Patent ID: 7737051

Claim:
A method of forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising: providing a Si substrate; forming a SiGe surface layer having an average Ge content less than about 10 at. % on the Si substrate, wherein the SiGe surface layer has a base portion in contact with the Si substrate and a surface portion; depositing a high-k dielectric layer onto the surface portion of the SiGe surface layer; forming an oxide layer between the high-k dielectric layer and the base portion of the SiGe surface layer by oxidizing the surface portion of the SiGe surface layer, the oxide layer being formed during one or both of said depositing and an annealing process after said depositing, wherein oxidizing the surface portion of the SiGe surface layer substantially prevents oxidation of the Si substrate during the depositing of the high-k dielectric layer or the annealing process, and wherein the base portion remains unreacted by the oxidizing; and forming an electrode layer on the high-k dielectric layer.