Patent ID: 8916429

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, the first dielectric layer including two gate openings; subsequent to forming the first dielectric layer, respectively forming first and second metal gates in the gate openings of the first dielectric layer; forming first source/drain regions corresponding to the first metal gate on opposing sides of the first metal gate; forming second source/drain regions corresponding to the second metal gate on opposing sides of the second metal gate; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, the first and second metal gates, and the first and second source/drain regions; forming first and second openings in the second dielectric layer to respectively expose surfaces of the second metal gate and one of the first source/drain regions, without exposing the second source/drain regions, wherein formation of the first opening leaves a polymeric residue on the one of the first source/drain regions; and using a cleaning solution to remove the polymeric residue from the one of the first source/drain regions, wherein the cleaning solution includes at least one organic alkali, at least one an acid additive, an azole, and deionized water and wherein the cleaning solution has a pH that is greater than 7 and less than 9.