Patent ID: 7432180

Claim:
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising the step of forming a nickel monosilicide layer selectively over a silicon region defined by an insulation film by a self-aligned process, said self-aligned process comprising the steps of: forming a metallic nickel film on a silicon substrate on which said insulation film and said silicon region are formed, such that said metallic nickel film covers said insulation film and said silicon region; forming a first nickel silicide layer primarily of a Ni 2 Si phase on a surface of said silicon region of said metallic nickel film by applying an annealing process to said silicon substrate; removing said metallic nickel film, after said step of forming said first nickel silicide layer, by a selective wet etching process; and converting said first nickel silicide layer to a second nickel silicide layer primarily of a NiSi phase by a thermal annealing process conducted in a silane gas.