Patents by Inventor Zhenxing Bi

Zhenxing Bi 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: 10890560
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming two or more catalyst nanoparticles from a metal layer disposed over a substrate in two or more openings of a hard mask patterned over the metal layer. The method also includes growing two or more carbon nanotubes using the catalyst nanoparticles, and removing the carbon nanotubes to form two or more nanoscale pores. The two or more nanoscale pores may be circular nanoscale pores having a substantially uniform diameter. The two or more openings in the hard mask may have non-uniform size, and the substantially uniform diameter of the two or more nanopores may be controlled by a size of the carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Zhenxing Bi
  • Patent number: 10892328
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a nanosheet stack over a substrate, the nanosheet stack including alternating sacrificial and channel layers, the channel layers providing nanosheet channels for nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming vertical fins in the nanosheet stack and a portion of the substrate, and forming indents in sidewalls of the sacrificial layers at sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming nanosheet extension regions in portions of the channel layers which extend from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins, the nanosheet extension regions increasing in thickness from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming inner spacers using a conformal deposition process that forms air gaps in spaces between the nanosheet extension regions and the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 10886367
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes active semiconductor fins that have a uniform fin channel height. The uniform fin channel height is achieved by forming semiconductor fins (active and sacrificial) on an entirety of semiconductor substrate thus there is no loading effect during a subsequently performed dielectric etch step which can lead to fin channel height variation and ultimately variation in device characteristics. A trench isolation structure is located adjacent to the active semiconductor fins. The trench isolation structure includes at least one dielectric plug having a second width and a dielectric pillar having a first width located on each side of the at least one dielectric plug. The second width of the at least one dielectric plug is less than the first width of each dielectric pillar, yet equal to a width of each semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong
  • Patent number: 10840354
    Abstract: A vertical transport fin field effect transistor (VT FinFET), including one or more vertical fins on a surface of a substrate, an L-shaped or U-shaped spacer trough on the substrate adjacent to at least one of the one or more vertical fins, and a gate dielectric layer on the sidewalls of the at least one of the one or more vertical fins and the L-shaped or U-shaped spacer trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Thamarai S. Devarajan, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Sanjay C. Mehta, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian
  • Patent number: 10833146
    Abstract: Horizontal-trench on-chip capacitors are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a capacitor includes: forming alternating sacrificial/active nanosheets on a wafer; patterning the nanosheets into a fin stack(s); burying the fin stack(s) in an ILD; removing the ILD from a first side of the fin stack(s), forming a first cavity; filling the first cavity with a semiconductor material that interconnects the nanosheets of the active material; implanting ions into the nanosheets, semiconductor material and wafer; removing the ILD from a second side of the fin stack(s) forming a second cavity; selectively removing the nanosheets of the sacrificial material, creating gaps between the nanosheets of the active material; depositing a dielectric into/lining the gaps and second cavity; and filling the gaps and second cavity with a conductor. A capacitor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zheng Xu, Ruqiang Bao, Zhenxing Bi, Dongbing Shao
  • Patent number: 10832907
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for fabricating field-effect transistors having source/drain extension contacts to provide reduced parasitic resistance in electrical paths between source/drain layers and active channel layers surrounded by gate structures of the field-effect transistor devices. For example, in a nanosheet field-effect transistor device having embedded gate sidewall spacers which are disposed between end portions of active nanosheet channel layers and serve to insulate source/drain layers from a metal gate structure, epitaxial source/drain extension contacts are disposed between the embedded gate sidewall spacers and active nanosheet channel layers, and on sidewall surfaces of the active nanosheet channel layers. Epitaxial source/drain layers are grown starting on exposed surfaces of the epitaxial source/drain extension contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi
  • Publication number: 20200335581
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first vertical transistor on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a second vertical transistor stacked on the first vertical transistor. In the method, an isolation layer is formed between the first and second vertical transistors. The isolation layer includes a rare earth oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Kangguo Cheng, Chen Zhang, Zhenxing Bi
  • Publication number: 20200328211
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device having a substrate with a first substrate region and a second substrate region. The integrated semiconductor device further includes a first field-effect transistor disposed on the substrate in the first substrate region. The first filed-effect transistor has a plurality of first fins having a first semiconductor material. In addition, the integrated semiconductor device includes a second field-effect transistor disposed on the substrate in the second substrate region. The second field-effect transistor has a plurality of second fins having a second semiconductor material that differs from the first semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Zhenxing BI, Kangguo Cheng, Juntao LI, Peng XU
  • Publication number: 20200328121
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming single diffusion break (SDB) without damaging source and drain epitaxial growth regions. The method includes forming the source and drain epitaxial regions between sacrificial gates, the sacrificial gates formed over a plurality of fins, depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the source and drain epitaxial regions, performing SDB patterning, and removing at least one of the sacrificial gates to expose the plurality of fins. The method further includes recessing the plurality of fins to create a first opening, forming inner spacers within the opening, removing the plurality of fins to create a second opening, dimensions of the second opening defined by the inner spacers, and laterally etching the second opening to increase SDB width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Yao Yao, Andrew M. Greene, Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Zhenxing Bi, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 10804274
    Abstract: A method of performing co-integrated fabrication of a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) includes recessing fins in a channel region of the NVM and the FET to form source and drain regions adjacent to recessed fins, and removing alternating portions of the recessed fins of the NVM and the FET to form gaps in the recessed fins. A stack of layers that make up an NVM structure are conformally deposited within the gaps of the recessed fins leaving second gaps, smaller than the gaps, and above the recessed fins of the NVM while protecting the FET with the organic planarization layer (OPL) and a block mask. The OPL and block mask are removed from the FET, and another OPL and another block mask protect the NVM while a gate of the FET is formed above the recessed fins and within the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Zheng Xu, Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20200312951
    Abstract: Horizontal-trench on-chip capacitors are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a capacitor includes: forming alternating sacrificial/active nanosheets on a wafer; patterning the nanosheets into a fin stack(s); burying the fin stack(s) in an ILD; removing the ILD from a first side of the fin stack(s), forming a first cavity; filling the first cavity with a semiconductor material that interconnects the nanosheets of the active material; implanting ions into the nanosheets, semiconductor material and wafer; removing the ILD from a second side of the fin stack(s) forming a second cavity; selectively removing the nanosheets of the sacrificial material, creating gaps between the nanosheets of the active material; depositing a dielectric into/lining the gaps and second cavity; and filling the gaps and second cavity with a conductor. A capacitor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Zheng Xu, Ruqiang Bao, Zhenxing Bi, Dongbing Shao
  • Patent number: 10784380
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate-all-around based non-volatile memory device includes isolated channels including tunnel dielectric material disposed around gate-all-around field effect transistor (GAA FET) channels, at least one floating gate including a first gate material encapsulating the isolated channels, and at least one control gate including a second gate material encapsulating the isolated channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zheng Xu, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong, Qianwen Chen
  • Publication number: 20200295198
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for forming the semiconductor devices include forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate on each side of a stack of nanosheets, the stack of nanosheets including first nanosheets and second nanosheets stacked in alternating fashion with a dummy gate structure formed thereon. Source and drain regions are grown on from the sacrificial layer and from ends of the second nanosheets to form source and drain regions in contact with each side of the stack of nanosheets. The sacrificial layer is removed. An interlevel dielectric is deposited around the source and drain regions to fill between the source and drain regions and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Peng Xu, Zhenxing Bi
  • Publication number: 20200295130
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming slanted dielectric structures from a first dielectric material on a substrate, with gaps between adjacent slanted dielectric structures. A first semiconductor layer is grown from the substrate, using a first semiconductor material, including a lower portion that fills the gaps and an upper portion above the first dielectric material. The lower portion of the first semiconductor layer is replaced with additional dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Yi Song, Lijuan Zou
  • Publication number: 20200286992
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a nanosheet stack over a substrate, the nanosheet stack including alternating sacrificial and channel layers, the channel layers providing nanosheet channels for nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming vertical fins in the nanosheet stack and a portion of the substrate, and forming indents in sidewalls of the sacrificial layers at sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming nanosheet extension regions in portions of the channel layers which extend from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins, the nanosheet extension regions increasing in thickness from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming inner spacers using a conformal deposition process that forms air gaps in spaces between the nanosheet extension regions and the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Publication number: 20200287039
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of forming a semiconductor device. A non-limiting example of the method includes performing fabrication operations to form a field effect transistor (FET) device on a substrate. The fabrication operations include forming a channel region over the substrate, forming a bottom conductive layer of a wrap-around source or drain (S/D) contact over the substrate, and forming a S/D region over the bottom conductive layer and adjacent to the channel region. The S/D region is communicatively coupled to the channel region and the bottom conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10763118
    Abstract: Techniques for tight pitch patterning of fins using a cyclic selective deposition process are provided. In one aspect, a method of patterning fins in a wafer includes: forming at least one mandrel on the wafer; forming alternating layers of a first dielectric and a second dielectric alongside the at least one mandrel; removing the at least one mandrel; removing either the first dielectric or the second dielectric; and patterning the fins in the wafer using whichever of the first dielectric or the second dielectric that remains as fin hardmasks. A finFET device and method for forming a finFET device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Zhenxing Bi, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200273756
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate with a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin formed thereon. A pair of opposing dielectric trench spacers are between the first and second semiconductor fins. The opposing dielectric trench spacers define an isolation region therebetween. The semiconductor device further includes a shallow trench isolation (STI) element formed in the isolation region. The STI element includes a lower portion on the substrate and an upper portion located opposite the lower portion. The upper portion extends above an upper end of the dielectric trench spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong, Zhenxing Bi
  • Publication number: 20200273861
    Abstract: A method of performing co-integrated fabrication of a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) includes recessing fins in a channel region of the NVM and the FET to form source and drain regions adjacent to recessed fins, and removing alternating portions of the recessed fins of the NVM and the FET to form gaps in the recessed fins. A stack of layers that make up an NVM structure are conformally deposited within the gaps of the recessed fins leaving second gaps, smaller than the gaps, and above the recessed fins of the NVM while protecting the FET with the organic planarization layer (OPL) and a block mask. The OPL and block mask are removed from the FET, and another OPL and another block mask protect the NVM while a gate of the FET is formed above the recessed fins and within the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Zheng Xu, Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20200266060
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for fabricating field-effect transistors having source/drain extension contacts to provide reduced parasitic resistance in electrical paths between source/drain layers and active channel layers surrounded by gate structures of the field-effect transistor devices. For example, in a nanosheet field-effect transistor device having embedded gate sidewall spacers which are disposed between end portions of active nanosheet channel layers and serve to insulate source/drain layers from a metal gate structure, epitaxial source/drain extension contacts are disposed between the embedded gate sidewall spacers and active nanosheet channel layers, and on sidewall surfaces of the active nanosheet channel layers. Epitaxial source/drain layers are grown starting on exposed surfaces of the epitaxial source/drain extension contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi