摘要:
A process implementing steps for determining encroachment of a spacer structure in a semiconductor device having thick and thin spacer regions, including a transition region formed therebetween. The method steps comprise: obtaining a line width roughness (LWR) measurement at at least one location along each thick, thin and transition spacer regions; determining a threshold LWR measurement value based on the LWR measurements; defining a region of interest (ROI) and obtaining a further LWR measurement in the ROI; comparing the LWR measurement in the ROI against the threshold LWR measurement value; and, notifying a user that either encroachment of the spacer structure is present when the LWR measurement in the ROI is below the threshold LWR measurement value, or that no encroachment of the spacer structure is present when the LWR measurement in the ROI is above the threshold LWR measurement value.
摘要:
A process implementing steps for determining encroachment of a spacer structure in a semiconductor device having thick and thin spacer regions, including a transition region formed therebetween. The method steps comprise: obtaining a line width roughness (LWR) measurement at at least one location along each thick, thin and transition spacer regions; determining a threshold LWR measurement value based on the LWR measurements; defining a region of interest (ROI) and obtaining a further LWR measurement in the ROI; comparing the LWR measurement in the ROI against the threshold LWR measurement value; and, notifying a user that either encroachment of the spacer structure is present when the LWR measurement in the ROI is below the threshold LWR measurement value, or that no encroachment of the spacer structure is present when the LWR measurement in the ROI is above the threshold LWR measurement value.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are described for fabricating metal gate electrodes (85, 86) over a high-k gate dielectric layer (32) having a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) in at least the NMOS device area by treating the surface of a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) with an oxygen-free plasma process (42) to improve photoresist adhesion, forming a patterned photoresist layer (52) directly on the rare earth oxide capping layer (44), and then applying a wet etch process (62) to remove the exposed portion of the rare earth oxide capping layer (44) from the PMOS device area.
摘要:
A method for forming a CMOS device in a manner so as to avoid dielectric layer undercut during a pre-silicide cleaning step is described. During formation of CMOS device comprising a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate surface, the patterned gate stack including gate dielectric below a conductor with vertical sidewalls, a dielectric layer is formed thereover and over the substrate surfaces. Respective nitride spacer elements overlying the dielectric layer are formed at each vertical sidewall. The dielectric layer on the substrate surface is removed using an etch process such that a portion of the dielectric layer underlying each spacer remains. Then, a nitride layer is deposited over the entire sample (the gate stack, the spacer elements at each gate sidewall, and substrate surfaces) and subsequently removed by an etch process such that only a portion of said nitride film (the “plug”) remains. The plug seals and encapsulates the dielectric layer underlying each said spacer, thus preventing the dielectric material from being undercut during the subsequent pre-silicide clean process. By preventing undercut, this invention also prevents the etch-stop film (deposited prior to contact formation) from coming into contact with the gate oxide. Thus, the integration of thin-spacer transistor geometries, which are required for improving transistor drive current, is enabled.
摘要:
Shallow trench isolation structures are formed without CMP by depositing a thick pad nitride and depositing oxide trench fill material such that: a) the material in the trenches is above the silicon surface by a process margin that allows for removal of trench fill in subsequent front end steps so that the final trench fill level is substantially coplanar with the silicon; and b) the oxide on the interior walls is easily removed, so that the pad nitride is removed in a wet etch.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are described for fabricating metal gate electrodes (85, 86) over a high-k gate dielectric layer (32) having a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) in at least the NMOS device area by treating the surface of a rare earth oxide capping layer (44) with an oxygen-free plasma process (42) to improve photoresist adhesion, forming a patterned photoresist layer (52) directly on the rare earth oxide capping layer (44), and then applying a wet etch process (62) to remove the exposed portion of the rare earth oxide capping layer (44) from the PMOS device area.
摘要:
A method and structure for an improved shallow trench isolation (STI) structure for a semiconductor device. The STI structure incorporates an oxynitride top layer of the STI fill. Optionally, the STI structure incorporates an oxynitride margin of the STI fill adjacent the silicon trench walls. A region of the oxynitride margin near the upper edges of the silicon trench walls includes oxynitride corners that are relatively thicker and contain a higher concentration of nitrogen as compared to the other regions of the oxynitride margin. The oxynitride features limit the STI fill height loss and also reduce the formation of divots in the STI fill below the level of the silicon substrate cause by hydrofluoric acid etching and other fabrication processes. Limiting STI fill height loss and the formation of divots improves the functions of the STI structure. The method of forming the STI structure is particularly compatible with standard semiconductor device fabrication processes, including chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), because the method incorporates the use of a pure silicon dioxide STI fill and plasma and thermal nitridation processes to form the oxynitride top layer and oxynitride margin, including the oxynitride corners, of the STI fill.
摘要:
A method of manufacture of a Super Steep Retrograde Well Field Effect Transistor device starts with an SOI layer formed on a substrate, e.g. a buried oxide layer. Thin the SOI layer to form an ultra-thin SOI layer. Form an isolation trench separating the SOI layer into N and P ground plane regions. Dope the N and P ground plane regions formed from the SOI layer with high levels of N-type and P-type dopant. Form semiconductor channel regions above the N and P ground plane regions. Form FET source and drain regions and gate electrode stacks above the channel regions. Optionally form a diffusion retarding layer between the SOI ground plane regions and the channel regions.
摘要:
A manufacturable way to recess silicon that employs an end point detection method for the recess etch and allows tight tolerances on the recess is described for fabricating a strained raised source/drain layer. The method includes forming a monolayer comprising oxygen and carbon on a surface of a doped semiconductor substrate; forming an epi Si layer atop the doped semiconductor substrate; forming at least one gate region on the epi Si layer; selectively etching exposed portions of the epi layer, not protected by the gate region, stopping on and exposing the doped semiconductor substrate using end point detection; and forming a strained SiGe layer on the exposed doped semiconductor substrate. The strained SiGe layer serves as a raised layer in which source/drain diffusion regions can be subsequently formed.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a method for forming self-aligned metal silicide contacts over at least two silicon-containing semiconductor regions that are spaced apart from each other by an exposed dielectric region. Preferably, each of the self-aligned metal silicide contacts so formed comprises at least nickel silicide and platinum silicide with a substantially smooth surface, and the exposed dielectric region is essentially free of metal and metal silicide. More preferably, the method comprises the steps of nickel or nickel alloy deposition, low-temperature annealing, nickel etching, high-temperature annealing, and aqua regia etching.