Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for forming a test key system for characterizing wafer processing states, the method comprising forming a plurality of shallow trench isolation structures (STIs) on a substrate of a wafer and in a scribe line of the wafer and forming a test key on the substrate of a wafer and in the scribe line of the wafer. Forming the test key comprises forming at least one test key group having a plurality of test key series, each of the plurality of test key series having a plurality of test pads, each one of the plurality of test key series having a first physical characteristic different from the first physical characteristic of other test key series the at least one first test key group.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin, performing a first passivation step on a top surface of the semiconductor fin using a first passivation species, and performing a second passivation step on sidewalls of the semiconductor fin using a second passivation species different from the first passivation species. A gate stack is formed on a middle portion of the semiconductor fin. A source or a drain region is formed on a side of the gate stack, wherein the source or drain region and the gate stack form a Fin Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin structure extending from a substrate, the fin structure comprising a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin between the first fin and the second fin. The method further comprises forming germanide over a first facet of the first fin, a second facet of the second fin, and a substantially planar surface of the third fin, wherein the first facet forms a first acute angle with a major surface of the substrate and is substantially mirror symmetric with the second facet, and wherein the substantially planar surface of the third fin forms a second acute angle smaller than the first acute angle with the major surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes providing a substrate having a first fin and a second fin extending above a substrate top surface, wherein the first fin has a top surface and sidewalls and the second fin has a top surface and sidewalls. The method includes forming an insulation layer between the first and second fins. The method includes forming a first gate dielectric having a first thickness covering the top surface and sidewalls of the first fin using a plasma doping process. The method includes forming a second gate dielectric covering the top surface and sidewalls of the second fin having a second thickness less than the first thickness. The method includes forming a conductive gate strip traversing over both the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET), and a method of forming, is provided. The FinFET has a fin having one or more semiconductor layers epitaxially grown on a substrate. A first passivation layer is formed over the fins, and isolation regions are formed between the fins. An upper portion of the fins are reshaped and a second passivation layer is formed over the reshaped portion. Thereafter, a gate structure may be formed over the fins and source/drain regions may be formed.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a cavity below the major surface; a strained material in the cavity, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; a Ge-containing dielectric layer over the strained material; and a metal layer over the Ge-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: A device having an epitaxial region and dual metal-semiconductor alloy surfaces is provided. The epitaxial region includes an upward facing facet and a downward facing facet. The upward facing facet has a first metal-semiconductor alloy surface and the downward facing facet has a second metal-semiconductor alloy surface, wherein the first metal-semiconductor alloy is different than the second metal-semiconductor alloy.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET), and a method of forming, is provided. The FinFET has a fin having one or more semiconductor layers epitaxially grown on a substrate. A first passivation layer is formed over the fins, and isolation regions are formed between the fins. An upper portion of the fins are reshaped and a second passivation layer is formed over the reshaped portion. Thereafter, a gate structure may be formed over the fins and source/drain regions may be formed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes providing a substrate having a first fin and a second fin extending above a substrate top surface, wherein the first fin has a top surface and sidewalls and the second fin has a top surface and sidewalls. The method includes forming an insulation layer between the first and second fins. The method includes forming a first gate dielectric having a first thickness covering the top surface and sidewalls of the first fin using a plasma doping process. The method includes forming a second gate dielectric covering the top surface and sidewalls of the second fin having a second thickness less than the first thickness. The method includes forming a conductive gate strip traversing over both the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a cavity below the major surface; a strained material in the cavity, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; a Ge-containing dielectric layer over the strained material; and a metal layer over the Ge-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes growing an epitaxy semiconductor region at a major surface of a wafer. The epitaxy semiconductor region has an upward facing facet facing upwardly and a downward facing facet facing downwardly. The method further includes forming a first metal silicide layer contacting the upward facing facet, and forming a second metal silicide layer contacting the downward facing facet. The first metal silicide layer and the second metal silicide layer comprise different metals.

Abstract: A FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface comprising a lower fin portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant; an upper fin portion comprising a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant greater than the first lattice constant; a middle fin portion comprising a third semiconductor material having a third lattice constant between the first lattice constant and the second lattice constant; and a passivation structure surrounding the fin structure comprising a lower passivation portion surrounding the lower fin portion comprising a first oxynitride of the first semiconductor material; an upper passivation portion surrounding the upper fin portion comprising a second oxynitride of the second semiconductor material; and a middle passivation portion surrounding the middle fin portion comprising a third oxynitride of the third semiconductor material.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: A FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface comprising a lower fin portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant; an upper fin portion comprising a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant greater than the first lattice constant; a middle fin portion comprising a third semiconductor material having a third lattice constant between the first lattice constant and the second lattice constant; and a passivation structure surrounding the fin structure comprising a lower passivation portion surrounding the lower fin portion comprising a first oxynitride of the first semiconductor material; an upper passivation portion surrounding the upper fin portion comprising a second oxynitride of the second semiconductor material; and a middle passivation portion surrounding the middle fin portion comprising a third oxynitride of the third semiconductor material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a cavity below the major surface; a strained material in the cavity, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; a Ge-containing dielectric layer over the strained material; and a metal layer over the Ge-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin structure extending from a substrate, the fin structure comprising a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin between the first fin and the second fin. The method further comprises forming germanide over a first facet of the first fin, a second facet of the second fin, and a substantially planar surface of the third fin, wherein the first facet forms a first acute angle with a major surface of the substrate and is substantially mirror symmetric with the second facet, and wherein the substantially planar surface of the third fin forms a second acute angle smaller than the first acute angle with the major surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins includes a first group of fins and a second group of fins. The apparatus further includes a high fin density area on the semiconductor substrate including a first dielectric between the first group of fins in the high fin density area, said first dielectric having a first dopant concentration. The apparatus further includes a low fin density area on the semiconductor substrate including a second dielectric between the second group of fins in the low fin density area, said second dielectric having a second dopant concentration. The first dielectric and the second dielectric are a same material as deposited and the first dopant concentration and the second dopant concentration are different.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). An exemplary FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface comprising an upper portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant, wherein the upper portion comprises a first substantially vertical portion having a first width and a second substantially vertical portion having a second width less than the first width over the first substantially vertical portion; and a lower portion comprising a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant less than the first lattice constant, wherein a top surface of the lower portion has a third width less than the first width; and a gate structure covering the second substantially vertical portion.