Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating fabricating a semiconductor device by selectively etching a gate structure sidewall(s) to facilitate subsequent sidewall spacer isolation. The method includes, for instance: providing a gate structure with a protective layer(s) over the gate structure, the gate structure including one or more sidewalls; selectively removing a portion of the gate structure along at least one sidewall to partially undercut the protective layer(s); and forming a sidewall spacer(s) over the sidewall(s) of the gate structure, with a portion of the sidewall spacer at least partially filling the partial undercut of the protective layer(s), and residing below the protective layer(s). In certain embodiments, the selectively removing includes implanting the sidewall(s) with a dopant to produce a doped region(s) of the gate structure, and subsequently, at least partially removing the doped region(s) of the gate structure selective to an undoped region of the gate structure.

Abstract: One method includes forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconducting substrate to define a plurality of fins, forming a layer of overfill material that overfills the trenches, wherein an upper surface of the overfill material is positioned above an upper surface of the fins, forming a masking layer above the layer of overfill material, wherein the masking layer has an opening that is positioned above a subset of the plurality of fins that is desired to be removed and wherein the subset of fins is comprised of at least one but less than all of the fins, performing an etching process through the masking layer to remove at least a portion of the layer of overfill material and expose the upper surface of the subset of fins, and performing a second etching process on the exposed surface of the subset of fins to remove the subset of fins.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention generally relate to approaches for forming a semiconductor device (e.g., FinFET device) having a gate structure formed on a planar surface thereof. Specifically, a uniform, oxide-fin (OF) surface is formed. Then, a “dummy” gate structure and a set of spacers are formed thereon. Once the gate structure and set of spacers have been formed, the OF surface may be recessed. In one embodiment, the OF surface is uniformly recessed. In another embodiment, the OF surface is selectively recessed to yield a set of fins. In any event, after the recessing, an epitaxial layer is grown and an oxide fill is performed. Then, the “dummy” gate structure is removed (from between the set of spacers) and an oxide recess is performed to yield a set of channel fins between the spacers.