| abstract |
A method for forming a nickel silicide layer on a MOS device with a low carbon content comprises providing a substrate within an ALD reactor and performing an ALD process cycle to form a nickel layer on the substrate, wherein the ALD process cycle comprises pulsing a nickel precursor into the reactor, purging the reactor after the nickel precursor, pulsing a mixture of hydrogen and silane into the reactor, and purging the reactor after the hydrogen and silane pulse. The ALD process cycle can be repeated until the nickel layer reaches a desired thickness. The silane used in the ALD process functions as a getterer for the advantageous carbon, resulting in a nickel layer that has a low carbon content. The nickel layer may then be annealed to form a nickel silicide layer with a low carbon content. |