Patents by Inventor Nicolas Loubet

Nicolas Loubet has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10854750
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a fin above the substrate and having a channel region therein, and source and drain regions adjacent the channel region to generate shear and normal strain on the channel region. A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a fin above the substrate and having a channel region therein, source and drain regions adjacent the channel region, and a gate over the channel region. The fin may be canted with respect to the source and drain regions to generate shear and normal strain on the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Morin, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 10847654
    Abstract: Methods and structures for forming strained-channel finFETs are described. Fin structures for finFETs may be formed in two epitaxial layers that are grown over a bulk substrate. A first thin epitaxial layer may be cut and used to impart strain to an adjacent channel region of the finFET via elastic relaxation. The structures exhibit a preferred design range for increasing induced strain and uniformity of the strain over the fin height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Loubet, Pierre Morin
  • Publication number: 20200365687
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method that prevents punch-through of a bottom isolation layer and improves the quality of the source/drain epitaxial growth in a nanosheet semiconductor structure. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a bottom isolation structure is formed over a substrate. The bottom isolation structure includes a tri-layer stack in a first region of the substrate and a bi-layer stack in a second region of the substrate. A nanosheet stack is formed over the bottom isolation structure in the first region of the substrate. A gate is formed over a channel region of the nanosheet stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Veeraraghavan Basker, Nicolas Loubet, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan
  • Patent number: 10832964
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed including a semiconductor substrate having two or more fins. The semiconductor structure includes a recessed gate structure having opposing sidewalls located over one of the fins. The semiconductor structure includes a gate spacer disposed on the opposing sidewalls of the recessed gate structure. The semiconductor structure includes a source/drain region disposed between adjacent gate spacers. The semiconductor structure includes a first conductive material disposed on the source/drain region and an interlevel dielectric layer disposed on a top surface of the semiconductor structure defining an opening therein to an exposed top surface of the first conductive material. A width of an upper portion of the opening is greater than the width of the lower portion of the opening. The lower portion of opening is aligned with the first conductive material. The semiconductor structure includes a second conductive material disposed in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporatior
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Chanro Park, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 10818775
    Abstract: The method for fabricating a field-effect transistor comprises a step of producing a sacrificial gate and first and second spacers covering first, second and third parts of successive first to fifth semiconductor nanowires of a stack. The fabricating method comprises a step of forming a channel area of the transistor, which channel area is compressively stressed and distinct from the second part of the third nanowire. The channel area is connected to a source electrode of the transistor by the first part of the second nanowire, and to a drain electrode of the transistor by the third part of the second nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shay Reboh, Emmanuel Augendre, Remi Coquand, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 10818751
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) device. A non-limiting example of the nanosheet FET device includes a stack of channel nanosheets over a substrate, along with a source or drain (S/D) trench in a predetermined region of the substrate. The predetermined region of the substrate includes a region over which a S/D region of the nanosheet FET is formed. The S/D region of the nanosheet FET is formed at ends of a bottommost one of the stack of channel nanosheets. An isolation barrier is formed in the S/D trench. The isolation barrier is configured to substantially prevent the S/D region from being electrically coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mona A. Ebrish, Fee Li Lie, Nicolas Loubet, Gauri Karve, Indira Seshadri, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Leigh Anne H. Clevenger
  • Patent number: 10818776
    Abstract: A substrate structure having a set of nanosheet layers and a set of sacrificial layers stacked upon a substrate is received and a dummy gate is formed upon the nanosheet layers and the sacrificial layers. A portion of a subset of the set of sacrificial layers and a subset of the set of nanosheet layers is etched. A portion of a subset of the subset of sacrificial layers is etched to create divots within the sacrificial layers. A divot fill layer is deposited. The divot fill layer is etched to form an inner spacer between the nanosheet layers. A source/drain region is formed adjacent to the nanosheet layers and the divots. A remaining portion of the subset of the sacrificial layers is removed. The subset of the nanosheet layers is etched to a desired channel thickness producing faceted surfaces between the subset of nanosheet layers and the inner spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Nicolas Loubet, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20200321452
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, including a transistor, a substrate surmounted by first, second, and third elements, the second arranged between the first and the third and including a nano-object, a channel area of the transistor formed by part of the nano-object, the nano-object including first and second opposite ends along a reference axis passing through the ends, the first end connected to the first element via a first electrode including a first part and a second part formed on the first part, the second end connected to the third element via a second electrode including a first part and a second part formed on the first part, the first parts formed of a first material and the second parts formed of a second material, a lattice parameter of the second material suited to that of the first material to induce a stress in the nano-object along the reference axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicants: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shay REBOH, Emmanuel AUGENDRE, Remi COQUAND, Nicolas LOUBET
  • Publication number: 20200312977
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of fabricating a field effect transistor device, wherein the fabrication operations include forming a channel region over a substrate, forming a gate region over a top surface and along sidewalls of the channel region, and forming a source or drain (S/D) region over the substrate. A bottom encapsulated air-gap is formed over the substrate, and a first portion of the bottom encapsulated air-gap is positioned between the gate region and the S/D region. The first portion of the bottom encapsulated air-gap is further positioned below the top surface of the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nicolas Loubet, Kangguo Cheng, Wenyu Xu, Julien Frougier
  • Publication number: 20200303500
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nano sheet stacks disposed above a substrate. Each nanosheet stack has a first nanosheet and a first sacrificial layer, the first nanosheet and the first sacrificial layer each include a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the first sacrificial layer are recessed from the first and second ends of the first nanosheet. Each nanosheet stack has a bottom sacrificial layer formed on top of the substrate. The bottom sacrificial layer has a first end and a second end, which are recessed from the first and second ends of the first nanosheet. The semiconductor also has a source or drain (S/D) structures formed in contact with the first end and the second end of the first nanosheet. The S/D structures are isolated from the substrate by the bottom sacrificial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: NICOLAS LOUBET, PIETRO MONTANINI
  • Publication number: 20200287023
    Abstract: Techniques for forming gate last VFET devices are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VFET device includes: forming a stack on a wafer including: i) a doped bottom source/drain, ii) sacrificial layers having layers of a first sacrificial material with a layer of a second sacrificial material therebetween, and iii) a doped top source/drain; patterning trenches in the stack to form individual gate regions; filling the trenches with a channel material to form vertical fin channels; selectively removing the layers of the first sacrificial material forming first cavities in the gate regions; forming gate spacers in the first cavities; selectively removing the layer of the second sacrificial material forming second cavities in the gate regions; and forming replacement metal gates in the second cavities. A VFET device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: Nicolas Loubet
  • Publication number: 20200279913
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) device. A non-limiting example of the nanosheet FET device includes a stack of channel nanosheets over a substrate, along with a source or drain (S/D) trench in a predetermined region of the substrate. The predetermined region of the substrate includes a region over which a S/D region of the nanosheet FET is formed. The S/D region of the nanosheet FET is formed at ends of a bottommost one of the stack of channel nanosheets. An isolation barrier is formed in the S/D trench. The isolation barrier is configured to substantially prevent the S/D region from being electrically coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Mona A. Ebrish, Fee Li Lie, Nicolas Loubet, Gauri Karve, Indira Seshadri, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Leigh Anne H. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20200273979
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for providing an novel field effect transistor (FET) architecture that includes a center fin region and one or more vertically stacked nanosheets. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a nanosheet stack is formed over a substrate. The nanosheet stack can include one or more first semiconductor layers and one or more first sacrificial layers. A trench is formed by removing a portion of the one or more first semiconductor layers and the one or more first sacrificial layers. The trench exposes a surface of a bottommost sacrificial layer of the one or more first sacrificial layers. The trench can be filled with one or more second semiconductor layers and one or more second sacrificial layers such that each of the one or more second semiconductor layers is in contact with a sidewall of one of the one or more first semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: RUILONG XIE, Julien Frougier, CHANRO PARK, Edward Nowak, Yi Qi, Kangguo Cheng, NICOLAS LOUBET
  • Publication number: 20200273753
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a semiconductor layer stack including a substrate and a nanosheet channel stack including alternating layers of a sacrificial material and a semiconducting material providing nanosheet channels for nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming vertical fins in the semiconductor layer stack, forming a liner on sidewalls of the vertical fins, and forming a sacrificial epitaxial layer over the substrate surrounding the vertical fins. The method further includes replacing the sacrificial epitaxial layer with a first dielectric layer, removing the liner to form air gaps between the first dielectric layer and sidewalls of the vertical fins, and forming a second dielectric layer in the air gaps between the first dielectric layer and sidewalls of the vertical fins. The first and second dielectric layers provide shallow trench isolation regions surrounding sidewalls of the vertical fins below the nanosheet channel stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Nicolas Loubet, Richard A. Conti, ChoongHyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20200274000
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for providing an novel field effect transistor (FET) architecture that includes a center fin region and one or more vertically stacked nanosheets. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a non-planar channel region is formed having a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a fin-shaped bridge layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Forming the non-planar channel region can include forming a nanosheet stack over a substrate, forming a trench by removing a portion of the nanosheet stack, and forming a third semiconductor layer in the trench. Outer surfaces of the first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer, and the fin-shaped bridge region define an effective channel width of the non-planar channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: RUILONG XIE, Julien Frougier, CHANRO PARK, Edward Nowak, Yi Qi, Kangguo Cheng, NICOLAS LOUBET
  • Patent number: 10756177
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin in a substrate and depositing a spacer material on the fin. The method includes recessing the spacer material so that a surface of the fin is exposed. The method includes removing a portion of the fin within lateral sidewalls of the spacer material to form a recess, leaving a portion of the fin on the lateral sidewalls. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor material within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Hsin Kuo Chao, Kangguo Cheng, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 10756178
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin in a substrate and depositing a spacer material on the fin. The method includes recessing the spacer material so that a surface of the fin is exposed. The method includes removing a portion of the fin within lateral sidewalls of the spacer material to form a recess, leaving a portion of the fin on the lateral sidewalls. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor material within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Hsin Kuo Chao, Kangguo Cheng, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 10756203
    Abstract: Fabricating a feedback field effect transistor includes receiving a semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first source/drain disposed on the substrate, a fin disposed on the first source/drain, and a hard mask disposed on a top surface of the fin. A bottom spacer is formed on a portion of the first source/drain. A first gate is formed upon the bottom spacer. A sacrificial spacer is formed upon the first gate, a gate spacer is formed on the first gate from the sacrificial spacer, and a second gate is formed on the gate spacer. The gate spacer is disposed between the first gate and the second gate. A top spacer is formed around portions of the second gate and hard mask, a recess is formed in the top spacer and hard mask, and a second source/drain is formed in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Steven Bentley, Kangguo Cheng, Nicolas Loubet, Pietro Montanini
  • Patent number: 10748901
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for fabricating metallic interlayer via contacts within source/drain regions of field-effect transistor devices of a monolithic three-dimensional semiconductor integrated circuit device. For example, a semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first device layer and a second device layer disposed on the first device layer. The first device layer includes a metallic interconnect structure formed in an insulating layer. The second device layer includes first and second field-effect transistor devices having respective first and second gate structures. A metallic interlayer via contact is disposed between the first and second gate structures in contact with the metallic interconnect structure of the first device layer, wherein a width of the metallic interlayer via contact is defined by a spacing between adjacent sidewalls of the first and second gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Rubin, Nicolas Loubet, Terence B. Hook
  • Patent number: 10741454
    Abstract: Methods are presented for forming multi-threshold field effect transistors. The methods generally include depositing and patterning an organic planarizing layer to protect underlying structures formed in a selected one of the nFET region and the pFET region of a semiconductor wafer. In the other one of the nFET region and the pFET region, structures are processed to form an undercut in the organic planarizing layer. The organic planarizing layer is subjected to a reflow process to fill the undercut. The methods are effective to protect a boundary between the nFET region and the pFET region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jing Guo, Ekmini A. De Silva, Nicolas Loubet, Indira Seshadri, Nelson Felix