Abstract: A transistor structure includes a base and a body over the base. The body comprises a semiconductor material and has a first end portion and a second end portion. A gate structure is wrapped around the body between the first end portion and the second end portion, where the gate structure includes a gate electrode and a dielectric between the gate electrode and the body. A source is in contact with the first end portion and a drain is in contact with the second end portion. A first spacer material is on opposite sides of the gate electrode and above the first end portion. A second spacer material is adjacent the gate structure and under the first end portion of the nanowire body. The second spacer material is below and in contact with a bottom surface of the source and the drain.

Abstract: Isolation schemes for gate-all-around (GAA) transistor devices are provided herein. In some cases, the isolation schemes include changing the semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in a targeted channel region between active or functional transistor devices to electrically isolate those active devices. The targeted channel region is referred to herein as a dummy channel region, as it is not used as an actual channel region for an active or functional transistor device. The semiconductor nanowires/nanoribbons in the dummy channel region can be changed by converting them to an electrical insulator and/or by adding dopant that is opposite in type relative to surrounding source/drain material (to create a p-n junction). The isolation schemes described herein enable neighboring active devices to retain strain in the nanowires/nanoribbons of their channel regions, thereby improving device performance.

Abstract: Epitaxial oxide plugs are described for imposing strain on a channel region of a proximate channel region of a transistor. The oxide plugs form epitaxial and coherent contact with one or more source and drain regions adjacent to the strained channel region. The epitaxial oxide plugs can be used to either impart strain to an otherwise unstrained channel region (e.g., for a semiconductor body that is unstrained relative to an underlying buffer layer), or to restore, maintain, or increase strain within a channel region of a previously strained semiconductor body. The epitaxial crystalline oxide plugs have a perovskite crystal structure in some embodiments.

Abstract: Fin shaping using templates, and integrated circuit structures resulting therefrom, are described. For example, integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin having a protruding fin portion above an isolation structure above a substrate. The protruding fin portion has a vertical portion and one or more lateral recess pairs in the vertical portion. A gate stack is over and conformal with the protruding fin portion of the semiconductor fin. A first source or drain region is at a first side of the gate stack. A second source or drain region is at a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side of the gate stack.

Abstract: Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, and methods of fabricating self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin above a substrate and having a length in a first direction. A nanowire is over the semiconductor fin. A gate structure is over the nanowire and the semiconductor fin, the gate structure having a first end opposite a second end in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. A pair of gate endcap isolation structures is included, where a first of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced equally from a first side of the semiconductor fin as a second of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced from a second side of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: Substrate-free integrated circuit structures, and methods of fabricating substrate-free integrated circuit structures, are described. For example, a substrate-less integrated circuit structure includes a fin, a plurality of gate structures over the fin, and a plurality of alternating P-type epitaxial structures and N-type epitaxial structures between adjacent ones of the plurality of gate structures.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having adjacent island structures are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor island on a semiconductor substrate. A first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires is above a first fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate. A channel region of the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires is electrically isolated from the fin. A second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires is above a second fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate. A channel region of the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires is electrically isolated from the second fin. The semiconductor island is between the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires and the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having pre-spacer-deposition cut gates are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. An end of the second gate stack is spaced apart from an end of the first gate stack by a gap. The integrated circuit structure also includes a dielectric structure having a first portion forming a gate spacer along sidewalls of the first gate stack, a second portion forming a gate spacer along sidewalls of the second gate stack, and a third portion completely filling the gap, the third portion continuous with the first and second portions.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having self-aligned source or drain undercut for varied widths are described. In an example, a structure includes first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires above a substrate, the nanowires of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires having a horizontal width greater than a horizontal width of the nanowires of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. First and second gate stack portions are over the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires, respectively. First embedded epitaxial source or drain regions are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires and extend beneath dielectric sidewalls spacers of the first gate stack portion by a first distance. Second embedded epitaxial source or drain regions are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires and extend beneath the dielectric sidewalls spacers of the second gate stack portion by a second distance substantially the same as the first distance.

Abstract: A method comprising: forming a substrate; forming a first nanowire over the substrate; forming a second nanowire over the substrate; forming a gate over a portion of the first and second nanowires; implanting a dopant such that a region between the first and second nanowires under the gate does not receive the dopant while a region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate receives the dopant, wherein the dopant amorphize a material of the region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate; and isotopically etching of the region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate.

Abstract: Fabrication of narrow and wide structures based on lithographic patterning of exclusively narrow mask structures. Multi-patterning may be employed to define narrow mask structures. Wide mask structures may be derived through a process-based merging of multiple narrow mask structures. The merge may include depositing a cap layer over narrow structures, filling in minimum spaces. The cap layer may be removed leaving residual cap material only within minimum spaces. Narrow and wide structures may be etched into an underlayer based on a summation of the narrow mask structures and residual cap material. A plug pattern may further mask portions of the cap layer not completely filling space between adjacent mask structures. The underlayer may then be etched based on a summation of the narrow mask structures, plug pattern, and residual cap material. Such methods may be utilized to integrate nanoribbon transistors with nanowire transistors in an integrated circuit (IC).

Abstract: Epitaxial oxide plugs are described for imposing strain on a channel region of a proximate channel region of a transistor. The oxide plugs form epitaxial and coherent contact with one or more source and drain regions adjacent to the strained channel region. The epitaxial oxide plugs can be used to either impart strain to an otherwise unstrained channel region (e.g., for a semiconductor body that is unstrained relative to an underlying buffer layer), or to restore, maintain, or increase strain within a channel region of a previously strained semiconductor body. The epitaxial crystalline oxide plugs have a perovskite crystal structure in some embodiments.

Abstract: Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, and methods of fabricating self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin above a substrate and having a length in a first direction. A nanowire is over the semiconductor fin. A gate structure is over the nanowire and the semiconductor fin, the gate structure having a first end opposite a second end in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. A pair of gate endcap isolation structures is included, where a first of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced equally from a first side of the semiconductor fin as a second of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced from a second side of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A transistor structure includes a first channel layer over a second channel layer, where the first and the second channel layers include monocrystalline silicon. An epitaxial source material is coupled to a first end of the first and second channel layers. An epitaxial drain material is coupled to a second end of the first and second channel layers, a gate electrode is between the epitaxial source material and the epitaxial drain material, and around the first channel layer and around the second channel layer. The transistor structure further includes a first gate dielectric layer between the gate electrode and each of the first channel layer and the second channel layer, where the first gate dielectric layer has a first dielectric constant. A second gate dielectric layer is between the first gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode, where the second gate dielectric layer has a second dielectric constant.

Abstract: A method comprising: forming a substrate; forming a first nanowire over the substrate; forming a second nanowire over the substrate; forming a gate over a portion of the first and second nanowires; implanting a dopant such that a region between the first and second nanowires under the gate does not receive the dopant while a region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate receives the dopant, wherein the dopant amorphize a material of the region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate; and isotopically etching of the region between the first and second nanowires away from the gate.

Abstract: Fabrication of narrow and wide structures based on lithographic patterning of exclusively narrow mask structures. Multi-patterning may be employed to define narrow mask structures. Wide mask structures may be derived through a process-based merging of multiple narrow mask structures. The merge may include depositing a cap layer over narrow structures, filling in minimum spaces. The cap layer may be removed leaving residual cap material only within minimum spaces. Narrow and wide structures may be etched into an underlayer based on a summation of the narrow mask structures and residual cap material. A plug pattern may further mask portions of the cap layer not completely filling space between adjacent mask structures. The underlayer may then be etched based on a summation of the narrow mask structures, plug pattern, and residual cap material. Such methods may be utilized to integrate nanoribbon transistors with nanowire transistors in an integrated circuit (IC).

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described that includes a first semiconductor layer conformally disposed on at least a portion of a source region and a second semiconductor layer conformally disposed on at least a portion of a drain region between the source/drain regions and corresponding gate spacers. The semiconductor layer can prevent diffusion and/or segregation of dopants from the source and drain regions into the gate spacers of the gate stack. Maintaining the intended location of dopant atoms in the source region and drain region improves the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device including the external resistance (“Rext”) of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having fin stack isolation, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having fin stack isolation, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a sub-fin structure on a substrate, the sub-fin structure having a top and sidewalls. An isolation structure is on the top and along the sidewalls of the sub-fin structure. The isolation structure includes a first dielectric material surrounding regions of a second dielectric material. A vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires is on a portion of the isolation structure on the top surface of the sub-fin structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are source/drain regions in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC structure may include: a channel region including a first semiconductor wire and a second semiconductor wire; and a source/drain region proximate to the channel region, wherein the source/drain region includes a first semiconductor portion proximate to an end of the first semiconductor wire, the source/drain region includes a second semiconductor portion proximate to an end of the second semiconductor wire, and the source/drain region includes a contact metal at least partially between the first semiconductor portion and the second semiconductor portion.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures including varactors are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a varactor structure on a semiconductor substrate. The varactor structure includes a plurality of discrete vertical arrangements of horizontal nanowires. A plurality of gate stacks is over and surrounding corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete vertical arrangements of horizontal nanowires. The integrated circuit structure also includes a tap structure adjacent to the varactor structure on the semiconductor substrate. The tap structure includes a plurality of merged vertical arrangements of horizontal nanowires. A plurality of semiconductor structures is over and surrounding corresponding ones of the plurality of merged vertical arrangements of horizontal nanowires.