摘要:
A method and a semiconductor device are provided in which respective contact layers having a specific intrinsic stress may be directly formed on respective metal silicide regions without undue metal silicide degradation during an etch process for removing an unwanted portion of an initially deposited contact layer. Moreover, due to the inventive concept, the strain-inducing contact layers may be formed directly on the respective substantially L-shaped spacer elements, thereby enhancing even more the stress transfer mechanism.
摘要:
Disclosed herein are various methods of forming metal silicide regions on semiconductor devices. In one example, the method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a semiconducting substrate, performing a selective metal silicide formation process to form metal silicide regions in source/drain regions formed in or above the substrate, after forming the metal silicide regions, removing the sacrificial gate structure to define a gate opening and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate opening, the replacement gate structure comprised of at least one metal layer.
摘要:
During a manufacturing sequence for forming a sophisticated high-k metal gate structure, a cover layer, such as a silicon layer, may be deposited on a metal cap layer in an in situ process in order to enhance integrity of the metal cap layer. The cover layer may provide superior integrity during the further processing, for instance in view of performing wet chemical cleaning processes and the subsequent deposition of a silicon gate material.
摘要:
When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including complementary transistors having a reduced gate length, the individual transistor characteristics may be adjusted on the basis of individually provided semiconductor alloys, such as a silicon/germanium alloy for P-channel transistors and a silicon/phosphorous semiconductor alloy forN-channel transistors. To this end, a superior hard mask patterning regime may be applied in order to provide compatibility with sophisticated replacement gate approaches, while avoiding undue process non-uniformities, in particular with respect to the removal of a dielectric cap layer.
摘要:
When forming sophisticated gate electrode structures, such as high-k metal gate electrode structures, an appropriate encapsulation may be achieved, while also undue material loss of a strain-inducing semiconductor material that is provided in one type of transistor may be avoided. To this end, the patterning of the protective spacer structure prior to depositing the strain-inducing semiconductor material may be achieved for each type of transistor on the basis of the same process flow, while, after the deposition of the strain-inducing semiconductor material, an etch stop layer may be provided so as to preserve integrity of the active regions.
摘要:
By providing a test structure for evaluating the patterning process and/or the epitaxial growth process for forming embedded semiconductor alloys in sophisticated semiconductor devices, enhanced statistical relevance in combination with reduced test time may be accomplished.
摘要:
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed in an early manufacturing stage with superior integrity of sensitive gate materials by providing an additional liner material after the selective deposition of a strain-inducing semiconductor material in selected active regions. Moreover, the dielectric cap materials of the gate electrode structures may be removed on the basis of a process flow that significantly reduces the degree of material erosion in isolation regions and active regions by avoiding the patterning and removal of any sacrificial oxide spacers.
摘要:
A silicon dioxide material may be provided in sophisticated semiconductor devices in the form of a double liner including an undoped silicon dioxide material in combination with a high density plasma silicon dioxide, thereby providing reduced dependency on pattern density. In some illustrative embodiments, the silicon dioxide double liner may be used as a spacer material and as a hard mask material in process strategies for incorporating a strain-inducing semiconductor material.
摘要:
When forming the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy in one type of transistor of a sophisticated semiconductor device, superior thickness uniformity of a dielectric cap material of the gate electrode structures may be achieved by forming encapsulating spacer elements on each gate electrode structure and providing an additional hard mask material. Consequently, in particular, in sophisticated replacement gate approaches, the dielectric cap material may be efficiently removed in a later manufacturing stage, thereby avoiding any irregularities upon replacing the semiconductor material by an electrode metal.
摘要:
In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.