Abstract: A U-shaped gate dielectric structure is provided that has a horizontal gate dielectric portion having a vertical thickness, and a vertical gate dielectric wall portion extending upwards from the horizontal gate dielectric portion. The vertical gate dielectric wall portion has a lateral thickness that is greater than the vertical thickness of the horizontal gate dielectric portion. The U-shaped gate dielectric structure houses a gate conductor portion. Collectively, the U-shaped gate dielectric structure and the gate conductor portion provide a functional gate structure that has reduced capacitance.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming a transistor with one or more additional gate spacers. The additional spacers may be formed between the gate and original gate spacers to reduce the parasitic coupling between the gate and the source/drain, for example. In some cases, the additional spacers may include air gaps and/or dielectric material (e.g., low-k dielectric material). In some cases, the gate may include a lower portion and an upper portion. In some such cases, the lower portion of the gate may be narrower in width between the original gate spacers than the upper portion of the gate, which may be as a result of the additional spacers being located between the lower portion of the gate and the original gate spacers. In some such cases, the gate may approximate a “T” shape or various derivatives of that shape such as -shape or -shape, for example.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a tunable tensile strain and an embodiment method of tuning tensile strain in an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes forming a source/drain region on opposing sides of a gate region in a fin, forming spacers over the fin, the spacers adjacent to the source/drain regions, depositing a dielectric between the spacers; and performing an annealing process to contract the dielectric, the dielectric contraction deforming the spacers, the spacer deformation enlarging the gate region in the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor layer is etched into a plurality of fin structures. A first nitridation process is performed to side surfaces of the fin structures. The first nitridation process forms a first oxynitride layer at the side surfaces of the fin structures. A liner oxide layer is formed on the first oxynitride layer. An isolation structure is formed around the fin structures after the forming of the liner oxide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including reentrant isolation structures and a method for making such a device. A preferred embodiment comprises a substrate of semiconductor material forming at least one isolation structure having a reentrant profile and isolating one or more adjacent operational components. The reentrant profile of the at least one isolation structure is formed of substrate material and is created by ion implantation, preferably using oxygen ions applied at a number of different angles and energy levels. In another embodiment the present invention is a method of forming an isolation structure for a semiconductor device performing at least one oxygen ion implantation.

Abstract: A U-shaped gate dielectric structure is provided that has a horizontal gate dielectric portion having a vertical thickness, and a vertical gate dielectric wall portion extending upwards from the horizontal gate dielectric portion. The vertical gate dielectric wall portion has a lateral thickness that is greater than the vertical thickness of the horizontal gate dielectric portion. The U-shaped gate dielectric structure houses a gate conductor portion. Collectively, the U-shaped gate dielectric structure and the gate conductor portion provide a functional gate structure that has reduced capacitance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a LTPS array substrate includes: forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on a substrate, forming a poly-silicon layer in a first region and a second region of the substrate including the source electrode and the drain electrode, such that the poly-silicon layer of the first region has a thickness greater than that of the second region and the poly-silicon layer of the first region partially covers the source electrode and the drain electrode; passivating a surface of the poly-silicon layer in order to turn a part of the poly-silicon layer of the second region and the first region that is adjacent to the surface into an insulating layer; and forming a gate electrode on the insulating layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The LTPS technical process is simple and can reduce the producing costs.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed includes, among other things, removing a portion of an initial gate cap layer and a portion of an initial sidewall spacer so as to thereby define a gate contact cavity that exposes a portion of a gate structure, completely forming a conductive gate contact structure (CB) in a gate contact cavity, wherein the entire conductive gate contact structure (CB) is positioned vertically above the active region. The method also comprises removing the remaining portion of the initial gate cap layer and to recess a vertical height of exposed portions of the initial sidewall spacer to thereby define a recessed sidewall spacer and a gate cap cavity and forming a replacement gate cap layer in the gate cap cavity so as to define an air space between an upper surface of the recessed sidewall spacer and a lower surface of the replacement gate cap layer.

Abstract: A FinFET includes a semiconductor layer having a fin structure that protrudes out of the semiconductor layer. The fin structure includes a first segment and a second segment disposed over the first segment. A dielectric layer is disposed over the semiconductor layer. The first segment of the fin structure is surrounded by the dielectric layer. A metal layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The second segment of the fin structure is surrounded by the metal layer. The dielectric layer has a greater nitrogen content than the metal layer. The first segment of the fin structure also has a first side surface that is rougher than a second side surface of the second segment of the fin structure.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) with an underlying airgap and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming an amorphous layer at a predetermined depth of a substrate. The method further includes forming an airgap in the substrate under the amorphous layer. The method further includes forming a completely isolated transistor in an active region of the substrate, above the amorphous layer and the airgap.

Abstract: The present technique relates to a solid-state imaging device, a solid-state imaging device manufacturing method, and an electronic apparatus that are capable of providing a solid-state imaging device that can prevent generation of RTS noise due to miniaturization of amplifying transistors, and can achieve a smaller size and a higher degree of integration accordingly. A solid-state imaging device (1-1) includes: a photodiode (PD) as a photoelectric conversion unit; a transfer gate (TG) that reads out charges from the photodiode (PD); a floating diffusion (FD) from which the charges of the photodiode (PD) are read by an operation of the transfer gate (TG); and an amplifying transistor (Tr3) connected to the floating diffusion (FD). More particularly, the amplifying transistor (Tr3) is of a fully-depleted type.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate with a semiconductor material. The semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor in and on the semiconductor material. The field effect transistor has a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor material of the semiconductor device, and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes a layer of nitrogen-rich silicon nitride immediately over the region for the channel, and under the gate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit containing a first plurality of MOS transistors operating in a low voltage range, and a second plurality of MOS transistors operating in a mid voltage range, may also include a high-voltage MOS transistor which operates in a third voltage range significantly higher than the low and mid voltage ranges, for example 20 to 30 volts. The high-voltage MOS transistor has a closed loop configuration, in which a drain region is surrounded by a gate, which is in turn surrounded by a source region, so that the gate does not overlap field oxide. The integrated circuit may include an n-channel version of the high-voltage MOS transistor and/or a p-channel version of the high-voltage MOS transistor. Implanted regions of the n-channel version and the p-channel version are formed concurrently with implanted regions in the first and second pluralities of MOS transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an isolation feature in a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first source/drain feature in the substrate, wherein a first side of the first source/drain feature contacts the isolation feature, and the first source/drain feature exposes a portion of the isolation feature below a top surface of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a silicide layer over the first source/drain feature. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric layer along the exposed portion of the isolation feature below the top surface of the substrate, wherein the dielectric layer contacts the silicide layer. The semiconductor device further includes a second source/drain feature in the substrate on an opposite side of a gate stack from the first source/drain feature, wherein the second source/drain feature has a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) with an underlying airgap and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming an amorphous layer at a predetermined depth of a substrate. The method further includes forming an airgap in the substrate under the amorphous layer. The method further includes forming a completely isolated transistor in an active region of the substrate, above the amorphous layer and the airgap.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include a carrier including at least a first region and a second region being laterally adjacent to each other; an electrically insulating structure arranged in the first region of the carrier, wherein the second region of the carrier is free of the electrically insulating structure; a first electronic component arranged in the first region of the carrier over the electrically insulating structure; a second electronic component arranged in the second region of the carrier; wherein the electrically insulating structure includes one or more hollow chambers, wherein the sidewalls of the one or more hollow chambers are covered with an electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A structure includes at least one shallow trench isolation structure formed in a substrate to isolate adjacent different type devices. The structure further includes a barrier trench structure formed in the substrate to isolate diffusions of adjacent same type devices. The structure further includes a material spanning the barrier trench structure to connect the diffusions of the adjacent same type device, on a same level as the adjacent same type devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate that has a surface. The semiconductor further includes a fin disposed on the surface and including a semiconductor member. The semiconductor further includes a spacer disposed on the surface, having a type of stress, and overlapping the semiconductor member in a direction parallel to the surface. A thickness of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the surface is less than a height of the semiconductor member in the direction perpendicular to the surface.

Abstract: Provided is a high-k metal gate structure formed over a semiconductor fin. A nitride layer is formed over the gate structure and the semiconductor fin, using two separate deposition operations, the first forming a very thin nitride film. Implantation operations may be carried out in between the two nitride film deposition operations. The first nitride film may be SiNx or SiCNx and the second nitride film is SiCNx. The nitride films may be combined to form low wet etch rate spacers enabling further processing operations to be carried out without damaging underlying structures and without requiring the formation of further dummy spacers. Further processing operations include epitaxial silicon/SiGe processing sequences and source/drain implanting operations carried out with the low etch rate spacers intact.

Abstract: Semiconductor photodetectors are provided that may enable optimized usage of an active detector array. The semiconductor photodetectors may have a structure that can be produced and/or configured as simply as possible. A radiation detector system is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device is provided. In the method, a semiconductor substrate defining a device region and an outer region at a periphery of the device region is provided, an align trench is formed in the outer region, a dummy trench is formed in the device region, an epi layer is formed over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and within the dummy trench, a current path changing part is formed over the epi layer, and a gate electrode is formed over the current path changing part. When the epi layer is formed, a current path changing trench corresponding to the dummy trench is formed over the epi layer, and the current path changing part is formed within the current path changing trench.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed of forming and removing a reacted layer on a surface of a recess to provide mechanisms for improving thickness uniformity of a semiconductor material formed in the recess. The improved thickness uniformity in turn improves the uniformity of device performance.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for stressing transistor channels of semiconductor device structures. Such methods include the formation of so-called near-surface “nanocavities” adjacent to the source/drain regions, forming extensions of the source/drain regions adjacent to and including the nanocavities, and implanting matter of a type that will expand or contract the volume of the nanocavities, depending respectively upon whether compressive strain is desirable in transistor channels between the nanocavities, as in PMOS field effect transistors, or tensile strain is wanted in transistor channels, as in NMOS field effect transistors, to enhance carrier mobility and transistor speed. Semiconductor device structures and semiconductor devices including these features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, which includes an N well having a peak concentration of 2E+17 atom/cm3 or more in the range of 0.2 to 1 ?m depth from the surface of a P-type semiconductor substrate, and a region provided below the N well, the region containing P-type impurities with higher concentration than concentration of electrons.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including providing a functional gate structure on a channel portion of a semiconductor substrate. A gate sidewall spacer is adjacent to the functional gate structure and an interlevel dielectric layer is present adjacent to the gate sidewall spacer. The upper surface of the gate conductor is recessed relative to the interlevel dielectric layer. A multi-layered cap is formed a recessed surface of the gate structure, wherein at least one layer of the multi-layered cap includes a high-k dielectric material and is present on a sidewall of the gate sidewall spacer at an upper surface of the functional gate structure. Via openings are etched through the interlevel dielectric layer selectively to at least the high-k dielectric material of the multi-layered cap, wherein at least the high-k dielectric material protects a sidewall of the gate conductor.

Abstract: There is provided a MOSFET structure and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a dummy gate on the semiconductor substrate; forming source/drain regions; selectively etching the dummy gate to a position where a channel is to be formed; and epitaxially growing a channel layer at the position where the channel is to be formed and forming a gate on the channel layer, wherein the channel layer comprises a material of high mobility. Thereby, the channel of the device is replaced with the material of high mobility after the source/drain region is formed, and thus it is possible to suppress the short channel effect and also to improve the device performance.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having at least a gate structure formed thereon and a first spacer formed on sidewalls of the gate structure, performing an ion implantation to implant dopants into the substrate, forming a disposal spacer having at least a carbon-containing layer on the sidewalls of the gate structure, the carbon-containing layer contacting the first spacer, and performing a thermal treatment to form a protecting layer between the carbon-containing layer and the first spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that includes a gate structure on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. A first source region and a first drain region are present in the semiconductor substrate on opposing sides of the gate structure. At least one spacer is present on the sidewalls of the gate structure. The at least one spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer. The first spacer of the at least one spacer is in direct contact with the sidewall of the gate structure and is present over an entire width of the first source region and the first drain region. The second spacer of the at least one spacer extends from the first spacer of the at least one spacer and has a length that covers an entire length of a first source region and a first drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having dislocations and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device is disclosed. The exemplary semiconductor device and method for fabricating the semiconductor device enhance carrier mobility. The method includes providing a substrate having an isolation feature therein and two gate stacks overlying the substrate, wherein one of the gate stacks is atop the isolation feature. The method further includes performing a pre-amorphous implantation process on the substrate. The method further includes forming a stress film over the substrate. The method also includes performing an annealing process on the substrate and the stress film.

Abstract: A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A first structure and a second structure are formed on a substrate. An oxide layer is entirely formed to cover the first structure and the second structure. A nitride layer is formed to entirely cover the oxide layer. A dry etching process is performed to remove a part of the nitride layer on the first structure. A wet etching process is performed to entirely remove the nitride layer and the oxide layer on the first structure and the second structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a transistor. The transistor includes a silicon layer including a source region and a drain region, a gate stack disposed on the silicon layer between the source region and the drain region, and a sidewall spacer disposed on sidewalls of the gate stack. The gate stack includes a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second layer comprising a metal or metal alloy, and a third layer comprising silicon or polysilicon. The sidewall spacer includes a high dielectric constant material and covers the sidewalls of at least the second and third layers of the gate stack. Also provided is a method for fabricating such a transistor.

Abstract: A strain enhanced transistor is provided having a strain inducing layer overlying a gate electrode. The gate electrode has sloped sidewalls over the channel region of the transistor.

Abstract: A process for forming an integrated circuit with reduced sidewall spacers to enable improved silicide formation between minimum spaced transistor gates. A process for forming an integrated circuit with reduced sidewall spacers by first forming sidewall spacer by etching a sidewall dielectric and stopping on an etch stop layer, implanting source and drain dopants self aligned to the sidewall spacers, followed by removing a portion of the sidewall dielectric and removing the etch stop layer self aligned to the reduced sidewall spacers prior to forming silicide.

Abstract: A technology is capable of simplifying a process of manufacturing an asymmetric device in forming a Tunneling Field Effect Transistor (TFET) structure. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a conductive pattern over a semiconductor substrate, implanting impurity ions with the conductive pattern as a mask to form a first junction region in the semiconductor substrate, forming a first insulating film planarized with the conductive pattern over the first junction region, etching the top of the conductive pattern to expose a sidewall of the first insulating film, forming a spacer at the sidewall of the first insulating film disposed over the conductive pattern, etching the conductive pattern with the spacer as an etching mask to form a gate pattern, and forming a second junction region in the semiconductor substrate with the gate pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that includes a gate structure on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. A first source region and a first drain region are present in the semiconductor substrate on opposing sides of the gate structure. At least one spacer is present on the sidewalls of the gate structure. The at least one spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer. The first spacer of the at least one spacer is in direct contact with the sidewall of the gate structure and is present over an entire width of the first source region and the first drain region. The second spacer of the at least one spacer extends from the first spacer of the at least one spacer and has a length that covers an entire length of a first source region and a first drain region.

Abstract: A method for decreasing polysilicon gate resistance in a carbon co-implantation process which includes: depositing a first salicide block layer on a formed gate of a MOS device and etching it to form a first spacer of a side surface of the gate of the MOS device; performing a P-type heavily doped boron implantation process and a thermal annealing treatment, so as to decrease the resistance of the polysilicon gate; removing said first spacer, performing a lightly doped drain process, and performing a carbon co-implantation process at the same time, so as to form ultra-shallow junctions at the interfaces between a substrate and source region and drain region below the gate; re-depositing a second salicide block layer on the gate and etching the mask to form a second spacer; forming a self-aligned silicide on the surface of the MOS device. The invention can decrease the resistance of the P-type polysilicon gate.

Abstract: Apparatus for semiconductor device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. One method for fabricating a semiconductor device structure involves forming a gate structure overlying a region of semiconductor material, wherein the width of the gate structure is aligned with a <100> crystal direction of the semiconductor material. The method continues by forming recesses about the gate structure and forming a stress-inducing semiconductor material in the recesses.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating integrated circuits using non-oxidizing resist removal. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes forming a gate electrode structure overlying a semiconductor substrate and applying and patterning a layer of resist to expose a portion of the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate electrode structure. Conductivity determining ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate using the gate electrode structure and the layer of resist as an implant mask. The layer of resist is removed in a non-oxidizing ambient and the implanted conductivity determining ions are activated by thermal annealing.

Abstract: A method for forming a MOS device with an ultra shallow lightly doped diffusion region includes providing a gate dielectric layer overlying a substrate surface region, forming a gate structure overlying the gate dielectric layer, performing a first implant process using a germanium species to form an amorphous region within an LDD region using the gate structure as a mask, and performing a second implant process in the LDD region using a P-type impurity and a carbon species. A first thermal process activates the P-type impurity in the LDD region, forming side wall spacers overlying the gate structure, and performing a third implant process using a first impurity to form active source/drain regions in a vicinity of the surface region adjacent to the gate structure using the gate structure and the spacers as a mask. A second thermal process then activates the first impurity in the active source/drain regions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an amorphous semiconductor film on a substrate. The method further includes annealing the amorphous semiconductor film by irradiating the substrate with a microwave to form a polycrystalline semiconductor film from the amorphous semiconductor film. The method further includes forming a transistor whose channel is the polycrystalline semiconductor film.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for stressing transistor channels of semiconductor device structures. Such methods include the formation of so-called near-surface “nanocavities” adjacent to the source/drain regions, forming extensions of the source/drain regions adjacent to and including the nanocavities, and implanting matter of a type that will expand or contract the volume of the nanocavities, depending respectively upon whether compressive strain is desirable in transistor channels between the nanocavities, as in PMOS field effect transistors, or tensile strain is wanted in transistor channels, as in NMOS field effect transistors, to enhance carrier mobility and transistor speed. Semiconductor device structures and semiconductor devices including these features are also disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns in substrates by utilizing block copolymer assemblies as patterning materials. A block copolymer assembly may be formed over a substrate, with the assembly having first and second subunits arranged in a pattern of two or more domains. Metal may be selectively coupled to the first subunits relative to the second subunits to form a pattern of metal-containing regions and non-metal-containing regions. At least some of the block copolymer may be removed to form a patterned mask corresponding to the metal-containing regions. A pattern defined by the patterned mask may be transferred into the substrate with one or more etches. In some embodiments, the patterning may be utilized to form integrated circuitry, such as, for example, gatelines.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including providing a substrate having a channel region defined therein; forming an insulation layer on the substrate; forming a gate trench for forming a gate electrode having a sidewall portion, a bottom portion and an edge portion between the sidewall portion and the bottom portion on the insulation layer, the gate electrode trench overlapping the channel region; and forming a gate electrode in the gate electrode trench. Forming the gate electrode includes forming a first metal layer pattern in the gate electrode trench and forming a second metal layer pattern on the first metal layer pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate and a transistor formed in the substrate. The transistor includes a gate stack having a high-k dielectric and metal gate, a sealing layer formed on sidewalls of the gate stack, the sealing layer having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge interfacing with the sidewall of the gate stack, a spacer formed on the outer edge of the sealing layer, and a source/drain region formed on each side of the gate stack, the source/drain region including a lightly doped source/drain (LDD) region that is aligned with the outer edge of the sealing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that includes a gate structure on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. A first source region and a first drain region are present in the semiconductor substrate on opposing sides of the gate structure. At least one spacer is present on the sidewalls of the gate structure. The at least one spacer includes a first spacer and a second spacer. The first spacer of the at least one spacer is in direct contact with the sidewall of the gate structure and is present over an entire width of the first source region and the first drain region. The second spacer of the at least one spacer extends from the first spacer of the at least one spacer and has a length that covers an entire length of a first source region and a first drain region.

Abstract: A transistor is provided that includes a silicon layer including a source region and a drain region, a gate stack disposed on the silicon layer between the source region and the drain region, and a sidewall spacer disposed on sidewalls of the gate stack. The gate stack includes a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second layer comprising a metal or metal alloy, and a third layer comprising silicon or polysilicon. The sidewall spacer includes a high dielectric constant material and covers the sidewalls of at least the second and third layers of the gate stack. Also provided is a method for fabricating such a transistor.

Abstract: An insulated-gate field-effect transistor (220U) is provided with an empty-well region for achieving high performance. The concentration of the body dopant reaches a maximum at a subsurface location no more than 10 times deeper below the upper semiconductor surface than the depth of one of a pair of source/drain zones (262 and 264), decreases by at least a factor of 10 in moving from the subsurface location along a selected vertical line (136U) through that source/drain zone to the upper semiconductor surface, and has a logarithm that decreases substantially monotonically and substantially inflectionlessly in moving from the subsurface location along the vertical line to that source/drain zone. Each source/drain zone has a main portion (262M or 264M) and a more lightly doped lateral extension (262E or 264E). Alternatively or additionally, a more heavily doped pocket portion (280) of the body material extends along one of the source/drain zones.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure include or provide a field effect device that includes a spacer shaped contact via. The spacer shaped contact via comprises a spacer shaped annular contact via that is located surrounding and separated from an annular spacer shaped gate electrode at the center of which may be located a non-annular and non-spacer shaped second contact via. The annular gate electrode as well as the annular contact via and the non-annular contact via may be formed sequentially in a self-aligned fashion while using a single sacrificial mandrel layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a MOS transistor, a source electrode and a drain electrode on the MOS transistor each include a first carbon doped silicon layer including carbon at a first carbon concentration and phosphorus at a first phosphorus concentration and a second carbon doped silicon layer over the first silicon carbide layer, which includes phosphorus at a second phosphorus concentration higher than the first phosphorus concentration, and which includes carbon at a second carbon concentration less than or equal to the first carbon concentration.

Abstract: The overlay mark and method for making the same are described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor overlay structure includes gate stack structures formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured as an overlay mark, and a doped semiconductor substrate disposed on both sides of the gate stack structure that includes at least as much dopant as the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate stack structure in a device region. The doped semiconductor substrate is formed by at least three ion implantation steps.