Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing a device are disclosed. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for forming a solar cell. The method may comprise: implanting p-type dopants into a substrate via a blanket ion implantation process; implanting n-type dopants into the substrate via the blanket ion implantation process; and performing a first annealing process to form the p-type region and performing a second annealing process to form a second n-type region.

Abstract: Field effect transistors fabricated using atomic layer doping processes are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of an atomic layer doping method, a semiconducting surface and a dopant gas mixture are prepared. Further, a dopant layer is grown on the semiconducting surface by applying the dopant gas mixture to the semiconducting surface under a pressure that is less than 500 Torr and a temperature that is between 300° C. and 750° C. The dopant layer includes at least 4×1020 active dopant atoms per cm3 that react with atoms on the semiconducting surface such that the reacted atoms increase the conductivity of the semiconducting surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device including step S22 to form an insulating film on a front surface of a semiconductor wafer that is a surface on which a semiconductor element is to be formed and on a back surface that is a surface opposing the front surface, step S26 to remove the insulating film formed on the back surface by selectively providing a first chemical on the back surface of the semiconductor wafer, and step S30 to remove the insulating film formed on the front surface by simultaneously immersing the plurality of semiconductor wafers in a second chemical.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: implanting a first species into a substrate at a cold temperature to form a first region; and implanting a second species into the substrate at a hot temperature to form a second region that is adjacent to the first region.

Abstract: Disclosed are an active layer ion implantation method and an active layer ion implantation method for thin-film transistor. The active layer ion implantation method comprises: applying a photoresist on the active layer; and implanting ions into the active layer through the photoresist.

Abstract: There is provided an ion implantation method, a composition for forming an ion implantation film and a resist underlayer film-forming composition. An ion implantation method including the steps of: forming a film by applying a film-forming composition containing a compound including an element in group 13, group 14, group 15, or group 16 and an organic solvent onto a substrate and baking the film-forming composition; and implanting impurity ions into the substrate from above through the film and introducing the element in group 13, group 14, group 15, or group 16 in the film into the substrate. The film-forming composition is a film-forming composition for ion implantation containing a compound including an element in group 13, group 14, group 15, or group 16, and an organic solvent. In addition, the underlayer film-forming composition contains a compound having at least two borate ester groups.

Abstract: A substrate is treated by means of at least one pulse of a luminous flux of determined wavelength. The substrate comprises an embedded layer that absorbs the luminous flux independently of the temperature. The embedded layer is interleaved between a first treatment layer and a second treatment layer. The first treatment layer has a coefficient of absorption of luminous flux that is low at ambient temperature and rises as the temperature rises. The luminous flux may be applied in several places of a surface of the first layer to heat regions of the embedded layer and generate a propagating thermal front in the first layer opposite the heated regions of the embedded layer, which generate constraints within the second layer.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a light-emitting device including an OLED formed on a plastic substrate, which prevents degradation due to penetration of moisture or oxygen. On a plastic substrate, a plurality of films for preventing oxygen or moisture from penetrating into an organic light-emitting layer in the OLED (“barrier films”) and a film having a smaller stress than the barrier films (“stress relaxing film”), the film being interposed between the barrier films, are provided. Owing to a laminate structure, if a crack occurs in one of the barrier films, the other barrier film(s) can prevent moisture or oxygen from penetrating into the organic light emitting layer. The stress relaxing film, which has a smaller stress than the barrier films, is interposed between the barrier films, making it possible to reduce stress of the entire sealing film. Therefore, a crack due to stress hardly occurs.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having a bulk substrate layer, an active semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer interposed between the bulk substrate layer and the active semiconductor layer. A first source/drain (S/D) region includes a first stand-alone butting implant having a first butting width. A second S/D region includes a second stand-alone butting implant having a second butting width. A gate well-region is interposed between the first and second S/D regions. The gate well-region has a gate width that is greater than the first and second butting widths.

Abstract: A method is provided for modeling charge distribution on FinFET sidewalls for estimating variability in device performance. The method includes: inputting structure parameters and simulation parameters for a FinFET structure; identifying a semiconductor-oxide interface in the structure, the interface including a plurality of atomic steps and a plurality of trapped charges; distributing charges at the interface; and performing device simulations and current-voltage analysis upon generating all samples of given number of devices.

Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device having a drain region making a BLDD structure withstandable against a high voltage, sufficiently suppressing a hot-carrier deterioration, and having a high ESD withstandable characteristic, and a method for manufacturing the same. A semiconductor device is formed including a MOS transistor having a source region and a drain region both formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a channel region formed therebetween. At this time, the concentration of holes emitted form P-type impurities injected into the channel region and contributing an electrical conduction is lower at a side close to the drain region than at a side close to the source region. The drain region includes a drift region into which N-type impurities are injected. The drift region extends toward the channel region from the drain region except a nearby area to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for forming a semiconductor structure, in which first, a substrate is provided, a hard mask is disposed on the substrate, the hard mask is then patterned to form a plurality of fin hard masks and a plurality of dummy fin hard masks, afterwards, a pattern transferring process is performed, to transfer the patterns of the fin hard masks and the fin hard masks into the substrate, so as to form a plurality of fin groups and a plurality of dummy fins. Each dummy fin is disposed on the end side of one fin group, and a fin cut process is performed, to remove each dummy fin.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the IC includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) extending through the first semiconductor layer to within a portion of the substrate, the STI substantially separating a first n+ region and a second n+ region; and a gate disposed on a portion of the first semiconductor layer and connected to the STI, the gate including: a buried metal oxide (BOX) layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer and connected to the STI; a cap layer disposed on the BOX layer; and a p-type well component disposed within the first semiconductor layer and the substrate, the p-type well component connected to the second n+ region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same, wherein the method includes fabrication of field effect transistors (FET). The method includes growing a doped epitaxial halo region in a plurality of sigma-shaped source and drain recesses within a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial stressor material is grown within the sigma-shaped source and drain recesses surrounded by the doped epitaxial halo forming source and drain regions with controlled current depletion towards the channel region to improve device performance. Selective growth of epitaxial regions allows for control of dopants profile and hence tailored and enhanced carrier mobility within the device.

Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece is disclosed, where the ion chamber is first coated with the desired dopant species and another species. Following this conditioning process, a feedgas, which comprises fluorine and the desired dopant, is introduced to the chamber and ionized. Ions are then extracted from the chamber and accelerated toward the workpiece, where they are implanted without being first mass analyzed. The other species used during the conditioning process may be a Group 3, 4 or 5 element. The desired dopant species may be boron.

Abstract: A method for producing semiconductor regions including impurities includes forming a trench in a first surface of a semiconductor body. Impurity atoms are implanted into a bottom of the trench. The trench is extended deeper into the semiconductor body, thereby forming a deeper trench. Impurity atoms are implanted into a bottom of the deeper trench.

Abstract: After formation of a silicon Fin part on a silicon substrate, a thin film including an impurity atom which becomes a donor or an acceptor is formed so that a thickness of the thin film formed on the surface of an upper flat portion of the silicon Fin part becomes large relative to a thickness of the thin film formed to the surface of side wall portions of the silicon Fin part. A first diagonal ion implantation from a diagonal upper direction to the thin film is performed and subsequently a second diagonal ion implantation is performed from an opposite diagonal upper direction to the thin film. Recoiling of the impurity atom from the inside of the thin film to the inside of the side wall portions and to the inside of the upper flat portion is realized by performing the first and second diagonal ion implantations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a methods for patterning a hardmask layer with good process control for an ion implantation process, particularly suitable for manufacturing the fin field effect transistor (FinFET) for semiconductor chips. In one embodiment, a method of patterning a hardmask layer disposed on a substrate includes forming a planarization layer over a hardmask layer disposed on a substrate, disposing a patterned photoresist layer over the planarization layer, patterning the planarization layer and the hardmask layer uncovered by the patterned photoresist layer in a processing chamber, exposing a first portion of the underlying substrate, and removing the planarization layer from the substrate.

Abstract: In a method for producing a semiconductor body, impurities which act as recombination centers in the semiconductor body and form a recombination zone are introduced into the semiconductor body during the process of producing the semiconductor body. In a semiconductor component, comprising a semiconductor body having a front surface and an opposite rear surface, and also a recombination zone formed by impurities between the front and rear surfaces, wherein the impurities act as recombination centers, the surface state density at the front and rear surfaces of the semiconductor body is just as high as the surface state density at a front and rear surface of an identical semiconductor body without a recombination zone.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a resistor provided over the substrate. The resistor includes a first material layer, a second material layer, a first contact structure and a second contact structure. The first material layer includes at least one of a metal and a metal compound. The second material layer includes a semiconductor material. The second material layer is provided over the first material layer and includes a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer. The second sub-layer is provided over the first sub-layer. The first sub-layer and the second sub-layer are differently doped. Each of the first contact structure and the second contact structure provides an electrical connection to the second sub-layer of the second material layer.

Abstract: An MOSFET includes a silicon carbide substrate, an active layer, a gate oxide film, and a gate electrode. The active layer includes a body region where an inversion layer is formed at a region in contact with the gate oxide film by application of voltage to the gate electrode. The body region includes a low concentration region arranged at a region where an inversion layer is formed, and containing impurities of low concentration, and a high concentration region adjacent to the low concentration region in the carrier mobile direction in the inversion layer, arranged in a region where the inversion layer is formed, and containing impurities higher in concentration than in the low concentration region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of first doping regions of a first doping structure arranged at a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of second doping regions of the first doping structure arranged at the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first doping regions of the plurality of first doping regions of the first doping structure include dopants of a first conductivity type with different doping concentrations. Further, the second doping regions of the plurality of second doping regions of the first doping structure include dopants of a second conductivity type with different doping concentrations. At least one first doping region of the plurality of first doping regions of the first doping structure partly overlaps at least one second doping region of the plurality of second doping regions of the first doping structure causing an overlap region arranged at the main surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of healing defects at junctions of a semiconductor device, which includes growing a p-Ge layer on a substrate, performing ion implantation on the p-Ge layer to form an n+ Ge region or performing in-situ doping on the p-Ge layer and then etching to form an n+ Ge region or depositing an oxide film on the p-Ge layer and performing patterning, etching and in-situ doping to form an n+ Ge layer, forming a capping oxide film, performing annealing at 600˜700° C. for 1˜3 hr, and depositing an electrode, and in which annealing enables Ge defects at n+/p junctions to be healed and the depth of junctions to be comparatively reduced, thus minimizing leakage current, thereby improving properties of the semiconductor device and achieving high integration and fineness of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first transistor. The substrate has a major surface. The first transistor is provided on the major surface. The first transistor includes a first stacked body, first and second conductive sections, a first gate electrode, and a first gate insulating film. The first stacked body includes first semiconductor layers and first insulating layers alternately stacked. The first semiconductor layers have a side surface. The first conductive section is electrically connected to one of the first semiconductor layers. The second conductive section is apart from the first conductive section and electrically connected to the one of the first semiconductor layers. The first gate electrode is provided between the first and second conductive sections and opposed to the side surface. The first gate insulating film is provided between the first gate electrode and the first semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell is disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric film on a semiconductor substrate doped with a first conductive type impurity, exposing a high concentration doping region of a predetermined selective emitter by partially removing the dielectric film, and ion-implanting a second conductive type impurity into a front surface of the semiconductor substrate with the dielectric film formed thereon to form a high concentration doping layer in the semiconductor substrate to correspond to the high concentration doping region and to form a low concentration doping layer in the semiconductor substrate to correspond to a region in which the dielectric film is formed.

Abstract: In a method, a gate dielectric film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric film. Impurities of a first conduction-type are introduced into a drain-layer formation region. The impurities of the first conduction-type in the drain-layer formation region are activated by performing heat treatment. Single crystals of the semiconductor substrate in a source-layer formation region are amorphized by introducing inert impurities into the source-layer formation region. Impurities of a second conduction-type is introduced into the source-layer formation region. At least an amorphous semiconductor in the source-layer formation region is brought into a single crystal semiconductor and the impurities of the second conduction-type in the source-layer formation region is activated by irradiating the semiconductor substrate with microwaves.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes a wafer grinding step of, by means of a revolving grinding stone, forming a thinned portion in a wafer while at the same time forming a slope surrounding said thinned portion, wherein during said formation of said slope, said grinding stone is positioned so that there is always a space between said slope and the facing side of said grinding stone, wherein said thinned portion is thinner than a peripheral portion of said wafer, and wherein said slope extends along and defines an inner circumferential side of said peripheral portion and forms an angle of 75° or more but less than 90° with respect to a main surface of said wafer. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device further includes a step of forming a semiconductor device in said thinned portion.

Abstract: The ion implantation method includes setting an ion beam scanning speed and a mechanical scanning speed of an object during ion implantation using hybrid scan in advance and implanting ions based on the set ion beam scanning speed and the set mechanical scanning speed of the object. In the setting in advance, each of the ion beam scanning speeds is set based on each of ion beam scanning amplitudes changing severally according to a surface outline of an object which is irradiated with the ions so that an ion beam scanning frequency is maintained constant for any of ion beam scanning amplitudes, and the mechanical scanning speed of the object corresponding to the ion beam scanning speed is set so that an ion implantation dose per unit area to be implanted into the surface of the object is maintained constant.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which a recess is provided on a back surface thereof, and a shape of the recess is reflected on a surface of a metal film which is also provided on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for plasma doping microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of implanting boron ions into a region of a workpiece includes generating a plasma in a chamber, selectively applying a pulsed electrical potential to the workpiece with a duty cycle of between approximately 20 percent and approximately 50 percent, and implanting an ion specie into the region of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of sealing a first wafer and a second wafer each made of semiconducting materials, including: implanting a metallic species in at least the first wafer, assembling the first wafer and the second wafer by molecular bonding, and after the molecular bonding, forming a metallic ohmic contact including alloys formed between the implanted metallic species and the semiconducting materials of the first wafer and the second wafer, the metallic ohmic contact being formed at an assembly interface between the first wafer and the second wafer, wherein the forming includes causing the implanted metallic species to diffuse towards the interface between the first wafer with the second wafer and beyond the interface.

Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus includes an implantation processing chamber, a high voltage unit, and a high-voltage power supply system. In the implantation processing chamber ions are implanted into a workpiece. The high voltage unit includes an ion source unit for generating the ions, and a beam transport unit provided between the ion source unit and the implantation processing chamber. The high-voltage power supply system applies a potential to the high voltage unit under any one of a plurality of energy settings. The high-voltage power supply system includes a plurality of current paths formed such that a beam current flowing into the workpiece is returned to the ion source unit, and each of the plurality of energy settings is associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of current paths.

Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus includes a beam parallelizing unit and a third power supply unit. The beam parallelizing unit includes an acceleration lens, and a deceleration lens disposed adjacent to the acceleration lens in an ion beam transportation direction. The third power supply unit operates the beam parallelizing unit under one of a plurality of energy settings. The plurality of energy settings includes a first energy setting suitable for transport of a low energy ion, and a second energy setting suitable for transport of a high energy ion beam. The third power supply unit is configured to generate a potential difference in at least the acceleration lens under the second energy setting, and generate a potential difference in at least the deceleration lens under the first energy setting. A curvature of the deceleration lens is smaller than a curvature of the acceleration lens.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for implanting dopant elements in a structure comprising a plurality of semiconductor fins separated by field dielectric areas. The method includes depositing an etch stop layer on the fins, depositing a BARC layer on the etch stop layer, depositing a resist layer on the BARC layer, removing a portion of the resist layer by lithography steps to thereby expose an area of the BARC layer, removing the BARC layer in the exposed area by a dry etch process using the remaining resist layer as a mask, implanting dopant elements into the fins present in the area, using the BARC and resist layers as a mask, and removing the remainder of the resist and BARC layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer assembly formed by bonding a support wafer to a thin wafer using a double-sided bonding release tape. The support wafer provides support for the thin target wafer such that existing handling tools can accommodate transporting and processing the assembly without compromising the profile of the thin target wafer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a p-type region formed beneath a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and an n-type region formed beneath the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The n-type region meets the p-type region at a p-n junction. A diffusion barrier structure, which is beneath the surface of the semiconductor substrate and extends along a side of the p-n junction, limits lateral diffusion between the p-type region and n-type region.

Abstract: The present invention discloses to a method of depositing the metal barrier layer comprising silicon dioxide. It is applied in the transistor device comprising a silicon substrate, a gate and a gate side wall. The method comprises the following steps: ions are implanted into the silicon substrate to form an active region in the said silicon substrate; a first dense silicon dioxide film is deposited; a second normal silicon dioxide film is deposited; the said transistor device is high temperature annealed. The present invention ensures that the implanted ion is not separated out of the substrate during the annealing. And it prevents the warping and fragment of the silicon surface.

Abstract: A photoresist stripping and cleaning composition free from N-alkylpyrrolidones and added quaternary ammonium hydroxides comprising a component (A) which comprises the polar organic solvents N-methylimidazole, dimethylsulfoxide and 1-aminopropane-2-ol.

Abstract: First and second cell trench structures extend from a first surface into a semiconductor substrate. The first cell trench structure includes a first buried electrode and a first insulator layer between the first buried electrode and a semiconductor mesa separating the first and second cell trench structures. A capping layer covers the first surface. The capping layer is patterned to form an opening having a minimum width larger than a thickness of the first insulator layer. The opening exposes a first vertical section of the first insulator layer at the first surface. An exposed portion of the first insulator layer is removed to form a recess between the semiconductor mesa and the first buried electrode. A contact structure is in the opening and the recess. The contact structure electrically connects both a buried zone in the semiconductor mesa and the first buried electrode and allows for narrower semiconductor mesa width.

Abstract: Improved complementary doping methods are described herein. The complementary doping methods generally involve inducing a first and second chemical reaction in at least a first and second portion, respectively, of a dopant source, which has been disposed on a thin film of a semiconductor or semimetal material. The chemical reactions result in the introduction of an n-type dopant, a p-type dopant, or both from the dopant source to each of the first and second portions of the thin film of the semiconductor or semimetal. Ultimately, the methods produce at least one n-type and at least one p-type region in the thin film of the semiconductor or semimetal.

Abstract: A method for controlling the concentration of a donor in a Ga2O3-based single crystal includes: a step in which a Group IV element is implanted as a donor impurity in a Ga2O3-based single crystal by ion implantation process to form, in the Ga2O3-based single crystal, a donor impurity implantation region that has a higher concentration of the Group IV element than the region in which the Group IV element has not been implanted; and a step in which annealing at 800 C or higher is conducted to activate the Group IV element present in the donor impurity implantation region and thereby form a high-donor-concentration region. Thus, the donor concentration in the Ga2O3-based single crystal is controlled.

Abstract: At least one projecting block is formed in an element. The projecting block is then covered with a first cover layer so as to form a concave ridge self-aligned with the projecting block and having its concavity face towards the projecting block. A first trench is then formed in the ridge in a manner that is self-aligned with both the ridge and the projecting block. The first trench extends to a depth which reaches the projecting block. The projecting block is etched using the ridge and first trench as an etching mask to form a second trench in the projecting block that is self-aligned with the first trench. A pattern is thus produced by the second trench and unetched parts of the projecting block which delimit the second trench.

Abstract: A replacement channel and a method for forming the same in a semiconductor device are provided. A channel area is defined in a substrate which is a surface of a semiconductor wafer or a structure such as a fin formed over the wafer. Portions of the channel region are removed and are replaced with a replacement channel material formed by an epitaxial growth/deposition process to include a first dopant concentration level less than a first dopant concentration level. A subsequent doping operation or operations is then used to boost the average dopant concentration to a level greater than the first dopant concentration level. The replacement channel material is formed to include a gradient in which the upper portion of the replacement channel material has a greater dopant concentration than the lower portion of replacement channel material.

Abstract: A disposable dielectric spacer is formed on sidewalls of a disposable material stack. Raised source/drain regions are formed on planar source/drain regions by selective epitaxy. The disposable dielectric spacer is removed to expose portions of a semiconductor layer between the disposable material stack and the source/drain regions including the raised source/drain regions. Dopant ions are implanted to form source/drain extension regions in the exposed portions of the semiconductor layer. A gate-level dielectric layer is deposited and planarized. The disposable material stack is removed and a gate stack including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode fill a cavity formed by removal of the disposable material stack. Optionally, an inner dielectric spacer may be formed on sidewalls of the gate-level dielectric layer within the cavity prior to formation of the gate stack to tailor a gate length of a field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor includes providing a p-doped semiconductor body having a first side and a second side; implanting protons into the semiconductor body via the first side to a target depth of the semiconductor body; bonding the first side of the semiconductor body to a carrier substrate; forming an n-doped zone in the semiconductor body by heating the semiconductor body such that a pn junction arises in the semiconductor body; and removing the second side of the semiconductor body at least as far as a space charge zone spanned at the pn junction.

Abstract: A method of preparing a thin material layer from a semiconductor substrate is presented. The method entails forming a stress-generating epitaxial layer on a base substrate to form a stressed region, and achieving separation along the stressed region to produce a first part and a second part. The stress-generating epitaxial layer may be boron-doped or a Si(1-x)—Gex material. The separation may be achieved with spalling or etching.

Abstract: Methods for adjusting and/or limiting the conductivity range of a nanotube fabric layer are disclosed. In some aspects, the conductivity of a nanotube fabric layer is adjusted by functionalizing the nanotube elements within the fabric layer via wet chemistry techniques. In some aspects, the conductivity of a nanotube fabric layer is adjusted by functionalizing the nanotube elements within the fabric layer via plasma treatment. In some aspects, the conductivity of a nanotube fabric layer is adjusted by functionalizing the nanotube elements within the fabric layer via CVD treatment. In some aspects, the conductivity of a nanotube fabric layer is adjusted by functionalizing the nanotube elements within the fabric layer via an inert ion gas implant.

Abstract: A method for improving the ion beam quality in an ion implanter is disclosed. In some ion implantation systems, contaminants from the ion source are extracted with the desired ions, introducing contaminants to the workpiece. These contaminants may be impurities in the ion source chamber. This problem is exacerbated when mass analysis of the extracted ion beam is not performed, and is further exaggerated when the desired feedgas includes a halogen. The introduction of a diluent gas in the ion chamber may reduce the deleterious effects of the halogen on the inner surfaces of the chamber, reducing contaminants in the extracted ion beam. In some embodiments, the diluent gas may be germane or silane.

Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece is disclosed, where the ion chamber is first coated with the desired dopant species and another species. Following this conditioning process, a feedgas, which comprises fluorine and the desired dopant, is introduced to the chamber and ionized. Ions are then extracted from the chamber and accelerated toward the workpiece, where they are implanted without being first mass analyzed. The other species used during the conditioning process may be a Group 3, 4 or 5 element. The desired dopant species may be boron.

Abstract: Methods for etching dielectric materials in the fabrication of integrated circuits are disclosed herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a layer of a first dielectric material over a gate electrode structure formed on a semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode structure includes a horizontal top surface and sidewall vertical surfaces adjacent to the horizontal top surface. The method further includes forming a layer of a second dielectric material over the layer of the first dielectric material. The first dielectric material is different than the second dielectric material. Still further, the method includes applying an etchant to the second material that fully removes the second material from the sidewall vertical surfaces while only partially removing the second material from the horizontal top surface and while substantially not removing any of the layer of the first dielectric material.