Patent attributes
In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a differential contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a first portion over a source/drain region and a second portion along a gate stack, the source/drain region being in a substrate, the gate stack being over the substrate proximate the source/drain region, a first thickness of the first portion being greater than a second thickness of the second portion; depositing a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the differential CESL; forming a source/drain contact opening in the first ILD; forming a contact spacer along sidewalls of the source/drain contact opening; after forming the contact spacer, extending the source/drain contact opening through the differential CESL; and forming a first source/drain contact in the extended source/drain contact opening, the first source/drain contact physically and electrically coupling the source/drain region, the contact spacer physically separating the first source/drain contact from the first ILD.
