Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing are presented wherein a gate dielectric is treated within an analog region of a semiconductor substrate. The gate dielectric may be treated with a plasma exposure and/or an annealing process in order to form a recovered region of the gate dielectric. A separate gate dielectric is formed within a logic region of the semiconductor substrate, and a first gate electrode and second gate electrode are formed over the gate dielectrics.

Abstract: Negative capacitance field-effect transistor (NCFET) and ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FE-FET) devices and methods of forming are provided. The gate dielectric stack of the NCFET and FE-FET devices includes a non-ferroelectric interfacial layer formed over the semiconductor channel, and a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer formed over the interfacial layer. The ferroelectric gate dielectric layer is formed by inserting dopant-source layers in between amorphous high-k dielectric layers and then converting the alternating sequence of dielectric layers to a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer by a post-deposition anneal (PDA). The ferroelectric gate dielectric layer has adjustable ferroelectric properties that may be varied by altering the precisely-controlled locations of the dopant-source layers using ALD/PEALD techniques. Accordingly, the methods described herein enable fabrication of stable NCFET and FE-FET FinFET devices that exhibit steep subthreshold slopes.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a two-tiered trench isolation structure under the epitaxial regions (e.g., epitaxial source/drain regions) of a nano-FET transistor device, and methods of forming the same. The first tier provides an isolation structure with a low k value. The second tier provides an isolation structure with a higher k value, with material greater density, and greater etch resistivity than the first tier isolation structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a FinFET includes at last the following steps. A semiconductor substrate is patterned to form trenches in the semiconductor substrate and semiconductor fins located between two adjacent trenches of the trenches. Gate stacks is formed over portions of the semiconductor fins. Strained material portions are formed over the semiconductor fins revealed by the gate stacks. First metal contacts are formed over the gate stacks, the first metal contacts electrically connecting the strained material portions. Air gaps are formed in the FinFET at positions between two adjacent gate stacks and between two adjacent strained materials.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a base device having a top dielectric layer, forming a sacrificial layer on the top dielectric layer, and patterning the sacrificial layer to form openings. The method also includes depositing first protective dielectric layer and a low-K dielectric layer in the opening and performing planarization to form a first planarized structure including sacrificial regions and low k regions separated by a first protective layer. Next, top portions of the low-k dielectric layer are replaced with a second protective dielectric layer to form a second planarized structure that includes enclosed dielectric structures separated by sacrificial regions. The method further includes replacing the remaining portions of the sacrificial layer with a target metal interconnect material to form a third planarized structure that includes metal interconnect material disposed between enclosed dielectric structures.

Abstract: Negative capacitance field-effect transistor (NCFET) and ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FE-FET) devices and methods of forming are provided. The gate dielectric stack includes a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer. An amorphous high-k dielectric layer and a dopant-source layer are deposited sequentially followed by a post-deposition anneal (PDA). The PDA converts the amorphous high-k layer to a polycrystalline high-k film with crystalline grains stabilized by the dopants in a crystal phase in which the high-k dielectric is a ferroelectric high-k dielectric. After the PDA, the remnant dopant-source layer may be removed. A gate electrode is formed over remnant dopant-source layer (if present) and the polycrystalline high-k film.

Abstract: A computer device provides a computer implemented game. The user interface of the computer device receives a first user input to control the movement of a game entity along a path in the computer game. The computer device determines, based on the first user input which is associated with a default movement of the game entity along the path and information about at first and second obstacles on the path, that the game entity is to move with an extended movement instead of the default movement. This is to allow both the first and second obstacles to be navigated in response to the first user input such that the game entity continues to move along the path.

Abstract: A method includes forming an oxide layer on a semiconductor region, and depositing a first high-k dielectric layer over the oxide layer. The first high-k dielectric layer is formed of a first high-k dielectric material. The method further includes depositing a second high-k dielectric layer over the first high-k dielectric layer, wherein the second high-k dielectric layer is formed of a second high-k dielectric material different from the first high-k dielectric material, depositing a dipole film over and contacting a layer selected from the first high-k dielectric layer and the second high-k dielectric layer, performing an annealing process to drive-in a dipole dopant in the dipole film into the layer, removing the dipole film, and forming a gate electrode over the second high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for forming a semiconductor device structure. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a fin structure having first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternatingly stacked, removing edge portions of the second semiconductor layers to form cavities between adjacent first semiconductor layers, selectively forming a passivation layer on sidewalls of the first semiconductor layers, forming a dielectric spacer on sidewalls of the second semiconductor layers and filling in the cavities, wherein the passivation layer is exposed. The method also includes removing the passivation layer, and forming an epitaxial source/drain feature so that the epitaxial source/drain feature is in contact with the first semiconductor layers and the dielectric spacers.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanosheets, a bottom dielectric layer, and a gate stack. The substrate includes at least one fin. The plurality of semiconductor nanosheets are stacked on the at least one fin. The bottom dielectric layer is vertically disposed between the at least one fin and the plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. The gate stack wraps the plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. An area of the gate stack projected on a top surface of the substrate is within an area of the bottom dielectric layer projected on the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a device having nanostructures on a substrate, the nanostructures including a channel region. The device also includes a gate dielectric layer wrapping around each of the nanostructures. The device also includes a first work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric layer, the first work function tuning layer including a first n-type work function metal, aluminum, and carbon, the first n-type work function metal having a work function value less than titanium. The device also includes a glue layer on the first work function tuning layer. The device also includes and a fill layer on the glue layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a p-type transistor including: a first channel region; a first gate dielectric layer on the first channel region; a tungsten-containing work function tuning layer on the first gate dielectric layer; and a first fill layer on the tungsten-containing work function tuning layer; and an n-type transistor including: a second channel region; a second gate dielectric layer on the second channel region; a tungsten-free work function tuning layer on the second gate dielectric layer; and a second fill layer on the tungsten-free work function tuning layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate; forming an isolation feature adjacent semiconductor fin; recessing the isolation feature to form a recess; forming a metal-containing compound mask in the recess; depositing a stress layer over the metal-containing compound mask, such that the stress layer is in contact with a top surface of the metal-containing compound mask; and annealing the metal-containing compound mask when the stress layer is in contact with the top surface of the metal-containing compound mask.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of semiconductor structures and method of forming the same. An example semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature and a hybrid fin disposed between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature and extending lengthwise along a first direction. The hybrid fin includes an inner feature and an outer layer disposed around the inner feature. The outer layer includes silicon oxycarbonitride and the inner feature includes silicon carbonitride.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure; a gate dielectric layer around the first nanostructure; a first p-type work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric layer; a dielectric barrier layer on the first p-type work function tuning layer; and a second p-type work function tuning layer on the dielectric barrier layer, the dielectric barrier layer being thinner than the first p-type work function tuning layer and the second p-type work function tuning layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric device structure includes an array of ferroelectric capacitors overlying a substrate, first metal interconnect structures electrically connecting each of first electrodes of the array of ferroelectric capacitors to a first metal pad embedded in a dielectric material layer, and second metal interconnect structures electrically connecting each of the second electrodes of the array of ferroelectric capacitors to a second metal pad embedded in the dielectric material layer. The second metal pad may be vertically spaced from the substrate by a same vertical separation distance as the first metal pad is from the substrate. First metal lines laterally extending along a first horizontal direction may electrically connect the first electrodes to the first metal pad, and second metal lines laterally extending along the first horizontal direction may electrically connect each of the second electrodes to the second metal pad.

Abstract: A method includes forming a capacitor, which includes forming a first capacitor electrode, forming a first capacitor insulator over the first capacitor electrode, and forming a second capacitor electrode over and contacting the first capacitor insulator. The formation of the first capacitor insulator includes oxidizing a top surface layer of the first capacitor electrode to form a metal oxide layer on the first capacitor electrode, depositing an aluminum oxide layer through a first ALD process having a first plurality of ALD cycles, with the first plurality of ALD cycles having a first ALD cycle number, and depositing a high-k dielectric layer over the aluminum oxide layer. The high-k dielectric layer is deposited through a second ALD process having a second ALD cycle number different from the first ALD cycle number.

Abstract: Ruthenium of a metal gate (MG) and/or a middle end of line (MEOL) structure is annealed to reduce, or even eliminate, seams after the ruthenium is deposited. Because the annealing reduces (or removes) seams in deposited ruthenium, electrical performance is increased because resistivity of the MG and/or the MEOL structure is decreased. Additionally, for MGs, the annealing generates a more even deposition profile, which results in a timed etching process producing a uniform gate height. As a result, more of the MGs will be functional after etching, which increases yield during production of the electronic device.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing are presented wherein a gate dielectric is treated within an analog region of a semiconductor substrate. The gate dielectric may be treated with a plasma exposure and/or an annealing process in order to form a recovered region of the gate dielectric. A separate gate dielectric is formed within a logic region of the semiconductor substrate, and a first gate electrode and second gate electrode are formed over the gate dielectrics.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor layer over a substrate; etching a portion of the semiconductor layer to form a first recess and a second recess; forming a first masking layer over the semiconductor layer; performing a first thermal treatment on the first masking layer, the first thermal treatment densifying the first masking layer; etching the first masking layer to expose the first recess; forming a first semiconductor material in the first recess; and removing the first masking layer.