Abstract: A method of forming a multi-layer semiconductor device on a substrate includes forming a superlattice of a plurality of alternating first layers composed of a first material and second layers formed of a second material, removing the second layers of the superlattice, etching the first material layers to form trimmed first layers therefrom, wherein the quantity of material removed from different ones of the first layers are different amounts, forming a capping layer over the first layers, measuring at least one of the distance between the capping layers formed on the different ones of the first layers, the thicknesses of the different ones of the capping layers formed on different ones of the trimmed first layers, and the different thicknesses of the combined thickness of different ones of the trimmed first layers and the capping layer formed thereover, and based on differences in the measurements, calculating a new thickness of the etched first layers.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include etching a portion of a silicon-containing material from a substrate disposed within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The silicon-containing material may extend into one or more recesses defined by alternating layers of material deposited on the substrate. The methods may include providing a carbon-containing precursor to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting a remaining silicon-containing material with the carbon-containing precursor. The contacting with the carbon-containing precursor may replenish carbon in the silicon-containing material. The methods may include providing a cleaning agent to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the cleaning agent. The contacting with the cleaning precursor may remove surface oxide from the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device with fewer via voids (e.g., gaps between a dielectric layer and a metal fill of the semiconductor device). One such technique involves forming a dielectric layer, wherein at least a portion of the dielectric layer comprises a nonstoichiometric compound; forming one or more openings in the dielectric layer; filling the one or more openings with a metal, wherein the metal is disposed on a surface of each of the one or more openings; and exposing the dielectric layer and metal disposed in the openings to an oxidizing atmosphere, wherein exposing the dielectric layer and metal in the openings causes oxidation of the nonstoichiometric compound.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for fabricating a semiconductor device with fewer via voids (e.g., gaps between a dielectric layer and a metal fill of the semiconductor device). One such technique involves forming a dielectric layer over a surface of a substrate, forming one or more openings in the dielectric layer, filling the one or more openings with a metal wherein the metal is disposed on a surface of each of the one or more openings, and implanting an oxygen containing species into the dielectric layer to provide a dose of the oxygen containing species to the surface of each of the one or more openings and the metal disposed thereon.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a first dielectric layer comprising a first conductive metal feature embedded in the first dielectric layer; and a second dielectric layer including a second conductive metal feature embedded in the second dielectric layer, the second conductive metal feature is above and directly contacts the first conductive metal feature, and an interface between the second conductive metal feature and the second dielectric layer includes a repeating scallop shape along its entire length.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor memory device includes simultaneously filling a top portion of a first high aspect ratio (HAR) structure and a top portion a second HAR structure with a silicon-containing sacrificial layer by a cycle of a deposition process and an etch process, wherein the first HAR structure has a critical dimension (CD) of between 150 nm and 250 nm, and the second HAR structure has a CD of between 250 nm and 400 nm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a first trench partially through a first substrate from a first side of the first substrate. The method also includes widening a bottom portion of the first trench to form a lateral footing area of the first trench. The method includes forming a first metallization in the first trench; forming a second trench through a second substrate from a second side of the second substrate to expose at least a portion of first metallization in an area corresponding to the lateral footing area of the first trench, the second side being opposite to the first side. The method also includes forming a second metallization in the second trench in contact with the first metallization.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication method that uses a graphene etch stop is disclosed. The method comprises forming a first set of trenches and a second set of trenches in a substrate. The first set of trenches are narrower than the second set of trenches. The method further comprises forming a graphene layer in the first and second sets of trenches. The method further comprises depositing a first conductor in the first and second sets of trenches. The method further comprises removing the first conductor from the second set of trenches using an etching process. The graphene layer acts as an etch stop for the etching process. The method further comprises depositing a second conductor in the second set of trenches. The second conductor is different than the first conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductors, and more particularly, to a structure and method of minimizing shorting between epitaxial regions in small pitch fin field effect transistors (FinFETs). In an embodiment, a dielectric region may be formed in a middle portion of a gate structure. The gate structure be formed using a gate replacement process, and may cover a middle portion of a first fin group, a middle portion of a second fin group and an intermediate region of the substrate between the first fin group and the second fin group. The dielectric region may be surrounded by the gate structure in the intermediate region. The gate structure and the dielectric region may physically separate epitaxial regions formed on the first fin group and the second fin group from one another.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices (e.g., GAA device structures) and processing methods and cluster tools for forming GAA device structures are described. The cluster tools for forming GAA device structures comprise a first etch chamber, a second etch chamber, and a third etch chamber. Each of the first etch chamber and the second etch chamber independently comprises a single-wafer chamber or an immersion chamber. One or more of the first etch chamber or the second etch chamber may be a wet etch chamber. In some embodiments, at least one of the first etch chamber, the second etch chamber, and the third etch chamber is a dry etch chamber. The cluster tool described herein advantageously reduces the number of cleaning processes, the total time between cleaning and processing operations, variations in time between processing and variation in sidewall loss compared to conventional cluster tools.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical contact in a semiconductor structure includes performing a patterning process to form a hard mask on a semiconductor structure comprising a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a dielectric layer having a first opening over the first semiconductor region and a second opening over the second semiconductor region, wherein the hard mask covers an exposed surface of the first semiconductor region within the first opening, performing a first selective deposition process to form a contact layer on the exposed surface of the second semiconductor region within the second opening, and performing a second selective deposition process to form a cap layer on the contact layer.

Abstract: Horizontal gate-all-around devices and methods of manufacturing same are described. The hGAA devices comprise a semiconductor material between source regions and drain regions of the device. The method includes formation of a cladding material on a first material followed by a dry oxidation process resulting rearrangement of the cladding material and first material.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact layer in a semiconductor structure includes performing a pre-clean process on exposed surfaces of a plurality of first semiconductor regions and a plurality of second semiconductor regions formed on a substrate, wherein the exposed surfaces of the plurality of first and second semiconductor regions are each disposed within openings formed in a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, performing a first selective epitaxial deposition process to form a first contact layer on the exposed surfaces of the first semiconductor regions and a second contact layer on the exposed surface of the second semiconductor regions, performing a patterning process to form a patterned stack, wherein the patterned stack comprises a patterned layer that comprises openings formed over the first contact layer disposed within each opening in the dielectric layer and a portion of the patterned layer that is disposed over each second contact layer disposed within each opening in the dielectric layer, a

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first middle-of-line (MOL) oxide layer and a second MOL oxide layer in the semiconductor structure. The first MOL oxide layer including multiple gate stacks formed on a substrate, and each gate stack of the gate stacks including a source/drain junction. A first nitride layer is formed over a silicide in the first MOL oxide layer. A second nitride layer is formed. Trenches are formed through the second nitride layer down to the source/drain junctions. A nitride cap of the plurality of gate stacks is selectively recessed. At least one self-aligned contact area (CA) element is formed within the first nitride layer. The first MOL oxide layer is selectively recessed. An air-gap oxide layer is deposited. The air gap oxide layer is reduced to the at least one self-aligned CA element and the first nitride layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same are described. The method includes forming a diffusion break opening on the backside and filling with a diffusion break material to serve as a planarization stop. In some embodiments, a single diffusion break opening is formed. In other embodiments, a mixed diffusion break opening is formed.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same are described. The method includes forming distinct and separate bottom dielectric isolation layers underneath the source/drain and underneath the gate of a gate all around device. Selectively remove of the bottom dielectric isolation layer underneath the source/drain results in better backside power rail (BPR) via alignment to the source/drain epi and reduces reliability and gate-shorting problems.

Abstract: Approaches herein provide devices and methods for forming optimized gate-all-around transistors. One method may include forming a plurality of nanosheets each comprising a plurality of alternating first layers and second layers, and etching the plurality of nanosheets to laterally recess the second layers relative to the first layers. The method may further include forming an inner spacer over the recessed second layers by forming a spacer material along an exposed portion of each of the plurality of nanosheets, etching the spacer material to remove the spacer material from the first layers of each of the plurality of nanosheets, and performing a sidewall treatment to the plurality of nanosheets after the spacer material is removed from the first layers of each of the plurality of nanosheets.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same are described. The method includes front side processing to form a source/drain cavity and filling the cavity with a sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is then removed during processing of the backside to form a backside power rail via that is filled with a metal fill.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductors, and more particularly, to a structure and method of minimizing shorting between epitaxial regions in small pitch fin field effect transistors (FinFETs). In an embodiment, a dielectric region may be formed in a middle portion of a gate structure. The gate structure be formed using a gate replacement process, and may cover a middle portion of a first fin group, a middle portion of a second fin group and an intermediate region of the substrate between the first fin group and the second fin group. The dielectric region may be surrounded by the gate structure in the intermediate region. The gate structure and the dielectric region may physically separate epitaxial regions formed on the first fin group and the second fin group from one another.

Abstract: A method is presented for selective deposition on metals using porous low-k materials. The method includes forming alternating layers of a porous dielectric material and a first conductive material, forming a surface aligned monolayer (SAM) over the first conductive material, depositing hydroxamic acid (HA) material over the porous dielectric material, growing an oxide material over the first conductive material, removing the SAM, depositing a dielectric layer adjacent the oxide material, and replacing the oxide material with a second conductive material defining a bottom electrode.