Abstract:
A disposable gate structure and a gate spacer are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A disposable gate material portion is removed and a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer and a metal nitride layer are formed in a gate cavity and over a planarization dielectric layer. The exposed surface portion of the metal nitride layer is converted into a metal oxynitride by a surface oxidation process that employs exposure to ozonated water or an oxidant-including solution. A conductive gate fill material is deposited in the gate cavity and planarized to provide a metal gate structure. Oxygen in the metal oxynitride diffuses, during a subsequent anneal process, into a high-k gate dielectric underneath to lower and stabilize the work function of the metal gate without significant change in the effective oxide thickness (EOT) of the high-k gate dielectric.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures, and particularly to a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a metal gate and methods of manufacturing the same. 
         [0002]    Controlling the threshold voltage of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is one of the challenges in manufacturing a metal gate MOSFET. Especially, providing a low threshold voltage for a p-type MOSFET having a metal gate has proven to be difficult for the gate first integration scheme, i.e., the conventional integration scheme in which the gate material is not subsequently replaced. 
         [0003]    The gate last integration scheme that employs a replacement gate remains an alternative. However, obtaining a material that provides effective work function corresponding to the valence band edge of silicon is still challenging. 
         [0004]    Efforts to alter the work function of a metal layer by conventional thermal oxidation have resulted in an increase in effective oxide thickness (EOT), which degrades the performance of a metal gate MOSFET. In order to provide optimal performance for a metal gate MOSFET, however, a combination of a metal gate material and a gate dielectric is required such that the metal gate material has a work function near a band gap edge of an underlying semiconductor material and the gate dielectric does not suffer from increase in EOT during processing sequences. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A disposable gate structure and a gate spacer are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A disposable gate material portion is removed and a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer and a metal nitride layer are formed in a gate cavity and over a planarization dielectric layer. The exposed surface portion of the metal nitride layer is converted into a metal oxynitride by a surface oxidation process that employs exposure to ozonated water or an oxidant-including solution. A conductive gate fill material is deposited in the gate cavity and planarized to provide a metal gate structure. Oxygen in the metal oxynitride diffuses, during a subsequent anneal process, into a high-k gate dielectric underneath to lower and stabilize the work function of the metal gate without significant change in the effective oxide thickness (EOT) of the high-k gate dielectric. 
         [0006]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided, which includes: forming a disposable gate structure and a planarization dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate cavity by removing the disposable gate structure selective to the planarization dielectric layer; forming a gate dielectric layer in the gate cavity and over a top surface of the planarization dielectric layer; forming a metal nitride layer on the gate dielectric layer; and converting a surface layer of the metal nitride layer into a metal oxynitride layer, wherein a stack of the metal oxynitride layer and a thinned metal nitride layer having a lesser thickness than the metal nitride layer is formed. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a semiconductor structure including a field effect transistor is provided. The field effect transistor includes a gate electrode, which includes: a U-shaped metal nitride layer; a U-shaped metal oxynitride layer contacting inner sidewalls of the U-shaped metal nitride layer; and a conductive metal portion located within the U-shaped metal oxynitride. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is vertical cross-sectional view of an exemplary semiconductor structure after formation of a disposable gate stack structure, a gate spacer, and raised source and drain regions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after deposition and planarization of a planarization dielectric layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after removal of the disposable gate stack structure and formation of a chemical oxide layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor after formation of a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer and a metal nitride layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after conversion of a surface portion of the metal nitride layer into a metal oxynitride layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after formation of a conductive material layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after planarization of gate materials from above a top surface of the planarization dielectric layer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the exemplary semiconductor structure after formation of a contact level dielectric material layer and various contact via structures according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As stated above, the present disclosure relates to a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a metal gate and methods of manufacturing the same, which are now described in detail with accompanying figures. Like and corresponding elements mentioned herein and illustrated in the drawings are referred to by like reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary semiconductor structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a semiconductor substrate  8 , which can be a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate including a stack, from bottom to top, of a handle substrate  10 , a buried insulator layer  20 , and a semiconductor layer including a top semiconductor layer  33 . 
         [0018]    The handle substrate  10  can be a semiconductor substrate including a single crystalline semiconductor material such as single crystalline silicon, a polycrystalline semiconductor material, an amorphous semiconductor material, or a stack thereof. The thickness of the handle substrate  10  can be from 50 microns to 1,000 microns, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. The buried insulator layer  20  includes a dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. The thickness of the buried insulator layer  20  can be form 50 nm to 500 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. The thickness of the top semiconductor layer  33  can be from 3 nm to 60 nm, and typically from 5 nm to 10 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0019]    The top semiconductor layer  33  includes various single crystalline semiconductor portions, which can include, for example, a body region  31 , a source extension region  32 , a drain extension region  34 , a planar source region  36 , and a planar drain region  38 . Shallow trench isolation structures  22  can be formed the top semiconductor layer  33  employing methods known in the art, e.g., by forming trenches extending from the top surface of the top semiconductor layer  33  at least to the top surface of the buried insulator layer  20 , filling the trenches with a dielectric material, and removing excess dielectric material from above the top surface of the top semiconductor layer  33 . 
         [0020]    The various single crystalline semiconductor portions ( 31 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ) in the top semiconductor layer  33  can be formed by introducing electrical dopants such as B, Ga, In, P, As, and/or Sb by ion implantation, plasma doping, and/or gas phase doping employing various masking structures as known in the art. Before implanting electrical dopants into various portions of the top semiconductor layer  33 , a disposable gate stack structure is formed. The disposable gate stack structure can include, for example, a vertical stack, from bottom to top, of a disposable gate dielectric  47 , a disposable gate material portion  57 , and a disposable gate cap dielectric  58 . 
         [0021]    The disposable gate dielectric  47  includes a dielectric material that can function as an etch stop layer during subsequent removal of the disposable gate material portion  57 . For example, the disposable gate dielectric  47  can include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. The disposable gate material portion  57  includes a material that can be removed selective to the disposable gate dielectric  47  and a gate spacer  62 , which includes a dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. The disposable gate cap dielectric  58  includes a dielectric material that can be removed selective to the gate spacer  62 . For example, the disposable gate dielectric  47  and the gate spacer  62  can include silicon oxide and the disposable gate cap dielectric  58  can include silicon nitride, or vice versa. The thickness of the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ) can be from 50 nm to 500 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0022]    The source extension region  32  and the drain extension region  34  can be formed, for example, by introducing electrical dopants into exposed semiconductor portions in the top semiconductor layer  33  employing the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ) as a masking layer. If the body portion  31  has a doping of a first conductivity type, the source extension region  32  and the drain extension region  34  have a doping of a second conductivity type, which is the opposite of the first conductivity type. 
         [0023]    The gate spacer  62  includes a dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. The gate spacer  62  can be formed, for example, by deposition of a conformal dielectric material layer and an anisotropic etch that removes horizontal portions of the conformal dielectric material layer. The remaining vertical portions of the conformal dielectric material layer constitute the gate spacer  62 . The thickness of the gate spacer  62 , as measured at the base contacting the top semiconductor layer  33 , can be from 10 nm to 120 nm, and typically from 20 nm to 60 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0024]    The source region  36  and the drain region  38  can be formed, for example, by introducing electrical dopants into exposed semiconductor portions in the top semiconductor layer  33  employing the combination of the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ) and the gate spacer  62  as a masking layer. The source region  36  and the drain region  38  have a same type of doping as the source extension region  32  and the drain extension region  34 . 
         [0025]    A raised source region  76  and a raised drain region  78  can be formed, for example, by selective epitaxy of a semiconductor material. In one embodiment, the raised source region  76  and a raised drain region  78  are in-situ doped with electrical dopants of the same conductivity type as the electrical dopants present in the source region  36  and the drain region  38  during the selective epitaxy. In another embodiment, the raised source region  76  and a raised drain region  78  are formed as intrinsic semiconductor portions, and are subsequently doped with electrical dopants of the same conductivity type as the electrical dopants present in the source region  36  and the drain region  38 . The thickness of the raised source region  76  and a raised drain region  78  can be from 2 nm to 200 nm, and typically from 5 nm to 80 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a planarization dielectric layer  80  is deposited over the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ), the gate spacer  62 , the raised source and drain regions ( 76 ,  78 ), and the exposed top surfaces of the top semiconductor layer  33 , for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The planarization dielectric layer  80  includes a dielectric material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. The planarization dielectric layer  80  is subsequently planarized so that a planar top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80  is coplanar with a planar top surface of the disposable gate cap dielectric  58  and a planar top surface of the dielectric spacer  62 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the planarization dielectric layer  80  includes a dielectric material that is different from the dielectric material of the disposable gate cap dielectric  58 . The disposable gate cap dielectric  58  is employed as a stopping layer during the planarization of the planarization dielectric layer  80 , for example, by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ) is removed selective to the planarization dielectric layer  80  and the gate spacer  62 . A gate cavity  59  laterally surrounded by the gate spacer  62  is formed in a volume from which the disposable gate stack structure ( 47 ,  57 ,  58 ) is removed. The inner sidewalls, which can be vertical sidewalls, of the gate spacer  62  are exposed after formation of the gate cavity  59 . 
         [0029]    Further, the top surface of the body portion  31  in the top semiconductor layer  33  can be exposed at the bottom of the gate cavity  59 . Optionally, a chemical oxide layer  49  can be formed on the exposed semiconductor surface of the body portion  31  by conversion of a surface portion of the semiconductor material in the body portion  31  into a dielectric material. For example, the body portion  31  can include single crystalline silicon, and the chemical oxide layer  49  can include silicon oxide which is formed by thermal oxidation, chemical oxidation, plasma oxidation of the surface portion of silicon in the body portion  31 . The thickness of the chemical oxide layer can be from 0.5 nm to 1.5 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a gate dielectric layer and a metal nitride layer  52 L are sequentially deposited in the gate cavity  59  and over a top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80 . The gate dielectric layer includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than 8.0, and is herein referred to as a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer  50 L. The high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L is deposited directly on the inner sidewalls of the gate spacer  62  and the top planar surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80 . If the gate spacer  62  includes a top planar surface, the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L is formed directly on the top planar surface of the gate spacer  62 . If a chemical oxide layer  49  is present, the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L is deposited directly on the top surface of the chemical oxide layer  49 . If a chemical oxide layer  49  is not present, the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L is deposited directly on the top surface of the body portion  31 . 
         [0031]    The high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L can include a dielectric metal oxide, which is a high-k material containing a metal and oxygen, and is known in the art as high-k gate dielectric materials. Dielectric metal oxides can be deposited by methods well known in the art including, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), molecular beam deposition (MBD), pulsed laser deposition (PLD), liquid source misted chemical deposition (LSMCD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), etc. Exemplary high-k dielectric material include HfO 2 , ZrO 2 , La 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , SrTiO 3 , LaAlO 3 , Y 2 O 3 , HfO x N y , ZrO x N y , La 2 O x N y , Al 2 O x N y , TiO x N y , SrTiO x N y , LaAlO x N y , Y 2 O x N y , a silicate thereof, and an alloy thereof. Each value of x is independently from 0.5 to 3 and each value of y is independently from 0 to 2. The thickness of the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L can be from 0.9 nm to 6 nm, and preferably from 1.0 nm to 3 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0032]    A metal nitride layer  52 L is deposited on the gate dielectric layer  50 L, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), or a combination thereof. The metal nitride layer  52 L includes a conductive metal nitride material, which can be, for example, titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, or tungsten nitride. The metal nitride layer  52 L can consist essentially of a metal element and nitrogen. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, the metal nitride layer  52 L is a stoichiometric metal nitride. For example, the metal nitride layer  52 L can have the composition of TiN, TaN, or WN in which the atomic percentage of metal atoms is 50% and the atomic percentage of the nitrogen atoms is 50%. In one embodiment, the metal nitride layer  52 L includes stoichiometric titanium nitride, i.e., TiN in which the atomic percentage of titanium is 50% and the atomic percentage of nitrogen atoms is 50%. 
         [0034]    The thickness of the metal nitride layer  52 L, as measured directly above a horizontal portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L within the gate cavity  59  and as measured immediately after formation, can be from 1.5 nm to 3.0 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. This thickness of the metal nitride layer  52 L is herein referred to as an original thickness. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a surface portion of the metal nitride layer  52 L is converted into a metal oxynitride layer  54 L. Thus, the metal nitride layer  52 L as originally deposited becomes a stack, from top to bottom, of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L and a thinned metal nitride layer  52 L. The metal nitride layer  52 L as thinned by conversion of the surface portion has a lesser thickness than the metal nitride layer than the original thickness of the metal nitride layer  52 L. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L can be formed by treating a physically exposed surface of the metal nitride layer  52 L with ozonated water. The treatment of the physically exposed surface of the metal nitride layer  52 L with ozonated water can be performed, for example, in a wet etch tank or in a sealed vessel configured to load the semiconductor substrate  8  and flow in ozonated water into the sealed vessel. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L can be formed by treating a physically exposed surface of the metal nitride layer  52 L with an oxidant-including solution. The oxidant-including solution is a solution that does not etch the metal nitride layer  52 L. The oxidant-including solution can be a hydroxide-including solution. For example, the oxidant-including solution can include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, or a combination thereof. 
         [0038]    The metal oxynitride layer  54 L includes a conductive metal oxynitride material, which can be, for example, titanium oxynitride, tantalum oxynitride, or tungsten oxynitride. The metal oxynitride layer  54 L can consist essentially of a metal element, nitrogen, and oxygen. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L is a stoichiometric metal oxynitride. For example, the metal nitride layer  52 L can have the composition of TiN 1-x O x , TaN 1-x O x , or WN 1-x , O x , in which the atomic percentage of metal atoms is 50% and the combined atomic percentage of the nitrogen atoms and the oxygen atoms is 50%. The value of x is a positive number that is less than 1.0. In one embodiment, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L includes stoichiometric titanium oxynitride, i.e., TiN 1-x O x  in which the atomic percentage of titanium is 50% and the combined atomic percentage of nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms is 50%. 
         [0040]    The thickness of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L is self-limiting because the presence of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L prevents further oxidation of the metal nitride layer  52 L once the thickness of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L reaches a critical thickness. The thickness of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L, as measured directly above a horizontal portion of the metal nitride layer  52 L within the gate cavity  59 , can be from 0.5 nm to 1.5 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. This thickness of the metal nitride layer  52 L as thinned can be from 1.5 nm to 2.5 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a conductive material layer  56 L is deposited in the gate cavity  59  and over the topmost surface of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L. The conductive material layer  54 L includes a conductive material, which can be a doped semiconductor material, a metallic material, or a combination thereof. The doped semiconductor material, if employed, can be doped polysilicon, doped polycrystalline germanium, a doped silicon-germanium alloy, any other doped elemental or compound semiconductor material, or a combination thereof. The metallic material can be any metallic material that can be deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), or a combination thereof. For example, the metallic material can include aluminum and/or tungsten. The thickness of the conductive material layer  54 L is selected to completely fills the gate cavity  59 . 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the conductive material layer  56 L can include a work function metallic layer (not shown separately). The work function metallic layer can include a metallic material that optimizes the performance of a field effect transistor by tuning the work function of the gate electrode. Metallic materials that can be included in the work function metallic layer  52 L include, but are not limited to, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, Cu, Os, Be, Co, Pd, Te, Cr, Ni, TiN, Hf, Ti, Zr, Cd, La, Tl, Yb, Al, Ce, Eu, Li, Pb, Tb, Bi, In, Lu, Nb, Sm, V, Zr, Ga, Mg, Gd, Y, and TiAl, alloys thereof, conductive oxides thereof, conductive nitrides thereof, and any combinations of the foregoing. 
         [0043]    The materials of the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L, the metal nitride layer  52 L, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L, and the conductive material layer  56 L are collectively referred to as gate materials. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the gate materials are removed from above a top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80  by planarization, which can be performed by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), recess etch, or a combination thereof. Thus, the portions of the conductive material layer  56 L, the metal oxynitride layer  54 L, the metal oxide layer  52 L, and the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L are removed from above the top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80 . A remaining portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L constitutes a U-shaped gate dielectric  50 , a remaining portion of the metal nitride layer  52 L constitutes a U-shaped metal nitride layer  52 , a remaining portion of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L constitutes a U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54 , and a remaining portion of the conductive material layer  56 L constitutes a conductive material portion  56 . 
         [0044]    The U-shaped gate dielectric  50  includes a horizontal portion contacting the chemical oxide layer  49  or a top semiconductor surface of the body portion  31  and vertical portions having vertical sidewalls that contact the gate spacer  62 . The U-shaped metal nitride layer  52  includes a horizontal portion contacting the horizontal portion of the U-shaped gate dielectric  50  and vertical portions contacting inner sidewalls of the U-shaped gate dielectric  50 . The U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  includes a horizontal portion contacting the horizontal portion of the U-shaped metal nitride layer  52  and vertical portions contacting inner sidewalls of the U-shaped metal nitride layer  52 . The conductive material portion  56  contacts the top surface of the horizontal portion of the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  and inner sidewalls of the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54 . 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the U-shaped metal nitride layer  52  can be a titanium nitride layer, a tantalum nitride layer, or a tungsten nitride layer. Correspondingly, the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  can be a titanium oxynitride layer, a tantalum oxynitride layer, or a tungsten oxynitride layer. 
         [0046]    The topmost surface of the U-shaped gate dielectric  50 , the topmost surface of the U-shaped metal nitride layer  52 , the topmost surface of the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54 , and the topmost surface of the conductive material portion  56  can be coplanar with the top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80  after planarization. The U-shaped metal oxide layer  52 , the U-shaped metal nitride layer  54 , and the conductive material portion  56  collectively constitute a gate electrode ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ) of a field effect transistor. The gate spacer  62  laterally surrounds the gate electrode ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ). The gate spacer  62  can have a top surface that is coplanar with the top surface of the planarization dielectric layer  80 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a contact level dielectric material layer  90  is deposited over the gate electrode ( 52 ,  54 ,  56 ) and the planarization dielectric layer  80 . The contact level dielectric material layer  90  includes a dielectric material that can be employed for forming metal interconnect structures therein. For example, the contact level dielectric material layer  90  can include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, organosilicate glass, or a combination thereof. The contact level dielectric material layer  90  can be deposited, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The thickness of the contact level dielectric material layer  90  can be from 50 nm to 500 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses can also be employed. 
         [0048]    An anneal can be performed to diffuse oxygen atoms out of the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54 , through the U-shaped metal nitride layer  52 , and into the U-shaped gate dielectric  50 . The anneal can be performed, for example, at a temperature from 400° C. to 800° C. for a duration between 1 minute to 24 hours. A furnace anneal or a rapid thermal anneal (RTA) can be employed for the anneal. 
         [0049]    Because the thickness of the metal oxynitride layer  54 L is self-limiting during the oxidation of the surface portion of the metal nitride layer  52 L, the amount of oxygen supplied from the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  into the U-shaped gate dielectric  50  during the anneal is limited. The amount of oxygen supplied provided by the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  is sufficient to compensate for oxygen deficiency in the U-shaped gate dielectric  50  that is caused by oxygen loss after deposition of the high-k gate dielectric layer  50 L, but is not excessive to cause any significant increase in the effective oxide thickness of the U-shaped gate dielectric  50 . Thus, the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  can cure any oxygen deficiency in the U-shaped gate dielectric  50  and prevent instability in the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor employing the U-shaped gate dielectric  50 , but does not cause any significant increase in the effective oxide thickness. The oxygen content in the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  decreases during the anneal, but does not become zero after the anneal, i.e., the U-shaped metal oxynitride layer  54  remains a metal oxynitride material portion after the anneal. 
         [0050]    Contact via holes are formed in the contact level dielectric material layer  90  and the planarization dielectric layer  80 , and are filled with a conductive material to form various contact via structures. The various contact via structures can include, for example, a gate contact via structure  95 , a source contact via structure  96 , and a drain contact via structure  98 . Various metal semiconductor alloy portions can be formed after formation of the various contact via holes and before formation of the various contact via structures ( 95 ,  96 ,  98 ), for example, by deposition of a metal layer, an anneal that induces reaction between the metal in the metal layer and underlying semiconductor materials, and removal of unreacted portions of the metal layer. The various metal semiconductor alloy portions can include, for example, a gate metal semiconductor alloy portion  85 , a source metal semiconductor alloy portion  86 , and a drain metal semiconductor alloy portion  88 . 
         [0051]    While the disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is evident in view of the foregoing description that numerous alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and the following claims.