Abstract: This invention improves the quality of gate oxide dielectric layers using a two-pronged approach, thus permitting the use of much thinner silicon dioxide gate dielectric layers required for lower-voltage, ultra-dense integrated circuits. In order to eliminate defects caused by imperfections in bulk silicon, an in-situ grown epitaxial layer is formed on active areas following a strip of the pad oxide layer used beneath the silicon nitride islands used for masking during the field oxidation process. By growing an epitaxial silicon layer prior to gate dielectric layer formation, defects in the bulk silicon substrate are covered over and, hence, isolated from the oxide growth step. In order to maintain the integrity of the selective epitaxial growth step, the wafers are maintained in a controlled, oxygen-free environment until the epitaxial growth step is accomplished.

Abstract: A CMOS transistor is fabricated by forming the n-wells with both phosphorus and arsenic implants. The arsenic, with its lower diffusion coefficient, tends to concentrate near the top surface of the n-wells, with the phosphorus penetrating sufficiently to define the n-wells at the desired depth. A boron channel stop implant is later applied without masking over the n-wells. Since the arsenic implant is concentrated near the surface, the arsenic impurities overcome the effects of the boron impurities.

Abstract: A DRAM cell having enhanced capacitance attributable to the use of a textured polycrystalline silicon storage-node capacitor plate. The present invention is particularly applicable to DRAM cells which employ a stacked-capacitor design, as such designs generally a conductively-doped polycrystalline silicon layer as the storage-node, or lower, capacitor plate. A poly texturization process imparts a three-dimensional texturized character to the upper surface of the storage-node plate. Texturization is accomplished by subjecting the storage-node plate layer to a wet oxidation step. Since oxidation at the crystal grain boundaries on the surface of the poly layer proceeds more rapidly than elsewhere, the surface becomes bumpy. When maximum texturization has been achieved, the overlying oxide is removed during a wet etch step.

Abstract: A method for protecting a refractory metal silicide during high-temperature processing using a dual-layer cap of silicon oxide and silicon nitride. The problem of a silicon nitride protective layer detaching itself from an underlying refractory metal silicide layer during high-temperature processing, thus allowing tungsten atoms within the layer to oxidize, is solved by laying down a silicon oxide layer beneath the silicon nitride layer. The oxide layer acts as a mechanical stress relief layer between the refractory metal silicide and the silicon nitride layer, preventing the lifting of the nitride layer during high-temperature processing steps.

Abstract: The present invention constitutes an improvement of the Local Encroachment Reduction (LER) process developed by Tyler Lowrey at Micron Technology, Inc. of Boise, Idaho. LER consists of selectively etching a portion of the field oxide which has encroached into a DRAM cell's active area and then subjecting the cell to a high-energy boron implant to maintain adequate active area isolation. Although the boron implant effectively decreases the width of the depletion region between n+ active areas and p+ substrate, it has the undesirable effect of reducing the breakdown voltage at the n-p junctions in the bird's beak regions at the edges of the active regions, thus increasing the cell's susceptibility to gated-diode breakdown following creation of the cell plate. The present invention solves this problem by creating a graded junction in the bird's beak regions of the cell. The graded junction reduces the electric field intensity in the junction region, resulting in an increase in the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A CMOS transistor is fasbricated by forming the n-wells with both phosphorus and arsenic implants. The arsenic, with its lower diffusion coefficient, tends to concentrate near the top surface of the n-wells, with the phosphorus penetrating sufficiently to define the n-wells at the desired depth. A boron channel stop implant is later applied without masking over the n-wells. Since the arsenic implant is concentrated near the surface, the arsenic impurities overcome the effects of the boron impurities. Additional boron required for n-channel channel stop is provided by n-channel transistor punch-through implantation.