Abstract:
A device is formed including fins formed above a substrate, an isolation structure between the fins, a plurality of structures defining gate cavities, and a first dielectric material positioned between the structures. A patterning layer above the first dielectric material and in the gate cavities has a first opening positioned above a first gate cavity exposing a portion of the isolation structure and defining a first recess, a second opening above a second gate cavity exposing a first portion of the fins, and a third opening above a first portion of a source/drain region in the fins to expose the first dielectric material. Using the patterning layer, a second recess is formed in the substrate and a third recess is defined in the first dielectric material. A second dielectric material is formed in the recesses to define a gate cut structure, a diffusion break structure, and a contact cut structure.
Abstract:
A method of forming transistor devices with an air gap in the replacement gate structure is disclosed including forming a placeholder gate structure above a semiconductor material region, forming a sidewall spacer adjacent the placeholder gate structure, removing the placeholder gate structure to define a gate cavity bounded by the sidewall spacer, forming a gate insulation layer in the gate cavity, the gate insulation layer including a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, forming a gate electrode in the gate cavity above the gate insulation layer, removing at least a portion of the second portion of the gate insulation layer to define an air gap cavity adjacent the gate electrode, and forming a first gate cap layer above the gate electrode, wherein the first gate cap layer seals an upper end of the air gap cavity.
Abstract:
Various processes form different structures including exemplary apparatuses that include (among other components) a first layer having channel regions, source/drain structures in the first layer on opposite sides of the channel regions, a gate insulator on the channel region, and a gate stack on the gate insulator. The gate stack can include a gate conductor, and a stack insulator or a gate contact on the gate conductor. The gate stack has lower sidewalls adjacent to the source/drain structures and upper sidewalls distal to the source/drain structures. Further, lower spacers are between the source/drain contacts and the lower sidewalls of the gate stack; and upper spacers between the source/drain contacts and the upper sidewalls of the gate stack. In some structures, the upper spacers can partially overlap the lower spacers.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a structure for a fin-type field-effect transistor and structures for a fin-type field-effect transistor. An etch stop layer, a sacrificial layer, and a dielectric layer are arranged in a layer stack formed on a substrate. a plurality of openings are formed that extend through the layer stack to the substrate. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown inside each of the plurality of openings from the substrate to form a plurality of fins embedded in the layer stack. The sacrificial layer is removed selective to the etch stop layer to reveal a section of each of the plurality of fins.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a structure for a fin-type field-effect transistor and structures for a fin-type field-effect transistor. A plurality of sacrificial layers are formed on a dielectric layer. An opening is formed that includes a first section that extends through the sacrificial layers and a second section that extends through the dielectric layer. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown inside the opening to form a fin. The first section of the opening has a first width dimension, and the second section of the opening has a second width dimension that is less than the first width dimension.
Abstract:
A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure is formed from a conventional STI trench structure formed of first dielectric material extending into the substrate. The conventional STI structure undergoes further processing, including removing a first portion of the dielectric material and adjacent portions of the semiconductor substrate to create a first recess, and then removing another portion of the dielectric material to create a second recess in just the dielectric material. A nitride layer is formed above remaining dielectric material and on the sidewalls of the substrate. A second dielectric material is formed on the spacer layer and fills the remainder of first and second recesses. The nitride layer provides an “inner spacer” between the first insulating material and the second insulating material and also separates the substrate from the second insulating material. An isotropic Fin reveal process is performed and the STI structure assists in equalizing fin heights and increasing active S/D region area/volume.
Abstract:
Methods form integrated circuit structures that include a semiconductor layer having at least one fin. At least three gate stacks contact, and are spaced along, the top of the fin. An insulator in trenches in the fin contacts the first and third of the gate stacks, and extends into the fin from the first and third gate stacks. Source and drain regions in the fin are adjacent a second of the gate stacks. The second gate stack is between the first and third gate stacks along the top of the fin. Additionally, a protective liner is in the trench between a top portion of the insulator a bottom portion of the insulator.
Abstract:
A hardmask is patterned on a first material to leave hardmask elements. The first material is patterned into fins through the hardmask. A layer of silicon is formed on the hardmask elements and the fins in processing that forms the layer of silicon thicker on the hardmask elements relative to the fins. An isolation material is formed on the layer of silicon to leave the isolation material filling spaces between the fins. The isolation material and the layer of silicon are annealed to consume relatively thinner portions of the layer of silicon and leave the layer of silicon on the hardmask elements as silicon elements. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is performed on the isolation material to make the isolation material planar with the silicon elements. A first etching agent removes the silicon elements on the hardmask elements, and a second chemical agent removes the hardmask elements.
Abstract:
An improved method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: depositing a dielectric layer on a substrate; depositing a first cap layer on the dielectric layer; depositing an etch stop layer on the dielectric layer; and depositing a dummy cap layer on the etch stop layer to form a partial gate structure. Also provided is a partially formed semiconductor device. The partially formed semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer on the substrate; a first cap layer on the dielectric layer; an etch stop layer on the dielectric layer; and a dummy cap layer on the etch stop layer forming a partial gate structure.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a metal gate (e.g., a replacement metal gate (RMG) for a field effect transistor (FET) and a method of forming the metal gate. The method includes depositing a conformal dielectric layer to line a gate opening and performing a series of unclustered and clustered conformal metal deposition and chamfer processes to selectively adjust the heights of conformal metal layers within the gate opening. By selectively controlling the heights of the conformal metal layers, the method provides improved overall gate height control and gate quality particularly when the metal gate has a small critical dimension (CD) and/or a high aspect ratio (AR). The method can also include using different etch techniques during the different chamfer processes and, particularly, when different materials and/or different material interfaces are exposed to an etchant in order to ensure an essentially uniform etch rate of the conformal metal layer(s) at issue in a direction that is essentially vertical.