Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a first region and a second region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer, the metal layer having a first work function, protecting the metal layer in the first region, treating the metal layer in the second region with a de-coupled plasma that includes carbon and nitrogen, and forming a first gate structure in the first region and a second gate structure in the second region. The first gate structure includes the high-k dielectric layer and the untreated metal layer. The second gate structure includes the high-k dielectric layer and the treated metal layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer dielectric on a substrate, the interlayer dielectric including first and second openings respectively disposed in first and second regions formed separately in the substrate; forming a first conductive layer filling the first and second openings; etching the first conductive layer such that a bottom surface of the first opening is exposed and a portion of the first conductive layer in the second opening remains; and forming a second conductive layer filling the first opening and a portion of the second opening.

Abstract: The work function of a high-k gate electrode structure may be adjusted in a late manufacturing stage on the basis of a lanthanum species in an N-channel transistor, thereby obtaining the desired high work function in combination with a typical conductive barrier material, such as titanium nitride. For this purpose, in some illustrative embodiments, the lanthanum species may be formed directly on the previously provided metal-containing electrode material, while an efficient barrier material may be provided in the P-channel transistor, thereby avoiding undue interaction of the lanthanum species in the P-channel transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a gate stack for such a semiconductor device. The device includes a gate stack that has a gate insulation layer provided over a channel region of the device, and a metal layer that is insulated from the channel region by the gate insulation layer. The metal layer contains work function modulating impurities which have a concentration profile that varies along a length of the metal layer from the source region to the drain region. The gate stack has a first effective work function in the vicinity of a source region and/or the drain region of the device and a second, different effective work function toward a center of the channel region.

Abstract: Provided are a wire structure, a method for fabricating a wire, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a method for fabricating a TFT substrate. The wire structure includes a barrier layer formed on a substrate and including a copper layer and a copper solid solution layer.

Abstract: Improved semiconductor devices including metal gate electrodes are formed with reduced performance variability by reducing the initial high dopant concentration at the top portion of the silicon layer overlying the metal layer. Embodiments include reducing the dopant concentration in the upper portion of the silicon layer, by implanting a counter-dopant into the upper portion of the silicon layer, removing the high dopant concentration portion and replacing it with undoped or lightly doped silicon, and applying a gettering agent to the upper surface of the silicon layer to form a thin layer with the gettered dopant, which layer can be removed or retained.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method of forming an integrated circuit having a memory portion minimizes an amount of oxidation of nanocluster storage elements in the memory portion. A first region of the integrated circuit has non-memory devices, each having a control electrode or gate formed of a single conductive layer of material. A second region of the integrated circuit has a plurality of memory cells, each having a control electrode of at least two conductive layers of material that are positioned one overlying another. The at least two conductive layers are at substantially a same electrical potential when operational and form a single gate electrode. In one form each memory cell gate has two polysilicon layers overlying a nanocluster storage layer.

Abstract: Atomic layer deposition is enhanced using plasma. Plasma begins prior to flowing a second precursor into a chamber. The second precursor reacts with a first precursor to deposit a layer on a substrate. The layer may include at least one element from each of the first and second precursors. The layer may be TaN, and the precursors may be TaF5 and NH3. The plasma may begin during purge gas flow between a pulse of the first precursor and a pulse of the second precursor. Thermal energy assists the reaction of the precursors to deposit the layer on the substrate. The thermal energy may be greater than generally accepted for ALD (e.g., more than 300 degrees Celsius).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer dielectric on a substrate, the interlayer dielectric including first and second openings respectively disposed in first and second regions formed separately in the substrate; forming a first conductive layer filling the first and second openings; etching the first conductive layer such that a bottom surface of the first opening is exposed and a portion of the first conductive layer in the second opening remains; and forming a second conductive layer filling the first opening and a portion of the second opening.

Abstract: In a metal gate replacement process, a stack of at least two polysilicon layers or other materials may be formed. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the stack. The stack may then be planarized. Next, the upper layer of the stack may be selectively removed. Then, the exposed portions of the sidewall spacers may be selectively removed. Finally, the lower portion of the stack may be removed to form a T-shaped trench which may be filled with the metal replacement.

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 semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an NMOS region and a PMOS region, active regions of the semiconductor substrate defined by a device isolation structure formed in the semiconductor substrate, the active regions including an NMOS active region defined in the NMOS region and a PMOS active region defined in the PMOS region, a gate insulating film disposed over the active regions, and a dual poly gate including an amorphous titanium layer formed over the gate insulating film in the NMOS region and the PMOS region. The dual poly gate includes a stacked structure having a lower gate electrode formed of an impurity doped polysilicon layer, a barrier layer including the amorphous titanium layer, and an upper gate electrode formed of a tungsten layer.

Abstract: Described is a CMOS transistor structure with a multi-layered gate electrode structure and a method of fabrication. The gate electrode structure has a three-layered metallic gate electrode and a polysilicon layer. The first metallic layer acts as a barrier to prevent the second metallic layer from reacting with an underlying dielectric. The second metallic layer acts to set the work function of the gate electrode structure. The third metallic layer acts as a barrier to prevent the second metallic layer from reacting with the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: Provided are a wire structure, a method for fabricating a wire, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a method for fabricating a TFT substrate. The wire structure includes a barrier layer formed on a substrate and including copper, copper solid solution layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate structure with a pulled-back conductive layer and the use of the method are provided. The method conducts a local, not global, pull-back process on the conductive layer of the gate structure at the position intended for contact window formation, wherein the pull-back process is conducted after rapid thermal oxidation to prevent CBCB short, CB open and/or CBGC short.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device is described. That method comprises forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate, then forming a trench within the first dielectric layer. After forming a second dielectric layer on the substrate, a first metal layer is formed within the trench on a first part of the second dielectric layer. A second metal layer is then formed on the first metal layer and on a second part of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods are described for eliminating void formation during the fabrication of and/or operation of memory cells/devices. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the methods to eliminate voids include formation of an opening on a semiconductor structure, formation of a diffusion barrier layer, deposition of a metal into the opening, preamorphization of the metal using preamorphization implants, and formation of a conductivity facilitating layer. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the methods to eliminate voids include formation of an opening on a semiconductor structure, formation of a diffusion barrier layer, deposition of a metal into the opening, preamorphization of the metal using a contact with a plasma, and formation of a conductivity facilitating layer.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit may be formed with NMOS and PMOS transistors that have high dielectric constant gate dielectric material over a semiconductor substrate. A metal barrier layer may be formed over the gate dielectric. A workfunction setting metal layer is formed over the metal barrier layer and a cap metal layer is formed over the workfunction setting metal layer.