A method includes forming a silicon cap layer on a semiconductor fin, forming an interfacial layer over the silicon cap layer, forming a high-k gate dielectric over the interfacial layer, and forming a scavenging metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric. An anneal is then performed on the silicon cap layer, the interfacial layer, the high-k gate dielectric, and the scavenging metal layer. A filling metal is deposited over the high-k gate dielectric.

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region, a gate structure over the channel region, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer proximate the gate structure, an ILD stress layer proximate the top portion of gate structure and over the ILD layer. The gate structure includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a top portion. A first stress memorization region is also provided. The first stress memorization region is proximate the top portion of the gate structure. A method of making a semiconductor device is also provided.

A manufacturing method of a metal gate structure is provided. First, a substrate covered by an interlayer dielectric is provided. A gate trench is formed in the interlayer dielectric, wherein a gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate trench. A silicon-containing work function layer is formed on the gate dielectric layer in the gate trench. Finally, the gate trench is filled up with a conductive metal layer.

An integrated circuit and method with dual stress liners and with NMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that is longer than the minimum design rule and with PMOS transistors with gate overhang of active that are not longer than the minimum design rule.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of mask patterns comprising a real mask pattern and a dummy mask pattern on a substrate, removing the dummy mask pattern and etching the substrate using the real mask pattern as a mask to form a first trench, a second trench, and a fin-type pattern defined by the first trench and the second trench. The second trench contacting the fin-type pattern comprises a smooth pattern which is convex and positioned between a bottom surface and a side surface of the second trench, a first concave portion which is positioned between the side surface of the second trench and the smooth pattern, and a second concave portion which is positioned between the convex portion and the bottom surface of the second trench.

Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor fabrication method and a structure for strained transistors. A method comprises forming a stressor layer over a MOS transistor. The stressor layer is selectively etched over the gate electrode, thereby affecting strain conditions within the MOSFET channel region. An NMOS transistor may have a tensile stressor layer, and a PMOS transistor may have compressive stressor layer.

Some embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses and methods relating to NMOS and PMOS transistor strain.

A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including at least one first circuit element including a first semiconductor material and at least one second circuit element including a second semiconductor material. A dielectric layer having an intrinsic stress is formed that includes a first portion over the at least one first circuit element and a second portion over the at least one second circuit element. A first annealing process is performed, wherein an intrinsic stress is created at least in the first semiconductor material by stress memorization, and thereafter the first portion of the dielectric layer is removed. A layer of a metal is formed, and a second annealing process is performed, wherein the metal and the first semiconductor material react chemically to form a silicide. The second portion of the dielectric layer substantially prevents a chemical reaction between the second semiconductor material and the metal.

A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a gate stack formed on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a protection layer doped with a quadrivalent element to cover a first doped region formed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the gate stack. The method further includes forming a main spacer layer on a sidewall of the gate stack to cover the protection layer and forming an insulating layer over the protection layer. In addition, the method includes forming an opening in the insulating layer to expose a second doped region formed in the semiconductor substrate and forming one contact in the opening.

The present description relates the formation of a first level interlayer dielectric material layer within a non-planar transistor, which may be formed by a spin-on coating technique followed by oxidation and annealing. The first level interlayer dielectric material layer may be substantially void free and may exert a tensile strain on the source/drain regions of the non-planar transistor.