Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an interface layer on a substrate, a gate dielectric layer on the interface layer, and a work function metal layer on the gate dielectric layer. An interface between the interface layer and the gate dielectric layer has a concentration of a dipole-inducing element. The semiconductor device also includes an oxygen blocking layer on the work function metal layer and a metal fill layer on the oxygen blocking layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and related method for forming a gate structure. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate. In some cases, the fin includes a plurality of semiconductor channel layers. In some examples, the semiconductor device further includes a gate dielectric surrounding each of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers. In some embodiments, a first thickness of the gate dielectric disposed on a top surface of a topmost semiconductor channel layer of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers is greater than a second thickness of the gate dielectric disposed on a surface of another semiconductor channel layer disposed beneath the topmost semiconductor channel layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate dielectric, a second gate dielectric, and a third gate dielectric over a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the first gate dielectric, and depositing a second lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the second gate dielectric. The second lanthanum-containing layer is thinner than the first lanthanum-containing layer. An anneal process is then performed to drive lanthanum in the first lanthanum-containing layer and the second lanthanum-containing layer into the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric, respectively. During the anneal process, the third gate dielectric is free from lanthanum-containing layers thereon.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a stack of nanostructures, an interfacial layer wrapping around each nanostructure of the stack of nanostructures, a first gate dielectric layer wrapping around the interfacial layer and each nanostructure of the stack of nanostructures, and a gate electrode layer disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer includes a dipole element. A first concentration of the dipole element at a center line of the first gate dielectric layer is greater than a second concentration of the dipole element at a boundary surface of the first gate dielectric layer interfacing the interfacial layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes removing a dummy gate structure to expose a channel region, depositing an interface layer on the channel region, depositing a gate dielectric layer on the interface layer, and forming a doping layer on the gate dielectric layer. The doping layer includes a dipole-inducing element. The method also includes annealing the doping layer to drive the dipole-inducing element through the gate dielectric layer, removing the doping layer, forming a work function metal layer on the gate dielectric layer, depositing an oxygen blocking layer on the work function metal layer, and forming a gate metal fill layer on the oxygen blocking layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate dielectric and a second gate dielectric over a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region, respectively, depositing a lanthanum-containing layer including a first portion and a second portion overlapping the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric, respectively, and depositing a hard mask including a first portion and a second portion overlapping the first portion and the second portion of the lanthanum-containing layer, respectively. The hard mask is free from both of titanium and tantalum. The method further includes forming a patterned etching mask to cover the first portion of the hard mask, with the second portion of the hard mask being exposed, removing the second portion of the hard mask and the second portion of the lanthanum-containing layer, and performing an anneal to drive lanthanum in the first portion of the lanthanum-containing layer into the first gate dielectric.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate spacer over the semiconductor substrate, the gate spacer having an upper portion and a lower portion, a first width of the upper portion decreasing continually in a first direction extending away from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second width of the lower portion being constant along the first direction; a gate stack extending along a first sidewall of the gate spacer and the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent a second sidewall of the gate spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin extending from the substrate, and a silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial feature disposed over the semiconductor fin. A gallium-implanted layer is disposed over a top surface of the SiGe epitaxial feature, and a silicide feature is disposed over and in contact with the gallium-implanted layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, a conductive layer disposed on the gate electrode, and a gate contact disposed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer extends from a position below a top surface of the metal gate structure to a position above the top surface of the metal gate structure. The gate electrode includes at least a first metal, and the conductive layer includes at least the first metal and a second metal different from the first metal. Laterally the conductive layer is fully between opposing sidewalls of the metal gate structure.

Abstract: A transistor includes a gate structure that has a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first gate dielectric layer contains a first type of dielectric material that has a first dielectric constant. The second gate dielectric layer is disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer contains a second type of dielectric material that has a second dielectric constant. The second dielectric constant is greater than the first dielectric constant. The first dielectric constant and the second dielectric constant are each greater than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of active region structures that each protrude upwards in a vertical direction. The active region structures each extend in a first horizontal direction. The active region structures are separated from one another in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction. A gate structure is disposed over the active region structures. The gate structure extends in the second horizontal direction. The gate structure partially wraps around each of the active region structures. A conductive capping layer is disposed over the gate structure. A gate via is disposed over the conductive capping layer. A dimension of the conductive capping layer measured in the second horizontal direction is substantially greater than a maximum dimension of the gate via measured in the second horizontal direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, a method for manufacturing a FinFET structure and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure are provided. The method for forming a FinFET structure includes: providing a FinFET precursor including a plurality of fins and a plurality of gate trenches between the fins; forming a first portion of the trench dummy of a dummy gate within the plurality of gate trenches; removing at least a part of the first portion of the trench dummy; forming a second portion of the trench dummy over the first portion of the trench dummy; performing a first thermal treatment to the first and second portions of the trench dummy; and forming a blanket dummy of the dummy gate over the second portion of the trench dummy. The present disclosure further provides a FinFET structure with an improved metal gate.

Abstract: Vias, along with methods for fabricating vias, are disclosed that exhibit reduced capacitance and resistance. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact disposed in a dielectric layer. The first source/drain contact physically contacts a first source/drain feature and the second source/drain contact physically contacts a second source/drain feature. A first via having a first via layer configuration, a second via having a second via layer configuration, and a third via having a third via layer configuration are disposed in the dielectric layer. The first via and the second via extend into and physically contact the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, respectively. A first thickness of the first via and a second thickness of the second via are the same. The third via physically contacts a gate structure, which is disposed between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a workpiece having a first stack of semiconductor layers in a first region and a second stack of semiconductor layers in a second region; forming a first gate dielectric layer surrounding each layer of the first stack and a second gate dielectric layer surrounding each layer of the second stack; forming a first dipole layer surrounding the first gate dielectric layer and merging between vertically adjacent portions of the first gate dielectric layer, and a second dipole layer surrounding the second gate dielectric layer and merging between vertically adjacent portions of the second gate dielectric layer; removing the first dipole layer; after the removing of the first dipole layer, conducting a first annealing on the workpiece; removing a remaining portion of the second dipole layer; and forming a gate electrode layer in the first region and the second region.

Abstract: An optical diffusing element includes a light emitting surface. The light emitting surface has microstructures, each microstructure has a border, the border of each microstructure is completely connected with the borders of the adjacent microstructures, each microstructure has a surface profile, and a functional formula of the surface profile is: s ? ( x ) = x 2 R + R 2 - ( ? + 1 ) ? x 2 ; s(x) represents the surface profile of each microstructure on an x-axis. The value x represents a vertical projection position of the surface profile on the x-axis. The value R represents a curvature radius of a vertex of each microstructure. The value ? represents a conic coefficient of each microstructure. The microstructures have the same value R and value ?. A light emitting assembly for three-dimension sensing includes the optical diffusing element and a light source.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and related method for forming a gate structure. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate. In some cases, the fin includes a plurality of semiconductor channel layers. In some examples, the semiconductor device further includes a gate dielectric surrounding each of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers. In some embodiments, a first thickness of the gate dielectric disposed on a top surface of a topmost semiconductor channel layer of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers is greater than a second thickness of the gate dielectric disposed on a surface of another semiconductor channel layer disposed beneath the topmost semiconductor channel layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin extending from the substrate, and a silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial feature disposed over the semiconductor fin. A gallium-implanted layer is disposed over a top surface of the SiGe epitaxial feature, and a silicide feature is disposed over and in contact with the gallium-implanted layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: depositing a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over a substrate; forming a dummy gate electrode over the second dielectric layer; forming a gate spacer surrounding the dummy gate electrode; forming lightly-doped source/drain (LDD) regions in the substrate on two sides of the gate spacer; removing the dummy gate electrode and forming a replacement gate; forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer over the replacement gate; and performing a first treatment by introducing a trap-repairing element into at least one of the gate spacer, the second dielectric layer, the substrate, the LDD regions and the ILD layer.

Abstract: A method and structure for doping source and drain (S/D) regions of a PMOS and/or NMOS FinFET device are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes providing a substrate including a fin extending therefrom. In some examples, the fin includes a channel region, source/drain regions disposed adjacent to and on either side of the channel region, a gate structure disposed over the channel region, and a main spacer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure. In some embodiments, contact openings are formed to provide access to the source/drain regions, where the forming the contact openings may etch a portion of the main spacer. After forming the contact openings, a spacer deposition and etch process may be performed. In some cases, after performing the spacer deposition and etch process, a silicide layer is formed over, and in contact with, the source/drain regions.

Abstract: An operator processing method includes obtaining a real-time shape of any to-be-output first tensor by combining in real time one or more micro-operators in a pre-constructed micro-operator library. Then, a micro-operator included in one combination (for example, a combination with optimal performance because different combinations have different performance) is selected for execution. Micro-operators in the micro-operator library are pre-compiled. Therefore, a compiler is not needed. In addition, shapes of the micro-operators are fixed and different, and are used as a “basis” of “shape space”.