Abstract: An integrated circuit includes flash memory cells, and peripheral circuitry including low voltage transistors (LVT) and high voltage transistors (HVT). The integrated circuit includes a tunnel barrier layer comprising SiON, SiN or other high-k material. The tunnel barrier layer may comprise a part of the gate dielectric of the HVTs. The tunnel barrier layer may constitute the entire gate dielectric of the HVTs. The corresponding tunnel barrier layer may be formed between or upon shallow trench isolation (STIs). Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of a driver chip IC may be increased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-quality semiconductor device in which deterioration in transistor characteristics and an increase in interface layer due to a gate insulating film are suppressed, and a method for manufacturing the same. In the present invention, an interface layer, a diffusion suppressing layer and a high dielectric constant insulating film are formed sequentially in this order on one surface of a silicon substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming first and second fins over first and second regions of a substrate, forming first and second gate structures over the first and second fins, the first and second gate structures including first and second poly gates, forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD) over the substrate, performing a chemical mechanical polishing on the ILD to expose the first and second poly gates, forming a mask to protect the first poly gate of the first gate structure, removing the second poly gate thereby forming a first trench, removing the mask, partially removing the first poly gate thereby forming a second trench, forming a work function metal layer partially filling the first and second trenches, forming a fill metal layer filling a remainder of the first and second trenches, and removing the metal layers outside the first and second trenches.

Abstract: A semiconductor gate stack comprising a silicon oxide based gate dielectric and a doped semiconductor material is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A high-k material metal gate electrode comprising a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate portion is also formed on the semiconductor substrate. Oxygen-impermeable dielectric spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the semiconductor gate stack and the high-k material metal gate stack. The oxygen-impermeable dielectric spacer on the semiconductor gate stack is removed, while the oxygen impermeable dielectric spacer on the high-k material metal gate electrode is preserved. A low-k dielectric spacer is formed on the semiconductor gate stack, which provides a low parasitic capacitance for the device employing the semiconductor gate stack.

Abstract: A thin film semiconductor in the form of a metal semiconductor field effect transistor, includes a substrate 10 of paper sheet material and a number of thin film active inorganic layers that are deposited in layers on the substrate. The active layers are printed using an offset lithography printing process. A first active layer comprises source 12.1 and drain 12.2 conductors of colloidal silver ink, that are printed directly onto the paper substrate. A second active layer is an intrinsic semiconductor layer 14 of colloidal nanocrystalline silicon ink which is printed onto the first layer. A third active layer comprises a metallic conductor 16 of colloidal silver which is printed onto the second layer to form a gate electrode. This invention extends to other thin film semiconductors such as photovoltaic cells and to a method of manufacturing semiconductors.

Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.

Abstract: In the process sequence for replacing conventional gate electrode structures by high-k metal gate structures, the number of additional masking steps may be maintained at a low level, for instance by using highly selective etch steps, thereby maintaining a high degree of compatibility with conventional CMOS techniques. Furthermore, the techniques disclosed herein enable compatibility to front-end process techniques and back-end process techniques, thereby allowing the integration of well-established strain-inducing mechanisms in the transistor level as well as in the contact level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for fabricating metal gate electrodes (85, 86) over a high-k gate dielectric layer (32) having a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) in at least the NMOS device area by treating the surface of a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) with an oxygen-free plasma process (42) to improve photoresist adhesion, forming a patterned photoresist layer (52) directly on the rare earth oxide capping layer (44), and then applying a wet etch process (62) to remove the exposed portion of the rare earth oxide capping layer (44) from the PMOS device area.

Abstract: A CMOS device includes high k gate dielectric materials. A PMOS device includes a gate that is implanted with an n-type dopant. The NMOS device may be doped with either an n-type or a p-type dopant. The work function of the CMOS device is set by the material selection of the gate dielectric materials. A polysilicon depletion effect is reduced or avoided.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a stacked body with a plurality of insulating films and electrode films alternately stacked therein, through which a through hole extending in the stacking direction is formed; a semiconductor pillar buried inside the through hole; and a charge storage layer located on both sides of each of the electrode films in the stacking direction and insulated from the electrode film and the semiconductor pillar.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of forming a structure over a semiconductor substrate. A silicon dioxide containing layer is formed across at least some of the substrate. Nitrogen is formed within the silicon dioxide containing layer. Substantially all of the nitrogen within the silicon dioxide is at least 10 ? above the substrate. After the nitrogen is formed within the silicon dioxide layer, conductively doped silicon is formed on the silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for integrating dual gate oxide (DGO) transistor devices (50, 52) and core transistor devices (51, 53) on a single substrate (15) having a silicon germanium channel layer (21) in the PMOS device areas (112, 113), where each DGO transistor device (50, 52) includes a metal gate (25), an upper gate oxide region (60, 84) formed from a second, relatively higher high-k metal oxide layer (24), and a lower gate oxide region (58, 84) formed from a first relatively lower high-k layer (22), and where each core transistor device (51, 53) includes a metal gate (25) and a core gate dielectric layer (72, 98) formed from only the second, relatively higher high-k metal oxide layer (24).

Abstract: An electrical device is provided with a p-type semiconductor device having a first gate structure that includes a gate dielectric on top of a semiconductor substrate, a p-type work function metal layer, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An n-type semiconductor device is also present on the semiconductor substrate that includes a second gate structure that includes a gate dielectric, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An interlevel dielectric is present over the semiconductor substrate. The interlevel dielectric includes interconnects to the source and drain regions of the p-type and n-type semiconductor devices. The interconnects are composed of a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. The present disclosure also provides a method of forming the aforementioned structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an N-type transistor and a P-type transistor. The N-type transistor has a first gate insulating film comprising a high dielectric film on a semiconductor substrate, and a first gate electrode comprising a TaxNy film comprising Ta3N5 on the first gate insulating film. The first gate insulating film comprises a first material decreasing an effective work function of the first gate electrode. The P-type transistor has a SiGe film on the semiconductor substrate, a second gate insulating film comprising the high dielectric film on the SiGe film, and a second gate electrode on the second gate insulating film, the second gate electrode being made of a material identical to a material of the first gate electrode. The second gate insulating film comprises a second material increasing an effective work function of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: Thin film transistors and arrays having controlled threshold voltage and improved ION/IOFF ratio are provided in this invention. In one embodiment, a thin film transistor having a first gate insulator of high breakdown field with positive fixed charges and a second gate insulator with negative fixed charges is provided; said negative fixed charges substantially compensate said positive fixed charges in order to reduce threshold voltage and OFF state threshold voltage of said transistor. In another embodiment, a thin film transistor having a first passivation layer with negative fixed charges is provided, the negative charges reduce substantially unwanted negative charges in the adjacent active channel and hence reduce the OFF state current and increase ION/IOFF ratio, which in turn reduce the threshold voltage of the transistor.

Abstract: A process for forming dielectric films containing at least metal atoms, silicon atoms, and oxygen atoms on a silicon substrate comprises a first step of oxidizing a surface portion of the silicon substrate to form a silicon dioxide film; a second step of forming a metal film on the silicon dioxide film in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; a third step of heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to diffuse the metal atoms constituting the metal film into the silicon dioxide film; and a fourth step of oxidizing the silicon dioxide film containing the diffused metal atoms to form the film containing the metal atoms, silicon atoms, and oxygen atoms.

Abstract: It is possible to prevent the deterioration of device characteristic as much as possible. A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film provided above the semiconductor substrate and containing a metal, oxygen and an additive element; a gate electrode provided above the gate insulating film; and source/drain regions provided in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode. The additive element is at least one element selected from elements of Group 5, 6, 15, and 16 at a concentration of 0.003 atomic % or more but 3 atomic % or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor of a top-contact structure with suppressed deterioration by a process which is easy and suitable for increase in area without damaging an organic semiconductor pattern. The organic semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate. An electrode material film is formed on the substrate so as to cover the organic semiconductor pattern. A resist pattern is formed on the electrode material film. By wet etching using the resist pattern as a mask, the electrode material film is patterned. By the process, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed.

Abstract: A recessed access device having a gate electrode formed of two or more gate materials having different work functions may reduce the gate-induced drain leakage current losses from the recessed access device. The gate electrode may include a first gate material having a high work function disposed in a bottom portion of the recessed access device and a second gate material having a lower work function disposed over the first gate material and in an upper portion of the recessed access device.

Abstract: A method for forming an atomic deposition layer is provided, which includes: (a) performing a first water pulse on a substrate; (b) performing a precursor pulse on the hydroxylated substrate, wherein the precursor reacts with the hydroxyl groups and forms a layer; (c) purging the substrate with an inert carrier gas; (d) exposing the layer to a second water pulse for at least about 3 seconds so that the layer has a minimum of 70 percent of surface hydroxyl groups thereon; (e) purging the layer with the inert carrier gas; and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) to form a resultant atomic deposition layer.

Abstract: Shallow trench isolation methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes implanting oxygen under a bottom surface of a narrow trench of a silicon substrate and performing a high-temperature anneal of the silicon substrate to form a buried oxide layer. The method also includes performing an etch to deepen the narrow trench to reach the buried oxide layer. The method further includes depositing a filling material to form a top filling layer in the narrow trench.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer over the substrate; forming a first capping layer over the high-k dielectric layer; forming a second capping layer over the first capping layer; forming a dummy gate layer over the second capping layer; performing a patterning process to form a gate stack including the high-k dielectric layer, first and second capping layers, and dummy gate layer; removing the dummy gate layer from the gate stack, thereby forming an opening that exposes the second capping layer; and filling the opening with a first metal layer over the exposed second capping layer and a second metal layer over the first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer is different from the second metal layer and has a work function suitable to the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region; and forming a first and a second metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device. The step of forming the first MOS device includes forming a first silicon germanium layer over the first region of the semiconductor substrate; forming a silicon layer over the first silicon germanium layer; forming a first gate dielectric layer over the silicon layer; and patterning the first gate dielectric layer to form a first gate dielectric. The step of forming the second MOS device includes forming a second silicon germanium layer over the second region of the semiconductor substrate; forming a second gate dielectric layer over the second silicon germanium layer with no substantially pure silicon layer therebetween; and patterning the second gate dielectric layer to form a second gate dielectric.

Abstract: To improve characteristics of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory. There is provided a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory cell that performs memory operations by transferring a charge to/from a charge storage film, wherein the nonvolatile memory cell includes a p well formed in a principal plane of a silicon substrate, and a memory gate electrode formed over the principal plane across the charge storage film, and wherein a memory channel region located beneath the charge storage film of the principal plane of the silicon substrate contains fluorine.

Abstract: A device and method for fabrication of fin devices for an integrated circuit includes forming fin structures in a semiconductor material of a semiconductor device wherein the semiconductor material is exposed on sidewalls of the fin structures. A donor material is epitaxially deposited on the exposed sidewalls of the fin structures. A condensation process is applied to move the donor material through the sidewalls into the semiconductor material such that accommodation of the donor material causes a strain in the semiconductor material of the fin structures. The donor material is removed, and a field effect transistor is formed from the fin structure.

Abstract: A stacked non-volatile memory device uses amorphous silicon based thin film transistors stacked vertically. Each layer of transistors or cells is formed from a deposited a-Si channel region layer having a predetermined concentration of carbon to form a carbon rich silicon film or silicon carbide film, depending on the carbon content. The dielectric stack is formed over the channel region layer. In one embodiment, the dielectric stack is an ONO structure. The control gate is formed over the dielectric stack. This structure is repeated vertically to form the stacked structure. In one embodiment, the carbon content of the channel region layer is reduced for each subsequently formed layer.

Abstract: A Group III-V Semiconductor device and method of fabrication is described. A high-k dielectric is interfaced to a confinement region by a chalcogenide region.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is provided for improving the reliability of a semiconductor device including a MISFET with a high dielectric constant gate insulator and a metal gate electrode. A first Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, La, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for an n-channel MISFET. A second Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, Al, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for a p-channel MISFET. Then, a metal film and a silicon film are formed and patterned by dry etching to thereby form first and second gate electrodes. Thereafter, parts of the first and second Hf-containing insulating films not covered with the first and second gate electrodes are removed by wet etching.

Abstract: An improved SRAM and fabrication method are disclosed. The method comprises use of a nitride layer to encapsulate PFETs and logic NFETs, protecting the gates of those devices from oxygen exposure. NFETs that are used in the SRAM cells are exposed to oxygen during the anneal process, which alters the effective work function of the gate metal, such that the threshold voltage is increased, without the need for increasing the dopant concentration, which can adversely affect issues such as mismatch due to random dopant fluctuation, GIDL and junction leakage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a producing method or a semiconductor device including: loading at least one substrate into a processing chamber; forming a metal oxide film or a silicon oxide film on a surface of the substrate by repeatedly supplying a metal compound or a silicon compound, each of which is a first material, an oxide material which is a second material including an oxygen atom, and a hydride material which is a third material, into the processing chamber predetermined times; and unloading the substrate from the processing chamber.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating stressed MOS devices are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a silicon substrate having a P-well region and depositing a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode layer overlying the P-well region. P-type dopant ions are implanted into the polycrystalline silicon gate electrode layer to form a P-type implanted region and a first polycrystalline silicon gate electrode is formed overlying the P-well region. Recesses are etched into the P-well region using the first polycrystalline silicon gate electrode as an etch mask. The step of etching is performed by exposing the silicon substrate to tetramethylammonium hydroxide. A tensile stress-inducing material is formed within the recesses.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.

Abstract: In a process strategy for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing phase, a predoped semiconductor material may be used in order to reduce the Schottky barrier between the semiconductor material and the conductive cap material of the gate electrode structures. Due to the substantially uniform material characteristics of the predoped semiconductor material, any patterning-related non-uniformities during the complex patterning process of the gate electrode structures may be reduced. The predoped semiconductor material may be used for gate electrode structures of complementary transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a p-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate, the p-channel transistor having a first gate dielectric formed on the substrate and a first gate electrode layer formed on the first dielectric, and an n-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate, the n-channel transistor having a second gate dielectric formed on the substrate and a second gate electrode layer formed on the second dielectric. A bottom layer of the first gate electrode layer in contact with the first gate dielectric and a bottom layer of the second gate electrode layer in contact with the second gate dielectric have the same orientation and the same composition including Ta and C, and a mole ratio of Ta to a total of C and Ta, (Ta/(Ta+C)), is larger than 0.5.

Abstract: A CMOS device includes high k gate dielectric materials. A PMOS device includes a gate that is implanted with an n-type dopant. The NMOS device may be doped with either an n-type or a p-type dopant. The work function of the CMOS device is set by the material selection of the gate dielectric materials. A polysilicon depletion effect is reduced or avoided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a p-channel MIS transistor including: a first insulating layer formed on a semiconductor region between a source region and a drain region, and containing at least silicon and oxygen; a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer, and containing hafnium, silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen, and a first gate electrode formed on the second insulating layer. The first and second insulating layers have a first and second region respectively. The first and second regions are in a 0.3 nm range in the film thickness direction from an interface between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. Each of the first and second regions include aluminum atoms with a concentration of 1×1020 cm?3 or more to 1×1022 cm?3 or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes the steps of preparing a wafer having multiple memory cells, each memory cell having a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate, charge storage units formed on both sides of the gate electrode, lightly doped regions formed beneath the charge storage units, respectively, in the upper part of the semiconductor substrate, and highly doped regions formed in a pair of regions sandwiching a region underneath the gate electrode and the lightly doped regions in between; erasing data stored in the charge storage units electrically; and treating the wafer at a high temperature for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices with dual-metal gate structures and fabrication methods thereof. A semiconductor substrate with a first doped region and a second doped region separated by an insulation layer is provided. A first metal gate stack is formed on the first doped region, and a second metal gate stack is formed on the second doped region. A sealing layer is disposed on sidewalls of the first gate stack and the second gate stack. The first metal gate stack comprises an interfacial layer, a high-k dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, a first metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, a metal insertion layer on the first metal layer, a second metal layer on the metal insertion layer, and a polysilicon layer on the second metal layer. The second metal gate stack comprises an interfacial layer, a high-k dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, a second metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, and a polysilicon layer on the second metal layer.

Abstract: CMOS circuit structures are disclosed with the PFET and NFET devices having high-k dielectric layers consisting of the same gate insulator material, and metal gate layers consisting of the same gate metal material. The PFET device has a “p” interface control layer which is capable of shifting the effective-workfunction of the gate in the p-direction. In a representative embodiment of the invention the “p” interface control layer is aluminum oxide. The NFET device may have an “n” interface control layer. The materials of the “p” and “n” interface control layers are differing materials. The “p” and “n” interface control layers are positioned to the opposite sides of their corresponding high-k dielectric layers. Methods for fabricating the CMOS circuit structures with the oppositely positioned “p” and “n” interface control layers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of forming complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structures with tunable threshold voltages are provided. The methods disclose a technique of obtaining selective placement of threshold voltage adjusting materials on a semiconductor substrate by using a block mask prior to deposition of the threshold voltage adjusting materials. The block mask is subsequently removed to obtain a patterned threshold voltage adjusting material on the semiconductor substrate. The methods are material independent and can be used in sequence for both nFET threshold voltage adjusting materials and pFET threshold voltage adjusting materials.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes forming a Ge-containing layer atop a p-type device regions of the substrate. Thereafter, a first dielectric layer is formed in a second portion of a substrate, and a second dielectric layer is formed overlying the first dielectric layer in the second portion of the substrate and overlying a first portion of the substrate. Gate structures may then formed atop the p-type device regions and n-type device regions of the substrate, in which the gate structures to the n-type device regions include a rare earth metal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor pattern which is covered with a first insulating film over a first active region, forming a second semiconductor pattern over a second active region, forming a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first and second semiconductor patterns, forming an opening whose depth reaches the first semiconductor pattern by etching the second insulating film and the first insulating film, forming sidewalls on side surfaces of the second semiconductor pattern by patterning the second insulating film, forming a metal film over the first and second semiconductor patterns respectively, and forming silicide layers by reacting the first and second semiconductor patterns with the metal film.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming self-aligned charge storage regions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a layer of a nitride film stacked between two oxide films on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a gate electrode on the layer of the nitride film stacked between the two oxide films. In addition, the method comprises removing side portions of the nitride film such that a central portion of the nitride film below a center portion of the gate electrode remains, oxidizing the central portion of the nitride film, and forming charge storage layers in the side portions of the nitride film, where the charge storage layers are separated by the central portion of the nitride film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method may include the following processes. A semiconductor substrate is partially removed using a first insulating film having first and second portions as a mask to form first and second pillars of the semiconductor substrate. A second insulating film is formed on side surfaces of the first and second pillars. A silicon film is formed on the first and second insulating films. A first part of the silicon film, which is on upper surfaces of the first and second portions, is removed. A coating film, which covers the upper surfaces of the first and second portions, is formed over the semiconductor substrate. The coating film is partially removed to expose the first insulating film and a second part of the silicon film. The second part is on side surfaces of the first and second portions. The second part is removed by dry etching.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a Polysilicon Oxide Nitride Oxide Semiconductor (SONOS) structure in which a charge trap layer is separated physically in a horizontal direction, and a method of manufacturing the same. The charge trap layer that traps electric charges toward the source and the drain is physically divided. It can fundamentally prevent the charges at both sides from being moved mutually. It is therefore possible to prevent interference between charges at both sides although the cell size is reduced.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate insulation film that is formed of pyroceramics including an amorphous matrix layer, which is provided on a major surface of a silicon substrate, and crystalline phases lines with a high dielectric constant, which are dispersed in the amorphous matrix layer. The semiconductor device further includes a gate electrode that is provided on the gate insulation film.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is provided for improving the reliability of a semiconductor device including a MISFET with a high dielectric constant gate insulator and a metal gate electrode. A first Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, La, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for an n-channel MISFET. A second Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, Al, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for a p-channel MISFET. Then, a metal film and a silicon film are formed and patterned by dry etching to thereby form first and second gate electrodes. Thereafter, parts of the first and second Hf-containing insulating films not covered with the first and second gate electrodes are removed by wet etching.

Abstract: A dual node memory device and methods for fabricating the device are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises forming a layered structure with an insulator layer, a charge storage layer, a buffer layer, and a sacrificial layer on a semiconductor substrate. The layers are patterned to form two spaced apart stacks and an exposed substrate portion between the stacks. A gate insulator and a gate electrode are formed on the exposed substrate, and the sacrificial layer and buffer layer are removed. An additional insulator layer is deposited overlying the charge storage layer to form insulator-storage layer-insulator memory storage areas on each side of the gate electrode. Sidewall spacers are formed at the sidewalls of the gate electrode overlying the storage areas. Bit lines are formed in the substrate spaced apart from the gate electrode, and a word line is formed that contacts the gate electrode and the sidewall spacers.

Abstract: Methods for forming a front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) dual high-k gate using a photoresist mask and structures thereof are disclosed. One embodiment of the disclosed method includes depositing a high-k dielectric film on a substrate of a FEOL CMOS structure followed by depositing a photoresist thereon; patterning the high-k dielectric according to the photoresist; and removing the photoresist thereafter. The removing of the photoresist includes using an organic solvent followed by removal of any residual photoresist including organic and/or carbon film. The removal of residual photoresist may include a degas process, alternatively known as a bake process. Alternatively, a nitrogen-hydrogen forming gas (i.e., a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen) (N2/H2) or ammonia (NH3) may be used to remove the photoresist mask. With the use of the plasma nitrogen-hydrogen forming gas (N2/H2) or a plasma ammonia (NH3), no apparent organic residual is observed.

Abstract: Method of fabricating a thin-film transistor (TFT) in which a gate metal is deposited onto a substrate in order to form the gate of the thin-film transistor. The substrate may be an insulative substrate or a color filter. In a first method, the gate metal is subjected to an H2 plasma. After subjecting the gate metal to an H2 plasma, the gate insulating film is deposited onto the gate. In a second method, first and second layers of gate insulating film are respectively deposited on the gate at a first and second deposition rates. One layer is deposited under H2 or argon dilution conditions and has improved insulating conditions while the other layer serves to lower the overall compressive stress of the dual layer gate insulator. In a third method, an n+ silicon film is formed on a substrate by maintaining a flow of silane, phosphine and hydrogen gas into a processing chamber at substrate temperatures of about 300° C. or less.