Patent ID: 6764912
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of passivating a silicon nitride spacer comprising the steps of:providing a semiconductor substrate having a horizontal surface; forming source and drain regions in the surface of the substrate; forming a gate electrode on the horizontal surface of the substrate between said source and drain regions, said gate electrode having a horizontal top surface and sidewalls; providing silicon nitride spacers on the sidewalls of the gate electrode; depositing a layer of silicon oxide having a thickness of between 20 and 40 Ã¥ over silicon nitride spacers and said horizontal surface of said semiconductor substrate and the horizontal top surface of said gate electrode; removing the silicon oxide layer over said horizontal surface of said semiconductor substrate and the horizontal top surface of said gate electrode; depositing nickel on said horizontal top surface of said gate and the horizontal surface of the substrate; and annealing to react the nickel with silicon in the horizontal top surface of the gate electrode and in the horizontal surface of the substrate to form a metal silicide on said horizontal surfaces.