Abstract: An integrated circuit product is disclosed that includes a transistor device that includes a final gate structure, a gate cap, a low-k sidewall spacer positioned on and in contact with opposing sidewalls of the final gate structure, first and second contact etch stop layers (CESLs) located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, whereby the CESLs are positioned on and in contact with the low-k sidewall spacer, and a high-k spacer located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, wherein the high-k spacer is positioned in recesses formed in an upper portion of the CESLs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a single diffusion cut for gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of fin structures composed of semiconductor material; a plurality of replacement gate structures extending over the plurality of fin structures; a plurality of diffusion regions adjacent to the each of the plurality of replacement gate structures; and a single diffusion break between the diffusion regions of the adjacent replacement gate structures, the single diffusion break being filled with an insulator material. In a first cross-sectional view, the single diffusion break extends into the semiconductor material and in a second cross-sectional view, the single diffusion break is devoid of semiconductor material of the plurality of fin structures.

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: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to chamfered replacement gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a recessed gate dielectric material in a trench structure; a plurality of recessed workfunction materials within the trench structure on the recessed gate dielectric material; a plurality of additional workfunction materials within the trench structure and located above the recessed gate dielectric material and the plurality of recessed workfunction materials; a gate metal within the trench structure and over the plurality of additional workfunction materials, the gate metal and the plurality of additional workfunction materials having a planar surface below a top surface of the trench structure; and a capping material over the gate metal and the plurality of additional workfunction materials.

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: The disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) structure including a first spacer on a semiconductor fin adjacent a first portion of the gate structure, and having a first height above the semiconductor fin; a second spacer on the semiconductor fin adjacent the first spacer, such that the first spacer is horizontally between the first portion of the gate structure and a lower portion of the outer; and a gate cap positioned over the first portion of the gate structure and on the second spacer above the semiconductor fin. The gate cap defines an air gap horizontally between the first portion of the gate structure and an upper portion of the second spacer, and vertically between an upper surface of the first spacer and a lower surface of the gate cap.

Abstract: Methods of forming cross-coupling contacts for field-effect transistors and structures for field effect-transistors that include cross-coupling contacts. A sidewall spacer is formed adjacent to a gate structure, a dielectric cap is formed over the gate structure and the sidewall spacer, and an epitaxial semiconductor layer is formed adjacent to the sidewall spacer. A first portion of the dielectric cap is removed from over the sidewall spacer and the gate structure to expose a portion of a top surface of a gate electrode of the gate structure. A portion of the sidewall spacer is modified with an amorphization process. The modified portion of the sidewall spacer and the underlying gate dielectric layer are removed to expose a portion of a sidewall of the gate electrode. A cross-coupling contact is formed that directly connects the portions of the sidewall and top surface of the gate electrode with the epitaxial semiconductor layer.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a low-k sidewall spacer adjacent opposing sidewalls of a gate structure, forming contact etch stop layers (CESLs) adjacent the low-k sidewall spacer in the source/drain regions of the transistor, and forming a first insulating material above the CESLs. In this example, the method also includes recessing the first insulating material so as to expose substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs, removing a portion of a lateral width of the substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs so as to form trimmed CESLs, and forming a high-k spacer on opposite sides of the gate structure, wherein at least a portion of the high-k spacer is positioned laterally adjacent the trimmed substantially vertically oriented portions of the trimmed CESLs.

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: At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed herein involves forming local interconnect regions during semiconductor device manufacturing. A plurality of fins are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate region is over a portion of the fins. A trench silicide (TS) region is formed adjacent a portion of the gate region. The TS region comprises a first TS metal feature and a second TS metal feature. A bi-layer self-aligned contact (SAC) cap is formed over a first portion of the TS region and electrically coupled to a portion of the gate region. A portion of the bi-layer SAC cap is removed to form a first void. A first local interconnect feature is formed in the first void.

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: A method of forming isolation pillars for a gate structure, the method including: providing a preliminary structure including a substrate having a plurality of fins thereon, an STI formed between adjacent fins, an upper surface of the STIs extending higher than an upper surface of the fins, and a hardmask over the upper surface of the fins and between adjacent STIs; forming a first trench in a first selected STI and between adjacent fins in a gate region, and forming a second trench in a second selected STI and between adjacent fins in a TS region; and filling the first and second trenches with an isolation fill thereby forming a first isolation pillar in the gate region and a second isolation pillar in the TS region, the first and second isolation pillars extending below the upper surface of the STIs.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure with an undercut region includes, among other things, forming a plurality of fins above a substrate and an isolation structure above the substrate and between the plurality of fins, forming a placeholder gate structure above the plurality of fins in a first region and above the isolation structure in a second region, selectively removing a portion of the placeholder structure in the second region to define an undercut recess, forming a spacer structure adjacent the sacrificial gate structure, forming a dielectric layer adjacent the spacer structure and in the undercut recess, removing remaining portions of the placeholder gate structure to define a gate cavity, and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate cavity.

Abstract: Methods form an integrated circuit structure that includes complementary transistors on a first layer. An isolation structure is between the complementary transistors. Each of the complementary transistors includes source/drain regions and a gate conductor between the source/drain regions, and insulating spacers are between the gate conductor and the source/drain regions in each of the complementary transistors. With these methods and structures, an etch stop layer is formed only on the source/drain regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a hybrid fin cut with improved fin profiles and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of fin structures in a first region of a first density of fin structures; a plurality of fin structures in a second region of a second density of fin structures; and a plurality of fin structures in a third region of a third density of fin structures. The first density, second density and third density of fin structures are different densities of fin structures, and the plurality of fin structures in the first region, the second region and the third region have a substantially uniform profile.

Abstract: In conjunction with a replacement metal gate (RMG) process for forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), gate isolation methods and associated structures leverage the formation of distinct narrow and wide gate cut regions in a sacrificial gate. The formation of a narrow gate cut between closely-spaced fins can decrease the extent of etch damage to interlayer dielectric layers located adjacent to the narrow gate cut by delaying the deposition of such dielectric layers until after formation of the narrow gate cut opening. The methods and resulting structures also decrease the propensity for short circuits between later-formed, adjacent gates.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure in a gate cavity laterally defined by a sidewall spacer and recessing the sidewall spacer so as to form a recessed sidewall spacer with a recessed upper surface is disclosed. In this example, the method also includes performing at least one etching process to form a tapered upper surface on the exposed portion of the gate structure above the recessed upper surface of the spacer and forming a gate cap above the tapered upper surface of the gate structure and above the recessed upper surface of the recessed sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A methodology for forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes the co-integration of various isolation structures, including gate cut and shallow diffusion break isolation structures that are formed with common masking and etching steps. Following an additional patterning step to provide segmentation for source/drain conductive contacts, a single deposition step is used to form an isolation dielectric layer within each of gate cut openings, shallow diffusion break openings and cavities over shallow trench isolation between device active areas.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and manufacturing system are disclosed for a fin field effect transistor having a reduced risk of short circuits between a gate and a source/drain contact. In one embodiment, we disclose a semiconductor device including a fin structure comprising a fin body, source/drain regions, and a metal formation disposed above the source/drain regions, wherein the metal formation has a first height; and a gate structure between the source/drain regions, wherein each gate structure comprises spacers in contact with the metal formation, wherein the spacers have a second height less than the first height, a metal plug between the spacers and below the second height, and a T-shaped cap above the metal plug and having the first height.

Abstract: A transistor device disclosed herein includes, among other things, a gate electrode positioned above a semiconductor material region, a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate electrode, a gate insulation layer having a first portion positioned between the gate electrode and the semiconductor material region and a second portion positioned between a lower portion of the sidewall spacer and the gate electrode along a portion of a sidewall of the gate electrode, an air gap cavity located between the sidewall spacer and the gate electrode and above the second portion of the gate insulation layer, and a gate cap layer positioned above the gate electrode, wherein the gate cap layer seals an upper end of the air gap cavity so as to define an air gap positioned adjacent the gate electrode.