Method of forming performance optimized gate structures by silicidizing lowered source and drain regions

1. A method, comprising:

forming first type devices and second type devices on a substrate;

epitaxially growing source and drain regions within source/drain cavities of the first type devices and epitaxially growing source and drain regions within source/drain cavities of the second type devices;

etching back the source and drain regions for the first type devices to be in closer proximity to a channel region of the first type devices, while protecting the source and drain regions for the second type devices;

forming silicide regions on the etched back source and drain regions for the first type devices and the source and drain regions for the second type devices; and

removing a cap layer from the first type devices,

wherein the silicide regions for the first type devices are in closer proximity to the channel region than the silicide regions for the second type devices, and

wherein the removing the cap layer from the first type devices and the etching back of the source and drain regions for the first type devices is provided in a single masking process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the etching back of the source and drain regions for the first type devices comprises etch back processes with a mask protecting the source and drain regions for second type devices.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a cap layer on the first type devices to protect the first type devices during the etching back processes of the source and drain regions for the first type devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source and drain regions for the first type devices and the source and drain regions for the second type devices are doped with either N-type dopants or P-type dopants.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single masking process comprises forming a mask over the second type devices and removing the cap layer by an etching process followed by a second etching process to etch back of the source and drain regions so that they are recessed.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the etching process to remove the cap layer is an by an anisotropic etch process.

7. A method, comprising:

forming first type devices and second type devices on a substrate;

epitaxially growing source and drain regions within source/drain cavities of the first type devices and epitaxially growing source and drain regions within source/drain cavities of the second type devices;

etching back the source and drain regions for the first type devices to be in closer proximity to a channel region of the first type devices, while protecting the source and drain regions for the second type devices;

forming silicide regions on the etched back source and drain regions for the first type devices and the source and drain regions for the second type devices;

removing a cap layer from the first type devices and from the second type devices while protecting the first type devices; and

protecting the source and drain regions for the second type devices while removing the cap layer on the second type devices,

wherein the silicide regions for the first type devices are in closer proximity to the channel region than the silicide regions for the second type devices.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the protecting of the source and drain regions for the second type devices comprises:

forming a first mask over the source and drain regions for the first type devices and the second type devices;

forming a second mask over the first mask;

patterning the second mask over areas associated with the second type devices; and

etching the first mask until it reaches the cap layer on the second type devices and continuing with the etching until the cap layer is removed,

wherein the first mask has an etch rate that it is the same or substantially the same as the cap layer on the second type devices.