Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming replacement gate structures for an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor by forming gate insulation layers and a first metal layer for the devices from the same materials and selectively forming a metal-silicide material layer only on the first metal layer for the NMOS device but not on the PMOS device. One example of a novel integrated circuit product disclosed herein includes an NMOS device and a PMOS device wherein the gate insulation layers and the first metal layer of the gate structures of the devices are made of the same material, the gate structure of the NMOS device includes a metal silicide material positioned on the first metal layer of the NMOS device, and a second metal layer that is positioned on the metal silicide material for the NMOS device and on the first metal layer for the PMOS device.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided which have a tensile and/or compressive strain applied thereto and methods of manufacturing. The structure includes a gate stack comprising an oxide layer, a polysilicon layer and sidewalls with adjacent spacers. The structure further includes an epitaxially grown straining material directly on the polysilicon layer and between portions of the sidewalls. The epitaxially grown straining material, in a relaxed state, strains the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment includes a method of manufacturing a fuse element that includes forming a polysilicon layer over a semiconductor structure, doping the polysilicon layer with carbon or nitrogen, depositing a metal over the polysilicon layer; and annealing the metal and polysilicon layer to form a silicide in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: Techniques for forming a smooth silicide without the use of a cap layer are provided. In one aspect, a FET device is provided. The FET device includes a SOI wafer having a SOI layer over a BOX and at least one active area formed in the wafer; a gate stack over a portion of the at least one active area which serves as a channel of the device; source and drain regions of the device adjacent to the gate stack, wherein the source and drain regions of the device include a semiconductor material selected from: silicon and silicon germanium; and silicide contacts to the source and drain regions of the device, wherein an interface is present between the silicide contacts and the semiconductor material, and wherein the interface has an interface roughness of less than about 5 nanometers.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to obtain a transistor with a high ON current including a silicide layer without increasing the number of steps. A semiconductor device comprising the transistor includes a first region in which a thickness is increased from an edge on a channel formation region side and a second region in which a thickness is more uniform than that of the first region. The first and second region are separated by a line which is perpendicular to a horizontal line and passes through a point where a line, which passes through the edge of the silicide layer and forms an angle ? (0°<?<45°) with the horizontal line, intersects with an interface between the silicide layer and an impurity region, and the thickness of the second region to a thickness of a silicon film is 0.6 or more.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a semiconductor device include growing a raised semiconductor region on a channel layer adjacent to a gate structure. A space is formed between the raised semiconductor region and the gate structure. A metal layer is deposited on at least the raised semiconductor region. The raised semiconductor region is silicided to form a silicide into the channel layer which extends deeper into the channel layer at a position corresponding to the space.

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

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a gate electrode having a uniform composition prevents deviation in a work function. Controlling a Vth provides excellent operation properties. The semiconductor device includes an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor with a common line electrode. The line electrode includes electrode sections (A) and (B) and a diffusion barrier region formed over an isolation region so that (A) and (B) are kept out of contact. The diffusion barrier region meets at least one of: (1) The diffusion coefficient in the above diffusion barrier region of the constituent element of the above electrode section (A) is lower than the interdiffusion coefficient of the constituent element between electrode section (A) materials; and (2) The diffusion coefficient in the above diffusion barrier region of the constituent element of the above electrode section (B) is lower than the interdiffusion coefficient of the constituent element between electrode section (B) materials.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate over the semiconductor substrate. A gate sidewall spacer is formed around the gate and a resist is deposited on the gate sidewall spacer with the gate sidewall spacer and the gate exposed. A portion of the gate within the gate sidewall spacer is removed and a gate silicide is formed within the curved gate sidewall spacer. A dielectric layer is formed over the gate silicide and a contact is formed to the gate silicide.

Abstract: An electronic component is described that includes a metallic layer on a substrate that is made of a semiconductor material and a diffusion barrier layer that is made of a material that has a small diffusion coefficient for the metal of the metallic layer which is formed between the metallic layer and the substrate.

Abstract: In order that a top surface of a gate electrode does not have sharp portions, ends of the top surface of the gate electrode are rounded before refractory metal is deposited for silicidation. This reduces intensive application of film stresses which are generated in heat treatment, enabling formation of a silicide layer with a uniform, sufficient thickness.

Abstract: A structure and method to fabricate a body contact on a transistor is disclosed. The method comprises forming a semiconductor structure with a transistor on a handle wafer. The structure is then inverted, and the handle wafer is removed. A silicided body contact is then formed on the transistor in the inverted position. The body contact may be connected to neighboring vias to connect the body contact to other structures or levels to form an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A memory cell has a floating gate electrode, a first inter-gate insulating film arranged on the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode arranged on the first inter-gate insulating film. An FET has a lower gate electrode, a second inter-gate insulating film having an opening and arranged on the lower gate electrode, a block film having a function to block diffusion of metal atoms and formed on at least the opening, and an upper gate electrode connected electrically to the lower gate electrode via the block film and arranged on the second inter-gate insulating film. The control gate electrode and the upper gate electrode have a Full-silicide structure.

Abstract: Transistor architectures and fabrication processes generate channel strain without adversely impacting the efficiency of the transistor fabrication process while preserving the material quality and enhancing the performance of the resulting transistor. Transistor strain is generated is PMOS devices using a highly compressive post-salicide boron doped carbon capping layer applied as a blanket over on at least the source and drain regions. The stress from this capping layer is uniaxially transferred to the PMOS channel through the source-drain regions to create compressive strain in PMOS channel.

Abstract: In order that a top surface of a gate electrode does not have sharp portions, ends of the top surface of the gate electrode are rounded before refractory metal is deposited for silicidation. This reduces intensive application of film stresses which are generated in heat treatment, enabling formation of a silicide layer with a uniform, sufficient thickness.

Abstract: A method for forming silicide contacts in integrated circuits (ICs) is described. A spacer pull-back etch is performed during the salicidation process to reduce the stress between the spacer and source/drain silicide contact at the spacer undercut. This prevents the propagation of surface defects into the substrate, thereby minimizing the occurrence of silicide pipe defects. The spacer pull-back etch can be performed after a first annealing step to form the silicide contacts.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided including a narrow gate stack having a width less than or equal to 65 nm, including a silicide region comprising Pt segregated in a region of the silicide away from the top surface of the silicide and towards an lower portion defined by a pulldown height of spacers on the sidewalls of the gate conductor. In a preferred embodiment, the spacers are pulled down prior to formation of the silicide. The silicide is first formed by a formation anneal, at a temperature in the range 250° C. to 450° C. Subsequently, a segregation anneal at a temperature in the range 450° C. to 550° C. The distribution of the Pt along the vertical length of the silicide layer has a peak Pt concentration within the segregated region, and the segregated Pt region has a width at half the peak Pt concentration that is less than 50% of the distance between the top surface of the silicide layer and the pulldown spacer height.

Abstract: A MOS transistor having its gate successively comprising an insulating layer, a metal silicide layer, a layer of a conductive encapsulation material, and a polysilicon layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including a gate insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating film, wherein the gate insulating film is so provided as to protrude from both sides of the gate electrode, and the gate electrode includes a wholly silicided layer.

Abstract: Methods for reducing contact resistance in semiconductor devices are provided in the present invention. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate having semiconductor device formed thereon, wherein the device has source and drain regions and a gate structure formed therein, performing a silicidation process on the substrate by a thermal annealing process, and performing a laser anneal process on the substrate. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate having implanted dopants, performing a silicidation process on the substrate by a thermal annealing process, and activating the dopants by a laser anneal process.

Abstract: Transistor devices are formed with nickel silicide layers formulated to prevent degradation upon removal of overlying stress liners. Embodiments include transistors with nickel silicide layers having a platinum composition gradient increasing in platinum content toward the upper surfaces thereof, i.e., increasing in platinum in a direction away from the gate electrode and source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming a first layer of nickel having a first amount of platinum and forming, on the first layer of nickel, a second layer of nickel having a second amount of platinum, the second weight percent of platinum being greater than the first weight percent. The layers of nickel are then annealed to form a nickel silicide layer having the platinum composition gradient increasing in platinum toward the upper surface.

Abstract: An electrically programmable device with embedded EEPROM and method for making thereof. The method includes providing a substrate including a first device region and a second device region, growing a first gate oxide layer in the first device region and the second device region, and forming a first diffusion region in the first device region and a second diffusion region and a third diffusion region in the second device region. Additionally, the method includes implanting a first plurality of ions to form a fourth diffusion region in the first device region and a fifth diffusion region in the second device region. The fourth diffusion region overlaps with the first diffusion region.

Abstract: A method for easily manufacturing a semiconductor device in which variation in thickness or disconnection of a source electrode or a drain electrode is prevented is proposed. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer formed over an insulating substrate; a first insulating layer formed over the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed over the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer formed over the gate electrode; an opening which reaches the semiconductor layer and is formed at least in the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer; and a step portion formed at a side surface of the second insulating layer in the opening.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to a single silicon wafer having metal and alloy silicides are described. In one embodiment, two different silicides may be provided on the same wafer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming silicide contacts in integrated circuits (ICs) is described. A spacer pull-back etch is performed during the salicidation process to reduce the stress between the spacer and source/drain silicide contact at the spacer undercut. This prevents the propagation of surface defects into the substrate, thereby minimizing the occurrence of silicide pipe defects. The spacer pull-back etch can be performed after a first annealing step to form the silicide contacts.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate over the semiconductor substrate. A gate sidewall spacer is formed around the gate and a resist is deposited on the gate sidewall spacer with the gate sidewall spacer and the gate exposed. A portion of the gate within the gate sidewall spacer is removed and a gate silicide is formed within the curved gate sidewall spacer. A dielectric layer is formed over the gate silicide and a contact is formed to the gate silicide.

Abstract: A field-effect transistor is provided. The field-effect transistor includes a gate structure including a fully silicided gate material overlying a gate dielectric disposed on a substrate, the fully silicided gate material having an upper region and a lower region, wherein the lower region has a first lateral dimension in accordance with a lateral dimension of the gate dielectric, and the upper region has a second lateral dimension different from the first lateral dimension.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a gate stack on the substrate, a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, a source/drain silicide region on the source/drain region, a protection layer on the source/drain silicide region, wherein a region over the gate stack is substantially free from the protection layer, and a contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a stress over the protection layer and extending over the gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first MIS transistor of a non-salicide structure and a second MIS transistor of a salicide structure which are both formed on a substrate of silicon. The first MIS transistor includes a first gate electrode of silicon, first sidewalls, a first source and drain, and plasma reaction films grown in a plasma atmosphere to cover the top surfaces of the first gate electrode and first source and drain, wherein the plasma reaction film prevents silicide formation on the first MIS transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; a source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric; a silicide region on the source/drain region; a metal layer on top of, and physical contacting, the silicide region; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the metal layer; and a contact opening in the ILD. The metal layer is exposed through the contact opening. The metal layer further extends under the ILD. The semiconductor structure further includes a contact in the contact opening.

Abstract: A method of formation of contacts with cobalt silicide since is disclosed. For example, after siliciding with the SOM solution, both unreacted sections of the deposition layer including, for example, cobalt as initial layer for the siliciding and an oxidation protection layer including titanium and deposited by means of cathode beam sputtering, for instance, may be removed rapidly and with high selectivity relative to the cobalt silicide and other, densified metal structures and metal layers.

Abstract: In order that a top surface of a gate electrode does not have sharp portions, ends of the top surface of the gate electrode are rounded before refractory metal is deposited for silicidation. This reduces intensive application of film stresses which are generated in heat treatment, enabling formation of a silicide layer with a uniform, sufficient thickness.

Abstract: An MOS transistor with a fully silicided gate is produced by forming a silicide compound in the gate separately and independently of silicide portions located in source and drain zones of the transistor. To this end, the silicide portions of the source and drain zones are covered by substantially impermeable coatings. The coatings prevent the silicide portions of the source and drain zones from increasing in volume during separate and independent formation of the gate silicide compound. The silicide gate may thus be thicker than the silicide portions of the source and drain zones.

Abstract: A method for forming dual salicide contacts includes depositing a low or mid-gap work function metal selectively on an NMOS source/drain (S/D) region of a semiconductor device via electroless deposition; depositing a high work function metal selectively over the low work function metal and a PMOS source/drain (S/D) region of a semiconductor device via electroless deposition; annealing the semiconductor device to form a silicide of the low work function metal over the NMOS source/drain (S/D) region and a silicide of the high work function metal over the PMOS source/drain (S/D) region; and performing a SALICIDE etch to remove the unreacted metals from all regions of the substrate.

Abstract: A fully-silicided gate electrode is formed from silicon and a metal by depositing at least two layers of silicon with the metal layer therebetween. One of the silicon layers may be amorphous silicon whereas the other silicon layer may be polycrystalline silicon. The silicon between the metal layer and the gate dielectric may be deposited in two layers having different crystallinities. This process enables greater control to be exercised over the phase of the silicide resulting from this silicidation process.

Abstract: An integration scheme that enables full silicidation (FUSI) of the nFET and pFET gate electrodes at the same time as that of the source/drain regions is provided. The FUSI of the gate electrodes eliminates the gate depletion problem that is observed with polysilicon gate electrodes. In addition, the inventive integration scheme creates different silicon thicknesses of the gate electrode just prior to silicidation. This feature of the present invention allows for fabricating nFETs and pFETs that have a band edge workfunction that is tailored for the specific device region.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device which is capable of solving a problem of threshold control in CMOS transistor, accompanied with combination of a gate insulating film having a high dielectric constant and a metal gate electrode, and significantly enhancing performances without deterioration in reliability of a device. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film composed of a material having a high dielectric constant, and a gate electrode. A portion of the gate electrode making contact with the gate insulating film has a composition including silicide of metal M expressed with MxSi1-X (0<X<1), as a primary constituent. X is greater than 0.5 (X>0.5) in a p-type MOSFET, and is equal to or smaller than 0.5 (X?0.5) in a n-type MOSFET.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mask ROM device and a method of forming the same. This device includes a plurality of cells. At least one among the plurality of cells is programmed. The programmed cell includes a cell gate pattern, cell source/drain regions, a cell insulating spacer, a cell metal silicide, and a cell metal pattern. The cell metal pattern is extended along a surface of a cell capping pattern being the uppermost layer of the cell insulating spacer and the cell gate pattern to be electrically connected to cell metal silicide at opposing sides of the cell gate pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an n-transistor including a first gate insulating film made of a high-dielectric-constant material and a first gate electrode fully silicided with a metal, the first gate insulating film and the first gate electrode being formed in this order over a semiconductor region; and a p-transistor including a second gate insulating film made of the high-dielectric-constant material and a second gate electrode fully silicided with the metal, the second gate insulating film and the second gate electrode being formed in this order over the semiconductor region. If the metal has a work function larger than a Fermi level in potential energy of electrons of silicon, a metal concentration of the second gate electrode is higher than that of the first gate electrode whereas if the metal has a work function smaller than the Fermi level of silicon, a metal concentration of the second gate electrode is lower than that of the first gate electrode.

Abstract: The following steps are carried out: forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, forming a dummy gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate with a dummy gate insulating film interposed therebetween and forming another dummy gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate with an insulating film for isolation interposed therebetween; forming a metal film on the semiconductor while exposing the gate electrode and covering the dummy gate electrodes; and subjecting the semiconductor substrate to heat treatment and thus siliciding at least an upper part of the gate electrode. Since the gate electrode is silicided and the dummy gate electrodes are non-silicided, this restrains a short circuit from being caused between the gate electrode and adjacent one of the dummy gate electrodes.

Abstract: A field effect transistor having metallic silicide layers is formed in a semiconductor layer on an insulating layer of an SOI substrate. The metallic silicide layers are composed of refractory metal and silicon. The metallic silicide layers extend to bottom surfaces of source and drain regions. A ratio of the metal to the silicon in the metallic silicide layers is X to Y. A ratio of the metal to the silicon of metallic silicide having the lowest resistance among stoichiometric metallic silicides is X0 to Y0. X, Y, X0 and Y0 satisfy the following inequality: (X/Y)>(X0/Y0).

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising the steps of independently forming source/drain surface metal silicide layers and a fully silicided metal gate in a polysilicon gate stack. Specifically, one or more sets of spacer structures are provided along sidewalls of the polysilicon gate stack after formation of the source/drain surface metal silicide layers and before formation of the silicided metal gate, in order to prevent formation of additional metal silicide structures in the source/drain regions during the gate salicidation process. The resulting semiconductor device structure includes a fully silicide metal gate that either comprises a different metal silicide material from that in the source/drain surface metal silicide layers, or has a thickness that is larger than that of the source/drain surface metal silicide layers. The source/drain regions of the semiconductor device structure are devoid of other metal silicide structures besides the surface metal silicide layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a CESL (contact etch stop layer) to induce strain in, for example, a CMOS transistor channel, and a method for fabricating such a device. A stress-producing CESL, tensile in an n-channel device and compressive in a p-channel device, is formed over the device gate structure as a discontinuous layer. This may be done, for example, by depositing an appropriate CESL, then forming an ILD layer, and simultaneously reducing the ILD layer and the CESL to a desired level. The discontinuity preferably exposes the gate electrode, or the metal contact region formed on it, if present. The upper boundary of the CESL may be further reduced, however, to position it below the upper boundary of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate divided into a first region and a second region; a first MIS transistor formed in the first region of the semiconductor substrate and including a stack of a first gate insulating film and a fully-silicided first gate electrode; and a second MIS transistor formed in the second region of the semiconductor substrate and including a stack of a second gate insulating film and a fully-silicided second gate electrode. The second gate electrode has a gate length larger than that of the first gate electrode. A middle portion in the gate length direction of the second gate electrode has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first gate electrode.

Abstract: A method for making PMOS and NMOS transistors 60, 70 on a semiconductor substrate includes having a gate hardmask over the gate electrode layer during the formation of transistor source/drain regions. The method includes an independent work function adjustment process that implants Group IIIa series dopants into a gate polysilicon layer of a PMOS transistor and implants Lanthanide series dopants into a gate polysilicon layer of NMOS.

Abstract: A fully-silicided gate electrode is formed from silicon and a metal by depositing at least two layers of silicon with the metal layer therebetween. One of the silicon layers may be amorphous silicon whereas the other silicon layer may be polycrystalline silicon. The silicon between the metal layer and the gate dielectric may be deposited in two layers having different crystallinities. This process enables greater control to be exercised over the phase of the silicide resulting from this silicidation process.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a germanosilicide and a semiconductor device having the germanosilicide. A method according to example embodiments may include providing a substrate having at least a portion formed of silicon germanium. A metal layer may be formed on the silicon germanium. A thermal process may be performed on the substrate at a relatively high pressure to form the germanosilicide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a microelectronics device. In one aspect, the method comprises forming a capping layer 610 over gate structures 230 located over a microelectronics substrate 210 wherein the gate structures 230 include sidewall spacers 515 and have a doped region 525 located between them. A protective layer 710 is placed over the capping layer 610 and the doped region 525, and a portion of the protective layer 710 and capping layer 610 that are located over the gate structures are removed to expose a top surface of the gate structures 230. A remaining portion of the protective layer 710 and capping layer 610 remains over the doped region 525. With the top surface of the gate structures 230 exposed, metal is incorporated into the gate structures to form gate electrodes 230.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having source/drain regions, a gate electrode formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate, spacers formed against sidewalls of the gate electrode, an interlayer insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and the gate electrode and having a plurality of contact holes formed therein, and contact plugs formed within the contact holes. The contact plugs can include a first contact plug and a second contact plug electrically connected to the gate electrode, and a third contact plug and a fourth contact plug electrically connected to the source/drain regions.

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