Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Hong-Yuan Chu

Kuei-Shun Chen

Hua-Tai Lin

Chih-Jian Chen

Shyue-Sheng Lu

A new and improved method for measuring dimensions of a photoresist pattern profile on a wafer substrate during photolithography for the fabrication of integrated circuits on the substrate. According to one embodiment, the method includes fixing the photoresist pattern profile on the substrate using a spin-on glass (SOG) procedure. In another embodiment, the method includes fixing the photoresist pattern profile on the substrate using a sputter oxide (SO) procedure. The fixed photoresist pattern is then subjected to a microscopy procedure, typically transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to measure the exact linewidth and other dimensions of the profile. The method prevents distortion of the profile during fixation and facilitates an accurate determination of the profile dimensions.

Methods for measuring photoresist dimensions

A method for forming salicides with reduced junction leakage including providing a semiconductor process wafer comprising a silicon substrate; inducing amorphization within the silicon substrate to a form a first amorphous region having a first predetermined depth measured from the silicon substrate surface; carrying out at least one first thermal annealing process to controllably partially recrystallize the first amorphous region to produce a second amorphous region having a second predetermined depth less than the first predetermined depth; depositing a metal layer over selected areas of the silicon substrate comprising the second amorphous region; and, carrying out at least one second thermal annealing process to form a metal silicide.

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Taichung, Taiwan

Hong-Yuan Chu