Abstract: The invention included to methods of forming CoSi2, methods of forming field effect transistors, and methods of forming conductive contacts. In one implementation, a method of forming CoSi2 includes forming a substantially amorphous layer comprising MSix over a silicon-containing substrate, where “M” comprises at least some metal other than cobalt. A layer comprising cobalt is deposited over the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. The substrate is annealed effective to diffuse cobalt of the cobalt-comprising layer through the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer and combine with silicon of the silicon-containing substrate to form CoSi2 beneath the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a first capacitor electrode over a substrate. A substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer is formed over the first capacitor electrode. The substrate with the substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer is provided within a chemical vapor deposition reactor. Such substrate has an exposed substantially amorphous material. A gaseous precursor comprising silicon is fed to the chemical vapor deposition reactor under conditions effective to substantially selectively deposit polysilicon on the substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer relative to the exposed substantially amorphous material, and the polysilicon is formed into a second capacitor electrode.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices are provided, including semiconductor devices that comprise one or more diffusion region in a semiconductor, the one or more diffusion regions being adjacent to a gate formed adjacent to a surface of the semiconductor (e.g., a semiconductor substrate). The one or more diffusion regions comprise a first width at a depth below the surface of the semiconductor and a second width near the surface of the semiconductor, the second width of at the one or more diffusion regions being less than about 40% greater than the first width.

Abstract: Metal-insulator-metal capacitors with a bottom electrode including at least two portions of a metal nitride material. At least one of the portions of the metal nitride material includes a different material than another portion. Interconnects including at least two portions of a metal nitride material are also disclosed, at least one of the portions of the metal nitride material are formed from a different material than another portion of the metal nitride material. Methods for fabricating such MIM capacitors and interconnects are also disclosed, as are semiconductor devices including such MIM capacitors and interconnects.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.

Abstract: Methods for selectively oxidizing a semiconductor structure include generating a gas cluster ion beam comprising an oxidizing source gas, directing the gas cluster ion beam to a region of a substrate adjacent a conductive line and exposing the region to the gas cluster ion beam including an oxidizing matter. Utilizing the gas cluster ion beam enables selective oxidation of a targeted region at temperatures substantially lower than those of typical oxidation processes thus, reducing or eliminating oxidation of the conductive line. Semiconductor devices including transistors formed using such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for selectively oxidizing a semiconductor structure include generating a gas cluster ion beam comprising an oxidizing source gas, directing the gas cluster ion beam to a region of a substrate adjacent a conductive line and exposing the region to the gas cluster ion beam including an oxidizing matter. Utilizing the gas cluster ion beam enables selective oxidation of a targeted region at temperatures substantially lower than those of typical oxidation processes thus, reducing or eliminating oxidation of the conductive line. Semiconductor devices including transistors formed using such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.

Abstract: Methods for selectively oxidizing a semiconductor structure include generating a gas cluster ion beam comprising an oxidizing source gas, directing the gas cluster ion beam to a region of a substrate adjacent a conductive line and exposing the region to the gas cluster ion beam including an oxidizing matter. Utilizing the gas cluster ion beam enables selective oxidation of a targeted region at temperatures substantially lower than those of typical oxidation processes thus, reducing or eliminating oxidation of the conductive line. Semiconductor devices including transistors formed using such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention described herein reduce contact resistance to a silicon-containing material using a first refractory metal material overlying the silicon-containing material and a second refractory metal material overlying the first refractory metal material. Each refractory metal material is a conductive material containing a refractory metal and an impurity. The first refractory metal material is a metal-rich material, containing a level of its impurity at less than a stoichiometric level. The second refractory metal material has a lower affinity for the impurities than does the first refractory metal material. The second refractory metal material can thus serve as an impurity donor during an anneal or other exposure to heat.

Abstract: The invention includes an electrically conductive line, methods of forming electrically conductive lines, and methods of reducing titanium silicide agglomeration in the fabrication of titanium silicide over polysilicon transistor gate lines. In one implementation, a method of forming an electrically conductive line includes providing a silicon-comprising layer over a substrate. An electrically conductive layer is formed over the silicon-comprising layer. An MSixNy-comprising layer is formed over the electrically conductive layer, where “x” is from 0 to 3.0, “y” is from 0.5 to 10, and “M” is at least one of Ta, Hf, Mo, and W. An MSiz-comprising layer is formed over the MSixNy-comprising layer, where “z” is from 1 to 3.0. A TiSia-comprising layer is formed over the MSiz-comprising layer, where “a” is from 1 to 3.0.

Abstract: The invention included to methods of forming CoSi2, methods of forming field effect transistors, and methods of forming conductive contacts. In one implementation, a method of forming CoSi2 includes forming a substantially amorphous layer comprising MSix over a silicon-containing substrate, where “M” comprises at least some metal other than cobalt. A layer comprising cobalt is deposited over the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. The substrate is annealed effective to diffuse cobalt of the cobalt-comprising layer through the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer and combine with silicon of the silicon-containing substrate to form CoSi2 beneath the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes an electrically conductive line, methods of forming electrically conductive lines, and methods of reducing titanium silicide agglomeration in the fabrication of titanium silicide over polysilicon transistor gate lines. In one implementation, a method of forming an electrically conductive line includes providing a silicon-comprising layer over a substrate. An electrically conductive layer is formed over the silicon-comprising layer. An MSixNy-comprising layer is formed over the electrically conductive layer, where “x” is from 0 to 3.0, “y” is from 0.5 to 10, and “M” is at least one of Ta, Hf, Mo, and W. An MSiz-comprising layer is formed over the MSixNy-comprising layer, where “z” is from 1 to 3.0. A TiSia-comprising layer is formed over the MSiz-comprising layer, where “a” is from 1 to 3.0.

Abstract: The invention included to methods of forming CoSi2, methods of forming field effect transistors, and methods of forming conductive contacts. In one implementation, a method of forming CoSi2 includes forming a substantially amorphous layer comprising MSix over a silicon-containing substrate, where “M” comprises at least some metal other than cobalt. A layer comprising cobalt is deposited over the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. The substrate is annealed effective to diffuse cobalt of the cobalt-comprising layer through the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer and combine with silicon of the silicon-containing substrate to form CoSi2 beneath the substantially amorphous MSix-comprising layer. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a transistor gate with a conductive element that includes cobalt silicide includes use of a sacrificial material as a place-holder between sidewall spacers of the transistor gate until after high temperature processes, such as the fabrication of raised source and drain regions, have been completed. In addition, semiconductor devices (e.g., DRAM devices and NAND flash memory devices) with transistor gates that include cobalt silicide in their conductive elements are also disclosed, as are transistors with raised source and drain regions and cobalt silicide in the transistor gates thereof. Intermediate semiconductor device structures that include transistor gates with sacrificial material or a gap between upper portions of sidewall spacers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a CMOS device, having gates with a high work function in PMOS regions and low work functions in NMOS regions and a method of producing the same. Using nitrogen implantation or plasma annealing, a low work function W (or CoSix)/TaSixNy/GOx/Si gate stack is formed in the NMOS regions while a high work function W (or CoSix)/Ta5Si3/GOx/Si gate stack is formed in the PMOS regions. The improved process also eliminates the need for a nitrided GOx which is known to degrade gm (transconductance) performance. The materials of the semiconductor devices exhibit improved adhesion characteristics to adjacent materials and low internal stress.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming metal silicide having bulk resistance of less than 30 micro-ohms-centimeter. The metal of the metal silicide can be selected from Groups 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, with an exemplary metal being titanium. An exemplary method includes forming a titanium-containing layer directly against tantalum silicide. After the titanium-containing layer is formed directly against the tantalum silicide, titanium of the titanium-containing layer is converted to titanium silicide. Constructions formed in accordance with methodology of the present invention can be incorporated into circuitry associated with semiconductor devices, such as, for example, wordlines and bitlines.

Abstract: An etching method for use in integrated circuit fabrication includes providing a metal nitride layer on a substrate assembly, providing regions of cobalt silicide on first portions of the metal nitride layer, and providing regions of cobalt on second portions of the metal nitride layer. The regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer are removed with at least one solution including a mineral acid and a peroxide. The mineral acid may be selected from the group including HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4, HNO3, and dilute HF (preferably the mineral acid is HCl) and the peroxide may be hydrogen peroxide. Further, the removal of the regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer may include a one step process or a two step process. In the one step process, the regions of cobalt and the second portions of the metal nitride layer are removed with a single solution including the mineral acid and the peroxide.

Abstract: Metal nitride and metal oxynitride extrusions often form on metal silicides. These extrusions can cause short circuits and degrade processing yields. The present invention discloses a method of selectively removing such extrusions. In one embodiment, a novel wet etch comprising an oxidizing agent and a chelating agent selectively removes the extrusions from a wordline in a memory array. In another embodiment, the wet etch includes a base that adjusts the pH of the etch to selectively remove certain extrusions relative to other substances in the wordline. Accordingly, new metal silicide structures can be used to form novel wordlines and other types of integrated circuits.