Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device having a recess-structured ohmic electrode, in which the resistance is small and variation in the resistance value caused by manufacturing irregularities is small. In the semiconductor device of the present invention, a two-dimensional electron gas layer is formed on the interface between a channel-forming layer and a Schottky layer by electrons supplied from the Schottky layer. The ohmic electrode comprises a plurality of side faces in ohmic contact with the two-dimensional electron gas layer. At least a part of side faces of the ohmic electrodes are non-parallel to a channel width direction. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side faces have a saw tooth form or a comb tooth form. Since the contact area between the ohmic electrode and the two-dimensional electron gas layer is increased, ohmic resistance is reduced.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which can prevent leakage current caused by gate electrodes intersecting element isolation layers in a major axis of an active region, and which further has vertical channels to provide a sufficient overlap margin, and a semiconductor device manufactured using the above method. The device includes gate electrodes formed on element isolation layers that are disposed between active regions and have top surfaces that are higher than the top surfaces of the active regions. Since the gate electrodes are formed on the element isolation layers, leakage current in a semiconductor substrate is prevented. In addition, the gate electrodes are formed using a striped shape mask pattern, thereby obtaining a sufficient overlap margin compared to a contact shape or bar shape pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first well formed in a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate, a second well formed in a predetermined region in the first well, and a third well formed in the first well with the third well being spaced apart from the second well at a predetermined distance. A multiple well of the semiconductor substrate, the first well, the second well, the first well, and the third well, which are sequentially disposed, is formed. Accordingly, a breakdown voltage can be increased and a leakage current can be reduced. It is therefore possible to prevent the drop of an erase voltage and to reduce the error of an erase operation.

Abstract: Edges of source and drain regions along the direction of a channel of a field effect transistor are formed within an active area offset from the boundary between the active area and a shallow trench isolation structure. Such a structure may be manufactured by forming a gate electrode structure that overlies the boundary so that edges of the source and drain regions are self aligned to the edges of the gate electrode structure on the active area side of the boundary. Unnecessary portions of the gate electrode that does not overlie the source and drain regions may be removed to reduce parasitic capacitance. Shallow trench isolation edge current is eliminated since the semiconductor regions in the current path of the field effect transistor are offset from the boundary between the active area and the shallow trench isolation structure.

Abstract: Methods and structures for relieving stresses in stressed semiconductor liners. A stress liner that enhances performance of either an NFET or a PFET is deposited over a semiconductor to cover the NFET and PFET. A disposable layer is deposited to entirely cover the stress liner, NFET and PFET. This disposable layer is selectively recessed to expose only the single stress liner over a gate of the NFET or PFET that is not enhanced by such stress liner, and then this exposed liner is removed to expose a top of such gate. Remaining portions of the disposable layer are removed, thereby enhancing performance of either the NFET or PFET, while avoiding degradation of the NFET or PFET not enhanced by the stress liner. The single stress liner is a tensile stress liner for enhancing performance of the NFET, or it is a compressive stress liner for enhancing performance of the PFET.

Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises forming a gate electrode above an SOI substrate comprised of a bulk substrate, a buried insulation layer and an active layer, the gate electrode having a protective layer formed thereabove, and forming a plurality of dielectric regions in the bulk substrate after the gate electrode is formed, the dielectric regions being self-aligned with respect to the gate electrode, the dielectric regions having a dielectric constant that is less than a dielectric constant of the bulk substrate.

Abstract: A unit cell of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is provided including an integrated circuit substrate and a MOS transistor on the integrated circuit substrate. The MOS transistor has a source region, a drain region and a gate. The gate is between the source region and the drain region. First and second spaced apart buffer regions are provided beneath the source region and the drain region and between respective ones of the source region and integrated circuit substrate and the drain region and the integrated circuit substrate.

Abstract: A field-effect transistor (FET) with local source-drain insulation is described. The FET includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain depressions, a depression insulation layer, an electrically conductive filling layer, a gate dielectric, and a gate layer. The depression insulation layer is formed at least in bottom regions of the source and drain depressions. The electrically conductive filling layer realizes source and drain regions and fills the source and drain depressions at a surface of the depression insulation layer. The gate dielectric is formed at a substrate surface between the source and drain depressions. The gate layer (is formed at a surface of the gate dielectric. The source and drain depressions have, in an upper region, a widening with a predetermined death for realizing defined channel connection regions.

Abstract: A process of making a strained silicon-on-insulator structure is disclosed. A recess is formed in a substrate to laterally isolate an active area. An undercutting etch forms a bubble recess under the active area to partially vertically isolate the active area. A thermal oxidation completes the vertical isolation by use of a minifield oxidation process. The recess is filled to form a shallow trench isolation structure. An active device is also disclosed that is achieved by the process. A system is also disclosed that uses the active device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device isolation structure having a grounded conductive layer to define an active region, and a gate formed over the active region and the device isolation structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an active region formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a field region adjacent to the active region, which is able to increase a width of the active region through use of a field recess portion at one surface side of the field region. The field recess portion may be laterally adjacent to a portion of the active region, thereby resulting in an increase of a width of the active region. A gate insulating film and a gate electrode may be formed on the field region and the active region, the gate insulating film and the gate electrode being formed in the field recess portion. The width of the active region may be a channel width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of device regions and a device isolation region defining the device regions, and a semiconductor element located in a major surface of the semiconductor substrate and formed in at least one of the device regions. The device isolation region has a DTI (deep trench isolation) structure and has a bottom exposed to a backside of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having multi-gate insulation layers and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby are provided. The method includes forming a pad insulation layer and an initial high voltage gate insulation layer on a first region and a second region of a semiconductor substrate respectively. The initial high voltage gate insulation layer is formed to be thicker than the pad insulation layer. A first isolation layer that penetrates the pad insulation layer and is buried in the semiconductor substrate is formed to define a first active region in the first region, and a second isolation layer that penetrates the initial high voltage gate insulation layer and is buried in the semiconductor substrate is formed to define a second active region in the second region. The pad insulation layer is then removed to expose the first active region. A low voltage gate insulation layer is formed on the exposed first active region.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a non-volatile memory area including gate electrodes, each including stack of a floating gate, an inter-electrode insulating film and a control gate, and having first insulating side walls formed on side walls of the gate electrode; a peripheral circuit area including single-layer gate electrodes made of the same layer as the control gate; and a first border area including: a first isolation region formed in the semiconductor substrate for isolating the non-volatile memory area and peripheral circuit area; a first conductive pattern including a portion made of the same layer as the control gate and formed above the isolation region; and a first redundant insulating side wall made of the same layer as the first insulating side wall and formed on the side wall of the first conductive pattern on the side of the non-volatile memory area.

Abstract: An isolation structure of a semiconductor device is formed by forming a hard mask layer on a semiconductor substrate having active and field regions to expose the field region. A trench is defined by etching the exposed field region of the semiconductor substrate using the hard mask as an etch mask. An SOG layer is formed in the trench partially filling the trench. An amorphous aluminum oxide layer is formed on the resultant substrate including the SOG layer. An HDP layer is formed on the amorphous aluminum oxide layer to completely fill the trench. The HDP layer and the amorphous aluminum oxide layer are subjected to CMP to expose the hard mask. The hard mask and portions of the amorphous aluminum oxide layer that are formed on the HDP layer are removed. The amorphous aluminum oxide layer is crystallized.

Abstract: A storage apparatus 10 is disclosed, that comprises a wiring substrate 11 having a first surface and a second surface, a flat type external connection terminal 12a disposed on the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, a semiconductor device 14 disposed on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11 and having a connection terminal 14a connected to the flat type external connection terminal 12a, a molding resin 15 for coating the semiconductor device 14 on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11, a card type supporting frame 10a having a concave portion or a hole portion fitting the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, and the molding resin 15 in such a manner that the flat type external connection terminal 12a is exposed to the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, and adhesive resin a adhering integrally the flat type external connection terminal 12a, the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, the molding resin 15, and the card type supporting frame 10a.

Abstract: Multi-bit nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of manufacturing the same are described. In some multi-bit nonvolatile memory devices, a semiconductor substrate has a recessed region defined therein. An insulating layer, which can include an ONO layer, is configured to store data within programming regions therein, and covers a sidewall and a lower surface of the recess region. A gate electrode is on the insulating layer in the recessed region. At least one pair of impurity regions are in the semiconductor substrate. The impurity regions adjoin a side surface of the insulating layer in the recess region and form a relative angle that is less than 120° therebetween with respect to a center of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor power transistor includes a drift region of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type in the drift region such that the well region and the drift region form a pn junction therebetween. A first highly doped silicon region of the first conductivity type is in the well region, and a second highly doped silicon region is in the drift region. The second highly doped silicon region is laterally spaced from the well region such that upon biasing the transistor in a conducting state, a current flows laterally between first and second highly doped silicon regions through the drift region. Each of a plurality of trenches extending into the drift region perpendicular to the current flow includes a dielectric layer lining at least a portion of the trench sidewalls and at least one conductive electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation region formed in the substrate including trenches formed at a first depth and being filled with an element isolation insulating film; an element forming region formed on the substrate and being surrounded by the trenches; a gate electrode formed along a first direction on the element forming region via a gate insulating film, the gate electrode extending over the element insulating film filled the trenches extending along a second direction; a source/drain region having a second depth less than the first depth formed in the element forming region beside the gate electrode and having an exposed surface exposed to a trench sidewall; wherein the upper surface of the element isolation insulating film exclusive of a portion underlying the gate electrode is located at a third depth greater than the second depth and less than the first depth.

Abstract: A FET structure is provided in which at least one stressor element provided at or near one corner of an active semiconductor region applies a stress in a first direction to one side of a channel region of the FET to apply a torsional stress to the channel region of the FET. In a particular embodiment, a second stressor element is provided at or near an opposite corner of the active semiconductor region to apply a stress in a second direction to an opposite side of a channel region of the FET, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. In this way, the first and second stressor elements cooperate together in applying a torsional stress to the channel region of the FET.

Abstract: A method for forming a contact hole, a method for manufacturing a circuit board and a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device that increase the reliability of electrical coupling via a conductive part and prevent wire-breaking due to projections when forming a contact hole in an interlayer film by using a needle, and burying a conductive material in the contact hole is provided.

Abstract: In the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including: element isolation regions formed in a state of being buried in a semiconductor substrate such that an element formation region of the semiconductor substrate is interposed between the element isolation regions; a gate electrode formed on the element formation region with an gate insulating film interposed between the gate electrode and the element formation region, the gate electrode being formed so as to cross the element formation region; and source-drain regions formed in the element formation region on both sides of the gate electrode, wherein a channel region made of the element formation region under the gate electrode is formed so as to project from the element isolation regions, and the source-drain regions are formed to a position deeper than surfaces of the element isolation regions.

Abstract: Methods to form contact openings and allow the formation of self-aligned contacts for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices are described. During formation of a multi-layered resist, a hard mask material is introduced beneath an anti-reflective coating to be used as an etch stop layer. The multi-layered resist is patterned and etched, to transfer the desired contact pattern to a substrate material, such as a silicon substrate, to form contact openings therein. The contact openings provide for the formation of self-aligned contacts therein.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a multi-channel and a method of fabricating the same. In an aspect, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which isolation layers are formed, a plurality of trenches formed within an active region of the semiconductor substrate, and a channel active region configured to connect opposite sidewalls within each trench region and having a surface used as a channel region.

Abstract: A method of diverting void diffusion in an integrated circuit includes steps of forming an electrical conductor having a boundary in a first electrically conductive layer of an integrated circuit, forming a via inside the boundary of the electrical conductor in a dielectric layer between the first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer of the integrated circuit, and forming a slot between the via and the boundary of the electrical conductor for diverting void diffusion in the electrical conductor away from the via.

Abstract: A method for producing a gate head which can be precisely scaled and for reducing parasitic capacities, for a semiconductor component comprising an at least approximately T-shaped electrode.

Abstract: A transistor device includes a recess in a surface of semiconductor substrate, a gate insulation layer formed over an inner side of the recess, a gate conductor filling the recess in which the gate insulation layer is formed, and source and drain regions located over the substrate adjacent the recess. Among the advantages: the gate structure lowers overall gate resistance and reduces the short channel effect.

Abstract: A method of forming an isolation layer of a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate insulating layer and a conductive layer on an active area of a semiconductor substrate; forming a spacer layer on side walls of the conductive layer; forming a trench on the semiconductor substrate between the spacer layer-covered side walls; removing the spacer layer to form a step on an upper edge of the trench; and forming a liner insulating layer on the trench. The method makes it possible to solve problems caused by impurities present in material with which the trench is gap-filled or present in etchants used in an etch-back process.

Abstract: A storage apparatus 10 is disclosed, that comprises a wiring substrate 11 having a first surface and a second surface, a flat type external connection terminal 12a disposed on the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, a semiconductor device 14 disposed on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11 and having a connection terminal 14a connected to the flat type external connection terminal 12a, a molding resin 15 for coating the semiconductor device 14 on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11, a card type supporting frame 10a having a concave portion or a hole portion fitting the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, and the molding resin 15 in such a manner that the flat type external connection terminal 12a is exposed to the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, and adhesive resin a adhering integrally the flat type external connection terminal 12a, the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, the molding resin 15, and the card type supporting frame 10a.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a plurality of lower electrodes covering the entire surfaces of a plurality of trenches formed in a first interlayer insulating film, a capacitive insulating film covering the entire surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode covering the surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes from above with the capacitive insulating film interposed between the upper electrode and the plurality of lower electrodes. The upper electrode is formed with a stress-relieving part, such as a crack, a notch or a recess.

Abstract: A storage apparatus 10 is disclosed, that comprises a wiring substrate 11 having a first surface and a second surface, a flat type external connection terminal 12a disposed on the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, a semiconductor device 14 disposed on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11 and having a connection terminal 14a connected to the flat type external connection terminal 12a, a molding resin 15 for coating the semiconductor device 14 on the second surface of the wiring substrate 11, a card type supporting frame 10a having a concave portion or a hole portion fitting the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, and the molding resin 15 in such a manner that the flat type external connection terminal 12a is exposed to the first surface of the wiring substrate 11, and adhesive resin a adhering integrally the flat type external connection terminal 12a, the wiring substrate 11, the semiconductor device 14, the molding resin 15, and the card type supporting frame 10a.

Abstract: An MOS device comprising a gate dielectric formed on a first conductivity type region. A gate electrode formed on the gate dielectric. A pair of sidewall spacers are formed along laterally opposite sidewalls of the gate electrode. A pair of deposited silicon or silicon alloy source/drain regions are formed in the first conductivity region and on opposite sides of a gate electrode wherein the silicon or silicon alloy source/drain regions extend beneath the gate electrode and to define a channel region beneath the gate electrode in the first conductivity type region wherein the channel region directly beneath the gate electrode is larger than the channel region deeper into said first conductivity type region.

Abstract: A process of making a strained silicon-on-insulator structure is disclosed. A recess is formed in a substrate to laterally isolate an active area. An undercutting etch forms a bubble recess under the active area to partially vertically isolate the active area. A thermal oxidation completes the vertical isolation by use of a minifield oxidation process. The recess is filled to form a shallow trench isolation structure. An active device is also disclosed that is achieved by the process. A system is also disclosed that uses the active device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redirecting void diffusion away from vias in an integrated circuit design includes steps of forming an electrical conductor in a first electrically conductive layer of an integrated circuit design, forming a via between a distal end of the electrical conductor and a second electrically conductive layer of the integrated circuit design, and reducing tensile stress in the electrical conductor to divert void diffusion away from the via.

Abstract: A word line structure with a single-sided partially recessed gate structure. The word line structure includes a gate structure, a first gate spacer, and a second gate spacer. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a first gate layer, a second gate layer, and a gate capping layer and has a recess region adjacent to one of opposing sidewalls of the second gate layer. The first gate spacer is disposed over opposing sidewalls of the gate dielectric layer and the first gate layer. The second gate spacer is disposed over opposing sidewalls of the gate structure and covers the first gate spacer. A method for forming a word line structure with a single-sided partially recessed gate structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a transistor including a bulb-type recess channel includes forming a bulb-type recess pattern in a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer over the substrate and the bulb-type recess pattern, forming a first gate conductive layer over the gate insulating layer, forming a void movement blocking layer over the first gate conductive layer in the bulb-type recess pattern, and forming a second gate conductive layer over the void movement blocking layer and the first gate conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, including: a semiconductor material; a conductive element; and a substantially monocrystalline insulator disposed between the semiconductor material and the conductive element and substantially lattice matched to the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A method of producing an element separation structure includes the steps of: forming a first thermal oxide film on the substrate; forming a silicon nitride film on the first thermal oxide film; removing the first thermal oxide film and the silicon nitride film in an element separation structure forming region; forming a groove portion in the element separation structure forming region; forming a groove portion oxide film in the groove portion; forming a pre-filling oxide film for filling the groove portion; removing the pre-filling oxide film; forming a resist layer on the silicon nitride film and the pre-filling oxide film; forming a resist mask on the element separation structure forming region; removing the silicon nitride film and the first thermal oxide film; forming a second thermal oxide film on the substrate; and removing the second thermal oxide film and leveling the pre-filling oxide film to form a filling portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is provided on which a plurality of shallow trench isolations (STI) defining a plurality of active areas are formed. The active areas comprise a photo sensing region, and a plurality of photodiodes are formed in each photo sensing region. Then a local oxidation of silicon isolation (LOCOS) layer is formed by performing a LOCOS process. Thereafter a plurality of gates are respectively formed in each active area, where the gates partially overlap the LOCOS layer. Finally doped regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate where the gate does not cover the LOCOS layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of active regions separated from each other by element isolation regions formed on the semiconductor substrate; gate oxide films formed on the active regions; gate electrodes formed on the gate oxide films; side wall insulation films formed on side surfaces of the gate electrodes; recessed parts formed in exposed surfaces of the active regions excluding regions that are covered by the gate electrodes and the side wall insulation films; dam insulation films provided to a periphery of the recessed parts; and silicon epitaxial layers formed within the recessed parts.

Abstract: After an isolation region is formed using a field-forming silicon nitride film, this silicon nitride film is patterned, thereby a gate trench is formed. Next, a gate electrode material is buried into the gate trench, and this is etched back. Thereafter, the silicon nitride is removed, thereby a contact hole is formed. A contact plug is buried into this contact hole. With this arrangement, the contact plug can be formed without using a diffusion layer contact pattern. At the same time, the periphery of the contact plug substantially coincides with a boundary between the element isolation region and the active region. Accordingly, the active region can be reduced.

Abstract: Integrated circuit field effect transistors include a substrate, an isolation region in the substrate that defines an active region in the substrate, spaced apart source/drain regions in the active region, a channel region in the active region between the spaced apart source/drain regions and an insulated gate on the channel region. A differential mechanical stress-producing region is configured to produce different mechanical stress in the channel region adjacent the isolation region compared to remote from the isolation region. The differential mechanical stress-producing region may be formed using patterned stress management films, patterned stress-changing implants and/or patterned silicide films, and can reduce undesired comer effects. Related fabrication methods also are described.

Abstract: In a signal processing apparatus for transmitting or processing a signal, a substrate has a recessed portion in a surface of the substrate, a first interconnecting conductor is on the substrate, including at least the recessed portion of the substrate, and a dielectric support film is on the substrate opposite the recessed portion of the substrate with an air space between the dielectric support film and the substrate. A second interconnecting conductor is on a part of a surface of the dielectric support film. The apparatus has a simple structure and reduced transmission loss and can be made in a simple manufacturing process.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device whose gate structure of a transistor other than a memory cell transistor has a same stacked gate structure as the memory cell transistor, the gate structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation film provided on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive film provided on the first insulation film, a second insulation film, provided on the first conductive film, having an opening, a spacer provided on the second insulation film to define the opening, and a second conductive film provided on the spacer and electrically connected to the first conductive film via the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a quantum wire gate device. The method includes patterning a first oxide upon a substrate. Preferably the first oxide pattern is precisely and uniformly spaced to maximize quantum wire numbers per unit area. The method continues by forming a first nitride spacer mask upon the first oxide and by forming a first oxide spacer mask upon the first nitride spacer mask. Thereafter, the method continues by forming a second nitride spacer mask upon the first oxide spacer mask and by forming a plurality of channels in the substrate that are aligned to the second nitride spacer mask. A dielectric is formed upon the channel length and the method continues by forming a gate layer over the plurality of channels. Because of the inventive method and the starting scale, each of the plurality of channels is narrower than the mean free path of semiconductive electron flow therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented that provides performance enhancement in a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, a first current region (64, 76, 23), a channel region and a second current region (75, 33, 66) are adjacent each other. The second current region (75, 33, 66) has a content of a first element of an alloy greater than a content of the first element in the first current region (64, 76, 23), wherein the second current region (75, 33, 66) has a content of the first element greater than a content of the first element in the channel region, the alloy further comprises a second element, the first element has a first valence number, and the second element has a second valence number. Furthermore, the sum of the first valence number and the second valence number is eight.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell structure that is capable of holding two data bits. The structure includes a trench in a substrate with two sides of the trench being lined with a trapping material. The trench is filled with an oxide dielectric material and a control gate is formed over the oxide-filled trench. Source/drain regions are adjacent the trench sides with the trapping material. An energy barrier between the drain and source regions has two local high points that correspond to the trench corners. To read the device, sufficient gate voltage is applied to invert the channel and a sufficient drain voltage is applied to pull down the drain-side barrier. If charges of opposite polarity are trapped in the source-side trench corner, the source barrier will be significantly lowered so that current flows between source and drain under read conditions.

Abstract: In device isolation trenches, a first device-isolation insulator film is formed to have recesses thereon and a second device-isolation insulator film is formed in the recesses. The uppermost portions at both ends of the first device-isolation insulator film are located higher than the uppermost portions at both ends of the second device-isolation insulator film.

Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic structure and its associated structures is described. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided with a sacrificial layer disposed on a hard mask layer, and a metal layer disposed in a trench of the substrate and on the sacrificial layer. The metal layer is then removed at a first removal rate wherein a dishing is induced on a top surface of the metal layer until the sacrificial layer is exposed, and simultaneously removing the metal layer and the sacrificial layer at a second removal rate without substantially removing the hard mask.

Abstract: Semiconductor fabrication methods and structures, devices and integrated circuits characterized by enhanced operating performance. The structures generally include first and second source/drain regions formed in a body of a semiconductor material and a channel region defined in the body between the first and second source/drain regions. Disposed in at least one of the first and second source/drain regions are a plurality of plugs each formed from a volume-expanded material that transfers compressive stress to the channel region. The compressively strained channel region may be useful, for example, for improving the operating performance of p-channel field effect transistors (PFET's).