Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated device is disclosed. A polysilicon gate electrode layer is provided on a substrate. In an embodiment, a treatment is provided on the polysilicon gate electrode layer to introduce species in the gate electrode layer and form an electrically neutralized portion therein. Then, a hard mask layer with limited thickness is applied on the treated polysilicon gate electrode layer. A tilt angle ion implantation is thus performing on the substrate after patterning the hard mask layer and the treated polysilicon gate electrode to from a gate structure.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a raised source and drain structure, in forming a raised region by etching, etching of an island-like semiconductor film which is an active layer is inhibited. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, an insulating film is formed by oxidizing or nitriding the surface of an island-like semiconductor film, a semiconductor film is formed on a region which is a part of the insulating film, a gate electrode is formed over the insulating film, an impurity element imparting one conductivity type is added to the island-like semiconductor film and the semiconductor film using the gate electrode as a mask, the impurity element is activated by heating the island-like semiconductor film and the semiconductor film, and the part of the insulating film between the island-like semiconductor film and the semiconductor film disappears by heating the island-like semiconductor film and the semiconductor film.

Abstract: One inventive aspect is related to a method for isolating structures of a semiconductor material, comprising providing a pattern of the semiconductor material comprising at least one elevated line, defining device regions in the pattern, the device regions each comprising at least said at least one elevated line, and modifying the conductive properties of the semiconductor material outside said device regions, such that the device regions are electrically isolated.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and an NMOS device at a surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the NMOS device comprises a Schottky source/drain extension region. The semiconductor structure further includes a PMOS device at the surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the PMOS device comprises a source/drain extension region comprising only non-metal materials. Schottky source/drain extension regions may be formed for both PMOS and NMOS devices, wherein the Schottky barrier height of the PMOS device is reduced by forming the PMOS device over a semiconductor layer having a low valence band.

Abstract: A strained channel transistor structure and methods of forming a semiconductor device are presented. The transistor structure includes a strained channel region having a first semiconductor material with a first natural lattice constant. A gate dielectric layer overlying the strained channel region, a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer and a source region and drain region oppositely adjacent to the strained channel region are provided. One or both of the source region and drain region include a stressor region having a second semiconductor material with a second natural lattice constant different from the first natural lattice constant. The stressor region has graded concentration of a dopant impurity and/or of a stress inducing molecule.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided in which the gate induced drain leakage is controlled by introducing a workfunction tuning species within selected portions of a pFET such that the gate/SD (source/drain) overlap area of the pFET is tailored towards flatband, yet not affecting the workfunction at the device channel region. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having at least one patterned gate stack located within a pFET device region of the semiconductor substrate. The structure further includes extension regions located within the semiconductor substrate at a footprint of the at least one patterned gate stack. A channel region is also present and is located within the semiconductor substrate beneath the at least one patterned gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a side wall spacer formed on the side surface of a gate electrode formed on the upper side of a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulation film therebetween, extension regions built up on the semiconductor substrate, and source/drain regions formed on the extension regions, wherein a first epitaxial layer is formed so as to fill up portions, cut out at the time of forming the side wall spacer, of the semiconductor substrate, and the extension regions are formed on the first epitaxial layer from a second epitaxial layer of a conduction type opposite to that of the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming first and second gate structures over first and second regions of a substrate, respectively, forming spacers on sidewalls of the first and second gate structures, the spacers being formed of a first material, forming a capping layer over the first and second gate structures, the capping layer being formed of a second material different from the first material, forming a protection layer over the second region to protect the second gate structure, removing the capping layer over the first gate structure; removing the protection layer over the second region, epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material on exposed portions of the substrate in the first region, and removing the capping layer over the second gate structure by an etching process that exhibits an etching selectivity of the second material to the first material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes, forming isolation region having an aspect ratio of 1 or more in a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate insulating film, forming a silicon gate electrode and a silicon resistive element, forming side wall spacers on the gate electrode, heavily doping a first active region with phosphorus and a second active region and the resistive element with p-type impurities by ion implantation, forming salicide block at 500 ° C. or lower, depositing a metal layer covering the salicide block, and selectively forming metal silicide layers. The method may further includes, forming a thick and a thin gate insulating films, and performing implantation of ions of a first conductivity type not penetrating the thick gate insulating film and oblique implantation of ions of the opposite conductivity type penetrating also the thick gate insulating film before the formation of side wall spacers.

Abstract: A non-conformal metal silicide in a transistor of recessed drain and source configuration may provide enhanced efficiency with respect to strain-inducing mechanisms, drain/source resistance and the like. For this purpose, in some cases, an amorphizing implantation process may be performed prior to the silicidation process, while in other cases an anisotropic deposition of the refractory metal may be used.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a CMOS is disclosed. A substrate has a first gate and a second gate. A dielectric layer and a patterned photo-resist layer are formed sequentially on the substrate. After an etching process, the dielectric layer without the photo-resist layer forms a spacer around the first gate, and the dielectric layer with the photo-resist layer forms a block layer on the second gate. The recesses are formed in the substrate of two lateral sides of the first gate. The epitaxial silicon layers are formed in the recesses.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate pattern on the semiconductor substrate such that the gate pattern includes a gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode; forming an etch stop layer and a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and the gate pattern; removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose the etch stop layer; performing an etch-back process on the etch stop layer to expose the sacrificial gate electrode; removing the sacrificial gate electrode to form a trench; forming a metal layer on the semiconductor substrate including the trench; removing portions of the metal layer to expose the dielectric layer; and performing an etch-back process on the metal layer to a predetermined target.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to semiconductor transistor devices and associated fabrication techniques that can be utilized to form silicide contacts having an increased effective size, relative to conventional silicide contacts. A semiconductor device fabricated in accordance with the processes disclosed herein includes a layer of semiconductor material and a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material. A channel region is formed in the layer of semiconductor material, the channel region underlying the gate structure. The semiconductor device also includes source and drain regions in the layer of semiconductor material, wherein the channel region is located between the source and drain regions. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes facet-shaped silicide contact areas overlying the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is further described, comprising the steps of providing a supply of dopant atoms or molecules into an ionization chamber, combining the dopant atoms or molecules into clusters containing a plurality of dopant atoms, ionizing the dopant clusters into dopant cluster ions, extracting and accelerating the dopant cluster ions with an electric field, selecting the desired cluster ion by mass analysis, modifying the final implant energy of the cluster ion through post-analysis ion optics, and implanting the dopant cluster ions into a semiconductor substrate. In general, dopant clusters contain n dopant atoms where n can be 2, 3, 4 or any integer number. This method provides the advantages of increasing the dopant dose rate to n times the implantation current with an equivalent per dopant atom energy of 1/n times the cluster implantation energy.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one capping layer over epitaxial source/drain regions of a PMOS device, forming a stress memorization (SM) layer over the PMOS device including the at least one capping layer and over an adjacent NMOS device, and treating the SM layer formed over the NMOS and PMOS devices to induce tensile stress in a channel region of the NMOS device.

Abstract: A method of transistor formation using a capping layer in complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structures is provided, the method including: depositing a conductive layer over an n-type field effect transistor (nFET) and over a p-type field effect transistor (pFET); depositing a capping layer directly over the conductive layer; etching the capping and conductive layers to form a capped gate conductor to gates of the nFET and pFET, respectively; ion-implanting the nFET transistor with a first dopant; and ion-implanting the pFET transistor with a second dopant, wherein ion-implanting a transistor substantially dopes its source and drain regions, but not its gate region.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor wafer; and forming a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) including implanting the semiconductor wafer using a hot-implantation to form an implanted region in the FinFET. The implanted region comprises a region selected from the group consisting essentially of a lightly doped source and drain region, a pocket region, and a deep source drain region.

Abstract: A single crystal semiconductor substrate including an embrittlement layer is attached to a base substrate with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the single crystal semiconductor layer is separated at the embrittlement layer by heat treatment; accordingly, a single crystal semiconductor layer is fixed over the base substrate. The single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with a laser beam so that the single crystal semiconductor layer is partially melted and then is re-single crystallized, whereby crystal defects are removed. In addition, an island-shaped single crystal semiconductor layer for forming an n-channel transistor is channel-doped using a photomask and then is etched back using the photomask so that the island-shaped single crystal semiconductor layer for forming an n-channel transistor is thinner than the island-shaped single crystal semiconductor layer for forming a p-channel transistor.

Abstract: By selectively modifying the spacer width, for instance, by reducing the spacer width on the basis of implantation masks, an individual adaptation of dopant profiles may be achieved without unduly contributing to the overall process complexity. For example, in sophisticated integrated circuits, the performance of transistors of the same or different conductivity type may be individually adjusted by providing different sidewall spacer widths on the basis of an appropriate masking regime.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed that is able to suppress a short channel effect and improve carrier mobility. In the method, trenches are formed in a silicon substrate corresponding to a source region and a drain region. When epitaxially growing p-type semiconductor mixed crystal layers to fill up the trenches, the surfaces of the trenches are demarcated by facets, and extended portions of the semiconductor mixed crystal layers are formed between bottom surfaces of second side wall insulating films and a surface of the silicon substrate, and extended portion are in contact with a source extension region and a drain extension region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transistor of a semiconductor device comprises: forming a gate in a NMOS region and a PMOS region of a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate; performing an ion implantation process on the NMOS region to form a junction region in the NMOS region; depositing an oxide film on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the gate; removing hydrogen (H) existing in the oxide film and the gate spacer; and removing the oxide film in the PMOS region and performing a ion implantation process on the PMOS region to form a junction region in the PMOS region.

Abstract: After gate insulating films, gate electrodes, and n+ type semiconductor regions and p+ type semiconductor regions for source/drain are formed, a metal film and a barrier film are formed on a semiconductor substrate. And a first heat treatment is performed so as to make the metal film react with the gate electrodes, the n+ type semiconductor region, and the p+ type semiconductor region, thereby forming a metal silicide layer formed of a monosilicide of a metal element forming the metal film. After that, the barrier film and the unreacted metal film are removed, and then a second heat treatment is performed to stabilize the metal silicide layer. The heat treatment temperature is made lower than a temperature at which a lattice size of a disilicide of the metal element and that of the semiconductor substrate become same.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including an active device; forming a drift region in the substrate, the drift region bounded in part by a top surface of the substrate and spaced apart from a source; and forming a drain above the drift region.

Abstract: This method for making complementary p and n MOSFET transistors with Schottky source and drain electrodes controlled by a gate electrode, comprising: making source and drain electrodes from a single silicide for both p and n transistors; segregating first impurities from groups II and III of the periodic table at the interface between the silicide and the channel of the p transistor, the complementary n transistor being masked; and segregating second impurities from groups V and VI of the periodic table, at the interface between the silicide and the channel of the n transistor, and the complementary p transistor being masked.

Abstract: A semiconductor device fabricating method is described. The semiconductor device fabricating method includes providing a substrate. A first gate insulating layer and a second gate insulating layer are formed on the substrate, respectively. A gate layer is blanketly formed. A portion of the gate layer, the first gate insulating layer and the second gate insulating layer are removed to form a first gate, a remaining first gate insulating layer, a second gate and a remaining second gate insulating layer. The remaining first gate insulating layer not covered by the first gate has a first thickness, and the remaining second gate insulating layer not covered by the second gate has a second thickness, wherein a ratio between the first thickness and the second thickness is about 10 to 20. A pair of first spacers and a pair of second spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first gate and the second gate, respectively.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit (IC) and ICs therefrom includes providing a substrate having a semiconductor surface including PMOS regions for PMOS devices and NMOS regions for NMOS devices. A gate stack including a gate electrode layer is formed on a gate dielectric layer in or on both the PMOS regions and the NMOS regions. An n-type doping is used to create n-type wet etch sensitized regions on opposing sides of the gate stack in both the PMOS and said NMOS regions. Wet etching removes the n-type wet etch sensitized regions in (i) at least a portion of said PMOS regions to form a plurality of PMOS source/drain recesses or (ii) in at least a portion of said NMOS regions to form a plurality of NMOS source/drain recesses, or (i) and (ii). At least one of a compressive strain inducing epitaxial layer is formed in the plurality of PMOS source/drain recesses and a tensile strain inducing epitaxial layer is formed in the plurality of NMOS source/drain recesses.

Abstract: A multi-component strain-inducing semiconductor region is described. In an embodiment, formation of such a strain-inducing semiconductor region laterally adjacent to a crystalline substrate results in a uniaxial strain imparted to the crystalline substrate, providing a strained crystalline substrate. In one embodiment, the multi-component strain-inducing material region comprises a first portion and a second portion which are separated by an interface. In a specific embodiment, the concentration of charge-carrier dopant impurity atoms of the two portions are different from one another at the interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide stress optimization during manufacturing of dual embedded epitaxially grown (EPI) semiconductor structures using just two masks, such as nFET and pFET open for embedded epitaxial using SiC and SiGe, and separated halo implantation masks for both horizontal and vertical PC

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal oxide semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming an offset spacer and a disposable spacer around the offset spacer. Then, forming a plurality of epitaxial layers outside the disposable spacer and removing the disposable spacer. In addition, the method includes forming a plurality of source/drain extension areas in the substrate outside the offset spacer and the epitaxial layers. Because the source/drain extension areas are formed after the selective epitaxial growth process, the thermal of the selective epitaxial growth process does not damage the source/drain extension areas.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMOS transistor includes forming strained channels by re-crystallized amorphous polysilicon with the tensile film or the compressive film during annealing. C or Ge ions are optionally used to form solid-phase epitaxy to amplify the stress in the strained channel. Therefore, the charge carrier mobility in a CMOS transistor is improved.

Abstract: A threshold control layer of a second MIS transistor is formed under the same conditions for forming a threshold control layer of a first MIS transistor. LLD regions of the second MIS transistor are formed under the same conditions for forming LDD regions of a third transistor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for preventing channeling of dopants during ion implantation are provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and depositing a sacrificial scattering layer over at least a portion a surface of the substrate, wherein the sacrificial scattering layer includes an amorphous material. The method further includes ion implanting a dopant through the sacrificial scattering layer to within a depth profile in the substrate. Subsequently, the sacrificial scattering layer can be removed such that erosion of the substrate surface is less than one percent of a thickness of the sacrificial scattering layer.

Abstract: A method for selective formation of trenches is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element has a dopant. Second, a wet etching procedure is carried out to selectively form a pair of trenches in the substrate around the second semiconductor element, a first source/drain ion implantation is selectively carried out on the first semiconductor element, or a second source/drain ion implantation is selectively carried out on the second semiconductor element.

Abstract: A method of making a FET includes forming a gate structure (18), then etching cavities on either side. A SiGe layer (22) is then deposited on the substrate (10) in the cavities, followed by an Si layer (24). A selective etch is then carried out to etch away the SiGe (22) except for a part of the layer under the gate structure (18), and oxide (28) is grown to fill the resulting gap. SiGe source and drains are then deposited in the cavities. The oxide (28) can reduce junction leakage current.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a CMOS transistor includes preparing a silicon substrate provided with a first buried layer, a second buried layer and a body, vertically forming device-isolation films inside the body, forming a first-type well inside the body arranged on the first buried layer, and vertically forming a first source and drain region inside the first-type well, forming a second-type well inside the body arranged on the second buried layer, and vertically forming a second source and drain region inside the second-type well, and vertically forming a recessed gate between the first-type well and the second-type well.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a circuit structure is disclosed. The method includes depositing epitaxially a SiGe layer onto both NFET and PFET portions of a Si surface. Blanket disposing a first sequence of layers over the SiGe layer, including a high-k dielectric and a metal, and incorporating this first sequence of layers into the gatestacks and gate insulators of both NFET devices and PFET devices. This first sequence of layers is selected to yield desired device parameter values for the PFET devices. The method further includes removing the gatestack, the gate dielectric, and the SiGe layer, and re-forming the NFET devices by deploying a second sequence of layers that include a second high-k dielectric and a second metal. The second sequence of layers is selected to yield desired device parameter values for the NFET devices. A circuit structure is also disclosed. PFET devices have a gate dielectric with a high-k dielectric, a gatestack with a metal, and a silicide formed over the p-source/drain.

Abstract: A selective stress memorization technique is disclosed in which the creation of tensile strain may be accomplished without additional photolithography steps by using an implantation mask or any other mask required during a standard manufacturing flow, or by providing a patterned cap layer for a strained re-crystallization of respective drain and source areas. In still other aspects, additional anneal steps may be used for selectively creating a crystalline state and a non-crystalline state prior to the re-crystallization on the basis of a cap layer. Thus, enhanced strain may be obtained in one type of transistor while not substantially negatively affecting the other type of transistor without requiring additional photolithography steps.

Abstract: A 3-D (Three Dimensional) inverter having a single gate electrode. The single gate electrode has a first gate dielectric between the gate electrode and a body of a first FET (Field Effect transistor) of a first doping type, the first FET having first source/drain regions in a semiconductor substrate, or in a well in the semiconductor substrate. The single gate electrode has a second gate dielectric between the gate electrode and a body of a second FET of opposite doping to the first FET. Second source/drain regions of the second FET are formed from epitaxial layers grown over the first source/drain regions.

Abstract: A constant distance can be maintained between source/drain regions without providing a gate side wall by forming a gate electrode including an eaves structure, and a uniform dopant concentration is kept within a semiconductor by ion implantation. As a result, a FinFET excellent in element properties and operation properties can be obtained. A field effect transistor, wherein a gate structure body is a protrusion that protrudes toward source and drain regions sides in a channel length direction and has a channel length direction width larger than that of the part adjacent to the insulating film in a gate electrode, and the protrusion includes an eaves structure formed by the protrusion that extends in a gate electrode extending direction on the top surface of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure includes a substrate and a P-type field effect transistor (FET) and an N-type FET disposed adjacent to one another on the substrate. Each FET includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) region, a gate electrode disposed on the SOI region, a source stressor, and a drain stressor disposed across from the source stressor relative to the gate electrode, wherein proximities of the source stressor and the drain stressor to a channel of a respective FET are substantially equal.

Abstract: By selectively applying a stress memorization technique to N-channel transistors, a significant improvement of transistor performance may be achieved. High selectivity in applying the stress memorization approach may be accomplished by substantially maintaining the crystalline state of the P-channel transistors while annealing the N-channel transistors in the presence of an appropriate material layer which may not to be patterned prior to the anneal process, thereby avoiding additional lithography and masking steps.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a plurality of strained metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices that include a semiconductor surface having a first doping type, a gate electrode stack over a portion of the semiconductor surface, and source/drain recesses that extend into the semiconductor surface and are framed by semiconductor surface interface regions on opposing sides of the gate stack. A first epitaxial strained alloy layer (rim) is on the semiconductor surface interface regions, and is doped with the first doping type. A second epitaxial strained alloy layer is on the rim and is doped with a second doping type that is opposite to the first doping type that is used to form source/drain regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure over the substrate, forming a material layer over the substrate and the gate structure, implanting Ge, C, P, F, or B in the material layer, removing portions of the material layer overlying the substrate at either side of the gate structure, forming recesses in the substrate at either side of the gate structure, and depositing a semiconductor material in the recesses by an expitaxy process.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device, where a stress layer is formed over a MOS transistor to put either tensile stress or compressive stress on the channel region. The parameters such as the location and area of the contact hole thru the stress layer are chosen to produce a desired amount of stress to improve device performance. In an example embodiment for a tensile stress layer, the PMOS S/D contact area is larger than the NMOS S/D contact area so the tensile stress on the PMOS channel is less than the tensile stress on the NMOS channel. In an example embodiment for a compressive stress layer, the NMOS contact area is larger than the PMOS contact area so that the compressive stress on the NMOS channel is less than the compressive stress on the PMOS channel.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode are formed in a first area and a second area of a substrate. Non-crystalline regions are formed in the first area of the substrate adjacent the first gate electrode. A layer having a first stress is formed on the substrate and the first and the second gate electrodes. A mask is formed on a first portion of the layer in the first area of the substrate to expose a second portion of the layer in the second area. The second portion is etched to form a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the second gate electrode. The second area of the substrate is partially etched using the mask, the second gate electrode and the sacrificial spacer, to form recesses in the second area of the substrate adjacent the second gate electrode. Patterns having a second stress are formed in the recesses.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed that is able to suppress a short channel effect and improve carrier mobility. In the method, trenches are formed in a silicon substrate corresponding to a source region and a drain region. When epitaxially growing p-type semiconductor mixed crystal layers to fill up the trenches, the surfaces of the trenches are demarcated by facets, and extended portions of the semiconductor mixed crystal layers are formed between bottom surfaces of second side wall insulating films and a surface of the silicon substrate, and extended portion are in contact with a source extension region and a drain extension region.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a semiconductor device including a semiconducting body including a schottky barrier region at a first end of the semiconducting body, a drain dopant region at the second end of the semiconducting body, and a channel positioned between the schottky barrier region and the drain dopant region. The semiconducting device may further include a gate structure overlying the channel of the semiconducting body. Further, a drain contact may be present to the drain dopant region of the semiconducting body, the drain contact being composed of a conductive material and in direct physical contact with a portion of a sidewall of the semiconducting body having a dimension that is less than a thickness of the semiconducting body in which the drain dopant region is positioned.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a PMOS transistor, having localized stressors is provided. Recesses are formed on opposing sides of gate electrodes such that the recesses are offset from the gate electrode by dummy spacers. The recesses are filled with a stress-inducing layer. The dummy recesses are removed and lightly-doped drains are formed. Thereafter, new spacers are formed and the stress-inducing layer is recessed. One or more additional implants may be performed to complete source/drain regions. In an embodiment, the PMOS transistor may be formed on the same substrate as one or more NMOS transistors. Dual etch stop layers may also be formed over the PMOS and/or the NMOS transistors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a first lateral high-voltage MOS transistor and a second lateral high-voltage MOS transistor complimentary thereto on a substrate, wherein the first and second lateral high-voltage MOS transistors each have a conductivity type opposite a drift region, comprising the steps of providing a substrate of a first conductivity type comprising a first active region for the first lateral high-voltage MOS transistor and a second active region for the second lateral high-voltage MOS transistor, and the producing at least one first doping region of the first conductivity type in the first active region and, on the other hand, in the second active region, a drain extension region of the first conductivity type extending from the substrate surface to the interior of the substrate, which allows a simultaneous implantation of doping material in the first and second active regions through respective mask openings of one and the same mask.

Abstract: Performance of P-channel transistors may be enhanced on the basis of an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy by forming a gate electrode structure on the basis of a high-k dielectric material in combination with a metal-containing cap layer in order to obtain an undercut configuration of the gate electrode structure. Consequently, the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be formed on the basis of a sidewall spacer of minimum thickness in order to position the strain-inducing semiconductor material closer to a central area of the channel region.