Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of first semiconductor layers and a plurality of second semiconductor layers in an alternate manner over a substrate; patterning the first and second semiconductor layers and the substrate to form a fin structure, in which the fin structure includes a base portion protruding from the substrate and remaining portions of the first and second semiconductor layers; etching the fin structure to form a first recess extending through the remaining portions of the first and second semiconductor layers and into the base portion; epitaxially growing a first epitaxy layer in the first recess; epitaxially growing a second epitaxy layer over the first epitaxy layer; oxidizing the first epitaxy layer, wherein the second epitaxy layer remains unoxidized after the first epitaxy layer is oxidized; and after oxidizing the first epitaxy layer, forming a source/drain epitaxy structure on the second epitaxy layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to forming a nanosheet multi-channel device with an additional spacing layer and a hard mask layer. The additional spacing layer provides a space for an inner spacer above the topmost channel. The hard mask layer functions as an etch stop during metal gate etch back, providing improve gate height control.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric layer, a first source/drain feature in contact with the dielectric layer, wherein the first source/drain feature comprises a first sidewall, and a second source/drain feature in contact with the dielectric layer and adjacent to the first source/drain feature, wherein the second source/drain feature comprises a second sidewall. The structure also includes an insulating layer disposed over the dielectric layer and between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the insulating layer comprises a first surface facing the first sidewall, a second surface facing the second sidewall, a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The structure includes a sealing material disposed between the first sidewall and the first surface, wherein the sealing material, the first sidewall, the first surface, and the dielectric layer are exposed to an air gap.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate having a plurality of first semiconductor layers and a plurality of second semiconductor layers disposed over the substrate. The method also includes patterning the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers to form a first fin and a second fin, removing the first semiconductor layers from the first and second fins such that a first portion of the patterned second semiconductor layers becomes first suspended nanostructures in the first fin and that a second portion of the patterned second semiconductor layers becomes second suspended nanostructures in the second fin, and doping a threshold modifying impurity into the first suspended nanostructures in the first fin.

Abstract: A method for identifying objects by shape in close proximity to other objects of different shapes obtains point cloud information of multiple objects. The objects are arranged in at least two trays and the trays are stacked. A depth image of the objects is obtained according to the point cloud information, and the depth image of the objects is separated and layered to obtain a layer information of all the objects. An object identification system also disclosed. Three-dimensional machine vision is utilized in identifying the objects, improving the accuracy of object identification, and enabling the mechanical arm to accurately grasp the required object.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a stack of alternating insulating layers and first conductive layers disposed over a substrate; a plurality of memory cell strings penetrating the stack over the substrate, each memory cell string comprising a central portion extending through the stack, a semiconductor layer surrounding the central portion, and a ferroelectric layer surrounding the semiconductor layer, and the central portion comprising a channel isolation structure and a second conductive layer and a third conductive layer at two sides of the channel isolation structure; and a plurality of cell isolation structures penetrating the conductive layers and the insulating layers over the substrate and disposed between two memory cell strings, each cell isolation structure comprising a top portion and a bottom portion adjoined to the top portion and different from the top portion.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a substrate and a channel layer over the substrate; forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over the channel layer; forming a work function metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric layer; forming a silicide layer over the work function metal layer; annealing the structure such that a first portion of the work function metal layer that interfaces with the high-k gate dielectric layer is doped with silicon elements from the silicide layer; removing the silicide layer; and forming a bulk metal layer over the work function metal layer.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device structure including a first channel layer having a first surface and a second surface, a second channel layer having a first surface and a second surface, and the first and second channel layers are formed of a first material. The structure also includes a first dopant suppression layer in contact with the second surface of the first channel layer, and a second dopant suppression layer parallel to the first dopant suppression layer. The second dopant suppression layer is in contact with the first surface of the second channel layer, and the first and second dopant suppression layers each comprises carbon or fluorine. The structure further includes a gate dielectric layer in contact with the first and second dopant suppression layers and the first surface of the first channel layer, and a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device structure including a first channel layer having a first surface and a second surface, a second channel layer having a first surface and a second surface, and the first and second channel layers are formed of a first material. The structure also includes a first dopant suppression layer in contact with the second surface of the first channel layer, and a second dopant suppression layer parallel to the first dopant suppression layer. The second dopant suppression layer is in contact with the first surface of the second channel layer, and the first and second dopant suppression layers each comprises carbon or fluorine. The structure further includes a gate dielectric layer in contact with the first and second dopant suppression layers and the first surface of the first channel layer, and a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes channel members vertically stacked over a substrate, a gate structure engaging the channel members, a gate spacer layer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure, an epitaxial feature abutting the channel members, an inner spacer layer interposing the gate structure and the epitaxial feature, and a semiconductor layer interposing the inner spacer layer and the epitaxial feature.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a top surface and includes a semiconductor element. Moreover, the semiconductor substrate has a fin structure formed thereon. The method also includes recessing the fin structure to form source/drain trenches, forming a first dielectric layer over the recessed fin structure in the source/drain trenches, implanting a dopant element into a portion of the fin structure beneath a bottom surface of the source/drain trenches to form an amorphous semiconductor layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the recessed fin structure in the source/drain trenches, annealing the semiconductor substrate, and removing the first and second dielectric layers. After the annealing and the removing steps, the method further includes further recessing the recessed fin structure to provide a top surface. Additionally, the method includes forming an epitaxial layer from and on the top surface.

Abstract: Semiconductor device includes substrate having fins, first S/D feature comprising first epitaxial layer contacting first fin, second epitaxial layer on first epitaxial layer, third epitaxial layer on second epitaxial layer, third epitaxial layer comprising center and edge portion higher than center portion, and fourth epitaxial layer on third epitaxial layer, second S/D feature adjacent first S/D feature and comprising first epitaxial layer contacting second fin, second epitaxial layer on first epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, third epitaxial layer on second epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, third epitaxial layer comprising center and edge portion higher than center portion of third epitaxial layer, center and edge portions of third epitaxial layer of first and second S/D features are merging, and fourth epitaxial layer on third epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, S/D contact covering edge and center portions of third epitaxial layers of first and second S/D features.

Abstract: A photolithography system utilizes tin droplets to generate extreme ultraviolet radiation for photolithography. The photolithography system irradiates the droplets with a laser. The droplets become a plasma and emit extreme ultraviolet radiation. The photolithography system senses contamination of a collector mirror by the tin droplets and adjusts the flow of a buffer fluid to reduce the contamination.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a fin structure in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked; forming a sacrificial gate structure over the fin structure; etching a source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, thereby forming a source/drain trench; laterally etching the first semiconductor layers through the source/drain trench; forming an inner spacer layer, in the source/drain trench, at least on lateral ends of the etched first semiconductor layers; forming a seeding layer on the inner spacer layer; and growing a source/drain epitaxial layer in the source/drain trench, wherein the growing of the source/drain epitaxial layer includes growing the source/drain epitaxial layer from the seeding layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor channel over the substrate, and a second semiconductor channel over the substrate and laterally separated from the first semiconductor channel. A gate structure covers and wraps around the first semiconductor channel and the second semiconductor channel. A first source/drain region abuts the first semiconductor channel on a first side of the gate structure, and a second source/drain region abuts the second semiconductor channel on the first side of the gate structure. An isolation structure is under and between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region, and includes a first isolation region in contact with bottom surfaces of the first and second source/drain regions, and a second isolation region in contact with sidewalls of the first and second source/drain regions, and extending from a bottom surface of the first isolation region to upper surfaces of the first and second source/drain regions.

Abstract: Source/drain silicide that improves performance and methods for fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a first channel layer disposed over a substrate, a second channel layer disposed over the first channel layer, and a gate stack that surrounds the first channel layer and the second channel layer. A source/drain feature disposed adjacent the first channel layer, second channel layer, and gate stack. The source/drain feature is disposed over first facets of the first channel layer and second facets of the second channel layer. The first facets and the second facets have a (111) crystallographic orientation. An inner spacer disposed between the gate stack and the source/drain feature and between the first channel layer and the second channel layer. A silicide feature is disposed over the source/drain feature where the silicide feature extends into the source/drain feature towards the substrate to a depth of the first channel layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device includes substrate having fins, first S/D feature comprising first epitaxial layer contacting first fin, second epitaxial layer on first epitaxial layer, third epitaxial layer on second epitaxial layer, third epitaxial layer comprising center and edge portion higher than center portion, and fourth epitaxial layer on third epitaxial layer, second S/D feature adjacent first S/D feature and comprising first epitaxial layer contacting second fin, second epitaxial layer on first epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, third epitaxial layer on second epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, third epitaxial layer comprising center and edge portion higher than center portion of third epitaxial layer, center and edge portions of third epitaxial layer of first and second S/D features are merging, and fourth epitaxial layer on third epitaxial layer of second S/D feature, S/D contact covering edge and center portions of third epitaxial layers of first and second S/D features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of nanowires, a gate structure, a source/drain epitaxy structure, and a semiconductor layer. The substrate has a protrusion portion. The nanowires extend in a first direction above the protrusion portion of the substrate, the nanowires being arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structure wraps around each of the nanowires. The source/drain epitaxy structure is in contact with an end surface of each of the nanowires, in which a bottom surface of the source/drain epitaxy structure is lower than a top surface of the protrusion portion of the substrate. The semiconductor layer is in contact with the bottom surface of the epitaxy structure, in which the semiconductor layer is spaced from the protrusion portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first conductive structure extending along a vertical direction and a second conductive structure extending along the vertical direction. The second conductive structure is spaced apart from the first conductive structure along a lateral direction. The semiconductor device further comprises a plurality of third conductive structures each extending along the lateral direction. The plurality of third conductive structures are disposed across the first and second conductive structures. The first and second conductive structures each have a varying width along the lateral direction. The plurality of third conductive structures are configured to be applied with respective different voltages in accordance with the varying width of the first and second conductive structures.