Abstract: A copper interconnect with self-aligned hourglass-shaped metal cap comprises a plurality of interconnect lines formed in a dielectric layer of a semiconductor device. The copper interconnect further comprises a metal cap formed on top of each interconnect line of the plurality of interconnect lines, where the metal cap is formed with self-aligning concave sides extending from a top surface of the dielectric layer to a top surface of the metal cap.

Abstract: An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a substrate defining a first trench; a first refractory metal liner coating the first trench; a heavy metal liner coating the first refractory metal liner; a copper structure filling the first trench over the heavy metal liner; a generally planar capping dielectric layer on top of the substrate and the copper structure; a low-k dielectric layer on top of the capping dielectric layer, wherein the low-k dielectric layer defines a second trench; a second refractory metal liner coating the second trench; a metal line filling the second refractory metal liner; and a metal via protruding from the metal line.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a field effect transistor disposed on the substrate. The field effect transistor includes a vertical fin, source and drain regions separated by a gate region, a gate structure disposed over the gate region and a gate airgap spacer at least partially disposed about the gate structure.

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: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include a first device region, a second device region, and an inter-device dielectric spacer between the first device region and the second device region. The first device region includes a first device channel, a first-polarity work function metal layer on the first device channel, and a second-polarity work function metal layer on the first device channel. The second device region include a second device channel, and a second-polarity work function metal layer on the second device channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a semiconductor device having a fin-shaped channel with a bottom surface, sidewalls and a top surface. A first source or drain (S/D) region is communicatively coupled to the fin-shaped channel, and a sub-channel region is between the bottom surface of the fin-shaped channel and a substrate. A U-shaped dielectric region within a first portion of the sub-channel region, wherein the U-shaped dielectric region includes a bottom isolation layer and a first inner spacer region. A wrap-around gate structure extends around the bottom surface, the sidewalls and the top surface of the fin-shaped channel, wherein a bottom region of the wrap-around gate structure is within a second portion of the sub-channel region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided having improved electrostatic contact close to the dielectric pillar that separates a first device region from a second device region. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric pillar located between a first vertical nanosheet stack of suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheets and a second vertical nanosheet stack of suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheets. Horizontal dielectric bridge structures can be located in the first and second device regions. The horizontal bridge structures connect each of the suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheets to a respective sidewall of the dielectric pillar. A dielectric spacer structure can laterally surround a lower portion of the dielectric pillar and be present in a semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the horizontal dielectric bridge structures can be omitted.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate; bottom dielectric isolation (BDI) on the substrate; a first source/drain region on the BDI; and a nanosheet stack on the BDI. The nanosheet stack includes gate stack layers; semiconductor nanosheets interleaved with the gate stack layers and contacting the first source/drain region; and first inner spacers adjacent to the first source/drain region and separating the first source/drain region from the gate stack layers. The structure also includes a second source/drain region contacting the semiconductor nanosheet and extending from the top of the nanosheet stack down through the BDI to the substrate. Accordingly, the nanosheet stack also includes second inner spacers in the nanosheet stack adjacent to the second source/drain region and separating the second source/drain region from the gate stack layers.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe methods of forming semiconductor devices. The methods may include etching vias and trenches in a middle-of-line (MOL) layer that has a low-k dielectric layer, a sacrificial nitride layer, and a hard mask layer. The methods may also include depositing a thin nitride layer within the via trench, depositing a carbon layer on the thin nitride layer within the vias and trenches, etching back the thin nitride layer to expose a portion of the hard mask layer, removing the hard mask layer and the carbon layer, and removing the thin nitride layer and the sacrificial nitride layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming conductive lines in the same include forming a cut region in a first dielectric layer, the cut region having a first width. A second dielectric plug is formed in the cut region. A mask is formed, over the first dielectric layer, that defines at least one trench region that crosses the second dielectric plug, with the at least one trench region having a second width that is smaller than the first width. Material from the first dielectric layer in the trench regions is etched away, using a selective anisotropic etch that leaves the second dielectric plug in place, to form trenches in the first dielectric layer. Conductive material is deposited in the trenches to form conductive lines that are separated by the second dielectric plug.

Abstract: Methods for forming conductive lines and integrated chips include forming a mandrel on an etch stop layer. First spacers are formed on sidewalls of the mandrel. The mandrel is etched away. Conductive lines are formed on sidewalls of the first spacers. The first spacers are etched away. Dielectric spacers are formed between the conductive lines.

Abstract: A dielectric layer is located on top of and in contact with a substrate. A conductive line located within the dialectic layer. A barrier layer on top of an in contact with the dielectric layer. The barrier layer is below the conductive line. A liner layer on top of and in contact with the barrier layer and below and in contact with the conductive line. A metal liner on top of and in contact with the conductive line. A capping layer on top of and in contact with the dielectric layer, the barrier layer, the liner layer, and the metal liner.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide techniques for fabricating semiconductor structures having bottom isolation and enhanced carrier mobility for both nFET and pFET devices. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a bottom source/drain region disposed on the first dielectric layer and isolated from the semiconductor substrate by the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the bottom source/drain region and a top source/drain region disposed on the second dielectric layer and isolated from the bottom source/drain region by the second dielectric layer. The bottom source/drain region comprises a compressive pFET epitaxy and the top source/drain region comprises a tensile nFET epitaxy.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures are disclosed which comprise semiconductor devices having buried power rails. In one example, a semiconductor structure comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices. Each of the semiconductor devices is isolated from an adjacent semiconductor device by a dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure further comprises a first diffusion break extending across the plurality of semiconductor devices, a second diffusion break extending across the plurality of semiconductor devices and a plurality of gates extending across the plurality of semiconductor devices. The gates are disposed between the first diffusion break and the second diffusion break. Each semiconductor device comprises a power rail extending between the first diffusion break and the second diffusion break under the plurality of gates.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to fabrication methods and resulting structures that provide metal gate N/P boundary control in an integrated circuit (IC) using an active gate cut and recess processing scheme. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a gate cut is formed in an N/P boundary between an n-type field effect transistor (FET) and a p-type FET. A first portion of a first work function metal is removed over a channel region of the n-type FET. The gate cut prevents etching a second portion of the first work function metal. The first portion of the first work function metal is replaced with a second work function metal. The gate cut is recessed, and a conductive region is formed on the recessed surface of the gate cut. The conductive region provides electrical continuity across the N/P boundary.

Abstract: Stacked FET devices having independent and shared gate contacts are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a stacked FET device includes: a bottom-level FET(s) having a bottom-level FET gate; a top-level FET(s) having a top-level FET gate, wherein an upper portion of the bottom-level FET gate is adjacent to the top-level FET gate; a dielectric sidewall spacer in between the upper portion of the bottom-level FET gate and the top-level FET gate; and a dielectric gate cap disposed over the bottom and top-level FET gates that includes a different dielectric material from the dielectric sidewall spacer. A device having at least one first stacked FET device and at least one second stacked FET device, and a method of forming a stacked FET device are also provided.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures having an increased gate length are provided by providing a vertical stack of suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheets that include a middle portion located between a first end portion and a second end portion. The middle portion of each suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheet is vertically offset from (i.e., higher or lower than) the first end portion and the second end portion of each suspended semiconductor channel material nanosheet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for fabricating a semiconductor device and the resulting structure. A high modulus material layer is formed on a conductive stack. A trench is formed that exposes a surface of the liner and filled with metal. The metal is patterned to form interconnect lines and vias. The high modulus material is removed. A conformal layer is formed on exposed surfaces of the stack and the interconnect lines and vias. A low-? dielectric is formed on the conformal layer such that the low-? dielectric is of a height coplanar with the top surface of the vias. The conformal layer is removed from a top surface of the vias. A next level metal layer is formed on the top surface of the vias and low-? dielectric layer such that added vias of the next level metal layer are directly on the top surface of the vias.

Abstract: A method of forming a pitch pattern is provided. The method includes forming two adjacent mandrels separated by a first distance, D1, on a substrate, and forming a first set of alternating sidewall spacers between the two adjacent mandrels. The method further includes removing the two adjacent mandrels, and forming a second set of alternating sidewall spacers and a third set of alternating sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the first set of sidewall spacers.

Abstract: A method of via formation including forming a sacrificial mask over a conductive layer, forming a plurality of pillars in the sacrificial mask and the conductive layer, wherein each pillar of the plurality of pillars includes a sacrificial cap and a first conductive via, depositing a spacer between the plurality of pillars, masking at least one of the sacrificial caps, removing at least one of the sacrificial caps to create openings, forming second conductive vias in the openings, and depositing a dielectric coplanar to a top surface of the second conductive vias.