Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a fin, wherein the sacrificial gate structure is comprised of a sacrificial gate insulation layer, a layer of insulating material, a sacrificial gate electrode layer and a gate cap layer, forming a sidewall spacer adjacent opposite sides of the sacrificial gate structure, removing the sacrificial gate structure to thereby define a gate cavity that exposes a portion of the fin, and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate cavity. One illustrative device disclosed herein includes a plurality of fin structures that are separated by a trench formed in a substrate, a local isolation material positioned within the trench, a gate structure positioned around portions of the fin structures and above the local isolation material and an etch stop layer positioned between the gate structure and the local isolation material within the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a gate group disposed in the first region of the substrate, the gate group including a plurality of cell gate patterns and at least one selection gate pattern, a first gate pattern disposed in the second region of the substrate, a group spacer covering a top surface and a side surface of the gate group, the group spacer having a first inflection point, and a first pattern spacer covering a top surface and a side surface of the first gate pattern, the first pattern spacer having a second inflection point.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a source region and a drain region, defining a first dimension from the source to drain; and a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate and partially interposed between the source region and the drain region. The gate stack includes a high k dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a first metal feature disposed on the high k dielectric layer, the first metal gate feature having a first work function and defining a second dimension parallel with the first dimension; and a second metal feature having a second work function different from the first work function and defining a third dimension parallel with the first dimension, the third dimension being less than the second dimension.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with a gate last, high-K/metal gate process with complete removal of the polysilicon dummy gate and with a gap having a low aspect ratio for the metal fill. Embodiments include forming a dummy gate electrode on a substrate, the dummy gate electrode having a nitride cap, forming spacers adjacent opposite sides of the dummy gate electrode forming a gate trench therebetween, dry etching the nitride cap, tapering the gate trench top corners; performing a selective dry etch on a portion of the dummy gate electrode, and wet etching the remainder of the dummy gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate. A memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells provided on the semiconductor substrate in an array direction. A selection gate transistor is provided on an end of the memory cell array, and is used to select the memory cells from the memory cell arrays. A dummy cell is provided between a gate electrode of one of the memory cells on the end of the memory cell array and a gate electrode of the selection gate transistor. The width of a gate electrode of the dummy cell in the array direction of the memory cells and the dummy cell is twice or more as large as the width of the gate electrode of one of the memory cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of reducing gate leakage in semiconductor devices such as transistors. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes performing an etching process to define a gate insulation layer of a transistor, wherein the gate insulation layer has an etched edge, performing an angled ion implantation process to implant ions into the gate insulation layer proximate the etched edge of the gate insulation layer and, after performing the angled ion implantation process, performing an anneal process.

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: In a manufacturing method, gate electrode materials and a hard-mask material are deposited above a substrate. First mandrels are formed on the hard-mask material in a region of cell array. A second mandrel is formed on the hard-mask material in a region of a selection gate transistor. First sidewall-masks are formed on side-surfaces of the first mandrels. A second sidewall-mask is formed on a side-surface of the second mandrel. An upper side-surface of the second sidewall-mask is exposed. A sacrificial film is embedded between the first sidewall-masks. A sacrificial spacer is formed on the upper side-surface of the second sidewall-mask. A resist film covers the second mandrel. An outer edge of the resist film is located between the first mandrel closest to the second mandrel and the sacrificial spacer. The first mandrels are removed using the resist film as a mask. And, the sacrificial film and spacer are removed.

Abstract: A semiconducting device with a dual sidewall spacer and method of forming are provided. The method includes: depositing a first spacer layer over a patterned structure, the first spacer layer having a seam propagating through a thickness of the first spacer layer near an interface region of a surface of the substrate and a sidewall of the patterned structure, etching the first spacer layer to form a residual spacer at the interface region, where the residual spacer coats less than the entirety of the sidewall of the patterned structure, depositing a second spacer layer on the residual spacer and on the sidewall of the patterned structure not coated by the residual spacer, the second spacer layer being seam-free on the seam of the residual spacer, and etching the second spacer layer to form a second spacer coating the residual spacer and coating the sidewall of the patterned structure not coated by the residual spacer.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor having insulated gate electrodes and insulated shield electrodes within trench regions includes forming dielectric stack overlying a substrate. The dielectric stack includes a first layer of one material overlying the substrate and a second layer of a different material overlying the first layer. Trench regions are formed adjacent to the dielectric stack. After the insulated shield electrodes are formed, the method includes removing the second layer and then forming the insulated gate electrodes. Portions of gate electrode material are removed to form first recessed regions, and spacers are formed within the first recessed regions. Enhancements regions are then formed in the gate electrode material self-aligned to the spacers.

Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to modern sophisticated semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same, wherein a reduced threshold voltage (Vt) may be achieved in HK/MG transistor elements that are manufactured based on replacement gate electrode integrations. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a first metal gate electrode material layer above a gate dielectric material layer having a dielectric constant of approximately 10 or greater. The method further includes exposing the first metal gate electrode material layer to an oxygen diffusion process, forming a second metal gate electrode material layer above the first metal gate electrode material layer, and adjusting an oxygen concentration gradient and a nitrogen concentration gradient in at least the first metal gate electrode material layer and the gate dielectric material layer.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, wherein a metal gate electrode therein may be formed without a void in a lower portion of the metal gate electrode. The method may include providing a substrate, forming a dummy gate electrode on the substrate, forming a gate spacer on the substrate to be contiguous to the dummy gate electrode, forming a first recess by simultaneously removing a portion of the dummy gate electrode and a portion of the gate spacer, the first recess having an upper end wider than a lower end, forming a second recess by removing the dummy gate electrode remaining after forming the first recess, and forming a metal gate electrode by depositing a metal to fill the first and second recesses.

Abstract: A memory device and a method of making the memory device are provided. A first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate, a floating gate is formed on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer is formed on the floating gate, a control gate is formed on the second dielectric layer, and at least one film, including a conformal film, is formed over a surface of the memory device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming a replacement gate structure with a gate electrode comprised of a deposited intermetallic compound material. In one example, the method includes removing at least a sacrificial gate electrode structure to define a gate cavity, forming a gate insulation layer in the gate cavity, performing a deposition process to deposit an intermetallic compound material in the gate cavity above the gate insulation layer, and performing at least one process operation to remove portions of intermetallic compound material positioned outside of the gate cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for manufacturing a floating gate memory device and the floating gate memory device thus obtained. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes providing a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, forming at least two trenches in the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, and, as a result of forming the at least two trenches, forming at least one elevated structure. The method further includes forming isolation regions at a bottom of the at least two trenches by partially filling the at least two trenches, thermally oxidizing sidewall surfaces of at least a top portion of the at least one elevated structure, thereby providing a gate dielectric layer on at least the exposed sidewall surfaces; and forming a conductive layer over the at least one elevated structure, the gate dielectric layer, and the isolation regions to form at least one floating gate semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating an inter dielectric layer in semiconductor device, a primary liner HDP oxide layer is formed by supplying a high density plasma (HDP) deposition source to a bit line stack formed on a semiconductor substrate. A high density plasma (HDP) deposition source is supplied to the bit line stack to form a primary liner HDP oxide layer. The primary liner HDP oxide layer is etched to a predetermined depth to form a secondary liner HDP oxide layer. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed to fill the areas defined by the bit line stack where the secondary liner HDP oxide layer is located.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a semiconductor substrate having an upper surface with a source region and drain region proximate thereto. A channel region is disposed in the substrate between the source region and the drain region. A gate electrode is disposed over the channel region and separated from the channel region by a gate dielectric. Sidewall spacers are formed about opposing sidewalls of the gate electrode. Upper outer edges of the sidewall spacers extend outward beyond corresponding lower outer edges of the sidewall spacers. A liner is disposed about opposing sidewalls of the sidewall spacers and has a first thickness at an upper portion of liner and a second thickness at a lower portion of the liner. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to sophisticated semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same, wherein the pitch between adjacent gate electrodes is aggressively scaled, and wherein self-aligning contact elements may be utilized to avoid the high electrical resistance levels commonly associated with narrow contact elements formed using typically available photolithography techniques. One illustrative embodiment includes forming first and second gate electrode structures above a semiconductor substrate, then forming a first layer of a first dielectric material adjacent to or in contact with the sidewalls of each of the first and second gate electrode structures.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate having a trench with a sidewall isolation. The sidewall isolation is removed in a portion of the trench. A gate dielectric is formed on the laid open sidewall. A gate electrode is formed adjacent to the date dielectric. The upper surface of the gate electrode is located at a depth d1 below the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate oxide is removed above the gate electrode. An isolation is formed simultaneously on the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate such that the absolute value of height difference d2 between the isolation over the gate electrode and the isolation over the semiconductor substrate is smaller than the depth d1.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for depositing metal-containing materials and compositions thereof. The methods include deposition processes that form metal, metal carbide, metal silicide, metal nitride, and metal carbide derivatives by a vapor deposition process, including thermal decomposition, CVD, pulsed-CVD, or ALD.

Abstract: A method of forming multiple different width dimension features simultaneously. The method includes forming multiple sidewall spacers of different widths formed from different combinations of conformal layers on different mandrels, removing the mandrels, and simultaneously transferring the pattern of the different sidewall spacers into an underlying layer.

Abstract: The likelihood of forming silicon germanium abnormal growths, which can be undesirably formed on the gate electrode of a strained-channel PMOS transistor at the same time that silicon germanium source and drain regions are formed, is substantially reduced by using protection materials that reduce the likelihood that the gate electrode is exposed during the formation of the silicon germanium source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming longitudinally elongated first lines and first sidewall spacers longitudinally along opposite sides of the first lines elevationally over an underlying substrate. Longitudinally elongated second lines and second sidewall spacers are formed longitudinally along opposite sides of the second lines. The second lines and the second sidewall spacers cross elevationally over the first lines and the first sidewall spacers. The second sidewall spacers are removed from crossing over the first lines. The first and second lines are removed in forming a pattern comprising portions of the first and second sidewall spacers over the underlying substrate. Other methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A disclosed semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first area, a gate electrode formed over the first area of the semiconductor substrate, a first active region formed in the first area of the semiconductor substrate at a lateral side of the gate electrode, a first silicide layer formed at least on a sidewall surface of the gate electrode in the first area, the first silicide layer is electrically connected to the first active region.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a transistor. A replacement gate stack is formed on a semiconductor layer, a gate spacer is formed, and a dielectric layer is formed. The dummy gate stack is removed to form a cavity. A gate dielectric and a work function metal layer are formed in the cavity. The cavity is filled with a gate conductor. One and only one of the gate conductor and the work function metal layer are selectively recessed. An oxide film is formed in the recess such that its upper surface is co-planar with the upper surface of the dielectric layer. The oxide film is used to selectively grow an oxide cap. An interlayer dielectric is formed and etched to form a cavity for a source/drain contact. A source/drain contact is formed in the contact cavity, with a portion of the source/drain contact being located directly on the oxide cap.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes forming a number of memory cells. The method also includes depositing a first dielectric layer over the memory cells, where the first dielectric layer is a conformal layer having a substantially uniform thickness. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. Together, the first and second dielectric layers form an interlayer dielectric without voids.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor gate. The apparatus includes, a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; a gate electrode located above a portion of the active region and a portion of the dielectric region; and a dielectric material disposed within the gate electrode, the dielectric material being disposed near the interface between the active region and the dielectric region. The method includes, providing a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; forming a gate electrode over the substrate, the gate electrode having an opening near a region of the gate electrode that is above the interface; and filling the opening with a dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming first and second gate structures over first and second regions of a substrate, respectively, forming spacers on sidewalls of the first and second gate structures, the spacers being formed of a first material, forming a capping layer over the first and second gate structures, the capping layer being formed of a second material different from the first material, forming a protection layer over the second region to protect the second gate structure, removing the capping layer over the first gate structure; removing the protection layer over the second region, epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material on exposed portions of the substrate in the first region, and removing the capping layer over the second gate structure by an etching process that exhibits an etching selectivity of the second material to the first material.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a gate structure. An atomic layer deposition (ALD) process is performed to deposit a spacer around the gate structure. The ALD process includes alternating flowing ionized radicals of a first precursor across the semiconductor substrate and flowing a chlorosilane precursor across the semiconductor substrate to deposit the spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a integrated circuit pattern. The method includes forming gate stacks on a substrate, two adjacent gate stacks of the gate stacks being spaced away by a dimension G; forming a nitrogen-containing layer on the gate stacks and the substrate; forming a dielectric material layer on the nitrogen-containing layer, the dielectric material layer having a thickness T substantially less than G/2; coating a photoresist layer on the dielectric material layer; and patterning the photoresist layer by a lithography process.

Abstract: A method for fabricating vertical channel transistors includes forming a plurality of pillars which have laterally opposing both sidewalls, over a substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on both sidewalls of the pillars; forming first gate electrodes which cover any one sidewalls of the pillars and shield gate electrodes which cover the other sidewalls of the pillars and have a height lower than the first gate electrodes, over the gate dielectric layer; and forming second gate electrodes which are connected with upper portions of sidewalls of the first gate electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first gate structure over an iso region of a substrate and a second gate structure over a dense region of the substrate. The dense region has a greater pattern density than the iso region. The first and second gate structures each have a respective hard mask disposed thereon. The method includes removing the hard masks from the first and second gate structures. The removal of the hard mask from the second gate structure causes an opening to be formed in the second gate structure. The method includes performing a deposition process followed by a first polishing process to form a sacrificial component in the opening. The method includes performing a second polishing process to remove the sacrificial component and portions of the first and second gate structures.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a MOS transistor is provided. A substrate has a high-k dielectric layer and a barrier in each of a first opening and a second opening formed by removing a dummy gate and located in a first transistor region and a second transistor region. A dielectric barrier layer is formed on the substrate and filled into the first opening and the second opening to cover the barrier layers. A portion of the dielectric barrier in the first transistor region is removed. A first work function metal layer is formed. The first work function metal layer and a portion of the dielectric barrier layer in the second transistor region are removed. A second work function metal layer is formed. The method can avoid a loss of the high-k dielectric layer to maintain the reliability of a gate structure, thereby improving the performance of the MOS transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes firstly providing a gate structure disposed on a substrate and a first nitride material layer disposed on the gate structure, secondly performing a protective step to modify the first nitride material layer in the presence of oxygen, then forming a second nitride material layer on the substrate, and later performing a removal step to remove the second nitride material layer without substantially slashing the modified first nitride material layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a three-dimensional semiconductor device includes forming a stacked structure, and the stacked structure includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. The method also includes forming a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the stacked structure such that the sacrificial spacer exposes a sidewall of the third layer, and recessing the exposed sidewall of the third layer thereby forming a recess region between the second and fourth layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced defect density is fabricated by forming localized metal silicides instead of full area silicidation. Embodiments include forming a transistor having a gate electrode and source/drain regions on a substrate, forming a masking layer with openings exposing portions of both the gate electrode and source/drain regions over the substrate, depositing metal in the openings on the exposed portions, forming silicides in the openings, and removing unreacted metal and the masking layer.

Abstract: A stratified gate dielectric stack includes a first high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric comprising a first high-k dielectric material, a band-gap-disrupting dielectric comprising a dielectric material having a different band gap than the first high-k dielectric material, and a second high-k gate dielectric comprising a second high-k dielectric material. The band-gap-disrupting dielectric includes at least one contiguous atomic layer of the dielectric material. Thus, the stratified gate dielectric stack includes a first atomic interface between the first high-k gate dielectric and the band-gap-disrupting dielectric, and a second atomic interface between the second high-k gate dielectric and the band-gap-disrupting dielectric that is spaced from the first atomic interface by at least one continuous atomic layer of the dielectric material of the band-gap-disrupting dielectric.

Abstract: A system and method for a memory cell layout is disclosed. An embodiment comprises forming dummy layers and spacers along the sidewalls of the dummy layer. Once the spacers have been formed, the dummy layers may be removed and the spacers may be used as a mask. By using the spacers instead of a standard lithographic process, the inherent limitations of the lithographic process can be avoided and further scaling of FinFET devices can be achieved.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device includes preparing a structure having a substrate, a planar semiconductor layer and a columnar semiconductor layer, forming a second drain/source region in the upper part of the columnar semiconductor layer, forming a contact stopper film and a contact interlayer film, and forming a contact layer on the second drain/source region. The step for forming the contact layer includes forming a pattern and etching the contact interlayer film to the contact stopper film using the pattern to form a contact hole for the contact layer and removing the contact stopper film remaining at the bottom of the contact hole by etching. The projection of the bottom surface of the contact hole onto the substrate is within the circumference of the projected profile of the contact stopper film formed on the top and side surface of the columnar semiconductor layer onto the substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a surrounding-gate silicon nanowire transistor with air sidewalls is provided. The method is compatible with the CMOS process; the introduced air sidewalls can reduce the parasitic capacitance effectively and increase the transient response characteristic of the device, thus being applicable to a high-performance logic circuit.

Abstract: A method for forming a split gate flash cell device provides for forming floating gate transistors. Each floating gate transistor is formed by providing a floating gate transistor substructure including an oxide disposed over a polysilicon gate disposed over a gate oxide disposed on a portion of a common source. Nitride spacers are formed along sidewalls of the floating gate transistor substructure and cover portions of the gate oxide that terminate at the sidewalls. An isotropic oxide etch is performed with the nitride spacers intact. The isotropic etch laterally recedes opposed edges of the oxide inwardly such that a width of the oxide is less than a width of the polysilicon gate. An inter-gate dielectric is formed over the floating gate transistor substructure and control gates are formed over the inter-gate dielectric to form the floating gate transistors.

Abstract: A thermally-grown oxygen-containing layer is formed over a control gate in an NVM region, and a high-k dielectric layer and barrier layer are formed in a logic region. A polysilicon layer is formed over the oxygen-containing layer and barrier layer and is planarized. A first masking layer is formed over the polysilicon layer and control gate defining a select gate location laterally adjacent the control gate. A second masking layer is formed defining a logic gate location. Exposed portions of the polysilicon layer are removed such that a select gate remains at the select gate location and a polysilicon portion remains at the logic gate location. A dielectric layer is formed around the select and control gates and polysilicon portion. The polysilicon portion is removed to result in an opening at the logic gate location which exposes the barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes performing heat treatment for activating impurities of a transistor having a gate electrode over a gate insulating film with a higher relative permittivity than a silicon oxynitride film or a silicon oxide film. In the heat treatment, a first heat treatment, in which a wafer surface is heated at a temperature of 800 to 1000° C. in 5 to 50 milliseconds by low-output flash lamp annealing or laser annealing, and a second heat treatment, in which the wafer surface is heated at a temperature equal to or more than of 1100° C. in 0.1 to 10 milliseconds by flash lamp annealing or laser annealing with a higher output than in the first heat treatment, are performed in this order.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a MOS transistor, includes forming a gate electrode material layer on a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, forming an etching mask on the gate electrode material layer, forming a gate electrode by patterning the gate electrode material layer such that a protective film that protects at least a lower portion of a side face of the gate electrode and a portion of the first insulating film, which is adjacent to the side face, is formed while the gate electrode material layer is patterned, forming a second insulating film on the semiconductor substrate on which the gate electrode is formed, and forming an interlayer insulation film on the second insulating film.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a corner transistor is described. An isolation structure is formed in a substrate to define an active region. A treating process is performed to make the substrate in the active region have sharp corners at top edges thereof. The substrate in the active region is covered by a gate dielectric layer. A gate conductor is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A source region and a drain region are formed in the substrate beside the gate conductor.

Abstract: A structure and method to create a metal gate having reduced threshold voltage roll-off. A method includes: forming a gate dielectric material on a substrate; forming a gate electrode material on the gate dielectric material; and altering a first portion of the gate electrode material. The altering causes the first portion of the gate electrode material to have a first work function that is different than a second work function associated with a second portion of the gate electrode material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, and a method of manufacturing the same, include a gate insulating film pattern over a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is formed over the gate insulating film pattern. A spacer structure is formed on at least one side of the gate electrode and the gate insulating film pattern. The spacer structure includes a first insulating film spacer contacting the gate insulating film pattern, and a second insulating film spacer on an outer side of the first insulating film spacer. The semiconductor device has an air gap between the first insulating film spacer and the second insulating film spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film transistor array panel includes: forming a first insulating layer on a substrate; forming an amorphous carbon layer on the first insulating layer; forming a second insulating layer on the amorphous carbon layer; forming an opening in the amorphous carbon layer by patterning the second insulating layer and the amorphous carbon layer; and forming a trench in the first insulating layer by etching the first insulating layer, the etching the first insulating layer using the amorphous carbon layer including the opening as a mask.

Abstract: A polishing method and a method for forming a gate are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate on a semiconductor substrate including a sacrificial oxide layer and a polysilicon layer which covers the sacrificial oxide layer, forming spacers around the dummy gate, and successively forming a silicon nitride layer and a dielectric layer covering the silicon nitride layer. The method further includes polishing the dielectric layer until the silicon nitride layer is exposed, polishing the silicon nitride layer on a fixed abrasive pad until the polysilicon layer is exposed by using a polishing slurry with a PH value ranging from 10.5 to 11 and comprising an anionic surfactant or a zwitterionic surfactant. Additionally, the method includes forming an opening after removing the dummy gate, and forming a gate in the opening. The method eliminates potential erosion and dishing caused in the polishing of the silicon nitride layer.