Patent ID: 6372644
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:forming a silicon gate electrode, having opposing side surfaces, on a silicon substrate with a gate insulating layer therebetween; forming silicon nitride sidewall spacers on the opposing side surfaces of the gate electrode leaving exposed adjacent surfaces of the silicon substrate; treating the silicon nitride sidewall spacers to form hydrogen passivated regions having reduced silicon with dangling bonds available for reaction with subsequently deposited nickel; depositing a layer of nickel on the gate electrode and exposed surfaces of the silicon substrate; and heating to react the layer of nickel with underlying silicon to form a layer of nickel silicide on the gate electrode and layers of nickel silicide on the exposed surfaces of the silicon substrate, wherein the hydrogen passivated regions prevent reaction of the nickel with silicon in the silicon nitride sidewall spacers.