Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed over a channel region of the semiconductor device, a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, and an electrically conductive contact layer over the source/drain region. The source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer having a first material composition and a second epitaxial layer formed over the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer has a second material composition different from the first composition. The electrically conductive contact layer is in contact with the first and second epitaxial layers. A bottom of the electrically conductive contact layer is located below an uppermost portion of the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed over a channel region of the semiconductor device, a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, and an electrically conductive contact layer over the source/drain region. The source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer having a first material composition and a second epitaxial layer formed over the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer has a second material composition different from the first composition. The electrically conductive contact layer is in contact with the first and second epitaxial layers. A bottom of the electrically conductive contact layer is located below an uppermost portion of the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate. The method also includes forming a gate structure over the fin structure. The method further includes epitaxially growing a source/drain structure covering the fin structure. In addition, the method includes epitaxially growing a capping layer over the source/drain structure. The capping layer has a top portion and a lower portion under the top portion. The top portion has a first thickness and the lower portion has a second. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is in a range of about 1.01 to about 2. The method also includes etching the top portion and the lower portion of the capping layer. The method further includes forming a silicide layer over the source/drain structure and a contact over the silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure, a first source/drain structure, and a contact structure. The gate structure has a gate dielectric layer over a first fin structure. The first source/drain structure is positioned in the first fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The first source/drain structure includes a first epitaxial layer in contact with the top surface of the first fin structure and a second epitaxial layer over the first epitaxial layer and extending above a bottom surface of the gate dielectric layer. The contact structure extends into the first source/drain structure. The top surface of the first fin structure is between a top surface and a bottom surface of the first source/drain structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form silicon germanium (SiGe) source/drain regions with the incorporation of a lateral etch in the epitaxial source/drain growth process. For example, the method can include forming a plurality of fins on a substrate, where each of the plurality of fins has a first width. The SiGe source/drain regions can be formed on the plurality of fins, where each SiGe source/drain region has a second width in a common direction with the first width and a height. The method can also include selectively etching—e.g., via a lateral etch—the SiGe source/drain regions to decrease the second width of the SiGe source/drain regions. By decreasing the width of the SiGe source/drain regions, electrical shorts between neighboring fins can be prevented or minimized. Further, the method can include growing an epitaxial capping layer over the Si/Ge source/drain regions.

Abstract: A lens module includes a frame, two lens assemblies, and an optical element. The frame has two first inner surfaces and two first positioning structures, and the two first positioning structures are respectively formed on the two first inner surfaces. The two lens assemblies are disposed in the frame. The optical element is disposed in the frame and is located between the two lens assemblies, wherein two side surfaces of the optical element respectively lean against the two first positioning structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed over a channel region of the semiconductor device, a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, and an electrically conductive contact layer over the source/drain region. The source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer having a first material composition and a second epitaxial layer formed over the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer has a second material composition different from the first composition. The electrically conductive contact layer is in contact with the first and second epitaxial layers. A bottom of the electrically conductive contact layer is located below an uppermost portion of the first epitaxial layer.

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 semiconductor structure that includes crystalline surfaces and amorphous hydrophilic surfaces is provided. The hydrophilic surfaces are treated with silane that includes a hydrophobic functional group, converting the hydrophilic surfaces to hydrophobic surfaces. Chemical vapor deposition or other suitable deposition methods are used to simultaneously deposit a material on both surfaces and due to the surface treatment, the deposited material exhibits superior adherence qualities on both surfaces. In one embodiment, the structure is an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate and bounded by at least one portion of a crystalline silicon surface and at least one portion of an amorphous silicon oxide structure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a gate structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming a source/drain region associated with the gate structure by etching an opening in the semiconductor substrate, performing a first epitaxial growth process while an entirety of a sidewall of the opening is exposed to grow a first epitaxy material in the opening. The first epitaxial growth process is free of a first dopant impurity. A second epitaxial growth process is performed after first epitaxial growth process to grow a second epitaxy material on the first epitaxy material. The second epitaxy material has the first dopant impurity at a first concentration. Further, a third epitaxial growth process is performed after the second epitaxial growth process that includes introducing the first dopant impurity at a second concentration, the second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure located on a substrate and a raised source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure. The raised source/drain region includes: a first epitaxial-grown doped layer of the raised source/drain region in contact with the substrate; a second epitaxial-grown doped layer on the first epitaxial-grown doped layer and including a same dopant species as the first epitaxial-grown doped layer, wherein the second epitaxial-grown doped layer includes a higher dopant concentration than the first epitaxial-grown doped layer and interfacing the gate structure by using a predetermined distance; and a third epitaxial-grown doped layer on the second epitaxial-grown doped layer and including the same dopant species as the first epitaxial-grown doped layer, wherein the third epitaxial-grown doped layer includes a higher dopant concentration than the second epitaxial-grown doped layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes crystalline surfaces and amorphous hydrophilic surfaces is provided. The hydrophilic surfaces are treated with silane that includes a hydrophobic functional group, converting the hydrophilic surfaces to hydrophobic surfaces. Chemical vapor deposition or other suitable deposition methods are used to simultaneously deposit a material on both surfaces and due to the surface treatment, the deposited material exhibits superior adherence qualities on both surfaces. In one embodiment, the structure is an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate and bounded by at least one portion of a crystalline silicon surface and at least one portion of an amorphous silicon oxide structure.

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 semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature in a substrate. The source/drain feature has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a lower concentration of Ge than the lower portion. A Si-containing layer over the source/drain feature includes a metal silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes crystalline surfaces and amorphous hydrophilic surfaces is provided. The hydrophilic surfaces are treated with silane that includes a hydrophobic functional group, converting the hydrophilic surfaces to hydrophobic surfaces. Chemical vapor deposition or other suitable deposition methods are used to simultaneously deposit a material on both surfaces and due to the surface treatment, the deposited material exhibits superior adherence qualities on both surfaces. In one embodiment, the structure is an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate and bounded by at least one portion of a crystalline silicon surface and at least one portion of an amorphous silicon oxide structure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a gate structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming a source/drain region associated with the gate structure by etching an opening in the semiconductor substrate, performing a first epitaxial growth process while an entirety of a sidewall of the opening is exposed to grow a first epitaxy material in the opening. The first epitaxial growth process is free of a first dopant impurity. A second epitaxial growth process is performed after first epitaxial growth process to grow a second epitaxy material on the first epitaxy material. The second epitaxy material has the first dopant impurity at a first concentration. Further, a third epitaxial growth process is performed after the second epitaxial growth process that includes introducing the first dopant impurity at a second concentration, the second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure located on a substrate and a raised source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure. The raised source/drain region includes: a first epitaxial-grown doped layer of the raised source/drain region in contact with the substrate; a second epitaxial-grown doped layer on the first epitaxial-grown doped layer and including a same dopant species as the first epitaxial-grown doped layer, wherein the second epitaxial-grown doped layer includes a higher dopant concentration than the first epitaxial-grown doped layer and interfacing the gate structure by using a predetermined distance; and a third epitaxial-grown doped layer on the second epitaxial-grown doped layer and including the same dopant species as the first epitaxial-grown doped layer, wherein the third epitaxial-grown doped layer includes a higher dopant concentration than the second epitaxial-grown doped layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming the same provide a high mobility stressor material suitable for use as source/drain regions or other active devices. The structure is formed in a substrate opening and is doped with an impurity such as boron in upper portions but is void of the impurity in regions that contact the surfaces of the opening. The structure is therefore resistant to out-diffusion of the dopant impurity during high temperature operations and may be formed through selective deposition using reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition or reduced pressure epitaxial deposition.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual damascene metal gate includes forming a dummy gate onto a substrate, disposing a protective layer on the substrate and the dummy gate, and growing an expanding layer on sides of the dummy gate. The method further includes removing the protective layer, forming a spacer around the dummy gate, and depositing and planarizing a dielectric layer. The method further includes selectively removing the expanding layer, and removing the dummy gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature in a substrate. The source/drain feature has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a lower concentration of Ge than the lower portion. A Si-containing layer over the source/drain feature includes a metal silicide layer.