GATE INTERFACE RELAXATION ANNEAL METHOD FOR WAFER PROCESSING WITH POST-IMPLANT DYNAMIC SURFACE ANNEALING

Defects and fixed charge in a gate dielectric near the gate dielectric-substrate interface are reduced by performing a gate dielectric relaxation anneal step prior to source-drain ion implantation, in which the wafer temperature is ramped gradually to near a melting temperature of the substrate equal to a peak post-ion implantation anneal peak temperature. The ramping rates are sufficiently gradual so that the gate dielectric is held above its reflow temperature for a significant duration.