress in the semiconductor body prior to back-end processing. Subsequent back-end thermal processing reduces the film hydrogen content and causes an increase in the applied tensile stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, a method of manufacture therefor, and an integrated circuit including the same. The CMOS device (100), in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device (120) having a first gate dielectric layer (133) and a first gate electrode layer (138) located over a substrate (110), wherein the first gate dielectric layer (133) has an amount of nitrogen located therein. In addition to the PMOS device (120), the CMOS device further includes an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device (160) having a second gate dielectric layer (173) and a second gate electrode layer (178) located over the substrate (110), wherein the second gate dielectric layer (173) has a different amount of nitrogen located therein. Accordingly, the present invention allows for the individual tuning of the threshold voltages for the PMOS device (120) and the NMOS device (160).

Abstract: Dual gate dielectric layers are formed on a semiconductor substrate for MOS transistor fabrication. A first dielectric layer (30) is formed on a semiconductor substrate (10). A first plasma nitridation process is performed on said first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer (30) is removed in regions of the substrate and a second dielectric layer (50) is formed in these regions. A second plasma nitridation process is performed on the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric. MOS transistors (160, 170) are then fabricated using the dielectric layers (30, 50).

Abstract: Methods (50) are presented for transistor fabrication, in which first and second sidewall spacers (120a, 120b) are formed laterally outward from a gate structure (114), after which a source/drain region (116) is implanted. The method (50) further comprises removing all or a portion of the second sidewall spacer (120b) after implanting the source/drain region (116), where the remaining sidewall spacer (120a) is narrower following the source/drain implant to improve source/drain contact resistance and PMD gap fill, and to facilitate inducing stress in the transistor channel.

Abstract: A transistor is fabricated upon a semiconductor substrate, where the yield strength or elasticity of the substrate is enhanced or otherwise adapted. A strain inducing layer is formed over the transistor to apply a strain thereto to alter transistor operating characteristics, and more particularly to enhance the mobility of carriers within the transistor. Enhancing carrier mobility allows transistor dimensions to be reduced while also allowing the transistor to operate as desired. However, high strain and temperature associated with fabricating the transistor result in deleterious plastic deformation. The yield strength of the silicon substrate is therefore adapted by incorporating nitrogen into the substrate, and more particularly into source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of the transistor. The nitrogen can be readily incorporated during transistor fabrication by adding it as part of source/drain extension region formation and/or source/drain region formation.

Abstract: A silicon nitride layer (110) is formed over a transistor gate (40) and source and drain regions (70). The as-formed silicon nitride layer (110) comprises a first tensile stress and a high hydrogen concentration. The as-formed silicon nitride layer (110) is thermally annealed converting the first tensile stress into a second tensile stress that is larger than the first tensile stress. Following the thermal anneal, the hydrogen concentration in the silicon nitride layer (110) is greater than 12 atomic percent.

Abstract: Dual gate dielectric layers are formed on a semiconductor substrate for MOS transistor fabrication. A first dielectric layer (30) is formed on a semiconductor substrate (10). A first plasma nitridation process is performed on said first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer (30) is removed in regions of the substrate and a second dielectric layer (50) is formed in these regions. A second plasma nitridation process is performed on the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. MOS transistors (160, 170) are then fabricated using the dielectric layers (30, 50).

Abstract: A method (200) fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A poly oxide layer is formed over gate electrodes (210) on a semiconductor body and active regions defined within the semiconductor body in PMOS and NMOS regions. A nitride containing cap oxide layer is formed over the grown poly oxide layer (212). Offset spacers are formed adjacent to sidewalls of the gate electrodes (216). Extension regions are then formed (214) within the PMOS region and the NMOS region. Sidewall spacers are formed (218) adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate. electrodes. An n-type dopant is implanted into the NMOS region to form source/drain regions and a p-type dopant is implanted with an overdose amount into the PMOS region to form the source/drain regions within the PMOS region (220).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a dual gate semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, patterning a photoresist over the nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer to expose the nitridated, high voltage dielectric within a low voltage region wherein the patterning leaves an accelerant residue on the exposed nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer. The method further includes subjecting the exposed nitridated, high voltage dielectric to a plasma to remove the accelerant residue.

Abstract: A method (100) of forming semiconductor structures (202) including high-temperature processing steps (step 118), incorporates the use of a high-temperature nitride-oxide mask (220) over protected regions (214) of the device (202). The invention has application in many different embodiments, including but not limited to, the formation of recess, strained device regions (224).

Abstract: The present invention teaches the formation of CMOS transistors using interfacial nitrogen at the interface between the lightly doped extension regions and an overlying insulating layer in combination with a capping layer of silicon nitride, both prior to the final source/drain anneal. Doses and energies may be increased for the P-channel lightly-doped drain, source and drain regions. The resulting transistors exhibit desirably high drive current and low off-state leakage current and overlap capacitance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a dual gate semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, patterning a photoresist over the nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer to expose the nitridated, high voltage dielectric within a low voltage region wherein the patterning leaves an accelerant residue on the exposed nitridated, high voltage gate dielectric layer. The method further includes subjecting the exposed nitridated, high voltage dielectric to a plasma to remove the accelerant residue.