Abstract:
A method includes providing a gate structure having a gate, a first spacer along at least one side of the gate and an interlayer dielectric on at least one of the gate and the first spacer. The interlayer dielectric is removed to reveal the first spacer. The first spacer is removed and a second spacer is deposited on at least one side of the gate. The second spacer is formed of material having a lower dielectric constant than the first spacer.
Abstract:
Semiconductor structures with reduced gate and/or contact resistances and fabrication methods are provided. The method includes: providing a semiconductor device, which includes forming a transistor of the semiconductor device, where the transistor forming includes: forming a T-shaped gate for the transistor, the T-shaped gate being T-shaped in elevational cross-section; and forming an inverted-T-shaped contact to an active region of the transistor, the inverted-T-shaped contact including a conductive structure with an inverted T-shape in elevational cross-section.
Abstract:
Greater planarity is achieved between surfaces of a conductive structure and a layer within which the conductive structure resides. A portion of the conductive structure protruding above the surface of the layer is selectively oxidized, at least in part, to form an oxidized portion. The oxidized portion is then removed, at least partially, to facilitate achieving greater planarity. The protruding portions may optionally be formed by selectively disposing conductive material over the conductive structure, when that the conductive structure is initially recessed below the surface of the layer. A further embodiment includes selectively oxidizing a portion of the conductive structure below the surface of the layer, removing at least some of the oxidized portion so that an upper surface of the conductive structure is below the upper surface of the layer, and planarizing the upper surface of the layer to the upper surface of the conductive structure.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a gate structure for a transistor. The gate structure is formed on a substrate and includes a trench. There are sidewalls that line the trench. The sidewalls have a first dimension at a lower end of the trench and a second dimension at an upper end of the trench. The first dimension being larger than the second dimension, such that the sidewalls are tapered from a lower region to an upper region. A high k dielectric liner is formed on the sidewalls and a conductive liner is formed on the high k dielectric liner. A conductive material is in the trench and is adjacent to the conductive liner. The conductive material has a first dimension at the lower end of the trench that is smaller than a second dimension at the upper end of the trench.
Abstract:
A dual-strained Si and SiGe FinFET device with dielectric isolation and a dual-strained nanowire device and methods of forming them are provided. Embodiments include a SiGe SRB formed on a silicon substrate, the SRB having a first region and a second region; a first and a second dielectric isolation layer formed on the first region and on the second region of the SiGe SRB, respectively; a tensile strained Si fin formed on the first dielectric isolation layer; a compressive strained SiGe fin formed on the second dielectric isolation layer; first source/drain regions formed at opposite sides of the tensile strained Si fin; second source/drain regions formed at opposite sides of the compressive strained SiGe fin; a first RMG formed between the first source/drain regions; and a second RMG formed between the second source/drain regions.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit structure and the CMOS integrated circuit structure. The method includes creating one or more n-type wells, creating one or more p-type wells, creating one or more pFET source-drains embedded in each of the one or more n-type wells, creating one or more nFET source-drains embedded in each of the one or more p-type wells, creating a pFET contact overlaying each of the one or more pFET source-drains, and creating an nFET contact overlaying each of the one or more nFET source-drains. A material of each of the one or more pFET source-drains includes silicon doped with a p-type material; a material of each of the one or more nFET source-drains includes silicon doped with an n-type material; a material of each pFET contact includes nickel silicide; and a material of each nFET contact comprises titanium silicide.
Abstract:
A methodology for forming a self-aligned contact (SAC) that exhibits reduced likelihood of a contact-to-gate short circuit failure and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments may include forming a replacement metal gate, with spacers at opposite sides thereof, on a substrate, forming a recess in an upper surface of the spacers along outer edges of the replacement metal gate, and forming an aluminum nitride (AlN) cap over the metal gate and in the recess.
Abstract:
Tapered source and drain contacts for use in an epitaxial FinFET prevent short circuits and damage to parts of the FinFET during contact processing, thus improving device reliability. The inventive contacts feature tapered sidewalls and a pedestal where electrical contact is made to fins in the source and drain regions. The pedestal also provides greater contact area to the fins, which are augmented by extensions. Raised isolation regions define a valley around the fins. During source/drain contact formation, the valley is lined with a conformal barrier that also covers the fins themselves. The barrier protects underlying local oxide and adjacent isolation regions against gouging while forming the contact. The valley is filled with an amorphous silicon layer that protects the epitaxial fin material from damage during contact formation. A simple tapered structure is used for the gate contact.
Abstract:
A modified silicon substrate having a substantially defect-free strain relaxed buffer layer of SiGe is suitable for use as a foundation on which to construct a high performance CMOS FinFET device. The substantially defect-free SiGe strain-relaxed buffer layer can be formed by making cuts in, or segmenting, a strained epitaxial film, causing edges of the film segments to experience an elastic strain relaxation. When the segments are small enough, the overall film is relaxed so that the film is substantially without dislocation defects. Once the substantially defect-free strain-relaxed buffer layer is formed, strained channel layers can be grown epitaxially from the relaxed SRB layer. The strained channel layers are then patterned to create fins for a FinFET device. In one embodiment, dual strained channel layers are formed—a tensilely strained layer for NFET devices, and a compressively strained layer for PFET devices.
Abstract:
A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming, above a substrate, first and second semiconductor regions laterally adjacent one another and each including a first semiconductor material. The first semiconductor region may have a greater vertical thickness than the second semiconductor region and define a sidewall with the second semiconductor region. The method may further include forming a spacer above the second semiconductor region and adjacent the sidewall, and forming a third semiconductor region above the second semiconductor region and adjacent the spacer, with the second semiconductor region including a second semiconductor material different than the first semiconductor material. The method may also include removing the spacer and portions of the first semiconductor material beneath the spacer, forming a first set of fins from the first semiconductor region, and forming a second set of fins from the second and third semiconductor regions.