Patent ID: 8349716

Claim:
A method of forming a semiconductor device, said method comprising: forming a semiconductor layer comprising a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region adjacent to said first semiconductor region, said first semiconductor region having a first conductivity type and said second semiconductor region having a second conductivity type different from said first conductivity type; forming a metal silicide layer on a surface of said first semiconductor region, said metal silicide layer comprising at least one pipe defect that extends through said first semiconductor region to said second semiconductor region; implanting a dopant into said metal silicide layer, said implanting being performed at a predetermined energy level such that said dopant remains in said metal silicide layer above said semiconductor layer; and after said implanting, performing an anneal process to cause said dopant within said metal silicide layer to migrate away from a top surface of said metal silicide layer toward an interface between said metal silicide layer and said semiconductor layer such that a peak concentration of said dopant is within a portion of said metal silicide layer bordering said interface, said portion comprising said at least one pipe defect and said dopant within said at least one pipe defect reducing junction leakage through said at least one pipe defect.