Method for producing silicon nitride films and process for fabricating semiconductor devices using said method

Abstract

Silicon nitride film is formed on a silicon wafer mounted in a boat in an LPCVD tool by feeding a silicon source (SiH2Cl2, SiCl4, Si2Cl6, etc.) from an injector and feeding a mixed gas of monomethylamine (CH3NH2) and ammonia (NH3) as the nitrogen source from an injector. This addition of monomethylamine to the source substances for film production makes it possible to provide an improved film quality and improved leakage characteristics even at low temperatures (450-600° C.).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method for producing silicon nitride films and to a process for fabricating semiconductor devices using said method.

BACKGROUND ART

When the fabrication of silicon nitride film is carried out by the generally known low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) procedure using ammonia (NH₃) and a silicon source such as dichlorosilane (SiH₂Cl₂), tetrachlorosilane (SiCl₄), or hexachlorodisilane (Si₂Cl₆), a substantial deterioration in leakage characteristics and wet etching resistance is noted when the film production temperature declines below, for example, 600° C. It is thought that the generation of silicon-nitrogen bonds by reaction between the silicon source and nitrogen source is not promoted in such a low-temperature film-formation process and that the resulting occurrence of a large number of silicon dangling bonds in the silicon nitride film causes the deterioration in film quality.

The use of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) as nitrogen source in place of ammonia (NH₃) is described in, for example, Nonpatent Reference 1, with the goal of improving silicon nitride film quality. This article concerns an evaluation of silicon nitride film formation at 600-800° C. by hot-filament CVD and thermal CVD using monosilane (SiH₄) as the silicon source and monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) as the nitrogen source.

Monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) was selected for the nitrogen source in this study because the decomposition energy of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) is, at 3.4 eV (CH₃NH₂), less than the 4.48 eV (NH₂—H) of ammonia (NH₃). The result was a reduction in the hydrogen concentration in the film to ≦1×10²¹ cm⁻³ at a film-formation temperature of 600° C.

Patent Reference 1 describes a method for forming silicon nitride films at 400-650° C. by LPCVD using trimethylamine ((CH₃)₃N, an amine-type gas) for the nitrogen source and a silane-type gas. However, this method requires that the trimethylamine ((CH₃)₃N) be preheated to 500-700° C. due to its high heat capacity. It is also stated that an insufficiently nitridated silicon nitride film (refractive index: RI=2.9) is obtained when silicon nitride film production is carried out, for example, at 550° C., without this preheating.

[Nonpatent Reference 1]

Yasui et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 56(10), 5 Mar. 1990, p. 898-900, “Amorphous SiN films grown by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition using monomethylamine”.

[Patent Reference 1]

Japanese Laid Open (Unexamined or Kokai or A) Patent Application Number 2002-009072.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to Be Solved by the Invention

The silicon nitride films produced by LPCVD exhibit a very good coverage ratio and are broadly utilized in the fabrication of transistors (MOSFETs, etc.). However, their film properties undergo deterioration (deterioration in leakage properties, increase in impurities, etc.) when their production temperature is lowered for the purpose of reducing the thermal effects on the semiconductor device.

For example, when low-temperature silicon nitride film is produced by LPCVD using ammonia (NH₃) and a silicon source such as hexachlorodisilane (Si₂Cl₆), the lower film-fabrication temperatures are accompanied by a deterioration in leakage properties, a deterioration in the wet etching resistance, and a substantial increase in the levels of hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) in the film. It is thought that the generation of silicon-nitrogen bonds by reaction between the silicon source and nitrogen source is not promoted in the low-temperature film-formation process (for example, ≦600° C.) and that the resulting presence of a large number of silicon dangling bonds in the silicon nitride film is a cause of the deterioration in film quality.

In order to realize even lower thermal budgets when silicon nitride film is used for the sidewall film formed on the sidewall of the gate electrode of a semiconductor device or is used as the liner film elaborated prior to production of the interlayer dielectric film, a method is required that can produce high-quality silicon nitride film at high coverage ratios at film-formation temperatures ≦500° C., for example, at 450° C. However, issues with regard to a reduced electrical reliability by the semiconductor device are created by the deterioration in leakage characteristics and other problems that accompany lower film-formation temperatures.

Silicon nitride film production at a film-formation temperature ≦600° C. is not accomplished in Nonpatent Reference 1. With regard to Patent Reference 1, due to the use of trimethylamine the required film properties cannot be obtained without preheating the gas.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to improve the properties of low-temperature LPCVD silicon nitride films by improving, inter alia, their leakage properties and wet etch resistance by terminating the silicon dangling bonds present in low-temperature (450-600° C.) silicon nitride films with carbon that carries a carbon-hydrogen bond.

Means Solving the Problems

The present invention is characterized by the use for the formation of low-temperature silicon nitride film by LPCVD of ammonia (NH₃) as nitrogen source, monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) as the C—H bond-containing source, and Si-containing gas (e.g., monosilane (SiH₄), disilane (Si₂H₆), dichlorosilane (SiH₂Cl₂), tetrachlorosilane (SiC₄), hexachlorodisilane (Si₂Cl₆)) as silicon source. Disilazane ((SiH₃)₂NH) can also be used as a silicon source. When disilazane is used, it can be utilized not only for silicon, but also as a portion of the nitrogen source. Hydrazine (N₂H₄) can also be used as a nitrogen source.

The reason for the use of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) as the C—H bond-containing source in the aforementioned fabrication of silicon nitride film is that the 3.4 eV bond energy of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂), being less than the 4.48 eV bond energy of the ammonia (NH₂—H) used as the nitrogen source, enables degradation of the CH₃—NH₂ bond to occur to a satisfactory degree even at low temperatures. This enables the production of methyl (CH₃) that will terminate the silicon dangling bonds.

Gas other than monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) that contains methyl in the source substance can be used, such as dimethylamine ((CH₃)₂(NH)) and trimethylamine ((CH₃)₃N). It is also possible to use gas that contains a non-methyl alkyl group such as ethyl, propyl, butyl, and so forth.

This invention relates to a method for forming silicon nitride films and to a process for fabricating semiconductor devices using this method, as indicated in the following (1) to (18) which are described by claims 1 to 18.

(1) Method for forming silicon nitride film, that is characterized by the use of gas (monosilane, disilane, dichlorosilane, tetrachlorosilane, hexachlorodisilane, disilazane, etc.) that contains at least silicon in the source substance as silicon source and gas (ammonia, hydrazine, etc.) that contains at least nitrogen in the source substance as nitrogen source and by the additional use of gas that contains at least the carbon-hydrogen bond in the source substance.

(2) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of gas (monosilane, disilane, dichlorosilane, tetrachlorosilane, hexachlorodisilane, disilazane, etc.) that contains at least silicon in the source substance as silicon source and gas (ammonia, hydrazine, etc.) that contains at least nitrogen in the source substance as nitrogen source and by the additional use of gas that contains at least the methyl group in the source substance.

(3) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of gas that contains at least silicon in the source substance as silicon source and gas that contains at least nitrogen in the source substance as nitrogen source and by the additional use of gas that contains at least an alkyl group (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, etc.) in the source substance.

(4) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use in the aforementioned (1)-(3) of gas that contains at least nitrogen and methyl in the source substance as nitrogen source.

(5) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use in the aforementioned (1)-(3) of gas that contains at least nitrogen and alkyl (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl) in the source substance as nitrogen source.

(6) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of gas that contains at least nitrogen and methyl in the source substance as the gas described in (1) that contains at least the carbon-hydrogen bond in the source substance.

(7) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of gas that contains at least nitrogen and alkyl in the source substance as the gas described in (1) that contains at least the carbon-hydrogen bond in the source substance.

(8) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of gas that contains at least methylamine in the source substance as the gas described in (1) that contains at least the carbon-hydrogen bond in the source substance.

(9) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized in that the silicon nitride film formation described in (1)-(8) is carried out by low-pressure CVD.

(10) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized in that, when film formation is carried out using the source substances described in (1)-(5) to give silicon nitride film containing 0.7-1.3 nitrogen where the silicon component is designated as 1, said silicon nitride film contains 0.1-0.6 carbon.

(11) Method for forming silicon nitride film, characterized by the use of chlorine- and silicon-containing gas comprising dichlorosilane, tetrachlorosilane, or hexachlorodisilane as the silicon source described in (1) and the use of methyl- and nitrogen-containing gas comprising monomethylamine, dimethylamine, or trimethylamine as nitrogen source.

(12) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device in which a source region and a drain region separated by a gap are formed in a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode is formed above the channel region that is formed in the gap between the source region and drain region wherein the gate electrode is separated from the channel region by a gate dielectric film, a source electrode is formed on the source region, a drain electrode is formed on the drain region, and sidewall film comprising silicon nitride film is formed on the sidewalls of the gate dielectric film and gate electrode, said method being characterized by the use for formation of the sidewall film comprising silicon nitride of gas that contains at least silicon in the source substance as silicon source and gas that contains at least nitrogen in the source substance as nitrogen source and by the additional use of gas that contains at least the carbon-hydrogen bond.

(13) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device that characteristically uses low-pressure CVD for formation of the silicon nitride film as described in (12) wherein the silicon nitride film formation temperature is at least 450° C. but no more than 600° C.

(14) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device, characterized by the use of a metal silicide film for the source electrode and drain electrode described in (12).

(15) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device, characterized in that, after formation of the metal silicide film described in (14), a liner film comprising silicon nitride film is formed on the entire surface containing this metal silicide film and the gate electrode, wherein said liner film comprising silicon nitride film is produced using low-pressure CVD, gas that contains at least chlorine and silicon in the source substance as silicon source, and gas that contains at least methyl and nitrogen in the source substance as nitrogen source.

(16) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device that characteristically uses low-pressure CVD for formation of the silicon nitride film as described in (15) wherein the liner film comprising silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature of at least 450° C. but no more than 600° C.

(17) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device, characterized in that, after formation of the liner film comprising silicon nitride film as described in (15), an interlayer dielectric film is formed on the liner film; the interlayer dielectric film is selectively etched over the gate electrode, source electrode, and drain electrode; and metal is filled into the etched regions.

(18) Process for fabricating a semiconductor device, characterized by elaborating metal interconnects on the interlayer dielectric film after metal has been filled into the etched regions as described in (17) wherein the metal interconnects are connected with the metal fill.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention carries out silicon nitride film formation at low temperatures and thereby enables a reduction in the thermal budget from that imposed by the prior-art high-temperature production of silicon nitride films for semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs. In addition, by providing silicon nitride film with improved film properties, this invention provides improved reliability for the electrical properties of semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs.

As a particular matter, application of this invention to the sidewalls of a semiconductor device such as a MOSFET can improve the leakage characteristics for this sidewall and can suppress impurity diffusion into the gate dielectric film and gate electrode encompassed by the sidewall. This results in stabilization of the electrical properties of the semiconductor device, e.g., a MOSFET.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in the following with reference to examples.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 1 illustrates an LPCVD tool for executing the method according to the present invention for forming silicon nitride films. Silicon source (SiH₂Cl₂, SiCl₄, Si₂Cl₆, etc.) gas is fed into this LPCVD tool 10 from the injector 11; a mixed gas of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) and ammonia (NH₃) as nitrogen source is fed from the injector 12; and a silicon nitride film is formed on the silicon wafer 14 that is mounted in the boat 13 in the reaction compartment 15. Reference symbol 16 refers to an exhaust port.

The addition of the monomethylamine makes it possible to terminate the silicon dangling bonds with the methyl group and thereby enables an improvement in the film quality and leakage characteristics, etc., even at low temperatures (450-600° C.). While low temperatures (450-600° C.) are identified for the film-formation temperature, the film-formation temperature is not limited to these temperatures. That is silicon nitride film with good film properties and good leakage characteristics can be obtained even at film-formation temperatures below 450° C.

In specific terms, a silicon nitride film is formed on the silicon wafer 14 mounted in the boat 13 by the feed of a silicon source (Si₂Cl₆) from the injector 11 and the feed of a nitrogen source (CH₃NH₂+NH₃) from the injector 12 into the LPCVD tool 10.

The film-formation conditions here can be exemplified as follows: temperature=525° C. (midpoint temperature in the low-temperature range of 450-600° C.), pressure=1 torr, Si₂Cl₆ flow rate=2 cc, CH₃NH₂ flow rate=3 cc, and NH₃ flow rate=17 cc. The film properties of the silicon nitride film can as a consequence be improved due to the highly efficient reaction of the CH₃NH₂ and Si₂Cl₆, which are thoroughly decomposed at the film-formation temperature of 525° C. The film-formation conditions are not limited to the preceding, and, for example, temperatures of 450-600° C., pressures of about 0.2-5 torr, and gas flow rate ratios (Si₂Cl₆ flow rate/(CH₃NH₂+NH₃ flow rate)) of about 1/10 to 1/100 are desirable.

This low-temperature film formation provides increased device reliability because it provides an improved silicon nitride film quality without the application of excess heat to the semiconductor device during the device fabrication process.

Examples of the improved film quality are illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. The film-formation conditions are as follows: temperature=525° C., pressure=1 torr, Si₂Cl₆ flow rate=2 cc, and CH₃NH₂+NH₃ flow rate=20 cc.

FIG. 2 reports the results of a determination of the SiH concentration and NH concentration in the silicon nitride film by FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) measurement. The SiH+NH concentration is reduced in this figure in the range of 5-20% for the ratio CH₃NH₂/(CH₃NH₂+NH₃) between the monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) and ammonia in the nitrogen source.

FIG. 3 contains a comparative evaluation of the integrated value over temperature of the measured intensity of the amount of H₂O desorption from the silicon nitride film in TDS (thermal desorption gas analysis) analysis for 0%, 15%, and 25% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂/(CH₃NH₂+NH₃)).

This comparative evaluation shows that 15% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) provided less H₂O desorption than for the heretofore used 100% ammonia (NH₃) (0% for the monomethylamine ratio (CH₃NH₂/(CH₃NH₂+NH₃)), while 25% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) provided more H₂O desorption.

Therefore, in connection with the range shown in FIG. 2 of 5-20% CH₃NH₂ addition to NH₃ for the nitrogen source, this evaluation shows that the amount of moisture absorption from the atmosphere after silicon nitride film production is reduced by the addition of up to about 20% CH₃NH₂.

In similar fashion to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 contains an evaluation of the amount of HCl desorption from the silicon nitride film in TDS analysis for 0%, 15%, and 25% monomethylamine. This comparative evaluation shows that 15% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) provided less HCl desorption than for the heretofore used 100% ammonia (NH₃) (0% for the monomethylamine ratio), while 25% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) provided more HCl desorption.

Therefore, in connection with the range shown in FIG. 2 of 5-20% CH₃NH₂ addition to NH₃ (CH₃NH₂/(CH₃NH₂+NH₃)) for the nitrogen source, this evaluation shows that the amount of chlorine incorporated into the silicon nitride film is reduced by the addition of up to about 20% CH₃NH₂.

FIG. 5 reports the results of a determination of the IV characteristics of silicon nitride films produced on Si substrates in accordance with FIG. 1. With regard to this characteristic, the leakage current density is smaller for 15% CH₃NH₂, 85% NH₃ from low field to high field than for the heretofore used 0% CH₃NH₂, 100% NH₃. For example, while the leakage current density is the same at a field of 0-1 MV/cm, an improved leakage characteristic is provided by 15% CH₃NH₂, 85% NH₃ at a field greater than 1 MV/cm. It is thought that this improved leakage characteristic is due to a lower impurity level in the silicon nitride film and a better film quality for the silicon nitride film. 25% CH₃NH₂, 75% NH₃ provides an improved leakage characteristic at fields above 2 MV/cm, which, however, is not as significant as for 15% CH₃NH₂, 85% NH₃.

Therefore, considering FIGS. 2-4, the optimal addition of CH₃NH₂ is in the range up to about 20%.

FIG. 6 reports the relationship between the % monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) in the nitrogen source and the etch rate during wet etching with HF solution. One notes a relationship in which the etch rate declines as the % CH₃NH₂ increases. This is thought to be due to an increased resistance to etching by HF solution due to an increase in the density of the silicon nitride film generated by the carbon supplied from the CH₃NH₂. In particular, a sharp decline is noted during the increase in % CH₃NH₂ to 25%, and the optimal range is therefore up to about 20% considering FIGS. 2-5.

When silicon nitride film was produced under the conditions specified for Example 1, a substantial improvement in film quality was obtained for 5-20% monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) in the nitrogen source. When plotted against the concentration of carbon incorporated into the silicon nitride film, this range corresponds to 10-15% carbon in the film composition as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 reports experimental data taken at a film-formation temperature of 525° C. The carbon concentration here is about 0.1-0.6 C: 1 Si for a nitrogen/silicon ratio in the silicon nitride film brought to 0.7-1.3 (composition range obtained by varying the atomic ratio during CVD film formation).

It is thought that a primary factor for the improvement in film quality seen in FIGS. 2-5 is the termination of the silicon dangling bonds present in the silicon nitride film by the methyl group. Accordingly, while methyl was introduced into the silicon nitride film in this example using monomethylamine, the same results as in this example can be obtained by producing silicon nitride film with a 10-15% carbon concentration using a silicon source, nitrogen source, and a methyl-containing gas such as trimethylsilane ((CH₃)₃SiH).

EXAMPLE 2

FIGS. 8(a) through (d) contain process cross sections that illustrate an example of the application of the inventive silicon nitride film to a MOSFET (dielectric gate transistor).

As shown in FIG. 8(a), an element isolation region 72 comprising a dielectric (e.g., SiO₂) is formed on a silicon substrate 71 and a MOSFET 70 is formed in the region defined by the element-forming regions. This MOSFET 70 is constituted of source and drain extension regions 73a, 73b (denoted below as SD extensions) that have been ion-implanted with boron (B), a source region 74a and drain region 74b corresponding to these SD extensions, and a gate electrode 77 separated by an intervening gate dielectric film 76.

A channel region 75 is formed between the SD extensions in this MOSFET 70, while a sidewall film 78 is formed on the sidewall surfaces of the gate dielectric film 76 and gate electrode 77. This sidewall film 78 comprises Si₃N₄ film and is formed using the LPCVD tool shown in FIG. 1 and the production conditions given in Example 1 and a film-formation temperature around 500° C.

The gate dielectric film under consideration frequently has a two-layer structure in which the lower layer is SiO₂ film and the upper layer is formed of a high-k film such as HfO₂. The inventive silicon nitride film may be used for the lower film in these cases. A trilayer film may also be used in which the lower layer is SiO₂ film, the middle layer is the silicon nitride film, and the upper layer is a high-k film.

A polysilicon film, for example, is then formed on the source region 74a and the drain region 74b as shown in FIG. 8(b) and a nickel film, for example, is formed on the surface thereof to provide individual electrodes 79a and 79b comprising nickel silicide. The gate electrode surface is preferably also provided with a silicided electrode 79c.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8(c), a silicon nitride film 80 comprising, for example, Si₃N₄, is formed over the entirety of the silicided gate electrode, source electrode, and drain electrode. This silicon nitride film 80 forms a liner film; this liner film can be formed under the same conditions as in Example 1 to a thickness of about 50 nm. A relatively thick interlayer dielectric film 81 comprising SiO₂ is formed on this liner film 80.

As shown in FIG. 8(d), this interlayer dielectric film 81 is selectively etched to form openings that are filled with metal 82. This is followed by the elaboration of interconnects 83 of, for example, aluminum, thus completing the process.

While low-pressure CVD is preferred for production of the aforementioned silicon nitride film, the subject silicon nitride film can be produced by atmospheric pressure CVD or by some other technique such as, for example, plasma CVD or catalytic CVD.

Due to the addition in Example 2 of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) to the film-formation source substances used for fabrication of the silicon nitride sidewall film, the lateral leakage at the prior-art sidewall 88 shown in FIG. 9 is also eliminated and the concentrations of chlorine 86 and hydrogen 87 in the film are lowered. The additional use of the silicon nitride film for the liner film can provide a stable MOSFET that is also free of surface leakage. Moreover, use of the silicon nitride film as the lower layer in the gate dielectric film results in an extremely small source/drain leakage.

While Example 2 employed the addition of monomethylamine to the silicon and nitrogen sources in the production of the sidewall and liner films in a MOSFET, this addition can also be used with the dielectric films in SOI structures and the protective films on the device surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an LPCVD tool for executing the inventive method for forming silicon nitride films.

FIG. 2 contains a diagram that evaluates the SiH and NH concentrations (measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)) in silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 contains a diagram that evaluates the amount of H₂O desorption in TDS (thermal desorption gas analysis) from silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 contains a diagram that evaluates the amount of HCl desorption in TDS (thermal desorption gas analysis) from silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the IV characteristics of silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the wet etch rate of silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the carbon concentration (%) in the silicon nitride film versus the amount of monomethylamine (CH₃NH₂) added during formation of silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for fabricating a semiconductor device that contains silicon nitride film according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a semiconductor device that has been fabricated using a prior-art method for forming silicon nitride film.

Reference Symbols

10            LPCVD tool
11            silicon source (Si2Cl6) injector
12            injector for nitrogen source and carbon-hydrogen
              bond-containing source (NH3 + CH3NH2)
13            boat
14            silicon wafer
15            reaction compartment
16            exhaust port
70            MOSFET
71            silicon substrate
72            element isolation region
73a           source extension region
73b           drain extension region
74a           source region
74b           drain region
75            channel region
81            silicon substrate
76            gate dielectric film
77            gate electrode
78            sidewall film (silicon nitride film)
79a, 79b, 79c silicide electrode
80            liner film (silicon nitride film)
81            interlayer dielectric film
82            metal
83            interconnect
88            sidewall
86            chlorine
87            hydrogen

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A method which may be used for forming a silicon nitride film, said method comprising forming a silicon nitride film with a gaseous silicon source, a gaseous nitrogen source, and a gaseous carbon-hydrogen source, wherein: a) said silicon source comprises at least silicon; b) said nitrogen source comprises at least nitrogen; and c) said carbon-hydrogen source comprises at least one compound comprising a carbon-hydrogen bond.

20. A method which may be used for forming a silicon nitride film, said method comprising forming a silicon nitride film with a gaseous silicon source, a gaseous nitrogen source, and a gaseous methyl source, wherein: a) said silicon source comprises at least silicon; b) said nitrogen source comprises at least nitrogen; and c) said methyl source comprises at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

21. A method which may be used for forming a silicon nitride film, said method comprising forming a silicon nitride film with a gaseous silicon source, a gaseous nitrogen source, and a gaseous alkyl source, wherein: a) said silicon source comprises at least silicon; b) said nitrogen source comprises at least nitrogen; and c) said alkyl source comprises at least one compound comprising an alkyl group.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising an alkyl group.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising an alkyl group.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said nitrogen source further comprises at least one compound comprising an alkyl group.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said carbon-hydrogen source further comprises nitrogen and at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said carbon-hydrogen source further comprises nitrogen and a compound comprising an alkyl group.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein said carbon-hydrogen source further comprises methylamine.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming said silicon nitride film by low pressure CVD.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising forming said silicon nitride film by low pressure CVD.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising forming said silicon nitride film by low pressure CVD.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein: a) the ratio of the concentration of nitrogen to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.7:1 to about 1.3:1; and b) the ratio of the concentration of carbon to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 0.6:1.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein: a) the ratio of the concentration of nitrogen to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.7:1 to about 1.3:1; and b) the ratio of the concentration of carbon to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 0.6:1.

36. The method of claim 21, wherein: a) the ratio of the concentration of nitrogen to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.7:1 to about 1.3:1; and b) the ratio of the concentration of carbon to silicon in said silicon nitride film is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 0.6:1.

37. The method of claim 19, wherein: a) said silicon source comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: 1) dichlorosilane; 2) tetrachlorosilane; and 3) hexachlorodisilane; and b) said nitrogen source comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: 1) monomethylamine; 2) dimethylamine; and 3) trimethylamine.

38. A method which may be used for fabricating a semiconductor device, said method comprising: a) forming a gap in the semiconductor substrate, wherein said gap separates a source region and a drain region; b) forming a gate electrode above a channel region, wherein said channel region is located in said gap; c) separating said gate electrode from said channel region with a gate dielectric film; d) forming a source electrode on said source region; e) forming a drain electrode on said drain region; f) forming a sidewall film on both the sidewalls of said gate dielectric film and said gate electrode, wherein said sidewall film is formed with a gaseous silicon source, a gaseous nitrogen source, and a gaseous carbon-hydrogen source, wherein: 1) said silicon source comprises at least silicon; 2) said nitrogen source comprises at least nitrogen; and 3) said carbon-hydrogen source comprises at least one compound comprising a carbon-hydrogen bond.

39. A method which may be used for forming a silicon nitride film in a semiconductor device, comprising forming a silicon nitride film with a gaseous silicon source, a gaseous nitrogen source, and a gaseous carbon-hydrogen source, wherein: a) said silicon source comprises at least silicon; b) said nitrogen source comprises at least nitrogen; and c) said carbon-hydrogen source comprises at least one compound comprising a carbon-hydrogen bond.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said film is formed on a semiconductor device component, wherein said component comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a) the sidewalls of a gate dielectric film; b) a gate electrode; c) a source electrode; and d) a drain electrode.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein: a) said method further comprises forming said silicon nitride film by low pressure CVD; and b) said silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein said silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein said silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein said silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein: a) said method further comprises forming said silicon nitride film by low pressure CVD; and b) said silicon nitride film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein said source electrode and said drain electrode both comprise a metal silicide film.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising forming a liner film over both the entire surface of said metal silicide film and said gate electrode, wherein: a) said liner film is produced by low pressure CVD; and b) said liner film comprises a silicon nitride film, wherein said silicon nitride film is formed with a gaseous silicon source and a gaseous nitrogen source, wherein: 1) said silicon source comprises silicon and chlorine; and 2) said nitrogen source comprises nitrogen and at least one compound comprising a methyl group.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said liner film is formed at a temperature between about 450° C. and about 600° C.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising: a) forming an interlayer dielectric film on said liner film; b) selectively etching a region of said interlayer film, wherein said region comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: 1) a region of said gate electrode; 2) a region of said source electrode; and 3) a region of said drain electrode; and c) filling metal into said etched regions.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising creating metal interconnects on said interlayer dielectric film, wherein said interconnects are connected with said metal filled into said etched regions.