STABILIZATION OF Ni MONOSILICIDE THIN FILMS IN CMOS DEVICES USING IMPLANTATION OF IONS BEFORE SILICIDATION

A method for forming a stabilized metal silicide film, e.g., contact (source/drain or gate), that does not substantially agglomerate during subsequent thermal treatments, is provided. In the present invention, ions that are capable of attaching to defects within the Si-containing layer are implanted into the Si-containing layer prior to formation of metal silicide. The implanted ions stabilize the film, because the implants were found to substantially prevent agglomeration or at least delay agglomeration to much higher temperatures than in cases in which no implants were used.