Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first nanostructure stacked over and spaced apart from a second nanostructure, a source/drain feature adjoining the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, a gate stack wrapping around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, an inner spacer layer sandwiched between the source/drain feature and the gate stack and between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, a semiconductor feature at a corner between the inner spacer layer and the first nanostructure, and a first passivation layer sandwiched between a first surface of the semiconductor feature and the gate stack.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor fin structure including first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternatingly stacked, laterally recessing the first semiconductor layers of the semiconductor fin structure to form first notches in the first semiconductor layers, forming first passivation layers on first sidewalls of the first semiconductor layers exposed from the first notches, and forming first inner spacer layers in the first notches.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor fin structure including first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternatingly stacked, laterally recessing the first semiconductor layers of the semiconductor fin structure to form first notches in the first semiconductor layers, forming first passivation layers on first sidewalls of the first semiconductor layers exposed from the first notches, and forming first inner spacer layers in the first notches.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic device includes etching a portion of a first gate dielectric layer to reduce a thickness of the gate dielectric layer within that portion. In one embodiment, portions not being etched may be covered by mask. In another embodiment, different portions may be etched during different times to give different thicknesses for the first gate dielectric layer. In a particular embodiment, a second gate dielectric layer may be formed over the first gate dielectric layer after etching the portion. The second gate dielectric layer can have a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of the first gate dielectric layer. Subsequent gate electrode and source/drain region formation can be performed to form a transistor structure.

Abstract: Silicon carbon is used as a diffusion barrier to germanium so that a silicon layer can be subsequently formed without being contaminated with germanium. This is useful in separating silicon layers from silicon germanium layers in situations in which both silicon and silicon germanium are desired to be present on the same semiconductor device such as for providing different materials for optimizing carrier mobility between N and P channel transistors and for a raised source/drain of silicon in the case of a silicon germanium body.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a source and drain positioned within an active region. A gate overlies a channel area of the active region, wherein the channel region separates the source and drain. The transistor further comprises at least one stress modifier and capacitive reduction feature extending from the source to the drain and underlying the gate for reducing capacitance associated with the gate, source and drain. The at least one stress modifier and capacitive reduction feature comprises dielectric and includes a shape defined at least partially by the active region.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic device includes etching a portion of a first gate dielectric layer to reduce a thickness of the gate dielectric layer within that portion. In one embodiment, portions not being etched may be covered by mask. In another embodiment, different portions may be etched during different times to give different thicknesses for the first gate dielectric layer. In a particular embodiment, a second gate dielectric layer may be formed over the first gate dielectric layer after etching the portion. The second gate dielectric layer can have a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of the first gate dielectric layer. Subsequent gate electrode and source/drain region formation can be performed to form a transistor structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with both P-channel transistors (823) and N-channel transistors (821) with different spacer insulating region widths. In one example, the outer sidewall spacer (321) of the N-channel transistors is removed while the P-channel regions (115) are masked such that the spacer insulating region widths of the N-channel transistors is less than the spacer insulating region widths of the P-channel transistors. Also, the drain/source silicide regions (805) of the N-channel transistors are located closer to the gates (117) of those transistors than the P-channel source/drain suicide regions (809) are located to the gates (119) of those transistors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor structures having multiple gate dielectric structures. One embodiment forms semiconductor devices in multiple regions having different dielectric thicknesses where the interface between the gate dielectric and the semiconductor substrate is protected to result in an improved (e.g. less rough) interface. One embodiment includes forming a dielectric layer overlying a substrate, partially etching the dielectric layer in at least one of the multiple regions, and ashing the dielectric layer. The remaining portion of the dielectric layer (due to the partial etch) may then help protect the underlying substrate from damage during a subsequent preclean. Afterwards, in one embodiment, the gate dielectric layer is grown to achieve a target gate dielectric thickness in at least one of the regions. This may also help further densify the gate dielectric layer. Processing may then be continued to form semiconductor devices in each of the multiple regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming a first plasma nitrided oxide (PNO) gate dielectric overlying a first region of a semiconductor substrate. A second PNO gate dielectric is formed overlying a second region of the substrate. The nitrogen concentration of the second PNO differs from the nitrogen concentration of the first PNO. A PMOS transistor is formed overlying the first substrate region and an NMOS transistor overlying the second substrate region. Prior to forming the first PNO gate dielectric, a mobility enhancing channel region may be formed overlying the first substrate region. Forming the mobility enhancing channel region may include forming a compressively stressed silicon germanium film overlying the first substrate region.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a source and drain positioned within an active region. A gate overlies a channel area of the active region, wherein the channel region separates the source and drain. The transistor further comprises at least one stress modifier and capacitive reduction feature extending from the source to the drain and underlying the gate for reducing capacitance associated with the gate, source and drain. The at least one stress modifier and capacitive reduction feature comprises dielectric and includes a shape defined at least partially by the active region.

Abstract: A transistor comprises an active region having a periphery with opposing sides and a source and a drain positioned within the active region. A gate overlies a channel area of the active region, the channel region separating the source and drain. The transistor further includes at least one stress modifying feature extending from an edge of the active region on at least one of a source side or a drain side and toward the channel area but not entering the channel area. The at least one stress modifying feature includes a dielectric.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with both P-channel transistors (823) and N-channel transistors (821) with different spacer insulating region widths. In one example, the outer sidewall spacer (321) of the N-channel transistors is removed while the P-channel regions (115) are masked such that the spacer insulating region widths of the N-channel transistors is less than the spacer insulating region widths of the P-channel transistors. Also, the drain/source silicide regions (805) of the N-channel transistors are located closer to the gates (117) of those transistors than the P-channel source/drain silicide regions (809) are located to the gates (119) of those transistors.

Abstract: A process for forming an isolation trench in a wafer. The process includes depositing (e.g. by a directional deposition process) a first dielectric material in the trench and then depositing a second dielectric material (e.g. by a directional deposition process) over the first dielectric material in the trench. A third material is deposited in the trench on the second layer. The second material and the third material are selectively etchable with respect to each other. In one example, the first material has a lower dielectric constant than the second material.

Abstract: Silicon carbon is used as a diffusion barrier to germanium so that a silicon layer can be subsequently formed without being contaminated with germanium. This is useful in separating silicon layers from silicon germanium layers in situations in which both silicon and silicon germanium are desired to be present on the same semiconductor device such as for providing different materials for optimizing carrier mobility between N and P channel transistors and for a raised source/drain of silicon in the case of a silicon germanium body.

Abstract: A process for forming an isolation trench in a wafer. The process includes depositing (e.g. by a directional deposition process) a first dielectric material in the trench and then depositing a second dielectric material (e.g. by a directional deposition process) over the first dielectric material in the trench. A third material is deposited in the trench on the second layer. The second material and the third material are selectively etchable with respect to each other. In one example, the first material has a lower dielectric constant than the second material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with both P-channel transistors (823) and N-channel transistors (821) with different spacer insulating region widths. In one example, the outer sidewall spacer (321) of the N-channel transistors is removed while the P-channel regions (115) are masked such that the spacer insulating region widths of the N-channel transistors is less than the spacer insulating region widths of the P-channel transistors. Also, the drain/source silicide regions (805) of the N-channel transistors are located closer to the gates (117) of those transistors than the P-channel source/drain suicide regions (809) are located to the gates (119) of those transistors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor structures having multiple gate dielectric structures. One embodiment forms semiconductor devices in multiple regions having different dielectric thicknesses where the interface between the gate dielectric and the semiconductor substrate is protected to result in an improved (e.g. less rough) interface. One embodiment includes forming a dielectric layer overlying a substrate, partially etching the dielectric layer in at least one of the multiple regions, and ashing the dielectric layer. The remaining portion of the dielectric layer (due to the partial etch) may then help protect the underlying substrate from damage during a subsequent preclean. Afterwards, in one embodiment, the gate dielectric layer is grown to achieve a target gate dielectric thickness in at least one of the regions. This may also help further densify the gate dielectric layer. Processing may then be continued to form semiconductor devices in each of the multiple regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process is disclosed wherein a first gate (108, 114) is formed over a first portion of a semiconductor substrate (102) and a second gate (114, 108) is formed over a second portion of the substrate (102). A spacer film (118) is deposited over substrate (102) and first and second gates (108, 114). First spacers (126) are then formed on sidewalls of the second gate (114) and second spacers (136) are formed on sidewalls of first gate (108). The first and second spacers (126, 136) have different widths. The process may further include forming first source/drain regions (128) in the substrate laterally disposed on either side of the first spacers (126) and second source/drain regions (138) are formed on either side of second spacers (136). The different spacer widths may be achieved using masked first and second spacer etch processes (125, 135) having different degrees of isotropy.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication process is disclosed wherein a first gate (108, 114) is formed over a first portion of a semiconductor substrate (102) and a second gate (114, 108) is formed over a second portion of the substrate (102). A spacer film (118) is deposited over substrate (102) and first and second gates (108, 114). First spacers (126) are then formed on sidewalls of the second gate (114) and second spacers (136) are formed on sidewalls of first gate (108). The first and second spacers (126, 136) have different widths. The process may further include forming first source/drain regions (128) in the substrate laterally disposed on either side of the first spacers (126) and second source/drain regions (138) are formed on either side of second spacers (136). The different spacer widths may be achieved using masked first and second spacer etch processes (125, 135) having different degrees of isotropy.