Self-aligned polycide process that utilizes a planarized layer of material to expose polysilicon structures to a subsequently deposited metal layer that is reacted to form the metal silicide

摘要

The process for forming a layer of metal silicide over polysilicon structures, such as gates and interconnect lines, is simplified by forming a layer of insulation material over the polysilicon structures, removing the layer of insulation material until the layer of insulation material is substantially planar and the thickness of the insulation material over the polysilicon structures is within a predetermined thickness range, etching the planarized layer of insulation material until portions of the polysilicon structures are exposed, depositing a layer of metal over the resulting structure, and then reacting the metal layer with the polysilicon structures to form the layer of metal silicide.