A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an interfacial layer surrounding at least one channel stack, forming a high-k dielectric layer surrounding the interfacial layer, and forming a metal gate layer surrounding the high-k dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a silicon layer over the metal gate layer and forming at least one additional metal layer over the silicon layer. The method further includes performing silicidation to transform at least a portion of the at least one additional metal layer and at least a portion of the silicon layer into a silicide layer. The metal gate layer, the silicon layer and the silicide layer form at least one gate electrode for a vertical transport field-effect transistor (VTFET).

Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a base substrate; forming gate structures over the base substrate; forming doped source/drain regions in the base substrate at two sides of each of the gate structures; forming an oxide layer on each of the doped source/drain regions; forming a metal layer on the oxide layer; and performing a reactive thermal annealing process, such that the metal layer reacts with a material of the oxide layer and a material of the doped source/drain regions to form a metal contact layer on each of the doped source/drain regions. The metal contact layer includes a first metal contact layer on the doped source/drain region, an oxygen-containing metal contact layer on the first metal contact layer, and a second metal contact layer on the oxygen-containing metal contact layer.

Methods for forming a semiconductor structure and semiconductor structures are described. The method comprises patterning a substrate to form a first opening and a second opening, the substrate comprising an n transistor and a p transistor, the first opening over the n transistor and the second opening over the p transistor. The substrate may be pre-cleaned. A ruthenium silicide (RuSi) layer is selectively deposited on the p transistor. A titanium silicide (TiSi) layer is formed on the n transistor and the p transistor. An optional barrier layer may be formed on the titanium silicide (TiSi) layer. The method may be performed in a processing chamber without breaking vacuum.

Structures for a field-effect transistor and fabrication methods for forming a structure for a field-effect transistor. The structure may include a gate electrode, a source/drain region formed adjacent to a vertical sidewall of the gate electrode, and a conductive link that couples the vertical sidewall of the gate electrode with the source/drain region.

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprises a step of ion-implanting a P-type impurity at a first dose amount to form semiconductor regions that are low concentration semiconductor regions of a high breakdown voltage P-type transistor, and a step of ion-implanting a P-type impurity at a second dose amount to form P.sup. semiconductor regions that are low concentration semiconductor regions of a low breakdown voltage P-type transistor and form a P-type impurity layer that is a resistance portion of a polysilicon resistor. The manufacturing method further comprises a resistance portion forming step in which a resistance portion of the polysilicon resistor is made thinner than terminal portions at both ends of the resistance portion, and the second dose amount is larger than the first dose amount.

Devices, structures, and methods thereof for providing a Schottky or Schottky-like contact as a source region and/or a drain region of a power transistor are disclosed. A power transistor structure comprises a substrate of a first dopant polarity, a drift region formed on or within the substrate, a body region formed on or within the drift region, a gate structure formed on or within the substrate, a source region adjacent to the gate structure, a drain region formed adjacent to the gate structure. At least one of the source region and the drain region is formed from a Schottky or Schottky-like contact substantially near a surface of the substrate, comprising a silicide layer and an interfacial dopant segregation layer. The Schottky or Schottky-like contact is formed by low-temperature annealing a dopant segregation implant in the source and/or drain region.

A microelectronic device is formed by forming a platinum-containing layer on a substrate of the microelectronic device. A cap layer is formed on the platinum-containing layer so that an interface between the cap layer and the platinum-containing layer is free of platinum oxide. The cap layer is etchable in an etch solution which also etches the platinum-containing layer. The cap layer may be formed on the platinum-containing layer before platinum oxide forms on the platinum-containing layer. Alternatively, platinum oxide on the platinum-containing layer may be removed before forming the cap layer. The platinum-containing layer may be used to form platinum silicide. The platinum-containing layer may be patterned by forming a hard mask or masking platinum oxide on a portion of the top surface of the platinum-containing layer to block the wet etchant.

Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a base substrate; forming gate structures over the base substrate; forming doped source/drain regions in the base substrate at two sides of each of the gate structures; forming an oxide layer on each of the doped source/drain regions; forming a metal layer on the oxide layer; and performing a reactive thermal annealing process, such that the metal layer reacts with a material of the oxide layer and a material of the doped source/drain regions to form a metal contact layer on each of the doped source/drain regions. The metal contact layer includes a first metal contact layer on the doped source/drain region, an oxygen-containing metal contact layer on the first metal contact layer, and a second metal contact layer on the oxygen-containing metal contact layer.

A semiconductor device with improved roll-off resistivity and reliability are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric overlying a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric, a gate silicide region on the gate electrode, a source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric, and a source/drain silicide region on the source/drain region, wherein the source/drain silicide region and the gate silicide region have different metal compositions.

Externally-strained devices such as LED and FET structures as discussed herein may have strain applied before or during their being coupled to a housing or packaging substrate. The packaging substrate may also be strained prior to receiving the structure. The strain on the devices enables modulation of light intensity, color, and electrical currents in some embodiments, and in alternate embodiments, enables a fixed strain to be induced and maintained in the structures.