Patent ID: 9595524
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method comprising: forming a first fin and a second fin on a substrate, the first fin neighboring the second fin, forming a gate structure over a first portion of both the first fin and the second fin, the gate structure not covering a second portion of both the first fin and the second fin; forming a first epitaxial layer surrounding the second portion of the first fin and a second epitaxial layer surrounding the second portion of the second fin, causing a gap between the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer, the first and the second epitaxial layers comprising silicon-germanium; forming a silicon cap layer in direct contact with the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer; depositing a first metal layer above and in direct contact with a top portion of the silicon cap layer until the gap between the first and the second epitaxial layers is closed, the first metal layer extends from the top portion of the silicon cap layer in direct contact with the first epitaxial layer to the top portion of the silicon cap layer in direct contact with the second epitaxial layer, a space remains below the first metal layer and between the first and the second epitaxial layers; depositing a second metal layer above and in direct contact with the first metal layer; conducting a laser-based anneal treatment on the first metal layer to promote a reaction between the top portion of the silicon cap layer and the first metal layer to form a continuous silicide layer that merges the first and the second epitaxial layers, the reaction takes place until substantially consuming the silicon cap layer and the first metal layer, wherein a portion of the continuous silicide layer between the first and the second epitaxial layers is substantially thicker than a portion of the continuous silicide layer in contact with the first and the second epitaxial layers; and removing the second metal layer from above the silicide layer.