Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form semiconductor devices having a dielectric wall or spine between two devices that extends between source or drain regions of the two devices and separates backside contacts to the source or drain regions. A first semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region extending from a first source or drain region and a second adjacent semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor region extending from a second source or drain region adjacent to the first source or drain region. A dielectric wall extends between the first source or drain region and the second source or drain region. A first backside contact touches the underside of the first source or drain region and a second backside contact touches the underside of the second source or drain region. The dielectric wall further extends down between the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact.

Abstract: Techniques to form semiconductor devices that include both finFET and gate-all-around (GAA) devices on same substrate. The finFET and GAA devices may have different gate oxide thicknesses and/or shallow trench isolation (STI) thicknesses, along with coplanar channel regions. In an example, a first semiconductor device includes a finFET structure with a first gate structure around or otherwise on a semiconductor fin while a second semiconductor device includes a GAA structure with a second gate structure around or otherwise on a plurality of semiconductor bodies (e.g., nanoribbons). The first gate structure includes a first gate dielectric and a first gate electrode (e.g., conductive material such as workfunction material and/or gate fill metal) and the second gate structure includes a second gate dielectric and a second gate electrode. The first gate dielectric includes a first gate oxide layer that is thicker than a second gate oxide layer of the second gate dielectric.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form semiconductor devices having different gate oxide thicknesses. A first semiconductor device includes a first gate structure around a first plurality of semiconductor nanoribbons and a second semiconductor device includes a second gate structure around a second plurality of semiconductor nanoribbons. The first gate structure includes at least a first gate oxide layer and a first gate electrode, and the second gate structure includes at least a second gate oxide layer and a second gate electrode. The first gate oxide layer is thicker than the second gate oxide layer. A high-k dielectric layer may be formed over the first and second gate oxide layers or may be formed over the second gate oxide layer, but not over the first gate oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are source/drain regions in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC structure may include: an array of channel regions, including a first channel region and an adjacent second channel region; a first source/drain region proximate to the first channel region; a second source/drain region proximate to the second channel region; and an insulating material region at least partially between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-planar transistor (e.g., nanoribbon) arrangements having asymmetric gate enclosures on at least one side. An example transistor arrangement includes a channel material shaped as a nanoribbon, and a gate stack wrapping around at least a portion of a first face of the nanoribbon, a sidewall, and a portion of a second face of the nanoribbon. Portions of the gate stack provided over the first and second faces of the nanoribbon extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanoribbon for a certain distance that may be referred to as a “gate length.” A portion of the gate stack wrapping around the sidewall of the nanoribbon does not extend along the entire gate length, but, rather, extends over less than a half of the gate length, e.g., about one third of the gate length, thus making the gate enclosure on that sidewall asymmetric.

Abstract: Discussed herein are device contacts in integrated circuit (IC) structures. In some embodiments, an IC structure may include: a first source/drain (S/D) contact; a gate contact, wherein the gate contact is in contact with a gate and with the first S/D contact; and a second S/D contact, wherein a height of the second S/D contact is less than a height of the first S/D contact.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) structure, e.g., for manufacturing a metallization stack portion of an IC structure, with one or more self-aligned vias integrated in the back end of line (BEOL), and related semiconductor devices. The methods may employ direct metal etch for scaling the BEOL pitches of the metallization layers. In one aspect, an example method results in fabrication of a via that is self-aligned to both a metal line above it and a metal line below it. Methods described herein may provide improvements in terms of one or more of reducing the misalignment between vias and electrically conductive structures connected thereto, reducing the RC delays, and increasing reliability if the final IC structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are source/drain regions in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC structure may include: an array of channel regions, including a first channel region and an adjacent second channel region; a first source/drain region proximate to the first channel region; a second source/drain region proximate to the second channel region; and an insulating material region at least partially between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolation regions in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC component may include: a first region including silicon; a second region including alternating layers of a second material and a third material, wherein the second material includes silicon and germanium, the third material includes silicon, and individual ones of the layers in the second region has a thickness that is less than 3 nanometers; and a third region including alternating layers of the second material and the third material, wherein individual ones of the layers in the third region has a thickness that is greater than 3 nanometers, and the second region is between the first region and the third region.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having raised wall structures for epitaxial source or drain region confinement are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires. A gate stack is over the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires. First epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. Second epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. An intervening dielectric structure is between neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and the second epitaxial source or drain structures. The intervening dielectric structure has a top surface above a top surface of the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having backside contact self-aligned to epitaxial source or drain region are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires. A gate stack is over the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires. First epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. Second epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. A conductive structure is vertically beneath and in contact with one of the first epitaxial source or drain structures.

Abstract: Integrated circuit structures having a metal gate plug landed on a dielectric dummy fin, and methods of fabricating integrated circuit structures having a metal gate plug landed on a dielectric dummy fin, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a sub-fin in a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure. A plurality of horizontally stacked nanowires is over the sub-fin. A gate dielectric material layer is surrounding the horizontally stacked nanowires. A gate electrode structure is over the gate dielectric material layer. A dielectric dummy fin is laterally spaced apart from the plurality of horizontally stacked nanowires, the dielectric dummy fin having a bottommost surface below an uppermost surface of the sub-fin. A dielectric gate plug is on the dielectric dummy fin.

Abstract: Gate-all-around structures having neighboring fin-based devices are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first device including a fin above a substrate, and a first gate structure over the fin. The integrated circuit structure also includes a second device including a vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires above a sub-fin structure above the substrate, and a second gate structure surrounding the vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires.

Abstract: Discussed herein is gate spacing in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC structure may include: a first gate metal having a longitudinal axis; a second gate metal, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first gate metal is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second gate metal; a first dielectric material continuously around the first gate metal; and a second dielectric material continuously around the second gate metal, wherein the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material are present between the first gate metal and the second gate metal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form semiconductor devices having self-aligned gate cut structures. In an example, neighboring semiconductor devices each include a semiconductor region extending between a source region and a drain region, and a gate layer extending over the semiconductor regions of the neighboring semiconductor devices. A gate cut structure that includes a dielectric material interrupts the gate layer between the neighboring semiconductor devices. Due to the process of forming the gate cut structure, the distance between the gate cut structure and the semiconductor region of one of the neighboring semiconductor devices is substantially the same as (e.g., within 1.5 nm of) the distance between the gate cut structure and the semiconductor region of the other one of the neighboring semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to form semiconductor devices having a multi-layer spacer structure. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region extending between a source region and a drain region, and a gate layer extending over the semiconductor region. A spacer structure made up of one or more dielectric layers is present along a sidewall of the gate structure and along a sidewall of the source region or the drain region. The spacer structure has three different portions: a first portion along the sidewall of the gate, a second portion along the sidewall of the source or drain region, and a third portion that connects between the first two portions. The third portion of the spacer structure has a multi-layer configuration while the first and second portions have a fewer number of material layers.

Abstract: Techniques to form self-aligned lateral contacts. In an example, a first trench contact contacts a source or drain region of a transistor. A second trench contact includes non-contiguous first and second portions, each portion having a top surface that is co-planar with a top surface of the first trench contact as well as a top surface of the gate structure. A sidewall of the second trench contact is self-aligned to, and interfaces with, a sidewall of the first trench contact. A via extends from the first portion of the second trench contact to an underlying power rail. In some cases, the second portion of the second trench contact extends over a source or drain region of another transistor, without contacting that source or drain region. The fly-over portion of the second trench contact has a maximum height that is shorter than a maximum height of the first trench contact.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, and techniques related to manufacturing a gate structure that includes adjacent gates that are coupled with the first fin and a second fin, with a metal gate cut across the adjacent gates and a trench connector between the adjacent gates that electrically couples the first fin and the second fin. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, and techniques related to a transistor structure that includes a buried power rail (BPR) located within the transistor structure at a level below a height of one or more of the fins of the transistor structure. The BPR may be located proximate to a bottom substrate of the transistor structure. In embodiments, the transistor structure includes a protective layer, which can include one or more dielectric layers, above the BPR to protect the BPR during stages of transistor structure manufacture. In embodiments, portions of the protective layer may also be used to constrain epitaxial growth during stages of manufacturing of the transistor structure. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, and techniques related to protecting metal gates within transistor gate structures during SAC patterning. In particular, embodiments include area selective deposition techniques to deposit films on the gate or on a gate cap that have a good selectivity to SAC etch. In embodiments the film may include a combination of zirconium and/or oxygen, or may include zirconium oxide. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.