Semiconductor device comprising self-aligned contact elements
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- forming a contact element laterally adjacent to a gate electrode structure so as to connect to one of a drain region and source region formed in an active region of a semiconductor device, said gate electrode structure comprising a placeholder electrode material covered by a dielectric cap layer;
wherein forming said contact element comprises;
forming a dielectric material above said drain and source regions and laterally adjacent to said gate electrode structure;
forming a contact opening in said dielectric material so as to expose at least a portion of said one of a drain region and a source region;
forming a sacrificial fill material in said contact opening;
performing a common removal process to remove said dielectric cap layer and a portion of said sacrificial fill material so as to expose a surface of said placeholder material; and
replacing said placeholder electrode material at least with a metal-containing electrode material in the presence of said contact element.
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Abstract
When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices, a replacement gate approach may be applied in combination with a self-aligned contact regime by forming the self-aligned contacts prior to replacing the placeholder material of the gate electrode structures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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forming a contact element laterally adjacent to a gate electrode structure so as to connect to one of a drain region and source region formed in an active region of a semiconductor device, said gate electrode structure comprising a placeholder electrode material covered by a dielectric cap layer; wherein forming said contact element comprises;
forming a dielectric material above said drain and source regions and laterally adjacent to said gate electrode structure;forming a contact opening in said dielectric material so as to expose at least a portion of said one of a drain region and a source region;
forming a sacrificial fill material in said contact opening;
performing a common removal process to remove said dielectric cap layer and a portion of said sacrificial fill material so as to expose a surface of said placeholder material; andreplacing said placeholder electrode material at least with a metal-containing electrode material in the presence of said contact element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19)
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13. A method, comprising:
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forming a dielectric layer laterally adjacent to a plurality of gate electrode structures formed above an active region of a semiconductor device; forming a contact opening in said dielectric material so as to connect to said active region; forming a sacrificial fill material in said contact opening; performing a common removal process to remove said dielectric material and at least a portion of said sacrificial fill material so as to expose a surface of a placeholder material; removing said sacrificial fill material in said contact opening; forming a contact element in said contact opening; and replacing said placeholder material of said plurality of gate electrode structures at least with a metal-containing electrode material after forming said contact element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification