Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, forming a first spacer layer on a sidewall of the gate stack, forming a sacrificial spacer film over the first spacer layer, forming an epitaxy structure on the semiconductor substrate, and performing an etching process on the sacrificial spacer film to form a gap between the first spacer layer and the epitaxy structure. An outer portion of the sacrificial spacer film has a topmost end higher than that of an inner portion of the sacrificial spacer film after performing the etching process. The method further includes forming a second spacer layer to seal the gap between the epitaxy structure and the first spacer layer.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate, and a gate structure formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure also includes an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) structure formed over the fin structure. A top surface and a sidewall of the fin structure are surrounded by the epitaxial S/D structure. A first distance between an outer surface of the epitaxial S/D structure and the sidewall of the fin structure is no less than a second distance between the outer surface of the epitaxial S/D structure and the top surface of the fin structure.

Abstract: In one example aspect, a method for integrated circuit (IC) fabrication comprises providing a device structure including a substrate, a source/drain (S/D) feature on the substrate, a gate stack on the substrate, a contact hole over the S/D feature; and a dummy feature over the S/D feature and between the gate stack and the contact hole. The method further comprises forming in the contact hole a contact plug that is electrically coupled to the S/D feature, and, after forming the contact plug, selectively removing the dummy feature to form an air gap that extends higher than a top surface of the gate stack. The method further comprises forming over the contact plug a seal layer that covers the air gap.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a FinFET device having gate spacers with reduced capacitance and methods for forming the FinFET device. Particularly, the FinFET device according to the present disclosure includes gate spacers formed by two or more depositions. The gate spacers are formed by depositing first and second materials at different times of processing to reduce parasitic capacitance between gate structures and contacts introduced after epitaxy growth of source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on a semiconductor fin, and forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode extends on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. A gate spacer is selectively deposited on a sidewall of the gate electrode. An exposed portion of the gate dielectric layer is free from a same material for forming the gate spacer deposited thereon. The method further includes etching the gate dielectric layer using the gate spacer as an etching mask to expose a portion of the semiconductor fin, and forming an epitaxy semiconductor region based on the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a FinFET device having gate spacers with reduced capacitance and methods for forming the FinFET device. Particularly, the FinFET device according to the present disclosure includes gate spacers formed by two or more depositions. The gate spacers are formed by depositing first and second materials at different times of processing to reduce parasitic capacitance between gate structures and contacts introduced after epitaxy growth of source/drain regions.

Abstract: Doping techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a fin structure, forming a doped amorphous layer over a portion of the fin structure, and performing a knock-on implantation process to drive a dopant from the doped amorphous layer into the portion of the fin structure, thereby forming a doped feature. The doped amorphous layer includes a non-crystalline form of a material. In some implementations, the knock-on implantation process crystallizes at least a portion of the doped amorphous layer, such that the portion of the doped amorphous layer becomes a part of the fin structure. In some implementations, the doped amorphous layer includes amorphous silicon, and the knock-on implantation process crystallizes a portion of the doped amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a fin structure. The method further includes forming first gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the gate structure. The method further includes forming source/drain features in the fin structure and adjacent to the first gate spacers. The method further includes performing a surface treatment process on top surfaces of the source/drain features and outer sidewalls of the first gate spacers. The method further includes depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the source/drain features and the first gate spacers. A first portion of the CESL is deposited over the top surfaces of the source/drain features at a first deposition rate. A second portion of the CESL is deposited over the outer sidewalls of the first gate spacers at a second deposition rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a FinFET device having gate spacers with reduced capacitance and methods for forming the FinFET device. Particularly, the FinFET device according to the present disclosure includes gate spacers formed by two or more depositions. The gate spacers are formed by depositing first and second materials at different times of processing to reduce parasitic capacitance between gate structures and contacts introduced after epitaxy growth of source/drain regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a fin structure. The method further includes forming first gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the gate structure. The method further includes forming source/drain features in the fin structure and adjacent to the first gate spacers. The method further includes performing a surface treatment process on top surfaces of the source/drain features and outer sidewalls of the first gate spacers. The method further includes depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the source/drain features and the first gate spacers. A first portion of the CESL is deposited over the top surfaces of the source/drain features at a first deposition rate. A second portion of the CESL is deposited over the outer sidewalls of the first gate spacers at a second deposition rate.

Abstract: Doping techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a fin structure, forming a doped amorphous layer over a portion of the fin structure, and performing a knock-on implantation process to drive a dopant from the doped amorphous layer into the portion of the fin structure, thereby forming a doped feature. The doped amorphous layer includes a non-crystalline form of a material. In some implementations, the knock-on implantation process crystallizes at least a portion of the doped amorphous layer, such that the portion of the doped amorphous layer becomes a part of the fin structure. In some implementations, the doped amorphous layer includes amorphous silicon, and the knock-on implantation process crystallizes a portion of the doped amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate in a first inter-layer dielectric, performing a treatment on the metal gate and the first inter-layer dielectric, selectively growing a hard mask on the metal gate without growing the hard mask from the first inter-layer dielectric, depositing a second inter-layer dielectric over the hard mask and the first inter-layer dielectric, planarizing the second inter-layer dielectric and the hard mask, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the hard mask to electrically couple to the metal gate.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on a semiconductor fin, and forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode extends on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. A gate spacer is selectively deposited on a sidewall of the gate electrode. An exposed portion of the gate dielectric layer is free from a same material for forming the gate spacer deposited thereon. The method further includes etching the gate dielectric layer using the gate spacer as an etching mask to expose a portion of the semiconductor fin, and forming an epitaxy semiconductor region based on the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate in a first inter-layer dielectric, performing a treatment on the metal gate and the first inter-layer dielectric, selectively growing a hard mask on the metal gate without growing the hard mask from the first inter-layer dielectric, depositing a second inter-layer dielectric over the hard mask and the first inter-layer dielectric, planarizing the second inter-layer dielectric and the hard mask, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the hard mask to electrically couple to the metal gate.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on a semiconductor fin, and forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode extends on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. A gate spacer is selectively deposited on a sidewall of the gate electrode. An exposed portion of the gate dielectric layer is free from a same material for forming the gate spacer deposited thereon. The method further includes etching the gate dielectric layer using the gate spacer as an etching mask to expose a portion of the semiconductor fin, and forming an epitaxy semiconductor region based on the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: Doping techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a fin structure, forming a doped amorphous layer over a portion of the fin structure, and performing a knock-on implantation process to drive a dopant from the doped amorphous layer into the portion of the fin structure, thereby forming a doped feature. The doped amorphous layer includes a non-crystalline form of a material. In some implementations, the knock-on implantation process crystallizes at least a portion of the doped amorphous layer, such that the portion of the doped amorphous layer becomes a part of the fin structure. In some implementations, the doped amorphous layer includes amorphous silicon, and the knock-on implantation process crystallizes a portion of the doped amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first fin feature embedded within an isolation structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate, the first fin structure having a first sidewall and a second opposing sidewall and a top surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall. The device also includes a second fin feature disposed over the isolation structure and having a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall. The third sidewall is aligned with the first sidewall of the first fin structure. The device also includes a gate dielectric layer disposed directly on the top surface of the first fin structure, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall of the second fin feature and a gate electrode disposed over the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a first wire structure formed over the fin structure and a source structure and a drain structure formed at two opposite sides of the fin structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate structure formed over the fin structure. In addition, the fin structure and the first wire structure are separated by the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a first wire structure formed over the fin structure and a source structure and a drain structure formed at two opposite sides of the fin structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate structure formed over the fin structure. In addition, the fin structure and the first wire structure are separated by the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first fin feature embedded within an isolation structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate, the first fin structure having a first sidewall and a second opposing sidewall and a top surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall. The device also includes a second fin feature disposed over the isolation structure and having a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall. The third sidewall is aligned with the first sidewall of the first fin structure. The device also includes a gate dielectric layer disposed directly on the top surface of the first fin structure, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall of the second fin feature and a gate electrode disposed over the gate dielectric.