Abstract: To improve productivity and performance of a CMISFET including a high-dielectric-constant gate insulating film and a metal gate electrode. An Hf-containing insulating film for a gate insulating film is formed over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate. A metal nitride film is formed on the insulating film. The metal nitride film in an nMIS formation region where an n-channel MISFET is to be formed is selectively removed by wet etching using a photoresist pattern on the metal nitride films a mask. Then, a threshold adjustment film containing a rare-earth element is formed. The Hf-containing insulating film in the nMIS formation region reacts with the threshold adjustment film by heat treatment. The Hf-containing insulating film in a pMIS formation region where a p-channel MISFET is to be formed does not react with the threshold adjustment film because of the existence of the metal nitride film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same includes forming a poly-gate including a first poly-gate portion and a second poly-gate portion on and/or over a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench having a predetermined depth in the poly-gate, implanting dopant ions into the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate and the poly-gate including the trench, forming a contact barrier layer to cover a portion of the poly-gate including the trench while exposing an upper surface of the remaining portion of the poly-gate on which a contact will be formed, and forming a contact on the exposed upper surface of the poly-gate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a salicide process, which includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a silicon substrate including a PMOS region and an NMOS region; forming a first silicon pattern in the NMOS region and a second silicon pattern in the PMOS region; forming a first metal layer that is in contact with the first silicon pattern and the exposed first portion of the silicon substrate; and forming a first gate, a first junction, a second gate, and a second junction by performing a heat treatment to silicify the respective first and second silicon patterns and the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and system for a hybrid metal fully silicided (FUSI) gate structure is disclosed. The semiconductor system comprises a PMOS gate structure, the PMOS gate structure including a first high-? dielectric layer, a P-metal layer, a mid-gap metal layer, wherein the mid-gap metal layer is formed between the high-? dielectric layer, the P-metal layer and a fully silicided layer formed on the P-metal layer. The semiconductor system further comprises an NMOS gate structure, the NMOS gate structure includes a second high-? dielectric layer, the fully silicided layer, and the mid-gap metal layer, wherein the mid-gap metal layer is formed between the high-? dielectric and the fully silicided layer.

Abstract: A method for removing hard masks on gates in a semiconductor manufacturing process is conducted as follows. First of all, a first gate and a second gate with hard masks are formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the second gate is larger than the first gate. The first gate and second gate could be associated with silicon-germanium (SiGe) source and drain regions to form p-type transistors. Next, a photoresist layer is deposited, and an opening of the photoresist layer is formed on the hard mask of the second gate. Then, the photoresist layer on the first and second gates is removed completely by etching back. Because there is no photoresist residue, the hard masks on the first and second gates can be removed completely afterwards.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device that has at least one high aspect ratio gate structure with a void-free and seam-free metal gate conductor layer positioned on top of a relatively thin high-k gate dielectric layer. These method embodiments incorporate a gate replacement strategy that uses an electroplating process to fill, from the bottom upward, a high-aspect ratio gate stack opening with a metal gate conductor layer. The source of electrons for the electroplating process is a current passed directly through the back side of the substrate. This eliminates the need for a seed layer and ensures that the metal gate conductor layer will be formed without voids or seams. Furthermore, depending upon the embodiment, the electroplating process is performed under illumination to enhance electron flow to a given area (i.e., to enhance plating) or in darkness to prevent electron flow to a given area (i.e., to prevent plating).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for fabricating single metal gate electrodes (35, 36) over a high-k gate dielectric layer (31, 32) that is separately doped in the PMOS and NMOS device areas (96, 97) by forming first capping oxide layer (23) with a first dopant species on a high-k gate dielectric layer (22) in at least the NMOS device area and also forming second capping oxide layer (27) with a second dopant species on a high-k gate dielectric layer (22) in at least the PMOS device area, where the first and second dopant species are diffused into the gate dielectric layer (22) to form a first fixed charge layer (31) in the PMOS device area of the high-k gate dielectric area and a second fixed charge layer (32) in the NMOS device area of the high-k gate dielectric area.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate insulation layer is formed on a substrate including a first channel of a first conductive type and a second channel of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. A first conductive layer including a first metal is formed on the gate insulation layer, and a second conductive layer including a second metal different from the first metal is formed on the first conductive layer formed over the second channel. The second conductive layer is partially removed by a wet etching process to form a second conductive layer pattern over the second channel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistor includes: forming a semiconductor layer in which an n-MOS transistor region and a p-MOS transistor region are defined; forming an insulation layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a conductive layer on the insulation layer; forming a mask pattern exposing the n-MOS transistor region, on the conductive layer; generating a damage region in an upper portion of the conductive layer by implanting impurities in the conductive layer of the n-MOS transistor region using the mask pattern as a mask; removing the mask pattern; removing the damage region; and patterning the conductive layer to form an n-MOS transistor gate and a p-MOS transistor gate. Accordingly, gate thinning and formation of a step between the n-MOS transistor region gate and the p-MOS transistor region gate can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor device is disclosed. A gate dielectric layer is formed on an active area of a substrate. A gate electrode is patterned on the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode has vertical sidewalls and a top surface. A liner is formed on the vertical sidewalls of the gate electrode. A nitride spacer is formed on the liner. An ion implanted is performed to form a source/drain region. After salicide process, an STI region that isolates the active area is recessed, thereby forming a step height at interface between the active area and the STI region. The nitride spacer is removed. A nitride cap layer that borders the liner is deposited. The nitride cap layer has a specific stress status.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided, in which metal transistor replacement gates are provided for CMOS transistors. The process provides dual or differentiated work function capability (e.g., for PMOS and NMOS transistors) in CMOS processes.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices with transistors having different gate dielectric materials and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor device including a workpiece, the workpiece including a first region and a second region proximate the first region. A first transistor is disposed in the first region of the workpiece, the first transistor having at least two first gate electrodes. A first gate dielectric is disposed proximate each of the at least two first gate electrodes, the first gate dielectric comprising a first material. A second transistor is disposed in the second region of the workpiece, the second transistor having at least two second gate electrodes. A second gate dielectric is disposed proximate each of the at least two second gate electrodes, the second gate dielectric comprising a second material. The second material is different than the first material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and a process sequence in which a semiconductor alloy, such as silicon/germanium, may be formed in an early manufacturing stage, wherein other performance-increasing mechanisms, such as a recessed drain and source configuration, possibly in combination with high-k dielectrics and metal gates, may be incorporated in an efficient manner while still maintaining a high degree of compatibility with conventional process techniques.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a dummy pattern for improving micro-loading effects. The device comprises an active region in a substrate and an isolation region in the substrate adjacent the active region. A plurality of dummy patterns are formed over the isolation region, wherein each dummy pattern is aligned parallel to and lengthwise dimension of the active region. The dummy patterns may have non-uniform spacing or non-uniform aspect ratios. The dummy pattern may have, in plan view, a rectangular shape, wherein its length is greater than the lengthwise dimension of the active region. The spacing between the dummy pattern and the active region may be less than about 1500 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a method that includes forming first and second gate structures in first and second regions, respectively, the first gate structure including a first hard mask layer having a first thickness and the second gate structure including a second hard mask layer having a second thickness less than the first thickness, removing the second hard mask layer from the second gate structure, forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the first and second gate structures, performing a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), remove the silicon layer from the second gate structure thereby forming a first trench, forming a first metal layer to fill the first trench, performing a second CMP, remove the remaining portion of the first hard mask layer and the silicon layer from the first gate structure thereby forming a second trench, forming a second metal layer to fill the second trench, and performing a third CMP.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor structure having FinFET's and planar devices, such as MOSFET's, on a common substrate by a damascene approach, and semiconductor structures formed by the methods. A semiconductor fin of the FinFET is formed on a substrate with damascene processing in which the fin growth may be interrupted to implant ions that are subsequently transformed into a region that electrically isolates the fin from the substrate. The isolation region is self-aligned with the fin because the mask used to form the damascene-body fin also serves as an implantation mask for the implanted ions. The fin may be supported by the patterned layer during processing that forms the FinFET and, more specifically, the gate of the FinFET. The electrical isolation surrounding the FinFET may also be supplied by a self-aligned process that recesses the substrate about the FinFET and at least partially fills the recess with a dielectric material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor configuration including first and second gate electrodes, each of the first and second gate electrodes having at least a bottom layer and an upper layer including polycrystalline silicon grains, wherein the first gate electrode is a nMOS gate electrode formed in an nMOS region of the transistor configuration, wherein the polycrystalline silicon grains included in the bottom layer of the first gate electrode have a greater particle diameter than the polycrystalline grains included in the upper layer of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A first and second gate electrodes are formed on a first and second active regions, respectively. The first and second gate electrodes have a first and second metal-containing conductive films, respectively. The first and second metal-containing conductive films are formed on the isolation region for segmenting the first and second active regions to be spaced apart from each other. A third metal-containing conductive film, which is a part of each of the first and second gate electrodes, is continuously formed from a top of the first metal-containing conductive film through a top of the isolation region to a top of the second metal-containing conductive film. The third metal-containing conductive film is in contact with the first and second metal-containing conductive films.

Abstract: A transistor device is provided that includes a substrate, a first channel region formed in a first portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a first type of conductivity, a second channel region formed in a second portion of the substrate and being doped with a dopant of a second type of conductivity, a gate insulating layer formed on the first channel region and on the second channel region, a dielectric capping layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a first gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the first channel region, and a second gate region formed on the dielectric capping layer over the second channel region, wherein the first gate region and the second gate region are made of the same material, and wherein one of the first gate region and the second gate region comprises an ion implantation.

Abstract: First gate lines are formed on a substrate. An insulation layer is formed on the substrate and the first gate lines. The insulation layer disposed between the first gate lines is selectively etched, to thereby form first openings. Landing plugs are buried into the first openings. The insulation layer disposed on the first gate lines is etched until upper portions of the first gate lines are exposed, thereby obtaining second openings. Second gate lines are formed inside the second openings.

Abstract: An embodiment of fabrication of a variable work function gates in a FUSI device is described. The embodiment uses a work function doping implant to dope the polysilicon to achieve a desired work function. Selective epitaxy growth (SEG) is used to form silicon over the source/drain regions. The doped poly-Si gate is fully silicided to form fully silicided gates that have a desired work function. We provide a substrate having a NMOS region and a PMOS region. We form a gate dielectric layer and a gate layer over said substrate. We perform a (gate Vt) gate layer implant process to implant impurities such as P+, As+, B+, BF2+, N+, Sb+, In+, C+, Si+, Ge+ or Ar+ into the gate layer gate in the NMOS gate regions and said PMOS gate regions. We form a cap layer over said gate layer. We pattern said cap layer, said gate layer and said gate dielectric layer to form a NMOS gate and a PMOS gate. Spacers are formed and S/D regions are formed. A metal is deposited over said substrate surface.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a display device having a first conductive type thin film transistor and a second conductive type thin film transistor, comprising the steps of: in formation regions for a first conductive type thin film transistor and a second conductive type thin film transistor forming a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film covering the semiconductor layer and a gate electrode disposed on the first insulating film so as to intersect the semiconductor layer, on substrate having first conductive type impurity regions on both outer sides of a channel region of the semiconductor layer below the gate electrode forming a second insulating film, in the second insulating film and the first insulating film forming a contact hole for a drain electrode and a source electrode, in the formation region for the second conductive type thin film transistor forming electrodes and a second conductive type impurity region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an n-channel MIS transistor and a p-channel MIS transistor on a substrate. The n-channel MIS transistor includes a p-type semiconductor region formed on the substrate, a lower layer gate electrode which is formed via a gate insulating film above the p-type semiconductor region and which is one monolayer or more and 3 nm or less in thickness, and an upper layer gate electrode which is formed on the lower layer gate electrode, whose average electronegativity is 0.1 or more smaller than the average electronegativity of the lower layer gate electrode. The p-channel MIS transistor includes an n-type semiconductor region formed on the substrate and a gate electrode which is formed via a gate insulating film above the n-type semiconductor region and is made of the same metal material as that of the upper layer gate electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device that has at least one high aspect ratio gate structure with a void-free and seam-free metal gate conductor layer positioned on top of a relatively thin high-k gate dielectric layer. These method embodiments incorporate a gate replacement strategy that uses an electroplating process to fill, from the bottom upward, a high-aspect ratio gate stack opening with a metal gate conductor layer. The source of electrons for the electroplating process is a current passed directly through the back side of the substrate. This eliminates the need for a seed layer and ensures that the metal gate conductor layer will be formed without voids or seams. Furthermore, depending upon the embodiment, the electroplating process is performed under illumination to enhance electron flow to a given area (i.e., to enhance plating) or in darkness to prevent electron flow to a given area (i.e., to prevent plating).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a p-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate, the p-channel MIS transistor having a first gate electrode, and an n-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate separately from the p-channel MIS transistor, the n-channel MIS transistor having a second gate electrode. Each of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode is formed of an alloy of Ta and C in which a mole ratio of C to Ta (C/Ta) is from 2 to 4.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention provide a method to improve the performance of MOS devices by increasing the stress in the channel region. An example embodiment for a NMOS transistor is to form a tensile stress layer over a NMOS transistor. A heavy ion implantation is performed into the stress layer and then an anneal is performed. This increases the amount of stress from the stress layer that the gate retains/memorizes thereby increasing device performance.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a TFT array substrate and a metal layer thereof is provided. First, a substrate having a first patterned metal layer disposed thereon is provided, wherein the first patterned metal layer is formed by an electroplating method. Then, a gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate, wherein the gate insulating layer covers the first metal layer. Next, a semiconductive layer is formed on the gate insulating layer over the first metal layer. Then, a patterned second metal layer is formed on the semiconductive layer. The first metal layer, the second metal layer and the semiconductive layer constitute a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines, wherein the scanning lines and the data lines are coupled to the thin film transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a semiconductor layer at a surface, a gate insulating film disposed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode includes a conductive layer consisting of a nitride of a predetermined metal in contact with the gate insulating film. The conductive layer is formed by stacking a first film consisting of a nitride of the predetermined metal and a second film consisting of the predetermined metal, and diffusing nitrogen from the first film to the second film by solid-phase diffusion.

Abstract: A double-gated fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure has electrically isolated gates. In a method for manufacturing the FinFET structure, a fin, having a gate dielectric on each sidewall corresponding to the central channel region, is formed over a buried oxide (BOX) layer on a substrate. Independent first and second gate conductors on either sidewall of the fin are formed and include symmetric multiple layers of conductive material. An insulator is formed above the fin by either oxidizing conductive material deposited on the fin or by removing conductive material deposited on the fin and filling in the resulting space with an insulating material. An insulating layer is deposited over the gate conductors and the insulator. A first gate contact opening is etched in the insulating layer above the first gate. A second gate contact opening is etched in the BOX layer below the second gate.

Abstract: An improved method for applying stress proximity technique process on a semiconductor device and the improved device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method utilizes an additional set of sidewall spacers on one or more NFET devices during the fabrication process. This protects the one or more of the NFET devices during the activation of a compressive PFET stress liner, thereby reducing the compressive forces on the one or more NFET devices, and creating a semiconductor device with improved performance.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device that comprises a metal gate having a low sheet resistance characteristic and a high diffusion barrier characteristic and a method of fabricating the metal gate of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a metal gate formed on a gate insulating film, wherein the metal gate is formed of a metal nitride that contains Al or Si and includes upper and lower portions where the content of Al or Si is relatively high and a central portion where the content of Al or Si is relatively low.

Abstract: A dual workfunction semiconductor device which comprises a first and second control electrode comprising a metal-semiconductor compound, e.g. a silicide or a germanide, and a dual workfunction semiconductor device thus obtained are disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a blocking region for preventing diffusion of metal from the metal-semiconductor compound of the first control electrode to the metal-semiconductor compound of the second control electrode, the blocking region being formed at a location where an interface between the first and second control electrodes is to be formed or is formed. By preventing metal to diffuse from the one to the other control electrode the constitution of the metal-semiconductor compounds of the first and second control electrodes may remain substantially unchanged during e.g. thermal steps in further processing of the device.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a CMOS integrated circuit according to the present invention, a PSD step (step of forming P-type source/drain regions) is first carried out, and an NSD step (step of forming N-type source/drain regions) is thereafter carried out, in order to create a mixed structure of a silicide transistor and a non-silicide transistor. Thus, a step of depositing an oxide film on a substrate surface may be carried out only once, the oxide film can be removed by a single step of etching with hydrofluoric acid, and the operating characteristics of formed devices can be excellently maintained.

Abstract: System and method for creating stressed polycrystalline silicon in an integrated circuit. A preferred embodiment comprises manufacturing an integrated circuit, comprising forming a trench in an integrated circuit substrate, forming a cavity within the integrated circuit substrate, wherein the cavity is linked to the trench, depositing a dielectric layer within the cavity, and depositing polycrystalline silicon over the dielectric layer, wherein an inherent stress is induced in the polycrystalline silicon that grows on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be, for example, silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON), mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2), and alumina (Al2O3).

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate insulation layer is formed on a substrate including a first channel of a first conductive type and a second channel of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. A first conductive layer including a first metal is formed on the gate insulation layer, and a second conductive layer including a second metal different from the first metal is formed on the first conductive layer formed over the second channel. The second conductive layer is partially removed by a wet etching process to form a second conductive layer pattern over the second channel.

Abstract: Recesses are formed in the drain and source regions of an MOS transistor. An ohmic contact layer is formed in the recesses, and a stressed silicon-nitride layer is formed over the ohmic contact layer. The recesses allow the stressed silicon nitride layer to provide strain in the plane of the channel region. In a particular embodiment, a tensile silicon nitride layer is formed over recesses of an NMOS transistor in a CMOS cell, and a compressive silicon nitride layer is formed over recesses of a PMOS transistor in the CMOS cell. In a particular embodiment the stressed silicon nitride layer(s) is a chemical etch stop layer.

Abstract: A silicon film is formed on a first region and a second region, respectively of a semiconductor substrate; P-type impurities are selectively ion-implanted into the silicon film in the first region; a first annealing is carried out, thereby the P-type impurities implanted in the silicon film are activated; N-type impurities are selectively ion-implanted into the silicon film in the second region, after the first annealing; a silicide film is formed on the silicon film according to a CVD method, after the ion-implantation of the N-type impurities; a second annealing is carried out, thereby gas contained in the silicide film is discharged and the N-type impurities are activated; a barrier metal film and a metal film are formed in this order on the silicide film; and the metal film, the barrier metal film, the silicide film and the silicon film are patterned, thereby a P-type polymetal gate electrode formed in the first region and an N-type polymetal gate electrode formed in the second region.

Abstract: Methods for forming a field effect transistor are disclosed. An illustrated method comprises: forming a gate electrode on a substrate; and forming a nitride layer on at least a part of the gate electrode and the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of a dual-gate structure including a P-channel type field-effect transistor formed at a first region of a substrate and an N-channel type field-effect transistor formed at a second region of the substrate, includes a gate electrode including a polycrystalline silicon film continuously formed on the substrate to cover the first and second regions and a metal silicide film formed on the polycrystalline silicon film. The polycrystalline silicon film has a P-type part located on the first region and an N-type part coming into contact with the P-type part and located on the second region, and the P-type part is further doped with a heavier element than a P-type impurity that determines a conductivity type of the P-type part.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an nMISFET formed on the substrate, the nMISFET including a first dielectric formed on the substrate and a first metal gate electrode formed on the first dielectric and formed of one metal element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Sc, Y, a lanthanoide and actinide series and of one selected from boride, silicide and germanide compounds of the one metal element, and a pMISFET formed on the substrate, the pMISFET including a second dielectric formed on the substrate and a second metal gate electrode formed on the second dielectric and made of the same material as that of the first metal gate electrode, at least a portion of the second dielectric facing the second metal gate electrode being made of an insulating material different from that of at least a portion of the first dielectric facing the first metal gate electrode.

Abstract: According to the embodiments to the present disclosure, the process of making a dual strained channel semiconductor device includes integrating strained Si and compressed SiGe with trench isolation for achieving a simultaneous NMOS and PMOS performance enhancement. As described herein, the integration of NMOS and PMOS can be implemented in several ways to achieve NMOS and PMOS channels compatible with shallow trench isolation.

Abstract: A method for forming semiconductor transistor. The method comprises providing a structure including (a) a semiconductor region, and (b) first and second dopant source regions on and in direct physical contact with the semiconductor region, wherein each region of the first and second dopant source regions comprises a dielectric material which contains dopants; causing the dopants to diffuse from the first and second dopant source regions into the semiconductor region so as to form first and second source/drain extension regions, respectively, wherein the first and second source/drain extension regions define a channel region disposed between; forming a gate dielectric region on a channel region; and forming a gate region on the gate dielectric region, wherein the gate dielectric region electrically insulates the gate region from the channel region.

Abstract: An IC includes both “volatile” CMOS transistors (FETs) and embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) cells, both including polysilicon gate structures, sidewall oxide layers, sidewall spacer structures, and source/drain regions. The sidewall spacers of both the NVM cells and the FETs are made up of a spacer material with local charge storage nodes that is capable of storing electrical charge (e.g., silicon-nitride with traps or oxide with silicon nanocrystals). The source/drain regions of the NVM cells omit lightly-doped drains (which are used in the CMOS FETs), and the NVM cells are formed with thinner sidewall oxide layers than the CMOS FETs to facilitate programming/erasing operations. A production method includes a modified CMOS process flow where the CMOS FET gate structures receive different source/drain diffusions and oxides than the NVM gate structures, but both receive substantially identical sidewall spacers, which are used as charge storage structures in the NVM cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a polysilicon film of a semiconductor device. Upon deposition process of a polysilicon film, the inflow of a gas is reduced to 150 sccm to 250 sccm to control abnormal deposition depending upon excessive inflow of the gas. Accordingly, the interfacial properties of the polysilicon film can be improved. It is thus possible to improve an operating characteristic of a device by prohibiting concentration of an electric field at the portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device structure and an easy-to-use method for manufacturing thereof enabling to suppress wafer contamination and to form the semiconductor device superior in control and uniformity of the film thickness in the semiconductor device including plural kinds of transistors provided with a gate insulator film with different film thickness. According to the method, plural kinds of transistors with gate insulator films having different electric film thickness are formed in the steps of forming an insulating film layer including a lamination structure of at least first insulating film 104 constituted of first high-dielectric insulating material and second insulating film 103 constituted of second high-dielectric insulating material on the same silicon substrate 101, selectively etching and removing the upper insulating film 103 on the part of region 105 by use of mask 107 and utilizing multi-oxide process while reducing leak electric current.

Abstract: The anisotropic etch process for forming circuit elements such as a gate electrode is accomplished by using a hard mask instead of a resist feature, thereby avoiding a complex resist trim process when critical dimensions are required, which are well below the resolution of the involved photolithography. Moreover, the critical dimension may be adjusted by means of a deposition process rather than by a resist trim process.