Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a negative capacitance structure, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer. After the first metallic layer is formed, an annealing operation is performed, followed by a cooling operation. A second metallic layer is formed. After the cooling operation, the dielectric layer becomes a ferroelectric dielectric layer including an orthorhombic crystal phase. The first metallic film includes a oriented crystalline layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a negative capacitance structure, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer. After the first metallic layer is formed, an annealing operation is performed, followed by a cooling operation. A second metallic layer is formed. After the cooling operation, the dielectric layer becomes a ferroelectric dielectric layer including an orthorhombic crystal phase.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-gate semiconductor device includes forming a fin structure including alternating stacked first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, forming a dummy gate structure across the fin structure, forming a first spacer alongside the dummy gate structure, removing a first portion of the first spacer to expose the dummy gate structure, forming a second spacer between a second portion of first spacer and the dummy gate structure after removing the first portion of the first spacer, removing the dummy gate structure to expose a sidewall of the second spacer, removing the first semiconductor layers of the fin structure to form a plurality of nanostructures from the second semiconductor layers of the fin structure, and forming a gate conductive structure to wrap around the plurality of nanostructures. The gate conductive structure is in contact with the sidewall of the second spacer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET) device. The device includes a first fin structure disposed over an n-type FinFET (NFET) region of a substrate. The first fin structure includes a silicon (Si) layer, a silicon germanium oxide (SiGeO) layer disposed over the silicon layer and a germanium (Ge) feature disposed over the SiGeO layer. The device also includes a second fin structure over the substrate in a p-type FinFET (PFET) region. The second fin structure includes the silicon (Si) layer, a recessed silicon germanium oxide (SiGeO) layer disposed over the silicon layer, an epitaxial silicon germanium (SiGe) layer disposed over the recessed SiGeO layer and the germanium (Ge) feature disposed over the epitaxial SiGe layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a negative capacitance structure, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer. After the first metallic layer is formed, an annealing operation is performed, followed by a cooling operation. A second metallic layer is formed. After the cooling operation, the dielectric layer becomes a ferroelectric dielectric layer including an orthorhombic crystal phase. The first metallic film includes a oriented crystalline layer.

Abstract: A 3D-IC includes a first tier device and a second tier device. The first tier device and the second tier device are vertically stacked together. The first tier device includes a first substrate and a first interconnect structure formed over the first substrate. The second tier device includes a second substrate, a doped region formed in the second substrate, a dummy gate formed over the substrate, and a second interconnect structure formed over the second substrate. The 3D-IC also includes an inter-tier via extends vertically through the second substrate. The inter-tier via has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the inter-tier via is coupled to the first interconnect structure. The second end of the inter-tier via is coupled to one of: the doped region, the dummy gate, or the second interconnect structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin feature over the substrate. The fin feature includes a first portion of a first semiconductor material and a second portion of a second semiconductor material disposed over the first portion. The second semiconductor material is different from the first semiconductor material. The semiconductor device further includes a semiconductor oxide feature disposed on sidewalls of the first portion and a gate stack disposed on the fin feature. The gate stack includes an interfacial layer over a top surface and sidewalls of the second portion and a gate dielectric layer over the interfacial layer and sidewalls of the semiconductor oxide feature. A portion of the gate dielectric layer is below the interfacial layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for crystalline junctionless transistors used in nonvolatile memory arrays are introduced. Various embodiments in accordance with this disclosure provide a method of fabricating a monolithic 3D cross-bar nonvolatile memory array with low thermal budget. The method incorporates crystalline junctionless transistors into nonvolatile memory structures by transferring a layer of doped crystalline semiconductor material from a seed wafer to form the source, drain, and connecting channel of the junctionless transistor.

Abstract: According to another embodiment, a method of forming a transistor is provided. The method includes the following operations: providing a substrate; providing a source over the substrate; providing a channel connected to the source; providing a drain connected to the channel; providing a gate insulator adjacent to the channel; providing a gate adjacent to the gate insulator; providing a first interlayer dielectric between the source and the gate; and providing a second interlayer dielectric between the drain and the gate, wherein at least one of the formation of the source, the drain, and the channel includes about 20-95 atomic percent of Sn.

Abstract: A semiconductor test device for measuring a contact resistance includes: first fin structures, upper portions of the first fin structures protruding from an isolation insulating layer; epitaxial layers formed on the upper portions of the first fin structures, respectively; first conductive layers formed on the epitaxial layers, respectively; a first contact layer disposed on the first conductive layers at a first point; a second contact layer disposed on the first conductive layers at a second point apart from the first point; a first pad coupled to the first contact layer via a first wiring; and a second pad coupled to the second contact layer via a second wiring. The semiconductor test device is configured to measure the contact resistance between the first contact layer and the first fin structures by applying a current between the first pad and the second pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a transistor, wherein the transistor has a source region and a drain region. The interconnect structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the interconnect structure includes a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers, a first via and a memory cell. The plurality of interlayer dielectric layers are over the semiconductor substrate. The first via is embedded in at least two interlayer dielectric layers among the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and electrically connected with the drain region of the transistor. The memory cell is disposed over the at least two interlayer dielectric layers among the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and electrically connected with the first via.

Abstract: Among other things, one or semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. For example, one or more silicon and silicon germanium stacks are utilized to form PMOS transistors comprising germanium nanostructure channels and NMOS transistors comprising silicon nanostructure channels. In an example, a first silicon and silicon germanium stack is oxidized to transform silicon to silicon oxide regions, which are removed to form germanium nanostructure channels for PMOS transistors. In another example, silicon and germanium layers within a second silicon and silicon germanium stack are removed to form silicon nanostructure channels for NMOS transistors. PMOS transistors having germanium nanostructure channels and NMOS transistors having silicon nanostructure channels are formed as part of a single fabrication process.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a storage element layer, a first buffer layer, and a top electrode. The storage element layer is disposed over the bottom electrode. The first buffer layer is interposed between the storage element layer and the bottom electrode, where a thermal conductivity of the first buffer layer is less than a thermal conductivity of the storage element layer. The top electrode is disposed over the storage element layer, where the storage element layer is disposed between the top electrode and the first buffer layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel between the first and second S/D regions, a gate engaging the channel, and a contact feature connecting to the first S/D region. The contact feature includes first and second contact layers. The first contact layer has a conformal cross-sectional profile and is in contact with the first S/D region on at least two sides thereof. In embodiments, the first contact layer is in direct contact with three or four sides of the first S/D region so as to increase the contact area. The first contact layer includes one of a semiconductor-metal alloy, an III-V semiconductor, and germanium.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes depositing a TiN layer over a substrate. The method further includes doping a first portion of the TiN layer using an oxygen-containing plasma treatment. The method further includes doping a second portion of the TiN layer using a nitrogen-containing plasma treatment, wherein the second portion of the TiN layer directly contacts the first portion of the TiN layer. The method further includes forming a first metal gate electrode over the first portion of the TiN layer. The method further includes forming a second metal gate electrode over the second portion of the TiN layer, wherein the first metal gate electrode has a different work function from the second metal gate electrode, and the second metal gate electrode directly contacts the first metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel between the first and second S/D regions, a gate engaging the channel, and a contact feature connecting to the first S/D region. The contact feature includes first and second contact layers. The first contact layer has a conformal cross-sectional profile and is in contact with the first S/D region on at least two sides thereof. In embodiments, the first contact layer is in direct contact with three or four sides of the first S/D region so as to increase the contact area. The first contact layer includes one of a semiconductor-metal alloy, an III-V semiconductor, and germanium.

Abstract: A multi-gate semiconductor device is formed that provides a first fin element extending from a substrate. A gate structure extends over a channel region of the first fin element. The channel region of the first fin element includes a plurality of channel semiconductor layers each surrounded by a portion of the gate structure. A source/drain region of the first fin element is adjacent the gate structure. The source/drain region includes a first semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer over the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a circuit including a MOSFET disposed in a MOSFET region and a negative capacitance FET (NCFET) disposed in a NCFET region, a dielectric layer is formed over a channel layer in the MOSFET region and the NCFET region. A first metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer in the MOSFET region and the NCFET region. After the first metallic layer is formed, an annealing operation is performed only in the NCFET region. After the annealing operation, the first metallic layer is removed from the MOSFET region and the NCFET region. The annealing operation includes irradiating the first metallic layer and the dielectric layer in the NCFET region with an energy beam.

Abstract: A read method and a write method for a memory circuit are provided, wherein the memory circuit includes a memory cell and a selector electrically coupled to the memory cell. The read method includes applying a first voltage to the selector, wherein a first voltage level of the first voltage is larger than a voltage threshold corresponding to the selector; and applying, after the applying of the first voltage, a second voltage to the selector to sense one or more bit values stored in the memory cell, wherein a second voltage level of the second voltage is constant and smaller than the voltage threshold, wherein a first duration of the applying of the first voltage is smaller than a second duration of the applying of the second voltage, wherein the second voltage is applied following the end of the first duration.

Abstract: Among other things, one or semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. For example, one or more silicon and silicon germanium stacks are utilized to form PMOS transistors comprising germanium nanostructure channels and NMOS transistors comprising silicon nanostructure channels. In an example, a first silicon and silicon germanium stack is oxidized to transform silicon to silicon oxide regions, which are removed to form germanium nanostructure channels for PMOS transistors. In another example, silicon and germanium layers within a second silicon and silicon germanium stack are removed to form silicon nanostructure channels for NMOS transistors. PMOS transistors having germanium nanostructure channels and NMOS transistors having silicon nanostructure channels are formed as part of a single fabrication process.