Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of fabricating semiconductor devices with a gate-to-gate spacing that is wider than a minimum gate-to-gate spacing and the resulting semiconductor devices. The method includes forming gate structures over an active structure, the gate structures including a first gate structure, a second gate structure, and a third gate structure. The second gate structure is between the first and third gate structures. A plurality of epitaxial structures are formed adjacent to the gate structures, wherein the second gate structure separates two epitaxial structures and the two epitaxial structures are between the first and third gate structures. The second gate structure is removed. A conductive region is formed to connect the epitaxial structures between the first and third gate structures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided, which includes providing a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a plurality of first gate structures having a first gate pitch and a plurality of second gate structures having a second gate pitch traversing across a first and a second set of fins, respectively. The second gate pitch is wider than the first gate pitch. Epitaxial regions are formed between adjacent second gate structures in the second set of fins. A dielectric layer is deposited over the second gate structures and the epitaxial regions. Contact openings are formed in the dielectric layer. At least one of the contact openings is formed over the second gate structure where the second gate structure traverses across the second set of fins. The contact openings are filled with a conductive material to form contact structures electrically coupled to the second gate structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a substrate, a first fin and a second fin disposed on the substrate and an isolation material disposed on the substrate, wherein the isolation material separates the first fin and the second fin. A dielectric block is disposed between the first fin and the second fin, wherein the dielectric block is over the isolation material. A gate electrode covers the dielectric block.

Abstract: Structures for a field effect-transistor and methods of forming a structure for a field-effect transistor. A gate electrode arranged adjacent to an outer sidewall spacer and an inner sidewall spacer. The gate electrode has a top surface that is recessed relative to the outer sidewall spacer and the inner sidewall spacer. A gate cap includes a first section of a first width arranged over the first section of the gate electrode and a second section of a second width arranged over the first section of the gate cap and the inner sidewall spacer. The second width is greater than the first width, and the inner sidewall spacer is composed of a low-k dielectric material.

Abstract: Structures and fabrication methods for a field-effect transistor. First and second spacers are formed adjacent to opposite sidewalls of a gate structure. A section of the gate structure is partially removed with a first etching process to form a cut that extends partially through the gate structure. After partially removing the section of the gate structure with the first etching process, upper sections of the first and second sidewall spacers arranged above the gate structure inside the cut are at least partially removed. After at least partially removing the upper sections of the first and second sidewall spacers, the section of the gate structure is completely removed from the cut with a second etching process. A dielectric material is deposited inside the cut to form a dielectric pillar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal gate (e.g., a replacement metal gate (RMG) for a field effect transistor (FET) and a method of forming the metal gate. The method includes depositing a conformal dielectric layer to line a gate opening and performing a series of unclustered and clustered conformal metal deposition and chamfer processes to selectively adjust the heights of conformal metal layers within the gate opening. By selectively controlling the heights of the conformal metal layers, the method provides improved overall gate height control and gate quality particularly when the metal gate has a small critical dimension (CD) and/or a high aspect ratio (AR). The method can also include using different etch techniques during the different chamfer processes and, particularly, when different materials and/or different material interfaces are exposed to an etchant in order to ensure an essentially uniform etch rate of the conformal metal layer(s) at issue in a direction that is essentially vertical.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include trenches in a material layer that divide the material layer into fins. With such devices, an insulator partially fills the trenches and contacts the material layer. The top surface of the insulator (e.g., the surface opposite where the insulator contacts the material layer) has a convex dome shape between at least two of the fins. The dome shape has a first thickness from (from the bottom of the trench) where the insulator contacts the fins, and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness where the insulator is between the fins. Further, there is a maximum thickness difference between the first and second thicknesses at the midpoint between the fins (e.g., the highest point of the dome shape is at the midpoint between the fins). Also, the top surface of the first insulator has concave divots where the first insulator contacts the fins.

Abstract: Device structures and fabrication methods for an on-chip resistor. A dielectric layer includes a trench with a bottom and a sidewall arranged to surround the bottom. A metal layer is disposed on the dielectric layer at the sidewall of the trench. The metal layer includes a surface that terminates the metal layer at the bottom of the trench to define a discontinuity that extends along a length of the trench.

Abstract: A structure includes a first dielectric over a trench silicide (TS) contact and over a gate structure, and at least one cavity in the first dielectric. A metal resistor layer is on a bottom and sidewalls of the at least one cavity and extends over the first dielectric. A first contact is on the metal resistor layer over the first dielectric; and a second contact is on the metal resistor layer over the first dielectric. The metal resistor layer is over the TS contact and over the gate structure. Where a plurality of cavities are provided in the dielectric, a resistor structure formed by the metal resistor layer may have an undulating cross-section over the plurality of cavities and the dielectric.

Abstract: Methods of forming interconnects and structures for interconnects. A hardmask layer is patterned to form a plurality of first trenches arranged with a first pattern, and sidewall spacers are formed inside the first trenches on respective sidewalls of the hardmask layer bordering the first trenches. An etch mask is formed over the hardmask layer. The etch mask includes an opening exposing a portion of the hardmask layer between a pair of the sidewall spacers. The portion of the hardmask layer exposed by the opening in the etch mask is removed to define a second trench in the hardmask layer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and manufacturing system are disclosed for a fin field effect transistor having a reduced parasitic capacitance between a gate and a source/drain contact. In one embodiment, we disclose a semiconductor device including first and second fins; an isolation structure between the fins; first and second metal gates; a first dielectric body under the first metal gate and on the substrate between the first fin and the second fin, wherein a top of the first dielectric body is below a top of the first metal gate; and a second dielectric body in the second metal gate and on the substrate between the first fin and the second fin, wherein a top of the second dielectric body is at or above a top of the second metal gate.

Abstract: Processes form integrated circuit apparatuses that include parallel fins, wherein the fins are patterned in a first direction, and parallel gate structures intersect the fins in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, source/drain structures are positioned on the fins between the gate structures, source/drain contacts are positioned on the source/drain structures, sidewall insulators are positioned between the gate structures and the source/drain contacts (wherein the sidewall insulators have a lower portion adjacent to the fins and an upper portion distal to the fins), and upper sidewall spacers are positioned between the upper portion of the sidewall insulators and the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The IC structure may include a semiconductor structure including two source/drain regions; a metal gate positioned on the semiconductor structure adjacent to and between the source/drain regions; a metal cap with a different metal composition than the metal gate and having a thickness in the range of approximately 0.5 nanometer (nm) to approximately 5 nm positioned on the metal gate; a first dielectric cap layer positioned above the semiconductor structure; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) positioned above the semiconductor structure and laterally abutting both the metal cap and the metal gate, wherein an upper surface of the ILD has a greater height above the semiconductor structure than an upper surface of the metal gate; a second dielectric cap layer positioned on the ILD and above the metal cap; and a contact on and in electrical contact with the metal cap.

Abstract: Structures for a field effect-transistor and methods of forming a structure for a field-effect transistor. A gate electrode arranged adjacent to an outer sidewall spacer and an inner sidewall spacer. The gate electrode has a top surface that is recessed relative to the outer sidewall spacer and the inner sidewall spacer. A gate cap includes a first section of a first width arranged over the first section of the gate electrode and a second section of a second width arranged over the first section of the gate cap and the inner sidewall spacer. The second width is greater than the first width, and the inner sidewall spacer is composed of a low-k dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to middle of line gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of adjacent gate structures; a bridged gate structure composed of a plurality of the adjacent gate structures; source and drain regions adjacent to the bridged gate structure and comprising source and drain metallization features; and contacts to the bridged gate structure and the source and drain metallization features.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal gate (e.g., a replacement metal gate (RMG) for a field effect transistor (FET) and a method of forming the metal gate. The method includes depositing a conformal dielectric layer to line a gate opening and performing a series of unclustered and clustered conformal metal deposition and chamfer processes to selectively adjust the heights of conformal metal layers within the gate opening. By selectively controlling the heights of the conformal metal layers, the method provides improved overall gate height control and gate quality particularly when the metal gate has a small critical dimension (CD) and/or a high aspect ratio (AR). The method can also include using different etch techniques during the different chamfer processes and, particularly, when different materials and/or different material interfaces are exposed to an etchant in order to ensure an essentially uniform etch rate of the conformal metal layer(s) at issue in a direction that is essentially vertical.

Abstract: A FinFET structure having reduced effective capacitance and including a substrate having at least two fins thereon laterally spaced from one another, a metal gate over fin tops of the fins and between sidewalls of upper portions of the fins, source/drain regions in each fin on opposing sides of the metal gate, and a dielectric bar within the metal gate located between the sidewalls of the upper portions of the fins, the dielectric bar being laterally spaced away from the sidewalls of the upper portions of the fins within the metal gate.

Abstract: Structures that include a field effect-transistor and methods of forming a structure that includes a field-effect transistor. A semiconductor fin has an upper portion and a lower portion, and a trench isolation region surrounds the lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The trench isolation region has a top surface arranged above the lower portion of the semiconductor fin and arranged below the upper portion of the semiconductor fin. A dielectric layer arranged over the top surface of the trench isolation region. The dielectric layer is composed of a low-k dielectric material.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed includes a gate structure and a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate structure, the sidewall spacer having an upper surface, wherein an upper portion of the gate structure is positioned above a level of the upper surface of the sidewall spacer. In this illustrative example, the device also includes a tapered upper surface on the upper portion of the gate structure and a gate cap, the gate cap being positioned above the tapered upper surface of the gate structure and above the upper surface of the sidewall spacer.

Abstract: Structures that include a field effect-transistor and methods of forming a structure that includes a field-effect transistor. A semiconductor fin has an upper portion and a lower portion, and a trench isolation region surrounds the lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The trench isolation region has a top surface arranged above the lower portion of the semiconductor fin and arranged below the upper portion of the semiconductor fin. A dielectric layer arranged over the top surface of the trench isolation region. The dielectric layer is composed of a low-k dielectric material.