Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a first transistor of a first type comprising a first work function layer, the first work function layer comprising a first underlying layer; and a second transistor of the first type comprising a second work function layer, the second work function layer comprising a second underlying layer. The first and second underlying layers each comprises a metal nitride layer with at least two kinds of metals, and a thickness of the first underlying layer is greater than a thickness of the second underlying layer. A method of manufacturing a gate structure for a semiconductor device is also provided.

Abstract: A dummy gate electrode and a dummy gate dielectric are removed to form a recess between adjacent gate spacers. A gate dielectric is deposited in the recess, and a barrier layer is deposited over the gate dielectric. A first work function layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A first anti-reaction layer is formed over the first work function layer, the first anti-reaction layer reducing oxidation of the first work function layer. A fill material is deposited over the first anti-reaction layer.

Abstract: An improved work function layer and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes forming a semiconductor fin extending from a substrate; depositing a dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin; depositing a first work function layer over the dielectric layer; and exposing the first work function layer to a metastable plasma of a first reaction gas, a metastable plasma of a generation gas, and a metastable plasma of a second reaction gas, the first reaction gas being different from the second reaction gas.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor region, recessing the gate electrode to generate a recess, performing a first deposition process to form a first metallic layer on the gate electrode and in the recess, wherein the first deposition process is performed using a first precursor, and performing a second deposition process to form a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer using a second precursor different from the first precursor. The first metallic layer and the second metallic layer comprise a same metal. The method further incudes forming a dielectric hard mask over the second metallic layer, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the dielectric hard mask. The gate contact plug contacts a top surface of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming an opening in a substrate and depositing a conformal metal layer in the opening. The depositing includes performing one or more deposition cycles. The deposition includes flowing a first precursor into a deposition chamber and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the first precursor. The method also includes flowing a second precursor into the deposition chamber to form a sublayer of the conformal metal layer and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the second precursor. The method further includes performing a metallic halide etching (MHE) process that includes flowing a third precursor into the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor region, recessing the gate electrode to generate a recess, performing a first deposition process to form a first metallic layer on the gate electrode and in the recess, wherein the first deposition process is performed using a first precursor, and performing a second deposition process to form a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer using a second precursor different from the first precursor. The first metallic layer and the second metallic layer comprise a same metal. The method further incudes forming a dielectric hard mask over the second metallic layer, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the dielectric hard mask. The gate contact plug contacts a top surface of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with differing threshold voltages are provided. In embodiments the threshold voltages of individual semiconductor devices are tuned through the removal and placement of differing materials within each of the individual gate stacks within a replacement gate process, whereby the removal and placement helps keep the overall process window for a fill material large enough to allow for a complete fill.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with differing threshold voltages are provided. In embodiments the threshold voltages of individual semiconductor devices are tuned through the removal and placement of differing materials within each of the individual gate stacks within a replacement gate process, whereby the removal and placement helps keep the overall process window for a fill material large enough to allow for a complete fill.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a dummy gate over a fin, where the fin protrudes above a substrate; surrounding the dummy gate with a dielectric material; and replacing the dummy gate with a replacement gate structure, where replacing the dummy gate includes: forming a gate trench in the dielectric material, where forming the gate trench includes removing the dummy gate; forming a metal-gate stack in the gate trench, where forming the metal-gate stack includes forming a gate dielectric layer, a first work function layer, and a gap-filling material sequentially in the gate trench; and enlarging a volume of the gap-filling material in the gate trench.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming an opening in a substrate and depositing a conformal metal layer in the opening. The depositing includes performing one or more deposition cycles. The deposition includes flowing a first precursor into a deposition chamber and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the first precursor. The method also includes flowing a second precursor into the deposition chamber to form a sublayer of the conformal metal layer and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the second precursor. The method further includes performing a metallic halide etching (MHE) process that includes flowing a third precursor into the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region, a first transistor in the first semiconductor region, and a second transistor in the second semiconductor region. The first transistor includes a first gate dielectric over the first semiconductor region, a first work function layer over and contacting the first gate dielectric, and a first conductive region over the first work function layer. The second transistor includes a second gate dielectric over the second semiconductor region, a second work function layer over and contacting the second gate dielectric, wherein the first work function layer and the second work function layer have different work functions, and a second conductive region over the second work function layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a dummy gate over a fin, where the fin protrudes above a substrate; surrounding the dummy gate with a dielectric material; and replacing the dummy gate with a replacement gate structure, where replacing the dummy gate includes: forming a gate trench in the dielectric material, where forming the gate trench includes removing the dummy gate; forming a metal-gate stack in the gate trench, where forming the metal-gate stack includes forming a gate dielectric layer, a first work function layer, and a gap-filling material sequentially in the gate trench; and enlarging a volume of the gap-filling material in the gate trench.

Abstract: A structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region, a first transistor in the first semiconductor region, and a second transistor in the second semiconductor region. The first transistor includes a first gate dielectric over the first semiconductor region, a first work function layer over and contacting the first gate dielectric, and a first conductive region over the first work function layer. The second transistor includes a second gate dielectric over the second semiconductor region, a second work function layer over and contacting the second gate dielectric, wherein the first work function layer and the second work function layer have different work functions, and a second conductive region over the second work function layer.

Abstract: A dummy gate electrode and a dummy gate dielectric are removed to form a recess between adjacent gate spacers. A gate dielectric is deposited in the recess, and a barrier layer is deposited over the gate dielectric. A first work function layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A first anti-reaction layer is formed over the first work function layer, the first anti-reaction layer reducing oxidation of the first work function layer. A fill material is deposited over the first anti-reaction layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a responsive platform, which includes a polymer-grafted nanopillar array, cargo-containing entities, first conjugatable moieties, and second conjugatable moieties. The polymer-grafted nanopillar array includes thermoresponsive polymer brushes grafted onto surfaces of nanopillars, and the cargo-containing entities are attached to the thermoresponsive polymer brushes through non-covalent association between the first conjugatable moieties and the second conjugatable moieties. Accordingly, the cargo-containing entities can be released from the nanopillar array for cellular uptake in a controlled manner by applying thermal stimulus.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, and a gate stack on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. The gate stack includes a high-k dielectric layer, a work-function layer overlapping a bottom portion of the high-k dielectric layer, and a blocking layer overlapping a second bottom portion of the work-function layer. A low-resistance metal layer overlaps and contacts the work-function layer and the blocking layer. The low-resistance metal layer has a resistivity value lower than second resistivity values of both of the work-function layer and the blocking layer. A gate spacer contacts a sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first transistor, which includes forming a first gate dielectric layer over a first channel region in a substrate and forming a first work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer, wherein forming the first work-function layer includes depositing a work-function material using first process conditions to form the work-function material having a first proportion of different crystalline orientations and forming a second transistor, which includes forming a second gate dielectric layer over a second channel region in the substrate and forming a second work-function layer over the second gate dielectric layer, wherein forming the second work-function layer includes depositing the work-function material using second process conditions to form the work-function material having a second proportion of different crystalline orientations.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, and a gate stack on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin. The gate stack includes a high-k dielectric layer, a work-function layer overlapping a bottom portion of the high-k dielectric layer, and a blocking layer overlapping a second bottom portion of the work-function layer. A low-resistance metal layer overlaps and contacts the work-function layer and the blocking layer. The low-resistance metal layer has a resistivity value lower than second resistivity values of both of the work-function layer and the blocking layer. A gate spacer contacts a sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: A fingerprint identification module includes a light guiding member, a flexible circuit board, two light emitting members, and a fingerprint identification chip. The light guiding member includes a bottom and a protruding edge. The protruding edge surrounds to form a first space. A first through-hole is formed on the bottom. The flexible circuit board is disposed in the first space and has a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion connected in sequence. The first portion goes out of the light guiding member through the first through-hole. The third portion faces a direction opposite to the bottom. The second portion and the fourth portion face the bottom of the light guiding member. The light emitting members are disposed on the flexible circuit board and face the light guiding member. The fingerprint identification chip is disposed on the third portion of the flexible circuit board.