Abstract: A device includes a semiconductive fin having source and drain regions and a channel region between the source and drain regions, a gate feature over the channel region of the semiconductive fin, a first spacer around the gate feature, source and drain features respectively in the source and drain regions of the semiconductive fin, an interlayer dielectric layer around the first spacer, and a void between the first spacer and the interlayer dielectric layer and spaced apart from the gate feature and the source and drain features.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dummy gate over a substrate, forming dielectric materials over a top surface and sidewalls of the dummy gate, and replacing the dummy gate with a gate structure. The dummy gate has a first width located a first distance away from the substrate, a second width located a second distance away from the substrate, and a third width located a third distance away from the substrate. The second distance is less than the first distance. The second width is less than the first width. The third distance is less than the second distance. The third width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a channel region, forming a gate stack layer over the channel region, forming a patterned hard mask over the gate stack layer, etching a top portion of the gate stack layer through openings in the patterned hard mask with a first etchant, etching a middle portion and a bottom portion of the gate stack layer with a second etchant that includes a passivating gas. A gate stack is formed with a passivation layer deposited on sidewalls of the gate stack. The method also includes etching the gate stack with a third etchant, thereby removing a bottom portion of the passivation layer and recessing a bottom portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure with a fin top surface disposed on the substrate, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the fin structure, a gate structure disposed on the fin top surface, and a gate spacer with first and second spacer portions disposed between the gate structure and the S/D region. The first spacer portion extends above the fin top surface and is disposed along a sidewall of the gate structure. The second spacer portion extends below the fin top surface and is disposed along a sidewall of the S/D region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin extending from a substrate, and a gate structure extending across the semiconductor fin. From a plan view, the semiconductor fin includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, an end surface extending along a different direction than the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and a first corner portion connecting the first sidewall and the end surface. The first corner portion is more rounded than the first sidewall and the end surface.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure and method for forming FinFET device structure are provided. The FinFET structure includes a substrate and an isolation structure formed on the substrate. The FinFET structure also includes a fin structure extending above the substrate, and the fin structure is embedded in the isolation structure. The FinFET structure further includes an epitaxial structure formed on the fin structure, the epitaxial structure has a pentagon-like shape, and an interface between the epitaxial structure and the fin structure is lower than a top surface of the isolation structure.

Abstract: A method includes following steps. A substrate is etched using a hard mask as an etch mask to form a fin. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer is over the fin. A recess is formed in the BARC layer to expose a first portion of the hard mask. A protective coating layer is formed at least on a sidewall of the recess in the BARC layer. A first etching step is performed to remove the first portion of the hard mask to expose a first portion of the fin, while leaving a second portion of the fin covered under the protective coating layer and the BARC layer. A second etching step is performed to lower a top surface of the first portion of the fin to below a top surface of the second portion of the fin.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure and method for forming FinFET device structure are provided. The FinFET structure includes a substrate and an isolation structure formed on the substrate. The FinFET structure also includes a fin structure extending above the substrate, and the fin structure is embedded in the isolation structure. The FinFET structure further includes an epitaxial structure formed on the fin structure, the epitaxial structure has a pentagon-like shape, and an interface between the epitaxial structure and the fin structure is lower than a top surface of the isolation structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the substrate, the first fin structure, and the second fin structure. The method includes forming a first work function layer in the first trench and the second trench. The method includes forming a first mask layer over the first work function layer in the first trench. The method includes removing the first work function layer exposed by the first mask layer. The method includes removing the first mask layer. The method includes forming a first gate electrode in the first trench and a second gate electrode in the second trench. The method includes forming a first hard mask layer in the first trench and a second hard mask layer in the second trench.

Abstract: A FinFET structure with a gate structure having two notch features therein and a method of forming the same is disclosed. The FinFET notch features ensure that sufficient spacing is provided between the gate structure and source/drain regions of the FinFET to avoid inadvertent shorting of the gate structure to the source/drain regions. Gate structures of different sizes (e.g., different gate widths) and of different pattern densities can be provided on a same substrate and avoid inadvertent of shorting the gate to the source/drain regions through application of the notched features.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure over a substrate. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the substrate and the first fin structure. The dielectric layer has a first trench exposing a first portion of the first fin structure. The method includes forming a first work function layer in the first trench. The method includes forming a first mask layer over the first work function layer in the first trench, wherein an upper portion of the first work function layer in the first trench is exposed by the first mask layer. The method includes removing the first work function layer exposed by the first mask layer. The method includes removing the first mask layer. The method includes forming a first gate electrode in the first trench.

Abstract: A FinFET structure with a gate structure having two notch features therein and a method of forming the same is disclosed. The FinFET notch features ensure that sufficient spacing is provided between the gate structure and source/drain regions of the FinFET to avoid inadvertent shorting of the gate structure to the source/drain regions. Gate structures of different sizes (e.g., different gate widths) and of different pattern densities can be provided on a same substrate and avoid inadvertent of shorting the gate to the source/drain regions through application of the notched features.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first fin and a second fin over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode traversing over the first fin and the second fin, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer between the first fin and the first gate electrode and between the second fin and the second gate electrode. Further, the semiconductor device includes a dummy gate electrode over the substrate, and the dummy gate electrode is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. An upper portion of the dummy gate electrode is wider than a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a channel region, forming a gate stack layer over the channel region, forming a patterned hard mask over the gate stack layer, etching a top portion of the gate stack layer through openings in the patterned hard mask with a first etchant, etching a middle portion and a bottom portion of the gate stack layer with a second etchant that includes a passivating gas. A gate stack is formed with a passivation layer deposited on sidewalls of the gate stack. The method also includes etching the gate stack with a third etchant, thereby removing a bottom portion of the passivation layer and recessing a bottom portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dummy gate over a substrate, forming dielectric materials over a top surface and sidewalls of the dummy gate, and replacing the dummy gate with a gate structure. The dummy gate has a first width located a first distance away from the substrate, a second width located a second distance away from the substrate, and a third width located a third distance away from the substrate. The second distance is less than the first distance. The second width is less than the first width. The third distance is less than the second distance. The third width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first fin and a second fin over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode traversing over the first fin and the second fin, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer between the first fin and the first gate electrode and between the second fin and the second gate electrode. Further, the semiconductor device includes a dummy gate electrode over the substrate, and the dummy gate electrode is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. An upper portion of the dummy gate electrode is wider than a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode.

Abstract: A method includes following steps. A substrate is etched using a hard mask as an etch mask to form a fin. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer is over the fin. A recess is formed in the BARC layer to expose a first portion of the hard mask. A protective coating layer is formed at least on a sidewall of the recess in the BARC layer. A first etching step is performed to remove the first portion of the hard mask to expose a first portion of the fin, while leaving a second portion of the fin covered under the protective coating layer and the BARC layer. A second etching step is performed to lower a top surface of the first portion of the fin to below a top surface of the second portion of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of fabricating the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a metal gate structure on the substrate; and a spacer next to the metal gate structure having a skirting part extending into the metal gate structure and contacting the substrate. The metal gate structure includes a high-k dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode on the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a substrate and a fin protruding from the substrate, forming a gate stack layer over the fin, and patterning the gate stack layer in forming a gate stack. The patterning of the gate stack layer simultaneously forms a passivation layer on sidewall surfaces of the gate stack. The method also includes removing a bottom portion of the passivation layer, thereby exposing a bottom portion of the gate stack, while a top portion of the passivation layer remains. The method further includes laterally etching the bottom portion of the gate stack, thereby shrinking a width of the bottom portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a gate structure traversing over the fin structure. The gate structure includes a gate electrode layer which includes an upper portion above the fin structure and a lower portion below the fin structure. The upper portion has a top surface with a first width, the lower portion has a bottom surface with a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width.