Abstract: An ohmic electrode for a p-type SiC semiconductor, and a method of forming the ohmic electrode. The ohmic electrode has an ohmic electrode layer, which has an amorphous structure and which is made of a Ti(1-x-y)Si(x)C(y) ternary film of which a composition ratio is within a composition range that is surrounded by two lines and two curves expressed by an expression x=0 (0.35?y?0.5), an expression y=?1.120x+0.5200 (0.1667?x?0.375), an expression y=1.778(x?0.375)2+0.1 (0?x?0.375) and an expression y=?2.504x2?0.5828x+0.5 (0?x?0.1667) and that excludes the line expressed by the expression x=0. The ohmic layer is directly laminated on a surface of a p-type SiC semiconductor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an illustrative semiconductor device that includes a transistor having drain and source regions and a gate electrode structure. The disclosed semiconductor device also includes a contact bar formed in a first dielectric material that connects to one of the drain and source regions and includes a first conductive material, the contact bar extending along a width direction of the transistor. Moreover, the illustrative device further includes, among other things, a conductive line formed in a second dielectric material, the conductive line including an upper portion having a top width extending along a length direction of the transistor and a lower portion having a bottom width extending along the length direction that is less than the top width of the upper portion, wherein the conductive line connects to the contact bar and includes a second conductive material that differs from the first conductive material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices are described. The semiconductor devices are made by providing a semiconductor substrate with an active region, providing a bulk oxide layer in a non-active portion of the substrate, the bulk oxide layer having a first thickness in a protected area of the device, providing a plate oxide layer over the bulk oxide layer and over the substrate in the active region, forming a gate structure on the active region of the substrate, and forming a self-aligned silicide layer on a portion of the substrate and the gate structure, wherein the final thickness of the bulk oxide layer in the protected area after these processes remains substantially the same as the first thickness. The thickness of the bulk oxide layer can be increased without any additional processing steps or any additional processing cost. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A semiconductor process is provided. The prior steps include: a first gate including a first cap layer and a second gate including a second cap layer are formed on a substrate. A hard mask layer is formed to cover the first gate and the second gate. The material of the hard mask layer is different from the material of the first cap layer and the second cap layer. The hard mask layer is removed entirely after a lithography process and an etching process are performed. The following steps include: a material is formed to entirely cover the first gate and the second gate. The material, the first gate and the second gate are etched back to make the first gate and the second gate have the same level and expose layers in both of them.

Abstract: The present technology includes a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes insulation patterns and cell word lines alternately stacked on a substrate. A cell channel layer is formed through the insulation patterns and the cell word lines. A select channel layer is connected to the cell channel layer, and the select channel layer has a resistance higher than a resistance of the cell channel layer. A select line surrounds the select channel layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first interconnection and a second interconnection above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the first interconnection, and a second sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the second interconnection, forming a conductive film above the semiconductor substrate with the first interconnection, the first sidewall insulating film, the second interconnection and the second sidewall insulating film formed on, and selectively removing the conductive film above the first interconnection and the second interconnection to form in a region between the first interconnection and the second interconnection a third interconnection formed of the conductive film and spaced from the first interconnection and the second interconnection by the first sidewall insulating film and the second sidewall insulating film.

Abstract: Methods of facilitating replacement gate processing and semiconductor devices formed from the methods are provided. The methods include, for instance, providing a plurality of sacrificial gate electrodes with sidewall spacers, the sacrificial gate electrodes with sidewall spacers being separated by, at least in part, a first dielectric material, wherein the first dielectric material is recessed below upper surfaces of the sacrificial gate electrodes, and the upper surfaces of the sacrificial gate electrodes are exposed and coplanar; conformally depositing a protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes, the sidewall spacers, and the first dielectric material; providing a second dielectric material over the protective film, and planarizing the second dielectric material, stopping on and exposing the protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes; and opening the protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes to facilitate performing a replacement gate process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a PFET transistor (a PMOS FET) having a poly(silicon) layer with a p-type doped portion and an n-type doped portion. The p-type doped portion is located above a channel region of the transistor and the n-type doped portion is located in an end portion of the poly layer outside the channel region. The poly layer may be formed by doping portions of an amorphous silicon layer with either the p-type dopant or the n-type dopant and then annealing the amorphous silicon layer to diffuse the dopants and crystallize the amorphous silicon to form polysilicon. The n-type doped portion of the poly layer may provide an electrical shunt in the end portion of the poly layer to reduce any effects of insufficient diffusion of the p-type dopant in the poly layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed without zipper defects or channeling and through-implantation and with different silicide thicknesses in the gates and source/drain regions, Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate, forming a nitride cap on the gate, forming a source/drain region in the substrate on each side of the gate, forming a wet cap fill layer on the source/drain region on each side of the gate, removing the nitride cap from the gate, and forming an amorphized layer in a top portion of the gate. Embodiments include forming the amorphized layer by implanting low energy ions.

Abstract: After formation of source and drain regions and a planarization dielectric layer, a disposable gate structure is removed to form a gate cavity. A gate dielectric and a lower gate electrode are formed within the gate cavity. The lower gate electrode is vertically recessed relative to the planarization dielectric layer to form a recessed region. An inner dielectric spacer is formed within the recessed region by depositing a conformal dielectric layer and removing horizontal portions thereof by an anisotropic etch. An upper gate electrode is formed by depositing another conductive material within a remaining portion of the recessed region. A contact level dielectric layer is formed and contact structures are formed to the source and drain regions. The inner dielectric spacer prevents an electrical short between the gate electrode and a contact structure that partially overlies the gate electrode by overlay variations during lithographic processes.

Abstract: A silicon carbide substrate has a substrate surface. A gate insulating film is provided to cover a part of the substrate surface. A gate electrode covers a part of the gate insulating film. A contact electrode is provided on the substrate surface, adjacent to and in contact with the gate insulating film, and it contains an alloy having Al atoms. Al atoms do not diffuse from the contact electrode into a portion of the gate insulating film lying between the substrate surface and the gate electrode. Thus, in a case where a contact electrode having Al atoms is employed, reliability of the gate insulating film of a semiconductor device can be improved.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal silicide region. The method comprises forming a metal material over and in contact with exposed surfaces of a dielectric material and silicon structures protruding from the dielectric material. A capping material is formed over and in contact with the metal material. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to effectuate a multidirectional diffusion of the metal material into the silicon structures to form a first metal silicide material. The capping material and unreacted portions of the metal material are removed. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to substantially convert the first metal silicide material into a second metal silicide material. A method of semiconductor device fabrication, an array of silicon structures, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method of formation provide a contact area formed at an angled end of at least one linearly extending conductive line. In an embodiment, conductive lines with contact landing pads are formed by patterning lines in a mask material, cutting at least one of the material lines to form an angle relative to the extending direction of the material lines, forming extensions from the angled end faces of the mask material, and patterning an underlying conductor by etching using said material lines and extension as a mask. In another embodiment, at least one conductive line is cut at an angle relative to the extending direction of the conductive line to produce an angled end face, and an electrical contact landing pad is formed in contact with the angled end face.

Abstract: A self-aligned source/drain contact formation process without spacer or cap loss is described. Embodiments include providing two gate stacks, each having spacers on opposite sides, and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the two gate stacks and in a space therebetween, forming a vertical contact opening within the ILD between the two gate stacks, and laterally removing ILD between the two gate stacks from the vertical contact opening toward the spacers, to form a contact hole.

Abstract: A hydrogen (H) exfoliation gettering method is provided for attaching fabricated circuits to receiver substrates. The method comprises: providing a Si substrate; forming a Si active layer overlying the substrate with circuit source/drain (S/D) regions; implanting a p-dopant into the S/D regions; forming gettering regions underling the S/D regions; implanting H in the Si substrate, forming a cleaving plane (peak concentration (Rp) H layer) in the Si substrate about as deep as the gettering regions; bonding the circuit to a receiver substrate; cleaving the Si substrate along the cleaving plane; and binding the implanted H underlying the S/D regions with p-dopant in the gettering regions, as a result of post-bond annealing.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a ULK material layer, forming a hard mask layer above the ULK material layer, forming a patterned photoresist layer above the hard mask layer, performing at least one etching process to define an opening in at least the ULK material layer for a conductive structure to be positioned in at least the ULK material layer, forming a fill material such that it overfills the opening, performing a process operation to remove the patterned photoresist layer and to remove the fill material positioned outside of the opening, removing the fill material from within the opening and, after removing the fill material from within the opening, forming a conductive structure in the opening.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes forming a high-k dielectric etch stop layer over at least a first conductivity type semiconductor device on a first portion of a substrate and at least a second conductivity type semiconductor device on a second portion of the semiconductor device. A first stress-inducing layer is deposited over the first conductivity type semiconductor device and the second conductivity type semiconductor device. The portion of the first stress-inducing layer that is formed over the second conductivity type semiconductor device is then removed with an etch that is selective to the high-k dielectric etch stop layer to provide an exposed surface of second portion of the substrates that includes at least the second conductivity type semiconductor device. A second stress-inducing layer is then formed over the second conductivity type semiconductor device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a controllable semiconductor component. In a semiconductor body with a top side and a bottom side, a first trench protruding from the top side into the semiconductor body and a second trench protruding from the top side into the semiconductor body are formed in a common etching process. The first trench has a first width and the second trench has a second width greater than the first width. Then, in a common process, an oxide layer is formed in the first trench and in the second trench such that the oxide layer fills the first trench and electrically insulates a surface of the second trench. Subsequently, the oxide layer is removed from the first trench completely or at least partly such that the semiconductor body comprises an exposed first surface area arranged in the first trench.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first pair of selection-gate electrodes including a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer, a second pair of selection-gate electrodes, a memory cell region formed in the area sandwiched by the first pair of selection-gate electrodes and the second pair of selection-gate electrodes, an interlayer-insulating film, a first contact provided between the first pair of selection gates and penetrates through the interlayer-insulating film and the first conductive film layer and is connected on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second contact provided between the second pair of selection gates, in which first contact is connected to the first conductive film layer via an insulating film on the side surface thereof.

Abstract: One method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a substrate, forming a first sidewall spacer adjacent a sacrificial gate electrode, removing a portion of the first sidewall spacer to expose a portion of the sidewalls of the sacrificial gate electrode, and forming a liner layer on the exposed sidewalls of the sacrificial gate electrode and above a residual portion of the first sidewall spacer. The method further includes forming a first layer of insulating material above the liner layer, forming a second sidewall spacer above the first layer of insulating material and adjacent the liner layer, performing an etching process to remove the second sidewall spacer and sacrificial gate cap layer to expose an upper surface of the sacrificial gate electrode, removing the sacrificial gate electrode to define a gate cavity at least partially defined laterally by the liner layer, and forming a replacement gate structure in the cavity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first barrier layer disposed on the substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer disposed on the first barrier layer. The semiconductor device further includes a third barrier layer and a first metal gate each being disposed between a first portion of the second barrier layer and a second portion of the second barrier layer. The first metal gate is disposed between the third barrier layer and the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a second dielectric layer. The third barrier layer is disposed between the first metal gate and the second dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a second metal gate. The semiconductor device further includes a contact hole positioned between the first metal gate and the second metal gate.

Abstract: A method for enabling fabrication of RMG devices having a low gate height variation and a substantially planar topography and resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include: providing on a substrate two dummy gate electrodes, each between a pair of spacers; providing a source/drain region between the two dummy gate electrodes; and forming a first nitride layer over the two dummy gate electrodes and the source/drain region, wherein the first nitride layer comprises a first portion over the dummy gate electrodes and a second portion over the source/drain region, and the second portion has an upper surface substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the dummy gate electrodes.

Abstract: At least one layer including a scavenging material and a dielectric material is deposited over a gate stack, and is subsequently anisotropically etched to form a oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer. The oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer can be a scavenging-nanoparticle-including gate spacer or a scavenging-island-including gate spacer. The scavenging material is distributed within the oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer in a manner that prevents an electrical short between a gate electrode and a semiconductor material underlying a gate dielectric. The scavenging material actively scavenges oxygen that diffuses toward the gate dielectric from above, or from the outside of, a dielectric gate spacer that can be formed around the oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a stacked body provided on a foundation layer and including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked; a plurality of first channel body layers; a memory film; a first interlayer insulating film; a plurality of select gate electrodes; a second channel body layer being connected to each of the plurality of first channel body layers; and a gate insulating film. The stacked body is bent. The first interlayer insulating film includes a slit extending in a direction generally parallel to the upper surface of the stacked body, the slit extends in a direction non-parallel to a first direction in which each end surface of the plurality of electrode layers extends. Part of at least one end surface of the plurality of electrode layers is part of bottom of the slit.

Abstract: A TFT array substrate, a fabrication method thereof and a display device. The TFT array substrate, comprising: gate lines (19), data lines (20) and a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit comprises: a common electrode line (11), a gate insulating layer (16), a passivation layer (17) and a pixel electrode (12) in this order, wherein a backup common electrode line (41) is disposed at a position between the gate insulating layer (16) and the passivation layer (17) and opposite to the common electrode line (11), the backup common electrode line (41) is electrically insulated from the data line (20). The TFT array substrate with this structure can avoid the short circuit between the pixel electrode (12) and the common electrode line (11).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first substrate on which a cell region is defined. In the cell region, memory cells are stacked. A second substrate is located above the first substrate, and a peripheral region is defined on the second substrate. One or more conductive lines are located in the peripheral region. The one or more lines extend through the second substrate and couple to the cell region.

Abstract: An antifuse of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a device isolation layer and an active region, a gate structure extending across an interface between the device isolation layer and the active region, a contact coupled to at least a portion of a sidewall of the gate structure, and a metal interconnection provided on the contact and gate structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate pattern and a dummy gate pattern on a first active area and a second active area of a substrate, respectively, the first gate pattern including a first gate insulating layer and a silicon gate electrode, removing the dummy gate pattern to expose a surface of the substrate in the second active area, forming a second gate pattern including a second gate insulating layer and a metal gate electrode on the exposed surface of the substrate, the first gate insulating layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the second gate insulating layer, and forming a gate silicide on the silicon gate electrode after forming the second gate pattern.

Abstract: A substrate is provided, having formed thereon a first region and a second region of a complementary type to the first region. A gate dielectric is deposited over the substrate, and a first full metal gate stack is deposited over the gate dielectric. The first full metal gate stack is removed over the first region to produce a resulting structure. Over the resulting structure, a second full metal gate stack is deposited, in contact with the gate dielectric over the first region. The first and second full metal gate stacks are encapsulated.

Abstract: A metal source/drain field effect transistor is fabricated such that the source/drain regions are deposited, multilayer structures, with at least a second metal deposited on exposed surfaces of a first metal.

Abstract: After formation of gate stacks, a carbon-based template layer is deposited over the gate stacks, and is optionally planarized to provide a planar top surface. A hard mask layer and a photoresist layer are subsequently formed above the carbon-based template layer. A pattern including openings is formed within the photoresist layer. The pattern is subsequently transferred through the hard mask layer and the carbon-based template layer with high selectivity to gate spacers to form self-aligned cavities within the carbon-based template layer. Contact structures are formed within the carbon-based template layer by a damascene method. The hard mask layer and the carbon-based template layer are subsequently removed selective to the contact structures. The contact structures can be formed as contact bar structures or contact via structures. Optionally, a contact-level dielectric layer can be subsequently deposited.

Abstract: SRAM ICs and methods for their fabrication are provided. One method includes depositing photoresist on a first oxide layer overlying a silicon substrate, forming a pattern of locations, using said photoresist, for the formation of two inverters, each having a pull up transistor, a pull down transistor, and a pass gate transistor on said oxide layer. The method involves anisotropically etching U-shaped channels in the oxide layer corresponding to pattern, and thereafter isotropically etching U-shaped channels in the silicon layer to form saddle-shaped fins in the silicon. A second oxide layer is deposited over the saddle-shaped fins, and a first metal layer is deposited over the second oxide layer. A contact metal layer is formed over the first metal layer and planarized to form local interconnections coupling the gate electrodes of one inverter to a node between the pull up and pull down transistors of the other inverter and to a source/drain of one of the pass gate transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed by depositing a nitride material having a lower etch rate than an oxide material over or between buried gates when forming a metal contact at an end portion of a cell region, to prevent a lower substrate from being etched during an etching process forming a metal contact hole. The semiconductor device includes at least one buried gate formed in a device isolation film of a semiconductor substrate, an etch stop film formed over and between the buried gates, and a metal contact formed perpendicular to the buried gate in the etch stop film.

Abstract: An approach for providing MOL constructs using diffusion contact structures is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a first diffusion region in a substrate; providing, via a first lithography process, a first diffusion contact structure; providing, via a second lithography process, a second diffusion contact structure; and coupling the first diffusion contact structure to the first diffusion region and the second diffusion contact structure. Embodiments include: providing a second diffusion region in the substrate; providing a diffusion gap region between the first and second diffusion regions; providing the diffusion contact structure over the diffusion gap region; and coupling, via the diffusion contact structure, the first and second diffusion regions.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a temporary gate structure on a semiconductor substrate. The temporary gate structure includes a temporary gate material disposed between two spacer structures. The method further includes forming a first directional silicon nitride liner overlying the temporary gate structure and the semiconductor substrate, etching the first directional silicon nitride liner overlying the temporary gate structure and the temporary gate material to form a trench between the spacer structures, while leaving the directional silicon nitride liner overlying the semiconductor substrate in place, and forming a replacement metal gate structure in the trench.

Abstract: A gate containing ruthenium for a dielectric having an oxide containing a lanthanide and a method of fabricating such a combination gate and dielectric produce a reliable structure for use in a variety of electronic devices. A ruthenium or a conductive ruthenium oxide gate may be formed on a lanthanide oxide. A ruthenium-based gate on a lanthanide oxide provides a gate structure that can effectively prevent a reaction between the gate and the lanthanide oxide.

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) semiconductor device includes; a vertical channel extending from a lower end proximate a substrate to an upper end and connecting a plurality of memory cells, and a cell array comprising the plurality of cells, wherein the cell array is arranged in a gate stack of layers having a stair-stepped structure disposed on the substrate. The gate stack includes a lower layer including a lower select line coupled to a lower non-memory transistor proximate the lower end, upper layers including conductive lines respectively coupled to an upper non-memory transistor proximate the upper end and connected as a single conductive piece to form an upper select line, and intermediate layers respectively including a word line and coupled to a cell transistor, wherein the intermediate layers are disposed between the lower select line and the upper select line.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first interconnection and a second interconnection above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the first interconnection, and a second sidewall insulating film on a side wall of the second interconnection, forming a conductive film above the semiconductor substrate with the first interconnection, the first sidewall insulating film, the second interconnection and the second sidewall insulating film formed on, and selectively removing the conductive film above the first interconnection and the second interconnection to form in a region between the first interconnection and the second interconnection a third interconnection formed of the conductive film and spaced from the first interconnection and the second interconnection by the first sidewall insulating film and the second sidewall insulating film.

Abstract: A device includes a conductive layer including a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion over the bottom portion, wherein the sidewall portion is connected to an end of the bottom portion. An aluminum-containing layer overlaps the bottom portion of the conductive layer, wherein a top surface of the aluminum-containing layer is substantially level with a top edge of the sidewall portion of the conductive layer. An aluminum oxide layer is overlying the aluminum-containing layer. A copper-containing region is over the aluminum oxide layer, and is spaced apart from the aluminum-containing layer by the aluminum oxide layer. The copper-containing region is electrically coupled to the aluminum-containing layer through the top edge of the sidewall portion of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a semiconductor device. The method also includes forming a step-forming-hard-mask (SFHM) on the MG stack in a predetermined area on the semiconductor substrate, performing MG recessing, depositing a MG hard mask over the semiconductor substrate and recessing the MG hard mask to fully remove the MG hard mask from the MG stack in the predetermined area.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition including a novolac resin, a photo active compound (PAC), a melamine crosslinking agent, and a solvent.

Abstract: An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a field effect type compound semiconductor device in which leakage current of a device is decreased and breakdown voltage is enhanced.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed (FIGS. 1-2). The method comprises providing a substrate (200) having an isolation region (202) and etching a trench in the isolation region. A first conductive layer (214) is formed within the trench. A first transistor having a first conductivity type (n-channel) is formed at a face of the substrate. The first transistor has a gate (216) formed of the first conductive layer. A second transistor having a second conductivity type (p-channel) is formed at the face of the substrate. The second transistor has a gate (224) formed of the first conductive layer. The method further comprises replacing the first conductive layer of the first transistor with a first metal gate (132) and replacing the first conductive layer of the second transistor with a second metal gate (134).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a primary side. A first pillar extends vertically with respect to the primary side of the substrate, the first pillar defining first and second conductive regions and a channel region that is provided between the first and second conductive regions. A first gate is provided over the channel region of the first pillar. A buried word line extends along a first direction below the first pillar, the buried word line configured to provide a first control signal to the first gate. A first interposer is coupled with the buried word line and the first gate to enable the first control signal to be applied to the first gate via the buried word line.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor including a gate insulator and a gate electrode on a substrate. The method further includes forming an interconnect structure including one or more interconnect layers on the substrate by performing first and second processes one or more times, the first process forming an interconnect layer on the substrate, and the second process processing the interconnect layer into an interconnect pattern. The method further includes annealing the substrate by irradiating the substrate with a microwave, after at least one interconnect layer included in the one or more interconnect layers is processed into an interconnect pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: Methods of forming contacts (and optionally, local interconnects) using an ink comprising a silicide-forming metal, electrical devices such as diodes and/or transistors including such contacts and (optional) local interconnects, and methods for forming such devices are disclosed. Electrical devices, such as diodes and transistors may be made using such printed contact and/or local interconnects. A metal ink may be printed for contacts as well as for local interconnects at the same time, or in the alternative, the printed metal can act as a seed for electroless deposition of other metals if different metals are desired for the contact and the interconnect lines. This approach advantageously reduces the number of processing steps and does not necessarily require any etching.

Abstract: Semiconductor device fabrication methods having enhanced control in recessing processes are provided. In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device or plurality of them, a structure is formed. The method includes preparing a limited amount of the structure having a depth of less than ten atomic layers for removal. Further, the method includes performing a removal process to remove the limited amount of the structure. The method repeats preparation of successive limited amounts of the structure for removal, and performance of the removal process to form a recess at an upper portion of the structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming first and second gate structures overlying the semiconductor substrate, and depositing a layer of a silicide-resistant material over the first and second gate structures and over the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming sidewall spacers from the layer of silicide-resistant material adjacent the first gate structure and removing the silicide-resistant material adjacent the sidewall spacers to expose the silicon substrate in a source and drain region. Still further, the method includes implanting conductivity determining impurities in the source and drain region, depositing a silicide forming metal, and annealing the semiconductor device to form a silicide in the source and drain region. The silicide-resistant material is not removed from over the second gate structure so as to prevent silicide formation at the second gate structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming contacts. A row of projections may be formed over a semiconductor substrate. The projections may include a plurality of repeating components of an array, and a terminal projection. The terminal projection may have a sacrificial material spaced from semiconductor material of the substrate by a dielectric structure. An electrically conductive line may be formed along the row. The line may wrap around an end of the terminal projection and bifurcate into two branches that are along opposing sides of the repeating components. The individual branches may have regions spaced from the sacrificial material by segments of gate dielectric. The sacrificial material may be removed, together with the segments of gate dielectric, to form a contact opening. An electrically conductive contact may be formed within the contact opening and directly against the regions of the branches.