Abstract:
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a passivating layer between neighboring fins. A barrier is formed in the trench. Conductive contacts are formed in the passivating layer to provide electrical connectivity to the fins. The conductive contacts are in direct contact with sidewalls of the barrier. A semiconductor device includes a passivating layer over a pair of fins. A barrier extends through the passivating layer and between the pair of fins and that electrically isolates the fins. Electrical contacts are formed through the passivating layer to the fins. The electrical contacts directly contact sidewalls of the barrier.
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:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of trenches in a plurality of active regions of a substrate that defines at least a first plurality of fins and a second plurality of fins for first and second FinFET devices, respectively, forming liner materials adjacent to the first and second plurality of fins, wherein the liner materials adjacent the first fins and the second fins have a different thickness. The method also includes removing insulating material to expose portions of the liner materials, performing an etching process to remove portions of the liner materials so as to expose at least one fin in the first plurality of fins to a first height and at least one of the second plurality of fins to a second height that is different from the first height.
Abstract:
An improved finFET and method of fabrication using a silicon-on-nothing process flow is disclosed. Nitride spacers protect the fin sides during formation of cavities underneath the fins for the silicon-on-nothing (SON) process. A flowable oxide fills the cavities to form an insulating dielectric layer under the fins.
Abstract:
Disclosed are semiconductor structures and methods of forming them. The structures include field effect transistors (FETs) with different type conductivities in different levels, respectively, of the same fin, wherein the numbers of FETs in the different levels are different. Specifically, in a fin, a first semiconductor layer has source/drain and channel regions for a first and a second transistor and a second semiconductor layer has source/drain and channel regions for a third transistor with a different type conductivity than first and second transistors. A gate is on the top surface and sides of the first semiconductor layer at the channel region of the first transistor. Another gate has a lower portion on the sides of the first semiconductor layer at the channel region of the second transistor and an upper portion on the top surface and sides of the second semiconductor layer at the channel region of the third transistor.
Abstract:
Methods for forming substantially uniform depth trenches and/or semiconductor fins from the trenches are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include depositing a germanium including layer over a substrate, the substrate including a plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins, each pair of sacrificial semiconductor fins separated by a sacrificial pillar. Germanium is diffused from the germanium including layer into the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins to a defined uniform depth. The germanium including layer is removed, and the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins are etched to the defined uniform depth and selective to the substrate, creating a plurality of trenches having a substantially uniform depth. The trenches can be used to epitaxial grow semiconductor fins having substantially uniform height.
Abstract:
An e-fuse is provided in one area of a semiconductor substrate. The E-fuse includes a vertical stack of from, bottom to top, base metal semiconductor alloy portion, a first metal semiconductor alloy portion, a second metal semiconductor portion, a third metal semiconductor alloy portion and a fourth metal semiconductor alloy portion, wherein the first metal semiconductor alloy portion and the third metal semiconductor portion have outer edges that are vertically offset and do not extend beyond vertical edges of the second metal semiconductor alloy portion and the fourth metal semiconductor alloy portion.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide an electrically controlled optical fuse. The optical fuse is activated electronically instead of by the light source itself. An applied voltage causes the fuse temperature to rise, which induces a transformation of a phase changing material from transparent to opaque. A gettering layer absorbs excess atoms released during the transformation.
Abstract:
A mandrel having vertical planar surfaces is formed on a single crystalline semiconductor layer. An epitaxial semiconductor layer is formed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer by selective epitaxy. A first spacer is formed around an upper portion of the mandrel. The epitaxial semiconductor layer is vertically recessed employing the first spacers as an etch mask. A second spacer is formed on sidewalls of the first spacer and vertical portions of the epitaxial semiconductor layer. Horizontal bottom portions of the epitaxial semiconductor layer are etched from underneath the vertical portions of the epitaxial semiconductor layer to form a suspended ring-shaped semiconductor fin that is attached to the mandrel. A center portion of the mandrel is etched employing a patterned mask layer that covers two end portions of the mandrel. A suspended semiconductor fin is provided, which is suspended by a pair of support structures.
Abstract:
One method disclosed includes, among other things, conformably depositing a layer of contact insulating material and a conductive material layer in a contact opening, forming a reduced-thickness sacrificial material layer in the contact opening so as to expose a portion, but not all, of the conductive material layer, removing portions of the conductive material layer and the layer of contact insulating material positioned above the upper surface of the reduced-thickness sacrificial material layer, removing the reduced-thickness sacrificial material layer, and forming a conductive contact in the contact opening that contacts the recessed portions of the conductive material layer and the layer of contact insulating material.