Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a 2D material layer disposed between a gate electrode and a substrate and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a ferroelectric dielectric layer disposed over and in contact with a semiconductor substrate, the ferroelectric dielectric layer including a 2D material; a gate electrode disposed over the ferroelectric dielectric layer; and source/drain regions disposed on opposite sides of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Example embodiments relating to forming gate structures, e.g., for Fin Field Effect Transistors (FinFETs), are described. In an embodiment, a structure includes first and second device regions comprising first and second FinFETs, respectively, on a substrate. A distance between neighboring gate structures of the first FinFETs is less than a distance between neighboring gate structures of the second FinFETs. A gate structure of at least one of the first FinFETs has a first and second width at a level of and below, respectively, a top surface of a first fin. The first width is greater than the second width. A second gate structure of at least one of the second FinFETs has a third and fourth width at a level of and below, respectively a top surface of a second fin. A difference between the first and second widths is greater than a difference between the third and fourth widths.

Abstract: Example embodiments relating to forming gate structures, e.g., for Fin Field Effect Transistors (FinFETs), are described. In an embodiment, a structure includes first and second device regions comprising first and second FinFETs, respectively, on a substrate. A distance between neighboring gate structures of the first FinFETs is less than a distance between neighboring gate structures of the second FinFETs. A gate structure of at least one of the first FinFETs has a first and second width at a level of and below, respectively, a top surface of a first fin. The first width is greater than the second width. A second gate structure of at least one of the second FinFETs has a third and fourth width at a level of and below, respectively a top surface of a second fin. A difference between the first and second widths is greater than a difference between the third and fourth widths.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with an improved metal structure is described. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate having an upper surface, an interconnect layer over the upper surface, and an additional structure deposited over the interconnect layer. The interconnect layer can include a patterned seed layer over the substrate, at least two metal lines over the seed layer, and a dielectric material between adjacent metal lines. A barrier layer can be deposited over the at least two metal lines. Methods of making the semiconductor structures are also described.

Abstract: A device including a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate having a pair of spacers abutting sidewalls of the gate stack. A recess is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate stack. The recess has a first profile having substantially vertical sidewalls and a second profile contiguous with and below the first profile. The first and second profiles provide a bottle-neck shaped profile of the recess in the semiconductor substrate, the second profile having a greater width within the semiconductor substrate than the first profile. The recess is filled with a semiconductor material. A pair of spacers are disposed overly the semiconductor substrate adjacent the recess.

Abstract: A representative method includes forming a photo-sensitive material over a substrate, and forming a cap layer over the photo-sensitive material, and patterning the cap layer. Using the patterned cap layer, a first portion of the photo-sensitive material is selectively exposed to a pre-selected light wavelength to change at least one material property of the first portion of the photo-sensitive material, while preventing a second portion of the photo-sensitive material from being exposed to the pre-selected light wavelength. One, but not both of the following steps is then conducted: removing the first portion of the photo-sensitive material and forming in its place a conductive element at least partially surrounded by the second portion of the photo-sensitive material, or removing the second portion of the photo-sensitive material and forming from the first portion of the photo-sensitive material a conductive element electrically connecting two or more portions of a circuit.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a first semiconductor region, removing a second portion of the first semiconductor region on a side of the gate stack to form a recess, growing a second semiconductor region starting from the recess, implanting the second semiconductor region with an impurity, and performing a melting laser anneal on the second semiconductor region. A first portion of the second semiconductor region is molten during the melting laser anneal, and a second and a third portion of the second semiconductor region on opposite sides of the first portion are un-molten.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with an improved metal structure is described. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate having an upper surface, an interconnect layer over the upper surface, and an additional structure deposited over the interconnect layer. The interconnect layer can include a patterned seed layer over the substrate, at least two metal lines over the seed layer, and a dielectric material between adjacent metal lines. A barrier layer can be deposited over the at least two metal lines. Methods of making the semiconductor structures are also described.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a first semiconductor region, removing a second portion of the first semiconductor region on a side of the gate stack to form a recess, growing a second semiconductor region starting from the recess, implanting the second semiconductor region with an impurity, and performing a melting laser anneal on the second semiconductor region. A first portion of the second semiconductor region is molten during the melting laser anneal, and a second and a third portion of the second semiconductor region on opposite sides of the first portion are un-molten.

Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a 2D material layer disposed between a gate electrode and a substrate and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a ferroelectric dielectric layer disposed over and in contact with a semiconductor substrate, the ferroelectric dielectric layer including a 2D material; a gate electrode disposed over the ferroelectric dielectric layer; and source/drain regions disposed on opposite sides of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a first semiconductor region, removing a second portion of the first semiconductor region on a side of the gate stack to form a recess, growing a second semiconductor region starting from the recess, implanting the second semiconductor region with an impurity, and performing a melting laser anneal on the second semiconductor region. A first portion of the second semiconductor region is molten during the melting laser anneal, and a second and a third portion of the second semiconductor region on opposite sides of the first portion are un-molten.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate electrode layer over a semiconductor region, forming a mask strip over the dummy gate electrode layer, and performing a first etching process using the mask strip as a first etching mask to pattern an upper portion of the dummy gate electrode layer. A remaining portion of the upper portion of the dummy gate electrode layer forms an upper part of a dummy gate electrode. The method further includes forming a protection layer on sidewalls of the upper part of the dummy gate electrode, and performing a second etching process on a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode layer to form a lower part of the dummy gate electrode, with the protection layer and the mask strip in combination used as a second etching mask. The dummy gate electrode and an underlying dummy gate dielectric are replaced with a replacement gate stack.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate structure over a first fin, where the metal gate structure is surrounded by a first dielectric material, and forming a capping layer over the first dielectric material, where an etch selectivity between the metal gate structure and the capping layer is over a pre-determined threshold. The method also includes forming a patterned hard mask layer over the first fin and the first dielectric material, where an opening of the patterned hard mask layer exposes a portion of the metal gate structure and a portion of the capping layer. The method further includes removing the portion of the metal gate structure exposed by the opening of the patterned hard mask layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with an improved metal structure is described. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate having an upper surface, an interconnect layer over the upper surface, and an additional structure deposited over the interconnect layer. The interconnect layer can include a patterned seed layer over the substrate, at least two metal lines over the seed layer, and a dielectric material between adjacent metal lines. A barrier layer can be deposited over the at least two metal lines. Methods of making the semiconductor structures are also described.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a photomask includes: a substrate over a first conductive layer, the substrate formed of a low thermal expansion material (LTEM); a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer; a reflective film stack over the substrate; a capping layer over the reflective film stack; an absorption layer over the capping layer; and an antireflection (ARC) layer over the absorption layer, where the ARC layer and the absorption layer have a plurality of openings in a first region exposing the capping layer, where the ARC layer, the absorption layer, the capping layer, and the reflective film stack have a trench in a second region exposing the second conductive layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.