Abstract: In one aspect, a memory cell capacitor is provided. The memory cell capacitor includes a silicon wafer; at least one trench in the silicon wafer; a silicide within the trench that serves as a bottom electrode of the memory cell capacitor, wherein a contact resistance between the bottom electrode and the silicon wafer is from about 1×10?6 ohm-cm2 to about 1×10?9 ohm-cm2; a dielectric in the trench covering the bottom electrode; and a top electrode in the trench separated from the bottom electrode by the dielectric.

Abstract: In one aspect, a memory cell capacitor is provided. The memory cell capacitor includes a silicon wafer; at least one trench in the silicon wafer; a silicide within the trench that serves as a bottom electrode of the memory cell capacitor, wherein a contact resistance between the bottom electrode and the silicon wafer is from about 1×10?6 ohm-cm2 to about 1×10?9 ohm-cm2; a dielectric in the trench covering the bottom electrode; and a top electrode in the trench separated from the bottom electrode by the dielectric.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a memory cell capacitor includes the following steps. At least one trench is formed in a silicon wafer. A thin layer of metal is deposited onto the silicon wafer, lining the trench, using a conformal deposition process under conditions sufficient to cause at least a portion of the metal to self-diffuse into portions of the silicon wafer exposed within the trench forming a metal-semiconductor alloy. The metal is removed from the silicon wafer selective to the metal-semiconductor alloy such that the metal-semiconductor alloy remains. The silicon wafer is annealed to react the metal-semiconductor alloy with the silicon wafer to form a silicide, wherein the silicide serves as a bottom electrode of the memory cell capacitor. A dielectric is deposited into the trench covering the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed in the trench separated from the bottom electrode by the dielectric.

Abstract: A method for formation of a shallow trench isolation (STI) in an active region of a device comprising trench capacitive elements, the trench capacitive elements comprising a metal plate and a high-k dielectric includes etching a STI trench in the active region of the device, wherein the STI trench is directly adjacent to at least one of the metal plate or high-k dielectric of the trench capacitive elements; and forming an oxide liner in the STI trench, wherein the oxide liner is formed selectively to the metal plate or high-k dielectric, wherein forming the oxide liner is performed at a temperature of about 600° C. or less.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a structure including at least one dummy gate region located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric material layer located on sidewalls of the at least one dummy gate region. Next, a portion of the dummy gate region is removed exposing an underlying high k gate dielectric. A sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer is then formed on an upper surface of the high k gate dielectric, and thereafter a gate conductor is formed atop the sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer.

Abstract: Threshold voltage controlled semiconductor structures are provided in which a conformal nitride-containing liner is located on at least exposed sidewalls of a patterned gate dielectric material having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon oxide. The conformal nitride-containing liner is a thin layer that is formed using a low temperature (less than 500° C.) nitridation process.

Abstract: A method for formation of a shallow trench isolation (STI) in an active region of a device comprising trench capacitive elements, the trench capacitive elements comprising a metal plate and a high-k dielectric includes etching a STI trench in the active region of the device, wherein the STI trench is directly adjacent to at least one of the metal plate or high-k dielectric of the trench capacitive elements; and forming an oxide liner in the STI trench, wherein the oxide liner is formed selectively to the metal plate or high-k dielectric, wherein forming the oxide liner is performed at a temperature of about 600° C. or less.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes at least one asymmetric gate stack located on a surface of a semiconductor structure. The at least one asymmetric gate stack includes, from bottom to top, a high k gate dielectric, a sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer and a gate conductor. A method of forming such a semiconductor structure is also provided in which a line of sight deposition process is used in forming the sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer in which the deposition is tilted within respect to a horizontal surface of a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a structure including at least one dummy gate region located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric material layer located on sidewalls of the at least one dummy gate region. Next, a portion of the dummy gate region is removed exposing an underlying high k gate dielectric. A sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer is then formed on an upper surface of the high k gate dielectric, and thereafter a gate conductor is formed atop the sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer.

Abstract: Threshold voltage controlled semiconductor structures are provided in which a conformal nitride-containing liner is located on at least exposed sidewalls of a patterned gate dielectric material having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon oxide. The conformal nitride-containing liner is a thin layer that is formed using a low temperature (less than 500° C.) nitridation process.

Abstract: A method of forming threshold voltage controlled semiconductor structures is provided in which a conformal nitride-containing liner is formed on at least exposed sidewalls of a patterned gate dielectric material having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon oxide. The conformal nitride-containing liner is a thin layer that is formed using a low temperature (less than 500° C.) nitridation process.

Abstract: An opto-thermal annealing method for forming a field effect transistor uses a reflective metal gate so that electrical properties of the metal gate and also interface between the metal gate and a gate dielectric are not compromised when opto-thermal annealing a source/drain region adjacent the metal gate. Another opto-thermal annealing method may be used for simultaneously opto-thermally annealing: (1) a silicon layer and a silicide forming metal layer to form a fully silicided gate; and (2) a source/drain region to form an annealed source/drain region. An additional opto-thermal annealing method may use a thermal insulator layer in conjunction with a thermal absorber layer to selectively opto-thermally anneal a silicon layer and a silicide forming metal layer to form a fully silicide gate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming self-aligned metal silicide contacts over at least two silicon-containing semiconductor regions that are spaced apart from each other by an exposed dielectric region. Preferably, each of the self-aligned metal silicide contacts so formed comprises at least nickel silicide and platinum silicide with a substantially smooth surface, and the exposed dielectric region is essentially free of metal and metal silicide. More preferably, the method comprises the steps of nickel or nickel alloy deposition, low-temperature annealing, nickel etching, high-temperature annealing, and aqua regia etching.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes an asymmetric gate stack located on a surface of high k gate dielectric. The asymmetric gate stack includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a different threshold voltage than the second portion. The first portion of the inventive asymmetric gate stack includes, from bottom to top, a threshold voltage adjusting material and at least a first conductive spacer, while the second portion of the inventive asymmetric gate stack includes at least a second conductive spacer over the gate dielectric. In some embodiments, the second conductive spacer is in direct contact with the underlying high k gate dielectric, while in other embodiments, in which the first and second conductive spacers are comprised of different conductive materials, the base of the second conductive spacer is in direct contact with the threshold adjusting material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes at least one asymmetric gate stack located on a surface of a semiconductor structure. The at least one asymmetric gate stack includes, from bottom to top, a high k gate dielectric, a sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer and a gate conductor. A method of forming such a semiconductor structure is also provided in which a line of sight deposition process is used in forming the sloped threshold voltage adjusting material layer in which the deposition is tilted within respect to a horizontal surface of a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode and silicided source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is used as an implantation mask when forming highly doped portions of the source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is then removed from the sidewall of the gate electrode. A stress-inducing electrically insulating layer, which is configured to induce a net tensile stress (for NMOS transistors) or compressive stress (for PMOS transistors) in a channel region of the field effect transistor, is then formed on the sidewall of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode and silicided source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is used as an implantation mask when forming highly doped portions of the source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is then removed from the sidewall of the gate electrode. A stress-inducing electrically insulating layer, which is configured to induce a net tensile stress (for NMOS transistors) or compressive stress (for PMOS transistors) in a channel region of the field effect transistor, is then formed on the sidewall of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming threshold voltage controlled semiconductor structures is provided in which a conformal nitride-containing liner is formed on at least exposed sidewalls of a patterned gate dielectric material having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon oxide. The conformal nitride-containing liner is a thin layer that is formed using a low temperature (less than 500° C.) nitridation process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming a conductive stud contacting a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a protective layer covering the semiconductor device; selectively etching an opening down through the protective layer reaching a contact area of the semiconductor device, the opening being away from a protected area of the semiconductor device; and filling the opening with a conductive material to form the conductive stud. One embodiment may further include forming a dielectric liner directly on top of the semiconductor device, and forming the protective layer on top of the dielectric liner. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a semiconductor device made thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes an asymmetric gate stack located on a surface of high k gate dielectric. The asymmetric gate stack includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a different threshold voltage than the second portion. The first portion of the inventive asymmetric gate stack includes, from bottom to top, a threshold voltage adjusting material and at least a first conductive spacer, while the second portion of the inventive asymmetric gate stack includes at least a second conductive spacer over the gate dielectric. In some embodiments, the second conductive spacer is in direct contact with the underlying high k gate dielectric, while in other embodiments, in which the first and second conductive spacers are comprised of different conductive materials, the base of the second conductive spacer is in direct contact with the threshold adjusting material.