Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, a gate structure, gate spacers, and a dielectric feature. The semiconductor fin is over a substrate. The gate structure is over the semiconductor fin and includes a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin and a gate metal covering the gate dielectric layer. The gate spacers are on opposite sides of the gate structure. The dielectric feature is over the substrate. The dielectric feature is in contact with the gate metal, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate spacers, and an interface between the gate metal and the dielectric feature is substantially aligned with an interface between the dielectric feature and one of the gate spacers.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes fabricating devices with tunable gate height and effective capacitance. A method includes forming a first metal gate stack in a dummy region of a semiconductor substrate and a second metal gate stack in an active device region of the semiconductor substrate, and performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process using a slurry including charged abrasive nanoparticles. The first and second metal gate stacks are different in composition. The charged abrasive nanoparticles include a first concentration in the active device region different from a second concentration in the dummy region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate; an isolation structure over the substrate; a first fin extending from the substrate and through the isolation structure; a first source/drain structure over the first fin; a contact etch stop layer over the isolation structure and contacting a first side face of the first source/drain structure; and a first dielectric structure contacting a second side face of the first source/drain structure. The first side face and the second side face are on opposite sides of the first fin in a cross-sectional view cut along a widthwise direction of the first fin. The first dielectric structure extends higher than the first source/drain structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes fabricating devices with tunable gate height and effective capacitance. A method includes forming a first metal gate stack in a dummy region of a semiconductor substrate, the first metal gate stack including a first work function metal (WFM) layer; forming a second metal gate stack in an active device region of the semiconductor substrate, the second metal gate stack including a second WFM layer different than the first WFM layer; and performing a CMP process using a slurry including charged abrasive nanoparticles. The charged abrasive nanoparticles include a first concentration in the active device region different from a second concentration in the dummy region causing different polish rates in the active device region and dummy region. After the performing of the CMP process, the first metal gate stack has a first height different from a second height of the second metal gate stack.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin protruding from a substrate, forming a gate structure across the fin, forming an epitaxial feature over the fin, depositing a dielectric layer covering the epitaxial feature and over sidewalls of the gate structure, performing an etching process to form a trench, the trench dividing the gate structure into first and second gate segments and extending into a region of the dielectric layer, forming a dielectric feature in the trench, recessing a portion of the dielectric feature located in the region, selectively etching the dielectric layer to expose the epitaxial feature, and depositing a conductive feature in physical contact with the epitaxial feature and directly above the portion of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation feature formed in the semiconductor substrate and a first fin-type active region. The first fin-type active region extends in a first direction. A dummy gate stack is disposed on an end region of the first fin-type active region. The dummy, gate stack may overlie an isolation structure. In an embodiment, any recess such as formed for a source/drain region in the first fin-type active region will be displaced from the isolation region by the distance the dummy gate stack overlaps the first fin-type active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation feature formed in the semiconductor substrate and a first fin-type active region. The first fin-type active region extends in a first direction. A dummy gate stack is disposed on an end region of the first fin-type active region. The dummy gate stack may overlie an isolation structure. In an embodiment, any recess such as formed for a source/drain region in the first fin-type active region will be displaced from the isolation region by the distance the dummy gate stack overlaps the first fin-type active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate; an isolation structure over the substrate; a first fin extending from the substrate and through the isolation structure; a first source/drain structure over the first fin; a contact etch stop layer over the isolation structure and contacting a first side face of the first source/drain structure; and a first dielectric structure contacting a second side face of the first source/drain structure. The first side face and the second side face are on opposite sides of the first fin in a cross-sectional view cut along a widthwise direction of the first fin. The first dielectric structure extends higher than the first source/drain structure.

Abstract: A first FinFET device includes first fin structures that extend in a first direction in a top view. A second FinFET device includes second fin structures that extend in the first direction in the top view. The first FinFET device and the second FinFET device are different types of FinFET devices. A plurality of gate structures extend in a second direction in the top view. The second direction is different from the first direction. Each of the gate structures partially wraps around the first fin structures and the second fin structures. A dielectric structure is disposed between the first FinFET device and the second FinFET device. The dielectric structure cuts each of the gate structures into a first segment for the first FinFET device and a second segment for the second FinFET device. The dielectric structure is located closer to the first FinFET device than to the second FinFET device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second fins protruding from the substrate, and first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the first and second fins respectively. The semiconductor device further includes an isolation feature over the substrate and disposed between the first and second S/D features, and a dielectric layer disposed on sidewalls of the first and second S/D features and on sidewalls of the isolation feature. A top portion of the isolation feature extends above the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming an active region on a substrate, forming a sacrificial gate stack engaging the active region, measuring a gate length of the sacrificial gate stack at a height lower than a top surface of the active region, selecting an etching recipe based on the measured gate length of the sacrificial gate stack, etching the sacrificial gate stack with the etching recipe to form a gate trench, and forming a metal gate stack in the gate trench.

Abstract: A method of controlling gate formation of a semiconductor device includes acquiring a correlation between gate critical dimensions (CDs) and etching recipes for forming gate trenches; measuring a gate CD on a target wafer; determining an etching recipe based on the correction and the measured gate CD; and performing an etching process on the target wafer to form a gate trench with the determined etching recipe.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes fabricating devices with tunable gate height and effective capacitance. A method includes forming a first metal gate stack in a dummy region of a semiconductor substrate, the first metal gate stack including a first work function metal (WFM) layer; forming a second metal gate stack in an active device region of the semiconductor substrate, the second metal gate stack including a second WFM layer different than the first WFM layer; and performing a CMP process using a slurry including charged abrasive nanoparticles. The charged abrasive nanoparticles include a first concentration in the active device region different from a second concentration in the dummy region causing different polish rates in the active device region and dummy region. After the performing of the CMP process, the first metal gate stack has a first height different from a second height of the second metal gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes fabricating devices with tunable gate height and effective capacitance. A method includes forming a first metal gate stack in a dummy region of a semiconductor substrate, the first metal gate stack including a first work function metal (WFM) layer; forming a second metal gate stack in an active device region of the semiconductor substrate, the second metal gate stack including a second WFM layer different than the first WFM layer; and performing a CMP process using a slurry including a charged abrasive nanoparticles. The charged abrasive nanoparticles include a first concentration in the active device region different from a second concentration in the dummy region causing different polish rates in the active device region and dummy region. After the performing of the CMP process, the first metal gate stack has a first height greater different from a second height of the second metal gate stack.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for mitigating the fringing capacitances generated by patterned gate structures. The method includes forming a gate structure on fin structures disposed on a substrate; forming an opening in the gate structure to divide the gate structure into a first section and a second section, where the first and second sections are spaced apart by the opening. The method also includes forming a fill structure in the opening, where forming the fill structure includes depositing a silicon nitride liner in the opening to cover sidewall surfaces of the opening and depositing silicon oxide on the silicon nitride liner.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, a gate structure, gate spacers, and a dielectric feature. The semiconductor fin is over a substrate. The gate structure is over the semiconductor fin and includes a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin and a gate metal covering the gate dielectric layer. The gate spacers are on opposite sides of the gate structure. The dielectric feature is over the substrate. The dielectric feature is in contact with the gate metal, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate spacers, and an interface between the gate metal and the dielectric feature is substantially aligned with an interface between the dielectric feature and one of the gate spacers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate spacer over the semiconductor substrate, the gate spacer having an upper portion and a lower portion, a first width of the upper portion decreasing continually in a first direction extending away from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second width of the lower portion being constant along the first direction; a gate stack extending along a first sidewall of the gate spacer and the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent a second sidewall of the gate spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over first and second fins over a substrate; forming an interlayer dielectric layer surrounding first and second fins; etching a first trench in the interlayer dielectric layer between the first and second fins uncovered by the gate structure; forming a helmet layer lining the first trench; and forming a dielectric feature in the first trench.

Abstract: SRAM structures are provided. An SRAM structure includes a substrate, a P-type well region over the substrate, an N-type well region over the substrate, a PMOS transistor in the N-type well region, an NMOS transistor in the P-type well region, an isolation region over the boundary between the P-type well region and the N-type well region, and a dielectric structure formed in the isolation region and extending from the isolation region to the boundary between the P-type well region and the N-type well region. The depth of the dielectric structure is greater than that of the isolation region. The PMOS transistor is separated from the NMOS transistor by the isolation region.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate spacer over the semiconductor substrate, the gate spacer having an upper portion and a lower portion, a first width of the upper portion decreasing continually in a first direction extending away from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second width of the lower portion being constant along the first direction; a gate stack extending along a first sidewall of the gate spacer and the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent a second sidewall of the gate spacer.