Patent ID: 6121138
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a metal silicide, comprising:forming a polysilicon gate conductor interposed laterally between a pair of silicon-based substrate regions;depositing nitride from a plasma source directly onto the polysilicon gate conductor and the pair of substrate regions to produce a sidewall surface of the deposited nitride extending substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate regions;removing a portion of the deposited nitride at a faster rate perpendicular to the substrate than parallel to the substrate, to clear the deposited nitride from an upper surface of the gate conductor and from the upper surface of the substrate regions exclusive of the substrate region immediately adjacent the polysilicon gate conductor, and to retain the deposited nitride as a nitride spacer immediately adjacent the polysilicon gate conductor, said retained deposited nitride comprising a nitride spacer having a sidewall surface extending substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate region;depositing a refractory metal in a collimated fashion at a faster rate perpendicular to the substrate than parallel to the substrate to allow said refractory metal to accumulate upon the upper surface of the polysilicon gate conductor and the upper surface of the substrate regions exclusive of the sidewall surface of the nitride spacer; andannealing said refractory metal to form a metal silicide immediately adjacent the upper surfaces of the polysilicon gate conductor and the substrate regions.