Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for forming fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) that maximize strain in channel regions of the FinFETs. An exemplary method includes forming a fin having a first width over a substrate. The fin includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material disposed over the first semiconductor material, and a third semiconductor material disposed over the second semiconductor material. A portion of the second semiconductor material is oxidized, thereby forming a second semiconductor oxide material. The third semiconductor material is trimmed to reduce a width of the third semiconductor material from the first width to a second width. The method further includes forming an isolation feature adjacent to the fin. The method further includes forming a gate structure over a portion of the fin, such that the gate structure is disposed between source/drain regions of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first channel region disposed over a substrate, and a first gate structure disposed over the first channel region. The first gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the channel region, a lower conductive gate layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer, a ferroelectric material layer disposed over the lower conductive gate layer, and an upper conductive gate layer disposed over the ferroelectric material layer. The ferroelectric material layer is in direct contact with the gate dielectric layer and the lower gate conductive layer, and has a U-shape cross section.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET). The device includes one or more fin structures over a substrate, each with source/drain (S/D) features and a high-k/metal gate (HK/MG). A first HK/MG in a first gate region wraps over an upper portion of a first fin structure, the first fin structure including an epitaxial silicon (Si) layer as its upper portion and an epitaxial growth silicon germanium (SiGe), with a silicon germanium oxide (SiGeO) feature at its outer layer, as its middle portion, and the substrate as its bottom portion. A second HK/MG in a second gate region, wraps over an upper portion of a second fin structure, the second fin structure including an epitaxial SiGe layer as its upper portion, an epitaxial Si layer as it upper middle portion, an epitaxial SiGe layer as its lower middle portion, and the substrate as its bottom portion.

Abstract: A device includes a bottom electrode that includes a first electrically conducive material; a dielectric layer over the bottom electrode; an internal metal layer over the dielectric layer; a ferroelectric layer over the internal metal layer; and a top electrode over the ferroelectric layer, the top electrode including a second electrically conductive material, an area of the top electrode being smaller than an area of the internal metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a fin structure disposed over a substrate; a gate structure disposed over part of the fin structure; a source/drain structure, which includes part of the fin structure not covered by the gate structure; an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the fin structure, the gate structure, and the source/drain structure; a contact hole formed in the interlayer dielectric layer; and a contact material disposed in the contact hole. The fin structure extends in a first direction and includes an upper layer, wherein a part of the upper layer is exposed from an isolation insulating layer. The gate structure extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The contact material includes a silicon phosphide layer and a metal layer.

Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of source lines and a plurality of multi-level memory cells is introduced. Each of the multi-level memory cells is coupled to one of the word lines, one of the bit lines and one of the source lines. Each of the multi-level memory cells includes a ferroelectric storage element and a magneto-resistive storage element cascaded to the ferroelectric storage element. The ferroelectric storage element is configured to store a first bit of a multi-bit data. The magneto-resistive storage element is configured to store a second bit of the multi-bit data.

Abstract: A wafer-level homogeneous bonding optical structure includes two optical lens sets disposed on an optically transparent wafer and a spacer disposed on the optically transparent wafer and between the two optical lens sets. The spacer is homogeneously bonded to and integrated with the optically transparent wafer in the absence of a heterogeneous adhesive.

Abstract: An interconnection structure includes a first interlayer dielectric layer, a first conductive line, a protection layer, a second interlayer dielectric layer, and a connection plug. The first conductive line is partially disposed in the first interlayer dielectric layer. The protection layer is disposed on the first conductive line and the first interlayer dielectric layer. The protection layer covers a top surface and a sidewall of the first conductive line. The protection layer includes a recess disposed corresponding to the first conductive line in a vertical direction. The second interlayer dielectric layer is disposed on the protection layer. The connection plug penetrates at least a part of the second interlayer dielectric layer and the protection layer for being connected with the first conductive line.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a substrate, a first metal layer, a deposition structure, a dielectric layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer is disposed on the substrate and has a planarized surface. The deposition structure is disposed on the first metal layer, and at least a portion of the deposition structure extends into the planarized surface, wherein the first metal layer and the deposition structure have the same material. The dielectric layer is disposed on the deposition structure. The second metal layer is disposed on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first potential supply line for supplying a first potential, a second potential supply line for supplying a second potential lower than the first potential, a functional circuit, and at least one of a first switch disposed between the first potential supply line and the functional circuit and a second switch disposed between the second potential supply line and the functional circuit. The first switch and the second switch are negative capacitance FET.

Abstract: An MFMIS-FET includes a MOSFET having a three-dimensional structure that allows the MOSFET to have an effective area that is greater than the footprint of the MFM or the MOSFET. In some embodiment, the gate electrode of the MOSFET and the bottom electrode of the MFM are united. In some, they have equal areas. In some embodiments, the MFM and the MOSFET have nearly equal footprints. In some embodiments, the effective area of the MOSFET is much greater than the effective area of the MFM. These structures reduce the capacitance ratio between the MFM structure and the MOSFET without reducing the area of the MFM structure in a way that would decrease drain current.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first source/drain feature adjoining first nanostructures, and a first multilayer work function structure surrounding the first nanostructures. The first multilayer work function structure includes a first middle dielectric layer around the first nanostructures and a first metal layer around and in contact with the first middle dielectric layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second source/drain feature adjoining second nanostructures, and a second multilayer work function structure surrounding the second nanostructures. The second multilayer work function structure includes a second middle dielectric layer around the second nanostructures and a second metal layer around and in contact with the second middle dielectric layer. The first middle dielectric layer and the second middle dielectric layer are made of dielectric materials. The second metal layer and the first metal layer are made of the same metal material.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for forming fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) that maximize strain in channel regions of the FinFETs. An exemplary method includes forming a fin having a first width over a substrate. The fin includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material disposed over the first semiconductor material, and a third semiconductor material disposed over the second semiconductor material. A portion of the second semiconductor material is oxidized, thereby forming a second semiconductor oxide material. The third semiconductor material is trimmed to reduce a width of the third semiconductor material from the first width to a second width. The method further includes forming an isolation feature adjacent to the fin. The method further includes forming a gate structure over a portion of the fin, such that the gate structure is disposed between source/drain regions of the fin.

Abstract: A connection structure of a semiconductor device is provided in the present invention. The connection structure includes an interlayer dielectric, a top metal structure, and a passivation layer. The interlayer dielectric is disposed on a substrate. The top metal structure is disposed on the interlayer dielectric. The top metal structure includes a bottom portion and a top portion disposed on the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a first sidewall, and the top portion includes a second sidewall. A slope of the first sidewall is larger than a slope of the second sidewall. The passivation layer is conformally disposed on the second sidewall, the first sidewall, and a top surface of the interlayer dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first channel region disposed over a substrate, and a first gate structure disposed over the first channel region. The first gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the channel region, a lower conductive gate layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer, a ferroelectric material layer disposed over the lower conductive gate layer, and an upper conductive gate layer disposed over the ferroelectric material layer. The ferroelectric material layer is in direct contact with the gate dielectric layer and the lower gate conductive layer, and has a U-shape cross section.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor structure that includes a first semiconductor material extending from a first region to a second region. The method further includes removing a portion of the first semiconductor material in the second region to form a recess, where the recess exposes a sidewall of the first semiconductor material disposed in the first region; forming a dielectric material covering the sidewall; while the dielectric material covers the sidewall, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material in the second region adjacent the dielectric material; and forming a first fin including the first semiconductor material and a second fin including the second semiconductor material.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a negative capacitance structure, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer. After the first metallic layer is formed, an annealing operation is performed, followed by a cooling operation. A second metallic layer is formed. After the cooling operation, the dielectric layer becomes a ferroelectric dielectric layer including an orthorhombic crystal phase.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first set of nanostructures stacked over a substrate in a vertical direction, and each of the first set of nanostructures includes a first end portion and a second end portion, and a first middle portion laterally between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion and the second end portion are thicker than the first middle portion. The semiconductor device also includes a first plurality of semiconductor capping layers around the first middle portions of the first set of nanostructures, and a gate structure around the first plurality of semiconductor capping layers.

Abstract: An interconnection structure includes a first interlayer dielectric layer, a first conductive line, a protection layer, a second interlayer dielectric layer, and a connection plug. The first conductive line is partially disposed in the first interlayer dielectric layer. The protection layer is disposed on the first conductive line and the first interlayer dielectric layer. The protection layer covers a top surface and a sidewall of the first conductive line. The protection layer includes a recess disposed corresponding to the first conductive line in a vertical direction. The second interlayer dielectric layer is disposed on the protection layer. The connection plug penetrates at least a part of the second interlayer dielectric layer and the protection layer for being connected with the first conductive line.

Abstract: The present invention further provides a method for forming a semiconductor device, the method including: first, a target layer is provided, an etching stop layer is formed on the target layer, a top oxide layer is formed on the etching stop layer, afterwards, a first photoresist layer is formed on the top oxide layer, and a first etching process is then performed, to form a plurality of first trenches in the top oxide layer. Next, a second photoresist layer is formed on the top oxide layer, portion of the second photoresist layer fills in each first trench, a second etching process is then performed to form a plurality of second trenches in the top oxide layer, and using the remaining etching stop layer as a hard mask, a third etching process is performed to remove parts of the etching stop layer and parts of the target layer.