Abstract:
A dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin prior to formation of a disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner protects the semiconductor fin during the pattering of the disposable gate structure and a gate spacer. The dielectric metal compound liner can be removed prior to formation of source and drain regions and a replacement gate structure. Alternately, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a gate stack, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer. Further, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a disposable gate structure, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer and removal of the disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner can protect the semiconductor fin during formation of the gate spacer in each embodiment.
Abstract:
One method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of fin-formation trenches in a substrate that defines a plurality of fins, wherein at least one of the fins is a dummy fin, forming an insulating material that fills at least a portion of the trenches, forming a recess in a masking layer formed above the insulating material, forming a sidewall spacer on sidewalls of the recess so as to define a spacer opening, performing at least one first etching process on the masking layer through the spacer opening to define an opening in the masking layer that exposes a portion of the insulating material and the dummy fin, and performing at least one second etching process to remove at least a portion of the dummy fin and thereby define an opening in the insulating material.
Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes removing a portion of a sacrificial sidewall spacer to thereby expose at least a portion of the sidewalls of a sacrificial gate electrode and forming a liner layer on the exposed sidewalls of the sacrificial gate electrode. In this example, the method also includes forming a sacrificial gap fill material above the liner layer, exposing and removing the sacrificial gate electrode to thereby define a gate cavity that is laterally defined by the liner layer, forming a replacement gate structure, removing the sacrificial gap fill material and forming a low-k sidewall spacer adjacent the liner layer. A device is also disclosed that includes a gate cap layer, a layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride positioned on each of two upstanding portions of a gate insulation layer and a low-k sidewall spacer positioned on the layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride.
Abstract:
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and a replacement metal gate (RMG) structure is attached to the substrate. The RMG structure includes a lower portion and an upper tapered portion. A source junction is disposed on the substrate and attached to a first low-k spacer portion. A drain junction is disposed on the substrate and attached to a second low-k spacer portion. A first oxide layer is disposed on the source junction, and attached to the first low-k spacer portion. A second oxide layer is disposed on the drain junction, and attached to the second low-k spacer portion. A cap layer is disposed on a top surface layer of the RMG structure and attached to the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and structures for protecting gates during epitaxial growth. An inner spacer of a first material is deposited adjacent a transistor gate. An outer spacer of a different material is deposited adjacent the inner spacer. Stressor cavities are formed adjacent the transistor gate. The inner spacer is recessed, forming a divot. The divot is filled with a material to protect the transistor gate. The stressor cavities are then filled. As the gate is safely protected, unwanted epitaxial growth (“mouse ears”) on the transistor gate is prevented.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a field effect transistor device comprises forming a fin on a substrate, forming a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack over the fin, forming spacers adjacent to the fin, the first dummy gate stack, and the second dummy gate stack, etching to remove portions of the fin and form a first cavity partially defined by the spacers, depositing an insulator material in the first cavity, patterning a mask over the first dummy gate stack and portions of the fin, etching to remove exposed portions of the insulator material, and epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material on exposed portions of the fin.
Abstract:
A gate structure straddling a plurality of semiconductor material portions is formed. Source regions and drain regions are formed in the plurality of semiconductor material portions, and a gate spacer laterally surrounding the gate structure is formed. Epitaxial active regions are formed from the source and drain regions by a selective epitaxy process. The assembly of the gate structure and the gate spacer is cut into multiple portions employing a cut mask and an etch to form multiple gate assemblies. Each gate assembly includes a gate structure portion and two disjoined gate spacer portions laterally spaced by the gate structure portion. Portions of the epitaxial active regions can be removed from around sidewalls of the gate spacers to prevent electrical shorts among the epitaxial active regions. A dielectric spacer or a dielectric liner may be employed to limit areas in which metal semiconductor alloys are formed.
Abstract:
A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor material portion located on a substrate and extending along a lengthwise direction, a gate stack overlying a portion of the semiconductor material portion, and a first low-k spacer portion and a second low-k spacer portion abutting the gate stack and spaced from each other by the gate stack along said lengthwise direction. The first low-k spacer portion and the second low-k spacer portion each part of a recessed dummy gate structure on the substrate and a sacrificial spacer with gaps around and above a portion of the dummy gate stack. The gaps are filled in with the first low-k spacer portion and the second low-k spacer portion.
Abstract:
One illustrative example of a transistor device disclosed herein includes, among other things, a gate structure, first and second spacers positioned adjacent opposite sides of the gate structure, and a multi-layer gate cap structure positioned above the gate structure and the upper surface of the spacers. The multi-layer gate cap structure includes a first gate cap material layer positioned on an upper surface of the gate structure and on the upper surfaces of the first and second spacers, a first high-k protection layer positioned on an upper surface of the first gate cap material layer and a second gate cap material layer positioned on an upper surface of the high-k protection layer. The first and second gate cap layers comprise different materials than the first high-k protection layer.
Abstract:
A method of forming a self-aligned MTJ without using a photolithography mask and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a first electrode over a metal layer, the metal layer recessed in a low-k dielectric layer; forming a MTJ layer over the first electrode; forming a second electrode over the MTJ layer; removing portions of the second electrode, the MTJ layer, and the first electrode down to the low-k dielectric layer; forming a silicon nitride-based layer over the second electrode and the low-k dielectric layer; and planarizing the silicon nitride-based layer down to the second electrode.