Abstract:
Contact openings are formed into a dielectric material exposing a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate. An interfacial oxide layer is then formed in each contact opening and on an exposed surface portion of the interfacial oxide layer. A NiPt alloy layer is formed within each opening and on the exposed surface portion of each interfacial oxide layer. An anneal is then performed that forms a contact structure of, from bottom to top, a nickel disilicide alloy body having an inverted pyramidal shape, a Pt rich silicide cap region and an oxygen rich region. A metal contact is then formed within each contact opening and atop the oxygen rich region of each contact structure.