Methods of forming self-aligned contacts on finfet devices

Abstract

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a first sacrificial layer comprising amorphous silicon or polysilicon material around a fin in a lateral space between a plurality of laterally spaced apart gate structures that are positioned around the fin, performing a first selective etching process to remove a first sacrificial layer selectively relative to surrounding material so as to expose the fin in the lateral space, forming an epi material on the exposed portion of the fin, and forming a second layer of a sacrificial material above the epi material. The method also includes selectively removing the second layer of sacrificial material relative to at least the first layer of material to thereby define a source/drain contact opening that exposes the epi material and forming a self-aligned trench conductive source/drain contact structure that is conductively coupled to the epi material.