Abstract: An embodiment fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes fins formed from a semiconductor substrate, a non-recessed shallow trench isolation (STI) region disposed between the fins, and a dummy gate disposed on the non-recessed STI region.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a nanowire structure comprises a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant and a first linear thermal expansion constant; and a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant and a second linear thermal expansion constant surrounding the first semiconductor material, wherein a ratio of the first lattice constant to the second lattice constant is from 0.98 to 1.02, wherein a ratio of the first linear thermal expansion constant to the second linear thermal expansion constant is greater than 1.2 or less than 0.8.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer that includes a device structure that is formed within a device layer. The device layer is arranged within an upper surface the device layer. A crack stop is formed, which surrounds the device structure and reinforces the semiconductor wafer to prevent cracking during dicing. A laser is used to form a groove along a scribe line outside the crack stop. The groove extends completely through the device layer, and into an upper surface region of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is then cut along the grooved scribe line with a cutting blade to singulate the semiconductor wafer into two or more die. By extending the groove completely through the device layer, the method avoids damage to the device layer caused by the blade saw, and thus avoids an associated performance degradation of the device structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for annealing a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an energy-converting structure proximate a semiconductor structure, the energy-converting structure comprising a material having a loss tangent larger than that of the semiconductor structure; providing a heat reflecting structure between the semiconductor structure and the energy-converting structure; and providing microwave radiation to the energy-converting structure and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron-doped silicon germanium, silicon phosphide, titanium, nickel, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, n-type doped silicon, and aluminum capped silicon carbide. The heat reflecting structure may include a material substantially transparent to microwave radiation and having substantial reflectivity with respect to infrared radiation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and methods of forming same. A representative structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate; a nanowire structure protruding from the substrate having a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; a pair of silicide regions extending into opposite sides of the source region, wherein each of the pair of silicide regions comprise a vertical portion adjacent to the source region and a horizontal portion adjacent to the substrate; and a metal gate surrounding a portion the channel region.

Abstract: A representative method for fabricating a field effect transistor comprises forming a source region and a drain region disposed in a substrate; forming a gate structure over the substrate, the gate structure comprising sidewalls and a top surface, the gate structure interposing the source region and the drain region; forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over at least a portion of the top surface of the gate structure; forming an interlayer dielectric layer over the CESL; forming a gate contact extending through the interlayer dielectric layer; and forming a source contact and a drain contact extending through the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein a first distance between an edge of the source contact and a first corresponding edge of the CESL is about 1 nm to about 10 nm.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a semiconductor alloy layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the semiconductor alloy layer, forming source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate structure, removing at least a portion of the semiconductor alloy layer overlying the source and drain regions, and forming a metal silicide region over the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A wafer alignment apparatus includes a light source, a light detection device, and a rotation device configured to rotate a first wafer and a second wafer. The light source is configured to provide a first light directed to the first wafer and a second light directed to the second wafer. The light detection device is configured to detect reflected light intensity from the first wafer to find a position of at least one wafer alignment mark of the first wafer and to detect reflected light intensity from the second wafer to find a position of at least one wafer alignment mark of the second wafer.

Abstract: An embodiment is a structure including a first active device in a first region of a substrate, the first active device including a first layer of a two-dimensional (2-D) material, the first layer having a first thickness, and a second active device in a second region of the substrate, the second active device including a second layer of the 2-D material, the second layer having a second thickness, the 2-D material including a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), the second thickness being different than the first thickness.

Abstract: A method comprises recessing a substrate to form a fin enclosed by an isolation region, wherein the substrate is formed of a first semiconductor material, recessing the fin to form a trench over a lower portion of the fin, growing a second semiconductor material in the trench to form a middle portion of the fin through a first epitaxial process, forming a first carbon doped layer over the lower portion through a second epitaxial process, growing the first semiconductor material over the first carbon doped layer to form an upper portion of the fin through a third epitaxial process, forming a first source/drain region through a fourth epitaxial process, wherein a second carbon doped layer is formed underlying the first source/drain region and applying a thermal oxidation process to the middle portion of the fin to form an oxide outer layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second metals, and a second semiconductor material. The substrate includes a first semiconductor material and has first and second substrate portions. The first metal is reacted with the first substrate portion of the substrate. The second semiconductor material is above the second substrate portion of the substrate and is different from the first semiconductor material. The second metal is reacted with the second semiconductor material.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a curved lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the curved lower surface of the dielectric grid opening. A method for manufacturing the BSI image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a fin structure of a semiconductor device, such as a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) is provided. In an embodiment, trenches are formed in a substrate, and a liner is formed along sidewalls of the trenches, wherein a region between adjacent trenches define a fin. A dielectric material is formed in the trenches. Portions of the semiconductor material of the fin are replaced with a second semiconductor material and a third semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material having a different lattice constant than the substrate and the third semiconductor material having a different lattice constant than the second semiconductor material. Portions of the second semiconductor material are oxidized.

Abstract: A device comprises a substrate comprising silicon, a fin structure comprising a lower portion formed of silicon and enclosed by an isolation region, a middle portion formed of silicon-germanium-carbon, wherein the middle portion is enclosed by an oxide layer, an upper portion formed of silicon, wherein the upper portion comprises a channel and a silicon-carbon layer formed between the middle portion and the upper portion, a first source/drain region comprising a first silicon-phosphorus region and a first silicon-carbon layer formed underlying the first silicon-phosphorus region and a second source/drain region comprising a second silicon-phosphorus region and a second silicon-carbon layer formed underlying the second silicon-phosphorus region.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for annealing a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an energy-converting structure proximate a semiconductor structure, the energy-converting structure comprising a material having a loss tangent larger than that of the semiconductor structure; providing a heat reflecting structure between the semiconductor structure and the energy-converting structure; and providing microwave radiation to the energy-converting structure and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of boron-doped silicon germanium, silicon phosphide, titanium, nickel, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, n-type doped silicon, and aluminum capped silicon carbide. The heat reflecting structure may include a material substantially transparent to microwave radiation and having substantial reflectivity with respect to infrared radiation.

Abstract: A method includes providing a first source/drain contact, providing a second source/drain contact, and surrounding the first and second source/drain contacts with a dielectric material layer. The providing a first source/drain contact and the providing a second source/drain contact are performed one after the other.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device having epitaxial enhancement structures, and an associated method of fabrication. In some embodiments, the FinFET device has a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of isolation regions overlying the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of three-dimensional fins protrude from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate at locations between the plurality of isolation regions. Respective three-dimensional fins have an epitaxial enhancement structure that introduces a strain into the three-dimensional fin. The epitaxial enhancement structures are disposed over a semiconductor material within the three-dimensional fin at a position that is more than 10 nanometers above a bottom of an adjacent isolation region. Forming the epitaxial enhancement structure at such a position provides for sufficient structural support to avoid isolation region collapse.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a BSI image sensor having a color filter disposed between sidewalls of a metallic grid, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the BSI image sensor has a pixel sensor located within a semiconductor substrate, and a layer of dielectric material overlying the pixel sensor. A metallic grid is separated from the semiconductor substrate by the layer of dielectric material, and a stacked grid is arranged over the metallic grid. The stacked grid abuts an opening that vertically extends from an upper surface of the stacked grid to a position that is laterally arranged between sidewalls of the metallic grid. A color filter can be arranged within the opening. By having the color filter vertically extend between sidewalls of the metallic grid, a distance between the color filter and the pixel sensor can be made small, thereby improving performance of the BSI image sensor.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with stacked grid shifting is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid segment is arranged over the pixel sensor and has a metallic grid opening therein. A center of the metallic grid opening is laterally shifted from a center of the pixel sensor. A dielectric grid segment is arranged over the metallic grid and has a dielectric grid opening therein. A center of the dielectric grid opening is laterally shifted from the center of the pixel sensor. A method for manufacturing the BSI image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a curved lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the curved lower surface of the dielectric grid opening. A method for manufacturing the BSI image sensor is also provided.