Abstract: Disclosed herein are various semiconductor devices with dual metal silicide regions and to various methods of making such devices. In one example, the device includes a gate electrode and a plurality of source/drain regions formed in a substrate proximate the gate electrode structure. The device further includes a first metal silicide region formed in each of the source/drain regions, wherein the first metal silicide region has an inner boundary and a second metal silicide region formed in each of the source/drain regions, wherein the second metal silicide region is positioned laterally between the inner boundary of the first metal silicide region and an edge of the gate electrode structure.

Abstract: Processes for preparing a stressed semiconductor wafer and processes for preparing devices including a stressed semiconductor wafer are provided herein. An exemplary process for preparing a stressed semiconductor wafer includes providing a semiconductor wafer of a first material having a first crystalline lattice constant. A stressed crystalline layer of a second material having a different lattice constant from the first material is pseudomorphically formed on a surface of the semiconductor wafer. A first via is etched through the stressed crystalline layer and at least partially into the semiconductor wafer to release stress in the stressed crystalline layer adjacent the first via, thereby transferring stress to the semiconductor wafer and forming a stressed region in the semiconductor wafer. The first via in the semiconductor wafer is filled with a first filler material to impede dissipation of stress in the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having substrate contacts and integrated circuits having substrate contacts are provided. One method includes forming a first trench in a SOI substrate extending through a buried insulating layer to a silicon substrate. A metal silicide region is formed in the silicon substrate exposed by the first trench. A first stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the metal silicide region. A second stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the first stress-inducing layer. An ILD layer of dielectric material is formed overlying the second stress-inducing layer. A second trench is formed extending through the ILD layer and the first and second stress-inducing layers to the metal silicide region. The second trench is filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate. In the method, a first halo implantation is performed on the semiconductor substrate with a first dose of dopant ions to form first halo regions therein. A second halo spacer is formed around the gate stack. Then a second halo implantation is performed on the semiconductor substrate with a second dose of dopant ions to form second halo regions therein.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a sacrificial mandrel above a structure, forming a plurality of first sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the sacrificial mandrel, removing the sacrificial mandrel, forming a plurality of second sidewall spacers on opposite sides of each of the first sidewall spacers, and removing the first sidewall spacers to thereby define a patterned spacer mask layer comprised of the plurality of second sidewall spacers.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, replacement gate approaches may be applied in combination with a process strategy for implementing a strain-inducing semiconductor material, wherein superior proximity of the strain-inducing semiconductor material and/or superior robustness of the replacement gate approach may be achieved by forming the initial gate electrode structures with superior uniformity and providing at least one cavity for implementing the strained channel regions in a very advanced manufacturing stage, i.e., after completing the basic transistor configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming stressed silicon-carbon areas in an NMOS transistor device. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes forming a layer of amorphous carbon above a surface of a semiconducting substrate comprising a plurality of N-doped regions and performing an ion implantation process on the layer of amorphous carbon to dislodge carbon atoms from the layer of amorphous carbon and to drive the dislodged carbon atoms into the N-doped regions in the substrate.

Abstract: In a process strategy for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing phase, a predoped semiconductor material may be used in order to reduce the Schottky barrier between the semiconductor material and the conductive cap material of the gate electrode structures. Due to the substantially uniform material characteristics of the predoped semiconductor material, any patterning-related non-uniformities during the complex patterning process of the gate electrode structures may be reduced. The predoped semiconductor material may be used for gate electrode structures of complementary transistors.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated SOI devices, a substrate diode and a film diode are formed by using one and the same implantation mask for determining the well dopant concentration in the corresponding well regions. Consequently, during the further processing, the well dopant concentration of any transistor elements may be achieved independently from the well regions of the diode in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multiple step implantation process to form source/drain regions in semiconductor devices. In one example, the method involves performing an extension implant process to form extension implant regions in a semiconducting substrate comprising a buried insulation layer, forming a patterned mask layer above the substrate and performing at least two source/drain ion implant processes through the patterned mask layer to form doped source/drain implant regions in the substrate, wherein one of the at least two source/drain ion implant processes is performed with a dopant dose that is less than a dopant dose used in another of the at least two source/drain ion implant processes. In further embodiments, one of the at least two source/drain ion implant processes is performed at an implant energy level that is greater than an implant energy level used in another of the at least two source/drain ion implantation processes.

Abstract: Improved MOSFET devices are obtained by incorporating strain inducing source-drain regions whose closest facing “nose” portions underlying the gate are located at different depths from the device surface. In a preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart source-drain regions may laterally overlap. This close proximity increases the favorable impact of the strain inducing source-drain regions on the carrier mobility in an induced channel region between the source and drain. The source-drain regions are formed by epitaxially refilling asymmetric cavities etched from both sides of the gate. Cavity asymmetry is obtained by forming an initial cavity proximate only one sidewall of the gate and then etching the final spaced-apart source-drain cavities proximate both sidewalls of the gate along predetermined crystallographic directions.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed without full silicidation of the gates and with independent adjustment of silicides in the gates and source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate, forming a nitride cap on the gate, forming a source/drain region on each side of the gate, forming a first silicide in each source/drain region, removing the nitride cap subsequent to the formation of the first silicide, and forming a second silicide in the source/drain regions and in the gate, subsequent to removing the nitride cap. Embodiments include forming the first silicide by forming a first metal layer on the source/drain regions and performing a first RTA, and forming the second silicide by forming a second metal layer on the source/drain regions and on the gate and performing a second RTA.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming an anode and a cathode of a substrate diode by performing angled ion implantation processes. In one example, the method includes performing a first angled ion implantation process to form a first doped region in a bulk layer of an SOI substrate for one of the anode or the diode and, after performing the first angled ion implantation process, performing a second angled ion implantation process to form a second doped region in the bulk layer of the SOI substrate for the other of the anode and the diode, wherein said first and second angled ion implantation process are performed through the same masking layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming device level conductive contacts to improve device performance and various semiconductor devices with such improved deice level contact configurations. In one example, a device disclosed herein includes a first device level conductive contact positioned in a first layer of insulating material, wherein the first device level conductive contact is conductively coupled to a semiconductor device, a second device level conductive contact positioned above and conductively coupled to the first device level contact, wherein the second device level contact is positioned in a second layer of insulating material, and a first wiring layer for the device that is positioned above and conductively coupled to the second device level conductive contact.

Abstract: Storage transistors for flash memory areas in semiconductor devices may be provided on the basis of a self-aligned charge storage region. To this end, a floating spacer element may be provided in some illustrative embodiments, while, in other cases, the charge storage region may be efficiently embedded in the electrode material in a self-aligned manner during a replacement gate approach. Consequently, enhanced bit density may be achieved, since additional sophisticated lithography processes for patterning the charge storage region may no longer be required.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes a semiconducting substrate and a work-function adjusting layer positioned at least partially in the semiconducting substrate, the work-function adjusting layer having a middle section, opposing ends and an end region located proximate each of said opposing ends and a gate electrode positioned above the work-function adjusting layer. Each of the end regions has a maximum thickness that is at least 25% greater than an average thickness of the middle section of the work-function adjusting layer.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated transistors, the channel region may be provided such that the gradient of the band gap energy of the channel material may result in superior charge carrier velocity. For example, a gradient in concentration of germanium, carbon and the like may be implemented along the channel length direction, thereby obtaining higher transistor performance.

Abstract: Improved MOSFET devices are obtained by incorporating strain inducing source-drain regions whose closest facing “nose” portions underlying the gate are located at different depths from the device surface. In a preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart source-drain regions may laterally overlap. This close proximity increases the favorable impact of the strain inducing source-drain regions on the carrier mobility in an induced channel region between the source and drain. The source-drain regions are formed by epitaxially refilling asymmetric cavities etched from both sides of the gate. Cavity asymmetry is obtained by forming an initial cavity proximate only one sidewall of the gate and then etching the final spaced-apart source-drain cavities proximate both sidewalls of the gate along predetermined crystallographic directions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various semiconductor devices with dual metal silicide regions and to various methods of making such devices. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming an upper portion of a source/drain region that is positioned above a surface of a semiconducting substrate, wherein the upper portion of the source/drain region has an upper surface that is positioned above the surface of the substrate by a distance that is at least equal to a target thickness of a metal silicide region to be formed in the upper portion of the source/drain region and forming the metal silicide region in the upper portion of the source/drain region.

Abstract: A substrate diode of an SOI device may be formed on the basis of contact regions in an early manufacturing stage, i.e., prior to patterning gate electrode structures of transistors, thereby imparting superior stability to the sensitive diode regions, such as the PN junction. In some illustrative embodiments, only one additional deposition step may be required compared to conventional strategies, thereby providing a very efficient overall process flow.