Abstract:
A sidewall spacer structure is formed adjacent to a gate structure whereby a material forming an outer surface of the sidewall spacer structure contains nitrogen. Subsequent to its formation the sidewall spacer structure is annealed to harden the sidewall spacer structure from a subsequent cleaning process. An epitaxial layer is formed subsequent to the cleaning process.
Abstract:
The present invention enables the production of improved high-reliability, high-density semiconductor devices. The present invention provides the high-density semiconductor devices by decreasing the size of semiconductor device structures, such as gate channel lengths. Short-channel effects are prevented by the use of highly localized halo implant regions formed in the device channel. Highly localized halo implant regions are formed by a tilt pre-amorphization implant and a laser thermal anneal of the halo implant region.
Abstract:
Dopant deactivation of source/drain extensions during silicidation is reduced by forming deep source/drain regions using a disposable dummy gate as a mask, forming metal silicide layers on the deep source/drain regions, removing the dummy gate and then forming the source/drain extensions using laser thermal annealing. Embodiments include angular ion implantation, after removing the dummy gate, to form spaced apart pre-amorphized regions, ion implanting to form source/drain extension implants extending deeper into the substrate than the pre-amorphized regions, and then laser thermal annealing to activate the source/drain extensions having a higher impurity concentration at the main surface of the substrate than deeper into the substrate. Subsequent processing includes forming sidewall spacers, a gate dielectric layer and then the gate electrode.
Abstract:
A MOSFET gate or a MOSFET source or drain region comprises silicon germanium or polycrystalline silicon germanium. Silicidation with nickel is performed to form a nickel germanosilicide that preferably comprises the monosilicide phase of nickel silicide. The inclusion of germanium in the silicide provides a wider temperature range within which the monosilicide phase may be formed, while essentially preserving the superior sheet resistance exhibited by nickel monosilicide. As a result, the nickel germanosilicide is capable of withstanding greater temperatures during subsequent processing than nickel monosilicide, yet provides approximately the same sheet resistance and other beneficial properties as nickel monosilicide.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a MOSFET semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode over a substrate and a gate oxide between the gate electrode and the substrate. Inert dopants are then implanted within the substrate to form amorphized source/drain regions in the substrate extending to a first depth significantly greater than the intended junction depth. The amorphized source/drain regions are implanted with source/drain dopants such that the dopants extend into the substrate to a second depth less than the first depth, above and spaced apart from the end-of-range defect region created at the first depth by the amorphization process. Laser thermal annealing recrystallizes the amorphous regions, activates the source/drain regions and forms source/drain junctions. Because the recrystallization front velocity towards the substrate main surface is greater than the dopant atom velocity in the liquid substrate during laser thermal annealing, the junctions are not pushed down to the amorphous/crystalline silicon interface. Thus, end-of-range defects are located in a region below and spaced apart from the junctions, and the defects are not located in the activated source/drain regions. Junction leakage as a result of the end-of-range defects is thereby reduced.
Abstract:
High quality dielectric layers, e.g., high-k dielectric layers comprised of at least one refractory or lanthanum series transition metal oxide or silicate, for use as gate insulator layers in in-laid metal gate MOS transistors and CMOS devices, are formed by electrolessly plating a metal or metal-based dielectric precursor layer comprising at least one refractory or lanthanum series transition metal, such as of Zr and/or Hf, on a silicon-based semiconductor substrate and then reacting the precursor layer with oxygen or with oxygen and the Si-based semiconductor substrate to form the at least one metal oxide or silicate. The inventive methodology prevents, or at least substantially reduces, oxygen access to the substrate surface during at least the initial stage(s) of formation of the gate insulator layer, thereby minimizing deleterious formation of oxygen-induced surface states at the semiconductor substrate/gate insulator interface.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode over a substrate, implanting dopants into the substrate and activating the dopants using laser thermal annealing. During annealing, the laser and substrate are moved relative to one another, and the movement of the laser and the substrate relative to one another does not pause between and during activating one portion of the source/drain regions and activating another portion of the source/drain regions. Each pulse from the laser can respectively irradiate different portions of the source/drain regions, and a spot area of the laser is less than 50 millimeter2.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit having a gate structure above a substrate that includes germanium utilizes at least one layer as a seal. The layer advantageously can prevent back sputtering and outdiffusion. A transistor can be formed in the substrate by doping through the layer. Another layer can be provided below the first layer. Layers of silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, titanium/titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, and silicon carbide can be used.
Abstract:
An n-type strained silicon MOSFET utilizes a strained silicon channel region formed on a silicon germanium substrate. Silicon regions are provided in the silicon geranium layer at opposing sides of the strained silicon channel region, and shallow source and drain extensions are implanted in the silicon regions. By forming the shallow source and drain extensions in silicon regions rather than in silicon germanium, source and drain extension distortions caused by the enhanced diffusion rate of arsenic in silicon germanium are avoided.
Abstract:
Nickel film formation is implemented by heating a deposition chamber during deposition of nickel on a substrate or between processing of two or more substrates or both. Embodiments include forming a nickel silicide on a composite having an exposed silicon surface by introducing the substrate to a PVD chamber having at least one heating element for heating the chamber and depositing a layer of nickel directly on the exposed silicon surface of the composite while concurrently heating the chamber with the heating element.