Integrated circuit with improved channel stress properties and a method for making it
First Claim
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1. A method for forming an integrated circuit comprising:
- forming a PMOS transistor structure and an NMOS transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate;
forming a silicate glass buffer layer on only the PMOS transistor structure or the NMOS transistor structure; and
forming and retaining a highly stressed etch stop layer on the silicate glass buffer layer and on both the PMOS transistor structure and the NMOS transistor structure, wherein the silicate glass buffer layer reduces stress transfer from the etch stop layer to the PMOS or NMOS transistor structure upon which the buffer layer is formed.
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Abstract
An integrated circuit is described that comprises a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor that are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A silicate glass layer is formed on only the PMOS transistor or the NMOS transistor; and an etch stop layer is formed on the silicate glass layer. Also described is a method for forming an integrated circuit. That method comprises forming a PMOS transistor structure and an NMOS transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate, forming a silicate glass layer on only the PMOS transistor structure or the NMOS transistor structure, and forming an etch stop layer on the silicate glass layer.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for forming an integrated circuit comprising:
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forming a PMOS transistor structure and an NMOS transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate; forming a silicate glass buffer layer on only the PMOS transistor structure or the NMOS transistor structure; and forming and retaining a highly stressed etch stop layer on the silicate glass buffer layer and on both the PMOS transistor structure and the NMOS transistor structure, wherein the silicate glass buffer layer reduces stress transfer from the etch stop layer to the PMOS or NMOS transistor structure upon which the buffer layer is formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for forming an integrated circuit comprising:
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forming a PMOS transistor structure and an NMOS transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate, the NMOS transistor structure having a gate electrode that has a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface; forming a silicate glass buffer layer on only the PMOS transistor structure; forming a highly stressed etch stop layer on the silicate glass buffer layer and along the first side surface and the second side surface of the gate electrode, and on the top surface of the gate electrode; and removing the etch stop layer from the top surface of the gate electrode, while retaining the etch stop layer along the first side surface and along the second side surface of the gate electrode, and retaining the etch stop layer on the silicate glass buffer layer, wherein the highly stressed etch stop layer transfers stress to the NMOS transistor structure, and wherein the silicate glass buffer layer reduces stress transfer from the etch stop layer to the PMOS transistor structure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification