Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: By modifying the dielectric liner for a spacer structure so as to exhibit an enhanced diffusion blocking characteristic, for instance by incorporating nitrogen, the out-diffusion of P-dopants, such as boron, into the dielectric material may be significantly reduced. Consequently, transistor performance, especially of P-type transistors, may be significantly enhanced while nevertheless a high degree of compatibility with conventional techniques may be maintained.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: By performing an anisotropic resist modification prior to the actual resist trimming process, the profile of the end portions of the resist features may be significantly enhanced, for instance by providing substantially vertical sidewall portions. Consequently, an overlap of gate electrodes with the respective isolation structures may be obtained, while nevertheless the probability for a short circuit between opposing end portions of the gate electrodes may be significantly reduced, thereby providing the potential for further scaling down device dimensions.

Abstract: By forming an intermediate etch stop material or by appropriately positioning an additional etch stop material in a spacer structure of a polysilicon line, the probability of exposing a shallow doped region of an active semiconductor region during a critical contact etch step for forming rectangular contacts may be significantly reduced. Thus, leakage current, which may conventionally be created by etching into shallow doped regions during the contact etch step, may be reduced.

Abstract: By forming a non-oxidizable liner in isolation trenches, the creation of compressive stress may be significantly reduced, wherein, in illustrative embodiments, silicon nitride may be used as liner material. For this purpose, the etch behavior of the silicon nitride may be efficiently modified on the basis of an appropriate surface treatment, thereby providing a high degree of material integrity during a subsequent etch process for removing non-modified portions of silicon nitride, which may also be used as an efficient CMP stop layer.

Abstract: Different types of crystalline semiconductor regions are provided on a single substrate by forming a dielectric region within a first crystalline semiconductor region. Thereafter, a second crystalline region is positioned above the dielectric region by wafer bond techniques. In preferred embodiments, isolation structures may be formed in the first crystalline region along with the dielectric region. In particular, crystalline semiconductor regions of different crystallographic orientations may be formed, wherein a high degree of flexibility and compatibility with currently used CMOS processes is maintained.

Abstract: By performing an anisotropic resist modification prior to the actual resist trimming process, the profile of the end portions of the resist features may be significantly enhanced, for instance by providing substantially vertical sidewall portions. Consequently, an overlap of gate electrodes with the respective isolation structures may be obtained, while nevertheless the probability for a short circuit between opposing end portions of the gate electrodes may be significantly reduced, thereby providing the potential for further scaling down device dimensions.

Abstract: By modifying the dielectric liner for a spacer structure so as to exhibit an enhanced diffusion blocking characteristic, for instance by incorporating nitrogen, the out-diffusion of P-dopants, such as boron, into the dielectric material may be significantly reduced. Consequently, transistor performance, especially of P-type transistors, may be significantly enhanced while nevertheless a high degree of compatibility with conventional techniques may be maintained.

Abstract: By forming a non-oxidizable liner in isolation trenches, the creation of compressive stress may be significantly reduced, wherein, in illustrative embodiments, silicon nitride may be used as liner material. For this purpose, the etch behavior of the silicon nitride may be efficiently modified on the basis of an appropriate surface treatment, thereby providing a high degree of material integrity during a subsequent etch process for removing non-modified portions of silicon nitride, which may also be used as an efficient CMP stop layer.

Abstract: Different types of crystalline semiconductor regions are provided on a single substrate by forming a dielectric region within a first crystalline semiconductor region. Thereafter, a second crystalline region is positioned above the dielectric region by wafer bond techniques. In preferred embodiments, isolation structures may be formed in the first crystalline region along with the dielectric region. In particular, crystalline semiconductor regions of different crystallographic orientations may be formed, wherein a high degree of flexibility and compatibility with currently used CMOS processes is maintained.

Abstract: In a trench isolation structure of a semiconductor device, oxide liners are formed within the trenches, wherein a non-oxidizable mask is employed during various oxidation steps, thereby creating different types of liner oxides and thus different types of corner rounding and thus mechanical stress. Therefore, for a specified type of circuit elements, the characteristics of the corresponding isolation trenches may be tailored to achieve an optimum device performance.

Abstract: A method for forming a reliable and ultra-thin oxide layer, such as a gate oxide layer of an MOS transistor, comprises an annealing step immediately performed prior to oxidizing a substrate. The annealing step is performed in an inert gas ambient to avoid oxidation of the semiconductor surface prior to achieving a required low oxidizing temperature. Preferably, the annealing step and the oxidizing step are carried out as an in situ process, thereby minimizing the thermal budget of the overall process.

Abstract: High-k dielectric spacer elements on the gate electrode of a field effects transistor in combination with an extension region that is formed by dopant diffusion from the high-k spacer elements into the underlying semiconductor region provides for an increased charge carrier density in the extension region. In this way, the limitation of the charge carrier density to approximately the solid solubility of dopants in the extension region may be overcome, thereby allowing extremely shallow extension regions without unduly compromising the transistor performance.

Abstract: According to one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a field effect transistor includes the formation of a doped high-k dielectric layer above a substrate including a gate electrode formed over an active region and separated therefrom by a gate insulation layer. A heat treatment is carried out with the substrate to diffuse dopants from the high-k dielectric layer into the active region to form extension regions. The high-k dielectric layer is patterned to form sidewall spacers at sidewalls of the gate electrode and an implantation process is carried out with the sidewall spacers as implantation mask to form source and drain regions.

Abstract: The polysilicon gate electrode of a MOS transistor may be substantially completely converted into a metal silicide without sacrificing the drain and source junctions in that a thickness of the polysilicon layer, for forming the gate electrode, is targeted to be substantially converted into metal silicide in a subsequent silicidation process. The gate electrode, substantially comprised of metal silicide, offers high conductivity even at critical dimensions in the deep sub-micron range, while at the same time the effect of polysilicon gate depletion is significantly reduced. Manufacturing of the MOS transistor, having the substantially fully-converted metal silicide gate electrode, is essentially compatible with standard MOS process technology.

Abstract: The filling of sub-0.25 &mgr;m trenches with dielectric material may lead to the formation of a void. Typically, the void may be closed by oxidation. When the trench includes non-oxidizable sidewall portions, insufficient closure may result. Therefore, an oxidizable spacer layer is conformally deposited prior to depositing the bulk dielectric, so that the sidewalls of the trench may be oxidized along the entire depth of the trench, thereby allowing the complete closure of the void.