Methods and apparatuses for processing substrates, such as during metal silicide applications, are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing an epitaxial layer on the substrate, depositing a metal silicide seed layer on the epitaxial layer, and exposing the metal silicide seed layer to a nitridation process to produce a metal silicide nitride layer from at least a portion of the metal silicide seed layer. The method also includes depositing a metal silicide bulk layer on the metal silicide nitride layer and forming or depositing a nitride capping layer on the metal silicide bulk layer, where the nitride capping layer contains a metal nitride, a silicon nitride, a metal silicide nitride, or a combination thereof.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first raised feature in a n-type channel field effect transistor (NFET) region on a substrate, a first doped epitaxial semiconductor material grown on the first raised feature, a first metal contact on the first doped epitaxial semiconductor material, a first metal nitride on the first metal contact, and a first ruthenium (Ru) metal plug on the first metal nitride. The device further includes a second raised feature in a p-type channel field effect transistor (PFET) region on the substrate, a second doped epitaxial semiconductor material grown on the second raised feature, a second metal contact on the second doped epitaxial semiconductor material, a second metal nitride on the second metal contact, and a second ruthenium (Ru) metal plug on the second metal nitride.

Approaches for silicon photonics integration are provided. A method includes: forming at least one encapsulating layer over and around a photodetector; thermally crystallizing the photodetector material after the forming the at least one encapsulating layer; and after the thermally crystallizing the photodetector material, forming a conformal sealing layer on the at least one encapsulating layer and over at least one device. The conformal sealing layer is configured to seal a crack in the at least one encapsulating layer. The photodetector and the at least one device are on a same substrate. The at least one device includes a complementary metal oxide semiconductor device or a passive photonics device.

High aspect ratio features are formed in a substrate using etching and deposition processes. A partially etched feature is formed by exposure to plasma in a plasma etch chamber. A metal-based liner is subsequently deposited in the partially etched feature using the same plasma etch chamber. The metal-based liner is robust and prevents lateral etch in subsequent etching operations. The metal-based liner may be deposited at temperatures or pressures comparable to temperatures or pressures for etch processes. The metal-based liner may be localized in certain portions of the partially etched feature. Etching proceeds within the feature after deposition without lateral etching in regions where the metal-based liner is deposited.

A method includes providing a structure having a substrate and a channel layer over the substrate; forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over the channel layer; forming a work function metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric layer; forming a silicide layer over the work function metal layer; annealing the structure such that a first portion of the work function metal layer that interfaces with the high-k gate dielectric layer is doped with silicon elements from the silicide layer; removing the silicide layer; and forming a bulk metal layer over the work function metal layer.

An ammonium fluoride gas may be used to form a protection layer for one or more interlayer dielectric layers, one or more insulating caps, and/or one or more source/drain regions of a semiconductor device during a pre-clean etch process. The protection layer can be formed through an oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride during the pre-clean etch process. The oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride causes an increased formation of ammonium fluoride, which coats the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) with a thick protection layer. The protection layer protects the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) during the pre-clean process from being etched by fluorine ions formed during the pre-clean process.

A memory circuit includes: (i) a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface, the semiconductor substrate having formed therein circuitry for memory operations; (ii) a memory array formed above the planar surface, the memory array having one or more electrodes to memory circuits in the memory array, the conductors each extending along a direction substantially parallel to the planar surface; and (iii) one or more transistors each formed above, alongside or below a corresponding one of the electrodes but above the planar surface of the semiconductor substrate, each transistor (a) having first and second drain/source region and a gate region each formed out of a semiconductor material, wherein the first drain/source region, the second drain/source region or the gate region has formed thereon a metal silicide layer; and (b) selectively connecting the corresponding electrode to the circuitry for memory operations.

A method includes providing a structure having a substrate and a channel layer over the substrate; forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over the channel layer; forming a work function metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric layer; forming a silicide layer over the work function metal layer; annealing the structure such that a first portion of the work function metal layer that interfaces with the high-k gate dielectric layer is doped with silicon elements from the silicide layer; removing the silicide layer; and forming a bulk metal layer over the work function metal layer.

Methods for depositing tellurium-containing films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a tellurium precursor and a reactant to form the tellurium-containing film (e.g., elemental tellurium, tellurium oxide, tellurium carbide, tellurium silicide, germanium telluride, antimony telluride, germanium antimony telluride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.

Low-resistivity dual silicide contacts for aggressively scaled semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device includes a first raised feature in a n-type channel field effect transistor (NFET) region on a substrate, a first n-type doped epitaxial semiconductor material wrapped around the first raised feature, a first metal silicide contact layer wrapped around the first n-type doped epitaxial semiconductor material, a second raised feature in p-type channel field effect transistor (PFET) region on the substrate, a second p-type epitaxial semiconductor material wrapped around the second raised feature, and a second metal silicide contact layer wrapped around the second p-type doped epitaxial semiconductor material. The first metal silicide contact layer can include a titanium silicide and the second metal silicide contact layer can include a ruthenium silicide.