Patent ID: 7544621
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of removing a metal silicide layer on a gate electrode in a semiconductor manufacturing process, the gate electrode being disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the gate electrode having a top surface coated with a metal silicide layer, a spacer being disposed on each side wall formed by the gate electrode and the metal silicide layer together, a silicon nitride cap layer covering the metal silicide layer, the spacers, and the semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer covering the silicon nitride cap layer, the method of removing a metal silicide layer on a gate electrode in a semiconductor manufacturing process comprising: performing a chemical mechanical polishing process to polish the dielectric layer using the silicon nitride cap layer as a polishing stop layer to expose the silicon nitride cap layer over the gate electrode; removing the exposed silicon nitride cap layer to expose the metal silicide layer; and performing a first etching process to remove the metal silicide layer on the gate electrode.