Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes patterning a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor fin, forming a source/drain structure on the semiconductor fin, forming a gate electrode layer across the semiconductor fin, forming a first halogen-containing metal cap layer on the gate electrode layer, forming a contact structure on the source/drain structure and connected to the source/drain structure, and forming a second halogen-containing metal cap layer on the contact structure. The first halogen-containing metal cap layer and the second halogen-containing metal cap layer include different halogens.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming an interfacial layer on a substrate, and depositing a gate dielectric layer on the interfacial layer. The method also includes treating the gate dielectric layer with a first post deposition annealing (PDA) process. The method further includes depositing a first capping layer on the gate dielectric layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer by performing a post metal annealing (PMA) process on the first capping layer. In addition, the method includes removing the first capping layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer with a second PDA process. The method also includes forming a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes first nanostructures vertically stacked over a first region of a substrate, a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the first nanostructures, a first oxygen blocking layer wrapping around the gate dielectric layer in the first region, a first-type work function layer wrapping around the first oxygen blocking layer in the first region, a second oxygen blocking layer wrapping around the first-type work function layer in the first region, and a second-type work function layer wrapping around the second oxygen blocking layer in the first region.

Abstract: Methods for tuning threshold voltages of fin-like field effect transistor devices are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a first opening in a first gate structure and a second opening in a second gate structure. The first gate structure is disposed over a first fin structure, and the second gate structure is disposed over a second fin structure. The method further includes filling the first opening and the second opening by forming a gate dielectric layer, forming a threshold voltage tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, etching back the threshold voltage tuning layer in the second opening, forming a work function layer over the threshold voltage tuning layer, and forming a metal fill layer over the work function layer. The threshold voltage tuning layer includes tantalum and nitrogen. The etching back uses a tungsten-chloride containing precursor.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a work function material around a first semiconductor layer in a first region and a second semiconductor layer in a second region. The method also includes forming a first gate electrode material over the work function material. The method also includes removing the first gate electrode material in the first region. The method also includes forming a second gate electrode material over the work function material in the first region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure having metal contact features and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer covering an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the epitaxial structure. The method includes forming a metal-containing layer over the dielectric layer and the epitaxial structure. The method includes heating the epitaxial structure and the metal-containing layer to transform a first portion of the metal-containing layer contacting the epitaxial structure into a metal-semiconductor compound layer. The method includes oxidizing the metal-containing layer to transform a second portion of the metal-containing layer over the metal-semiconductor compound layer into a metal oxide layer. The method includes applying a metal chloride-containing etching gas on the metal oxide layer to remove the metal oxide layer and forming a metal contact feature over the metal-semiconductor compound layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of channel regions including first, second, and third p-type channel regions as well as first, second, and third n-type channel regions, and a plurality of gate structures. The plurality of gate structures includes an interfacial layer (IL) disposed over the plurality of channel regions, a first high-k (HK) dielectric layer disposed over the first p-type channel region and the first n-type channel region, a second high-k dielectric layer disposed over the first n-type channel region, the second n-type channel region, the first p-type channel region, and the second p-type channel region; and a third high-k dielectric layer disposed over the plurality of channel regions. The first, second and third high-k dielectric layers are different from one another.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin structure disposed on a substrate; a gate feature that traverses the fin structure to overlay a central portion of the fin structure; a pair of source/drain features, along the fin structure, that are disposed at respective sides of the gate feature; and a plurality of contact structures that are formed of tungsten, wherein a gate electrode of the gate feature and the pair of source/drain features are each directly coupled to a respective one of the plurality of contact structures.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate and an insulating layer over the substrate. The insulating layer has a trench partially exposing the substrate. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over an inner wall and a bottom of the trench. The method includes forming a mask layer over the gate dielectric layer over the bottom. The method includes removing the gate dielectric layer over the inner wall. The method includes removing the mask layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode in the trench.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming an interfacial layer on a substrate, and depositing a gate dielectric layer on the interfacial layer. The method also includes treating the gate dielectric layer with a first post deposition annealing (PDA) process. The method further includes depositing a first capping layer on the gate dielectric layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer by performing a post metal annealing (PMA) process on the first capping layer. In addition, the method includes removing the first capping layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer with a second PDA process. The method also includes forming a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive feature over a substrate, a ruthenium-containing feature disposed over the conductive feature, and a first barrier layer disposed over the conductive feature and over sidewalls of the ruthenium-containing feature. The semiconductor device also includes a second barrier layer disposed over sidewalls of the first barrier layer, and a third barrier layer disposed over sidewalls of the second barrier layer. The first, second, and third barrier layers include different material compositions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure including a stack of alternating first and second semiconductor layers on a substrate, removing the first semiconductor layers to form spaces between the second semiconductor layers, and depositing a gate dielectric layer to surround the second semiconductor layers. The method also includes depositing a first oxygen blocking layer and removing the native oxide thereof, depositing an n-type work function layer, and forming a second oxygen blocking layer in sequence on the gate dielectric layer to surround the second semiconductor layers in the same process chamber. The second oxygen blocking layer includes a capping layer and a capping film. The method further includes forming a metal gate fill material over the capping film to form a gate-all-around structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure including a stack of alternating first and second semiconductor layers on a substrate, removing the first semiconductor layers to form spaces between the second semiconductor layers, and depositing a gate dielectric layer to surround the second semiconductor layers. The method also includes depositing a first oxygen blocking layer and removing the native oxide thereof, depositing an n-type work function layer, and forming a second oxygen blocking layer in sequence on the gate dielectric layer to surround the second semiconductor layers in the same process chamber. The second oxygen blocking layer includes a capping layer and a capping film. The method further includes forming a metal gate fill material over the capping film to form a gate-all-around structure.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and corresponding techniques for forming the interconnect structures are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a contact opening in a dielectric layer. The contact opening has sidewalls defined by the dielectric layer and a bottom defined by a conductive feature. An ALD-like nitrogen-containing plasma pre-treatment process is performed on the sidewalls (and, in some implementations, the bottom) of the contact opening. An ALD process is performed to form a titanium-and-nitrogen containing barrier layer over the sidewalls and the bottom of the contact opening. A cobalt-containing bulk layer is then formed over the titanium-and-nitrogen-containing barrier layer. A cycle of the ALD-like nitrogen-containing plasma pre-treatment process can include a nitrogen-containing plasma pulse phase and a purge phase. A cycle of the ALD process can include a titanium-containing pulse phase, a first purge phase, a nitrogen-containing plasma pulse phase, and a second purge phase.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor arrangement includes forming a fin. A diffusion process is performed to diffuse a first dopant into the channel region of the fin. A first gate electrode is formed over the channel region of the fin after the first dopant is diffused into the channel region of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a first channel layer disposed in the first region and a second channel layer disposed in the second region, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first channel layer and a second dielectric layer disposed on the second channel layer, and a first gate electrode disposed on the first dielectric layer and a second gate electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. The first channel layer in the first region includes Ge compound of a first Ge concentration, the second channel layer in the second region includes Ge compound of a second Ge concentration. The first Ge concentration in the first channel layer is greater than the second Ge concentration in the second channel layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate and an insulating layer over the substrate. The insulating layer has a trench partially exposing the substrate. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the trench. The method includes forming a first metal-containing layer over the gate dielectric layer. The method includes forming a silicon-containing layer over the first metal-containing layer. The method includes forming a second metal-containing layer over the silicon-containing layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode layer in the trench and over the second metal-containing layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming an oxygen-absorbing layer on a surface of the first conductive feature. The oxygen-absorbing layer absorbs oxygen from the first conductive feature and becomes an oxygen-containing layer. The method includes removing the oxygen-containing layer to expose the surface originally covered by the oxygen-containing layer. The method includes forming a metal-containing layer on the surface. The method includes forming a second conductive feature on the metal-containing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region over a substrate; a first cobalt-containing feature disposed over the active region; a conductive cap disposed over and in physical contact with the first cobalt-containing feature; and a second cobalt-containing feature disposed over and in physical contact with the conductive cap.