Patent ID: 7432181

Claim:
A method of forming self-aligned silicides, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a first area and at least a second area, wherein the second area comprises at least a contact hole; forming at least an isolation area on the substrate, wherein the first area and the second area are separated by the isolation area; forming at least a gate, at least a gate dielectric, at least a spacer, and at least a source/drain area on the substrate; forming a protective layer on the substrate and the isolation area after the gate, the gate dielectric, the spacer and the source/drain area are formed; patterning the protective layer such that the protective layer has a first opening on the first area and a second opening on the contact hole of the second area, wherein the protective layer covers the isolation area after the protective layer is patterned; and performing a self-aligned silicidation process to form silicides on the first opening and the second opening.