Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming first and second interconnect structures on an etch stop layer, wherein the second interconnect structure is spaced apart from the first interconnect structure. The etch stop layer extends between the first and second interconnect structures. In the method, part of the etch stop layer between the first and second interconnect structures is removed. The removing forms a first portion of the etch stop layer extending from under the first interconnect structure toward the second interconnect structure, and a second portion of the etch stop layer extending from under the second interconnect structure toward the first interconnect structure. The first and second portions are spaced apart from each other. A dielectric layer is formed which fills in the spaces between the first and second portions of the etch stop layer and between the first and second interconnect structures.

Abstract: Techniques regarding non-SAC semiconductor devices are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise an apparatus, which can further comprise a gate positioned adjacent a channel region of a semiconductor body for a field effect transistor. The gate can comprise a metal liner, and wherein the metal liner is an interface between a first metal layer of the gate and a second metal layer of the gate.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes forming a semiconductor substrate having one or more fins. The method includes forming over the fins a plurality of gate structures. The method includes forming gate spacers on sidewalls of the gate structure. The method includes forming a source/drain region on the semiconductor substrate between each adjacent gate spacer. The method includes depositing an interlevel dielectric layer on the source/drain regions and over the gate structures. The method includes depositing a hardmask on the interlevel dielectric layer. The method includes patterning the hardmask to form a plurality of openings and exposing the top surface of each of the source/drain regions. The method includes depositing an optical planarization layer in a portion of the openings and above the top surface of the gate structures. The method includes etching the interlevel dielectric layer in the opening to form an undercut region below the hardmask.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to fabricate semiconductor devices. For example, a method includes forming an interconnect structure having a base, a first conductive metal layer disposed on the base; and a first hardmask layer disposed on the first conductive metal layer. Metal lines are formed by subtractive etching. The metal lines have negative tapered sidewalls, and an opening is formed between adjacent metal lines. A first interlevel dielectric layer is deposited in the openings. A portion of the first interlevel dielectric layer is removed to form trench openings having positive tapered sidewalls. A dielectric layer is deposited in one of the openings. A liner layer and a second conductive metal layer are deposited in the other trench openings. The liner layer and the second conductive metal layer are recessed. A second hardmask layer is deposited on a top surface of the liner layer and the second conductive metal layer.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device having a gate structure adjacent to a semiconductor body at a channel region, the channel region being positioned laterally between source/drain regions. Metal plugs are on the source/drain regions, and rectangular-shaped or trapezoidal-shaped plug caps are above and immediately adjacent to the metal plugs. A self-aligned metal filled contact (CA) is conductively coupled to one of the metal plugs on the source and drain regions, and a self-aligned metal filled contact (CBoA) is conductively coupled to the gate structure. The device further includes a low k dielectric layer that includes a continuous airgap having an inverted u-shape formed about the gate structure and breaks at about a portion of the gate structure including the self-aligned metal filled contact (CBoA). Also, methods for forming the device including the uniquely shaped continuous airgap are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes patterning a plurality of semiconductor fins on a semiconductor substrate, and replacing at least two of the plurality of semiconductor fins with a plurality of dummy fins including a dielectric material. A gate structure is formed on and around the plurality of semiconductor fins and the plurality of dummy fins, and a source/drain contact is formed adjacent the gate structure.

Abstract: Methods for forming semiconductor devices are disclosed including forming a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor substrate containing two or more fins. The method includes etching a first optical planarization layer on the semiconductor structure exposing a top surface of each of a gate spacer, a gate cap layer and a portion of a source/drain contact adjacent to the exposed gate spacer to form a first gate contact opening. The method further includes depositing a sacrificial place-holder material in the first gate contact opening. The method further includes removing the first optical planarization layer. The method further includes recessing a first conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a vertical resistive memory cell and a fabrication method therefor. The method includes forming a sacrificial layer over a transistor drain contact; forming a first dielectric layer over the sacrificial layer; forming a cell contact hole through the first dielectric layer; forming an access contact hole through the first dielectric layer and exposing the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer thereby forming a cavity connecting a bottom opening of the cell contact hole and a bottom opening of the access contact hole; forming by atomic layer deposition in the cell contact hole a second dielectric layer including a seam; forming a bottom electrode within the cavity and in contact with the drain contact, the second dielectric layer, and the seam; and forming a top electrode over the first dielectric layer and in contact with the second dielectric layer and the seam.

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical metal-air transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a precursor stack with a stack template on the precursor stack on a substrate. The method further includes forming a bottom spacer on the substrate around the precursor stack, and depositing a liner casing on the precursor stack. The method further includes depositing a conductive gate layer on the bottom spacer and liner casing. The method further includes reducing the size of the stack template to form a template post on the precursor stack, and forming a stack cap on the template post and precursor stack.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to forming an airgap-based vertical field effect transistor (VFET) without structural collapse. A dielectric collar anchors the structure while forming the airgaps. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a vertical transistor is formed over a substrate. The vertical transistor can include a fin, a top spacer, a top source/drain (S/D) on the fin, and a contact on the top S/D. A dielectric layer is recessed below a top surface of the top spacer and a dielectric collar is formed on the recessed surface of the dielectric layer. Portions of the dielectric layer are removed to form a first cavity and a second cavity. A first airgap is formed in the first cavity and a second airgap is formed in the second cavity. The dielectric collar anchors the top S/D to the top spacer while forming the first airgap and the second airgap.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a surface enhancement of Raman scattering substrate is disclosed. The method further includes patterning a hardmask on a portion of a substrate. The method further includes directionally etching a portion of an exposed portion of the substrate to form a first stepped portion. The method further includes trimming the hardmask laterally to a first predetermined width. The method further includes directionally etching a portion of exposed horizontal portions of the substrate to form a second stepped portion.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of vertical fins on a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes depositing a first dielectric layer in a shallow trench isolation region on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a plurality of dummy gate structures over each of the vertical fins. The method further includes depositing a hardmask on the dummy gate. The method further includes depositing a spacer layer on the exterior surfaces of the first dielectric layer, the dummy gate structures, the hardmask and the fins. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer on a portion of the spacer layer. The method further includes recessing spacer layer to expose a portion of the hardmask and the plurality of fins. The method further includes forming a source/drain region on the exposed portion of the plurality of fins.

Abstract: An interconnect structure includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) having a cavity extending therethrough along a first direction. A first electrically conductive strip is formed on a substrate and within the cavity. The first electrically conductive strip extends along the first direction and across an upper surface of the substrate. A second electrically conductive strip is on an upper surface of the ILD and extends along a second direction opposite the first direction. A fully aligned via (FAV) extends between the first and second electrically conductive strips such that all sides of the FAV are co-planar with opposing sides of the first electrically conductive strip and opposing sides of the second electrically conductive strip thereby providing a FAV that is fully aligned with the first electrically conductive strip and the second electrically conductive strip.

Abstract: A photolithography patterning stack and method for forming the same. The stack includes a plurality of patterned silicon oxide lines. A plurality of patterned silicon germanium lines each underlie and contact one patterned silicon oxide line of the plurality of patterned silicon oxide lines. The photolithography patterning stack further comprises a plurality of layers underlying the plurality of patterning silicon germanium lines. The method includes patterning at least a photoresist layer of a photolithographic patterning stack. The patterning exposing portions of a silicon germanium layer of the photolithographic patterning stack. A germanium oxide layer is formed in contact with the patterned photoresist layer and the portions of the silicon germanium layer. A plurality of silicon oxide layers is formed from the germanium oxide layer. Each of the silicon oxide layer is in contact with one of the portions of the silicon germanium layer.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to fabricate semiconductor devices. For example, a method includes forming a lower level interconnect line having a first hardmask layer thereon and embedded in a lower level dielectric layer. The first hardmask layer is removed to form a first opening having a first width in the lower level dielectric layer. The sidewalls of the lower level dielectric layer are etched in the first openings to form a second opening having a second width. The second width is greater than the first width. An upper level interconnect line is formed on the lower level interconnect line.

Abstract: RMG techniques for VFET formation using a chamfering process are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VFET device includes: patterning fins adjacent to one another in a substrate; forming bottom source/drains at a base of the fins; forming bottom spacers over the bottom source/drains; forming sacrificial gates alongside the fins; forming top source/drains at a top of the fins; forming top spacers surrounding the top source/drains; removing the sacrificial gates; depositing a high-? gate dielectric along sidewalls of the fins; removing the high-? gate dielectric from an opening between adjacent top spacers; depositing at least a first workfunction-setting metal layer onto the high-? gate dielectric; removing the first workfunction-setting metal layer from the opening between the adjacent top spacers; and depositing at least a second workfunction-setting metal layer onto the first workfunction-setting metal layer to form replacement metal gates. A VFET device is also provided.

Abstract: Integrated chips and methods of forming the same include forming upper dummy lines over lower conductive lines. The lower conductive lines are recessed to form conductive vias between the lower conductive lines and the upper dummy lines. The upper dummy lines are replaced with upper conductive lines that contact the conductive vias.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for providing an novel field effect transistor (FET) architecture that includes a center fin region and one or more vertically stacked nanosheets. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a nanosheet stack is formed over a substrate. The nanosheet stack can include one or more first semiconductor layers and one or more first sacrificial layers. A trench is formed by removing a portion of the one or more first semiconductor layers and the one or more first sacrificial layers. The trench exposes a surface of a bottommost sacrificial layer of the one or more first sacrificial layers. The trench can be filled with one or more second semiconductor layers and one or more second sacrificial layers such that each of the one or more second semiconductor layers is in contact with a sidewall of one of the one or more first semiconductor layers.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to fabricate semiconductor devices. For example, a method includes forming an interconnect structure having a base, a first conductive metal layer disposed on the base; and a first hardmask layer disposed on the first conductive metal layer. Metal lines are formed by subtractive etching. The metal lines have negative tapered sidewalk, and an opening is formed between adjacent metal lines. A first interlevel dielectric layer is deposited in the openings. A portion of the first interlevel dielectric layer is removed to form trench openings having positive tapered sidewalls. A dielectric layer is deposited in one of the openings. A liner layer and a second conducting metal layer are deposited in the other trench openings. The liner layer and the second conductive metal layer are recessed. A second hardmask layer is deposited on a top surface of the liner layer and the second conductive metal layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical metal-air transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a precursor stack with a stack template on the precursor stack on a substrate. The method further includes forming a bottom spacer on the substrate around the precursor stack, and depositing a liner casing on the precursor stack. The method further includes depositing a conductive gate layer on the bottom spacer and liner casing. The method further includes reducing the size of the stack template to form a template post on the precursor stack, and forming a stack cap on the template post and precursor stack.