Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a first conductive structure and a second conductive structure that is conductively coupled to the first conductive structure. In this example, forming the second conductive structure includes forming a ruthenium cap layer on and in contact with an upper surface of the first conductive structure, with the ruthenium cap layer in position, forming a liner layer comprising manganese on and in contact with at least the surfaces of the second layer of insulating material, wherein an upper surface of the ruthenium cap layer is substantially free of the liner layer, and forming a bulk ruthenium material on and in contact with the liner layer, wherein a bottom surface of the bulk ruthenium material contacts the upper surface of the ruthenium cap layer.
Abstract:
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a structure comprised of an island of a first insulating material positioned between the gate structures above the source/drain region and under a masking layer feature of a patterned masking layer, forming a liner layer that contacts the island of insulating material and the masking layer feature, selectively removing the masking layer feature to thereby form an initial opening that is defined by the liner layer, performing at least one isotropic etching process through the initial opening to remove the island of first insulating material and thereby define a contact opening that exposes the source/drain region, and forming a conductive contact structure in the contact opening that is conductively coupled to the source/drain region.
Abstract:
Integrated circuits with a diffusion barrier layers, and processes for preparing integrated circuits including diffusion barrier layers are provided herein. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a semiconductor material, a compound gate dielectric overlying the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode overlying the compound gate dielectric. In this embodiment, the compound gate dielectric includes a first dielectric layer, a diffusion barrier layer overlying the first dielectric layer; and a second dielectric layer overlying the diffusion barrier layer; wherein the diffusion barrier layer is made of a material that is less susceptible to diffusion of the semiconductor material than the first dielectric layer, less susceptible to diffusion of oxygen than the second dielectric layer, or both.
Abstract:
A method includes forming first and second gate cavities so as to expose first and second portions of a semiconductor material. A gate insulation layer is formed in the first and second gate cavities. A first work function material layer is formed in the first gate cavity. A second work function material layer is formed in the second gate cavity. A first barrier layer is selectively formed above the first work function material layer and the gate insulation layer in the first gate cavity. A second barrier layer is formed above the first barrier layer in the first gate cavity and above the second work function material layer and the gate insulation layer in the second gate cavity. A conductive material is formed above the second barrier layer in the first and second gate cavities in the presence of a treatment species to define first and second gate electrode structures.
Abstract:
A method includes forming a plurality of fins above a substrate. At least one dielectric material is formed above and between the plurality of fins. A mask layer is formed above the dielectric material. The mask layer has an opening defined therein. A portion of the at least one dielectric material exposed by the opening is removed to expose top and sidewall surface portions of at least a subset of the fins. An etching process is performed to remove the portions of the fins in the subset exposed by removing the portion of the at least one dielectric material.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a substrate that includes a material to be patterned. First and second mandrels are formed over the substrate using a common photolithography process that defines a position of the first mandrel relative to the substrate and a position of the second mandrel relative to the substrate. A first sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the first mandrel and a second sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the second mandrel. After the formation of the first and the second sidewall spacers, the first mandrel is removed. The second mandrel remains in the semiconductor structure. A first mask element is provided on the basis of the first sidewall spacer. A second mask element is provided on the basis of the second mandrel and the second sidewall spacer. The material to be patterned is patterned on the basis of the first and the second mask elements.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a substrate that includes a material to be patterned. First and second mandrels are formed over the substrate using a common photolithography process that defines a position of the first mandrel relative to the substrate and a position of the second mandrel relative to the substrate. A first sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the first mandrel and a second sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the second mandrel. After the formation of the first and the second sidewall spacers, the first mandrel is removed. The second mandrel remains in the semiconductor structure. A first mask element is provided on the basis of the first sidewall spacer. A second mask element is provided on the basis of the second mandrel and the second sidewall spacer. The material to be patterned is patterned on the basis of the first and the second mask elements.
Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a plurality of fins in a semiconducting substrate, each of which has a corresponding masking layer feature positioned thereabove, forming a masking layer that has an opening that exposes at least two fins of the plurality of fins, performing an angled etching process through the opening in the masking layer so as to remove the masking layer feature formed above one of the at least two exposed fins, and thereby define an exposed fin, while leaving the masking layer feature intact above the other of the at least two exposed fins, and performing an anisotropic etching process through the opening in the masking layer to remove the exposed fin while leaving the other of the at least two exposed fins intact.
Abstract:
ALD of HfxAlyCz films using hafnium chloride (HfCl4) and Trimethylaluminum (TMA) precursors can be combined with post-deposition anneal processes and ALD liners to control the device characteristics in high-k metal-gate devices. Variation of the HfCl4 pulse time allows for control of the Al % incorporation in the HfxAlyCz film in the range of 10-13%. Combinatorial process tools can be employed for rapid electrical and materials characterization of various materials stacks. The effective work function (EWF) in metal oxide semiconductor capacitor (MOSCAP) devices with the HfxAlyCz work function layer coupled with ALD deposited HfO2 high-k gate dielectric layers was quantified to be mid-gap at ˜4.6 eV. Thus, HfxAlyCz is a promising metal gate work function material allowing for the tuning of device threshold voltages (Vth) for anticipated multi-Vth integrated circuit (IC) devices.
Abstract:
Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with metal-titanium oxide contacts are provided. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate, at least one field-effect transistor disposed on the substrate, a first contact region positioned over at least a first portion of the at least one field-effect transistor between a spacer and an interlayer dielectric, and a second contact region positioned over at least a second portion of the at least one field-effect transistor between a spacer and an interlayer dielectric. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device and forming at least one contact on the intermediate semiconductor device.