Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a strain-inducing substrate layer having a germanium concentration of at least 10 atomic %. The semiconductor structure also includes a compressively strained layer on the strain-inducing substrate layer. The compressively strained layer has a germanium concentration at least approximately 30 percentage points greater than the germanium concentration of the strain-inducing substrate layer, and has a thickness less than its critical thickness. The semiconductor structure also includes a tensilely strained layer on the compressively strained layer. The tensilely strained layer may be formed from silicon having a thickness less than its critical thickness.

Abstract: A method for forming multiple gate insulators on a strained semiconductor heterostructure, including the steps of oxidation and deposition.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure, the method including forming in a processing chamber a dielectric layer over a substrate; and subsequently forming, in the same processing chamber and without removing the substrate therefrom, an electrode layer directly over and in contact with the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A structure having a dielectric layer that includes a dielectric material comprising a first metal nitride, and an electrode layer disposed over the dielectric layer, the electrode layer comprising a second metal nitride, with the first metal nitride and the second metal nitride having at least one metal in common. Alternatively, structure has a dielectric layer including a dielectric material comprising a metal oxide, and an electrode layer disposed over the dielectric layer, the electrode layer comprising a metal nitride. The metal oxide and the metal nitride each comprise at least one of a rare earth metal, a group IIIA metal, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, and a transition metal, and the metal oxide and the metal nitride comprise the same metal. An interfacial layer may be disposed under the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Fabrication of monolithic lattice-mismatched semiconductor heterostructures with limited area regions having upper portions substantially exhausted of threading dislocations, as well as fabrication of semiconductor devices based on such lattice-mismatched heterostructures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMOS inverter including providing a heterostructure having a Si substrate, a relaxed Si1-xGex layer on the Si substrate, and a strained surface layer on said relaxed Si1-xGex layer; and integrating a pMOSFET and an nMOSFET in said heterostructure, wherein the channel of said pMOSFET and the channel of the nMOSFET are formed in the strained surface layer. Another embodiment provides a method of fabricating an integrated circuit including providing a heterostructure having a Si substrate, a relaxed Si1-xGex layer on the Si substrate, and a strained layer on the relaxed Si1-xGex layer; and forming a p transistor and an n transistor in the heterostructure, wherein the strained layer comprises the channel of the n transistor and the p transistor, and the n transistor and the p transistor interconnected in a CMOS circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure having a substrate with a surface layer including strained silicon. The surface layer has a first region with a first thickness less than a second thickness of a second region. A gate dielectric layer is disposed over a portion of at least the first surface layer region.

Abstract: A structure including a compressively strained semiconductor layer, the compressively strained layer having a strain greater than or equal to 0.25%. A tensilely strained semiconductor layer may be formed over the compressively strained layer. The compressively strained layer is substantially planar, having a surface roughness characterized in (i) having an average wavelength greater than an average wavelength of a carrier in the compressively strained layer and/or (ii) having an average height less than 10 nm.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a strain-inducing substrate layer having a germanium concentration of at least 10 atomic %. The semiconductor structure also includes a compressively strained layer on the strain-inducing substrate layer. The compressively strained layer has a germanium concentration at least approximately 30 percentage points greater than the germanium concentration of the strain-inducing substrate layer, and has a thickness less than its critical thickness. The semiconductor structure also includes a tensilely strained layer on the compressively strained layer. The tensilely strained layer may be formed from silicon having a thickness less than its critical thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure having a substrate with a surface layer including strained silicon. The surface layer has a first region with a first thickness less than a second thickness of a second region. A gate dielectric layer is disposed over a portion of at least the first surface layer region.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating facetless semiconductor structures using commercially available chemical vapor deposition systems are disclosed herein. A key aspect of the invention includes selectively depositing an epitaxial layer of at least one semiconductor material on the semiconductor substrate while in situ doping the epitaxial layer to suppress facet formation. Suppression of faceting during selective epitaxial growth by in situ doping of the epitaxial layer at a predetermined level rather than by manipulating spacer composition and geometry alleviates the stringent requirements on the device design and increases tolerance to variability during the spacer fabrication.

Abstract: In forming an electronic device, a semiconductor layer is pre-doped and a dopant distribution anneal is performed prior to gate definition. Alternatively, the gate is formed from a metal. Subsequently formed shallow sources and drains, therefore, are not affected by the gate annealing step.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating facetless semiconductor structures using commercially available chemical vapor deposition systems are disclosed herein. A key aspect of the invention includes selectively depositing an epitaxial layer of at least one semiconductor material on the semiconductor substrate while in situ doping the epitaxial layer to suppress facet formation. Suppression of faceting during selective epitaxial growth by in situ doping of the epitaxial layer at a predetermined level rather than by manipulating spacer composition and geometry alleviates the stringent requirements on the device design and increases tolerance to variability during the spacer fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.

Abstract: The benefits of strained semiconductors are combined with silicon-on-insulator approaches to substrate and device fabrication.