Abstract: An improved semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate is provided, which contains a patterned buried insulator layer at varying depths. Specifically, the SOI substrate has a substantially planar upper surface and comprises: (1) first regions that do not contain any buried insulator, (2) second regions that contain first portions of the patterned buried insulator layer at a first depth (i.e., measured from the planar upper surface of the SOI substrate), and (3) third regions that contain second portions of the patterned buried insulator layer at a second depth, where the first depth is larger than the second depth. One or more field effect transistors (FETs) can be formed in the SOI substrate. For example, the FETs may comprise: channel regions in the first regions of the SOI substrate, source and drain regions in the second regions of the SOI substrate, and source/drain extension regions in the third regions of the SOI substrate.

Abstract: An SOI layer has an initial trench extending therethrough, prior to deep trench etch. An oxidation step, such as thermal oxidation is performed to form a band of oxide on an inner periphery of the SOI layer to protect it during a subsequent RIE step for forming a deep trench. The initial trench may stop on BOX underlying the SOI. The band of oxide may also protect the SOI during buried plate implant or gas phase doping.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor wafer, forming at least one isolation structure within the semiconductor wafer, and forming at least one feature over the semiconductor wafer. A top portion of the at least one isolation structure is removed, and a liner is formed over the semiconductor wafer, the at least one feature, and the at least one isolation structure. A fill material is formed over the liner. The fill material and the liner are removed from over at least a portion of a top surface of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Methods of forming p-channel MOSFETs use halo-implant steps that are performed relatively early in the fabrication process. These methods include forming a gate electrode having first sidewall spacers thereon, on a semiconductor substrate, and then forming a sacrificial sidewall spacer layer on the gate electrode. A mask layer is then patterned on the gate electrode. The sacrificial sidewall spacer layer is selectively etched to define sacrificial sidewall spacers on the first sidewall spacers, using the patterned mask layer as an etching mask. A PFET halo-implant of dopants is then performed into portions of the semiconductor substrate that extend adjacent the gate electrode, using the sacrificial sidewall spacers as an implant mask. Following this implant step, source and drain region trenches are etched into the semiconductor substrate, on opposite sides of the gate electrode. These source and drain region trenches are then filled by epitaxially growing SiGe source and drain regions therein.

Abstract: Method of patterning a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method involves crystallographic etching techniques to enhance a patterned monocrystalline layer as a hard mask. In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a monocrystalline silicon layer to a non-crystalline protective layer; patterning the monocrystalline layer to form a hard mask; enhancing the pattern of the hard mask; stripping the hard mask after conventional etching of protective layer; and forming a gate oxide thereon. The enhanced patterning of the hard mask is performed with crystallographic etching to replace optical effects of rounding and dimension narrowing at the ends of a defined region with straight edges and sharp corners. A resulting structure from the use of the enhanced patterned hard mask includes a layer of composite materials on the substrate of the semiconductor structure. The layer of composite materials includes different materials in discrete blocks defined by straight edges within the layer.

Abstract: Method of patterning a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method involves crystallographic etching techniques to enhance a patterned monocrystalline layer as a hard mask. In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a monocrystalline silicon layer to a non-crystalline protective layer; patterning the monocrystalline layer to form a hard mask; enhancing the pattern of the hard mask; stripping the hard mask after conventional etching of protective layer; and forming a gate oxide thereon. The enhanced patterning of the hard mask is performed with crystallographic etching to replace optical effects of rounding and dimension narrowing at the ends of a defined region with straight edges and sharp corners. A resulting structure from the use of the enhanced patterned hard mask includes a layer of composite materials on the substrate of the semiconductor structure. The layer of composite materials includes different materials in discrete blocks defined by straight edges within the layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor that incorporates epitaxially deposited source/drain semiconductor films and a method for forming the transistor. A crystallographic etch is used to form recesses between a channel region and trench isolation regions in a silicon substrate. Each recess has a first side, having a first profile, adjacent to the channel region and a second side, having a second profile, adjacent to a trench isolation region. The crystallographic etch ensures that the second profile is angled so that all of the exposed recess surfaces comprise silicon. Thus, the recesses can be filled by epitaxial deposition without divot formation. Additional process steps can be used to ensure that the first side of the recess is formed with a different profile that enhances the desired stress in the channel region.

Abstract: CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) fabrication techniques are provided to form DSL (dual stress liner) semiconductor devices having non-overlapping, self-aligned, dual stress liner structures.

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 is provided of fabricating complementary stressed semiconductor devices, e.g., an NFET having a tensile stressed channel and a PFET having a compressive stressed channel. In such method, a first semiconductor region having a lattice constant larger than silicon can be epitaxially grown on an underlying semiconductor region of a substrate. The first semiconductor region can be grown laterally adjacent to a second semiconductor region which has a lattice constant smaller than that of silicon. Layers consisting essentially of silicon can be grown epitaxially onto exposed major surfaces of the first and second semiconductor regions after which gates can be formed which overlie the epitaxially grown silicon layers. Portions of the first and second semiconductor regions adjacent to the gates can be removed to form recesses. Regions consisting essentially of silicon can be grown within the recesses to form embedded silicon regions. Source and drain regions then can be formed in the embedded silicon regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor that incorporates epitaxially deposited source/drain semiconductor films and a method for forming the transistor. A crystallographic etch is used to form recesses between a channel region and trench isolation regions in a silicon substrate. Each recess has a first side, having a first profile, adjacent to the channel region and a second side, having a second profile, adjacent to a trench isolation region. The crystallographic etch ensures that the second profile is angled so that all of the exposed recess surfaces comprise silicon. Thus, the recesses can be filled by epitaxial deposition without divot formation. Additional process steps can be used to ensure that the first side of the recess is formed with a different profile that enhances the desired stress in the channel region.

Abstract: A method for forming a memory device is provided by first forming at least one trench in a semiconductor substrate. Next, a lower electrode is formed in the at least one trench, and thereafter a conformal dielectric layer is formed on the lower electrode. An upper electrode is then formed on the conformal dielectric layer. The forming of the upper electrode may include a conformal deposition of metal nitride layer, and a non-conformal deposition of an electrically conductive material atop the metal nitride layer, in which the electrically conductive material encloses the at least one trench.

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 node dielectric, an inner electrode, and a buried strap cavity are formed in the deep trench in an SOI substrate. A buried layer contact cavity is formed by lithographic methods. The buried strap cavity and the buried layer contact cavity are filled simultaneously by deposition of a conductive material, which is subsequently planarized to form a buried strap in the deep trench and a buried contact via outside the deep trench. The simultaneous formation of the buried strap and the buried contact via enables formation of a deep trench capacitor in the SOI substrate in an economic and efficient manner.

Abstract: CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) fabrication techniques are provided to form DSL (dual stress liner) semiconductor devices having non-overlapping, self-aligned, dual stress liner structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a tensile and/or compressive strain applied thereto and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices to enhance channel strain. The method includes relaxing a gate structure using a low temperature thermal creep process to enhance channel strain. The gate structure undergoes a plastic deformation during the low temperature thermal creep process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high performance three-dimensional (3D) field effect transistors (FETs). Specifically, a 3D semiconductor structure having a bottom surface oriented along one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes and multiple additional surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes can be used to form a high performance 3D FET with carrier channels oriented along the second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. More importantly, such a 3D semiconductor structure can be readily formed over the same substrate with an additional 3D semiconductor structure having a bottom surface and multiple additional surfaces all oriented along the first set of equivalent crystal planes. The additional 3D semiconductor structure can be used to form an additional 3D FET, which is complementary to the above-described 3D FET and has carrier channels oriented along the first set of equivalent crystal planes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising first and second active device regions that are located in a semiconductor substrate and are isolated from each other by an isolation region therebetween, while the semiconductor device comprises a first conductive interconnect structure that is embedded in the isolation region and connects the first active device region with the second active device region. The semiconductor device preferably contains at least one static random access memory (SRAM) cell located in the semiconductor substrate, and the first conductive interconnect structure cross-connects a pull-down transistor of the SRAM cell with a pull-up transistor thereof. The conductive interconnect preferably comprises doped polysilicon and can be formed by processing steps including photolithographic patterning, etching, and polysilicon deposition.

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 transistor structure includes a first type of transistor (e.g., P-type) positioned in a first area of the substrate, and a second type of transistor (e.g., N-type) positioned in a second area of the substrate. A first type of stressing layer (compressive conformal nitride) is positioned above the first type of transistor and a second type of stressing layer (compressive tensile nitride) is positioned above the second type of transistor. In addition, another first type of stressing layer (compressive oxide) is positioned above the first type of transistor. Further, another second type of stressing layer (compressive oxide) is positioned above the second type of transistor.