Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor layers disposed parallelly to each other and in contact with the source/drain epitaxial feature, a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of each of the plurality of semiconductor layers, and a dielectric region in the substrate below the source/drain epitaxial feature. The dielectric region includes a first oxidation region having a first dopant, and a second oxidation region having a second dopant different than the first dopant.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, first and second fin structures formed over the substrate, and an isolation structure between the first and second fin structures. The isolation structure can include a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion of the isolation structure can include a metal-free dielectric material. The upper portion of the isolation structure can include a metallic element and silicon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a first bonding layer on a device substrate, the first bonding layer including a first bonding sub-layer and a second bonding sub-layer, the first bonding sub-layer including a first metal oxide material in an amorphous state and a plurality of metal nanoparticles, the second bonding sub-layer including a second metal oxide material in an amorphous state; forming a second bonding layer on a carrier substrate, the second bonding layer including a third metal oxide material in an amorphous state; conducting a surface modification process on the first and second bonding layers; bonding the device and carrier substrates to each other through the first and second bonding layers; and annealing the first and second bonding layers to convert the first, second, and third metal oxide materials from the amorphous state to a crystalline state.

Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor structure including a first surface, the first surface including a uniform material composition of ruthenium (Ru), selecting a first polishing slurry including a first abrasive component of titanium oxide and a first amine-based alkaline component of ammonium hydroxide, selecting a second polishing slurry including a second abrasive component of silicon oxide, a second amine-based alkaline component of hydroxyamine, and a non-amine alkaline component, polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until a second surface is exposed, the second surface including a conductive material and a dielectric material, and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.

Abstract: In-situ defect count detection in post chemical mechanical polishing (post-CMP) is provided. Post-CMP is performed, in-situ and according to a recipe, on a surface of a semiconductor wafer within a post-CMP chamber. A light signal is scanned over a target area of the surface of the semiconductor wafer and a reflected light signal reflected from the target area is detected. A defect count of defects present in the target area is determined based on the reflected light signal reflected from the target area.

Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with different gate structures configured to provide ultra-low threshold voltages and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second nanostructured channel regions in first and second nanostructured layers, respectively, and forming first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures surrounding the first and second nanostructured channel regions, respectively. The forming the first and second GAA structures includes selectively forming an Al-based n-type work function metal layer and a Si-based capping layer on the first nanostructured channel regions, depositing a bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function metal layers on the first and second nanostructured channel regions, depositing a fluorine blocking layer on the bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function layers, and depositing a gate metal fill layer on the fluorine blocking layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device including a substrate and first and second spacers on the substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a gate stack between the first and second spacers. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer having a first portion formed on the substrate and a second portion formed on the first and second spacers; an internal gate formed on the first and second portions of the gate dielectric layer; a ferroelectric dielectric layer formed on the internal gate and in contact with the gate dielectric layer; and a gate electrode on the ferroelectric dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer over the base portion and surrounding the fin portion. The semiconductor device structure includes a metal gate stack over the isolation layer and wrapping around an upper part of the fin portion. The metal gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer, and the gate dielectric layer includes fluorine. A first part of the isolation layer is not covered by the metal gate stack, the first part includes fluorine, and a first concentration of fluorine in the first part increases toward a first top surface of the first part.

Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is a top surface including a conductive material exposed thereon; and the second surface is an embedded surface including the conductive material and a dielectric material. The method also includes selecting a first polishing slurry to achieve a first polishing rate of the conductive material in the first polishing slurry and a second polishing rate of the dielectric material in the first polishing slurry. The method further includes selecting a second polishing slurry to achieve a third polishing rate of the conductive material in the second polishing slurry and a fourth polishing rate of the dielectric material in the second polishing slurry. The method additionally includes polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until the second surface is exposed; and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory cell (FeRAM) is disclosed that includes an active device (e.g., a transistor) and a passive device (e.g., a ferroelectric capacitor) integrated in a substrate. The transistor and its gate contacts are formed on a front side of the substrate. A carrier wafer can be bonded to the active device to allow the active device to be inverted so that the passive device and associated contacts can be electrically coupled from a back side of the substrate.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first and second transistors arranged over a substrate. The first transistor includes first channel structures extending between first and second source/drain regions. A first gate electrode is arranged between the first channel structures, and a first protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the first channel structures. The second transistor includes second channel structures extending between the second source/drain region and a third source/drain region. A second gate electrode is arranged between the second channel structures, and a second protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the second channel structures. The integrated chip further includes a first interconnect structure arranged between the substrate and the first and second channel structures, and a contact plug structure coupled to the second source/drain region and arranged above the first and second gate electrodes.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip with polish stop layers and a method of fabricating the IC chip are disclosed. The method includes forming a first IC chip having a device region and a peripheral region. Forming the first IC chip includes forming a device layer on a substrate, forming an interconnect structure on the device layer, depositing a first dielectric layer on a first portion of the interconnect structure in the peripheral region, depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and on a second portion of the interconnect structure in the device region, and performing a polishing process on the second dielectric layer to substantially coplanarize a top surface of the second dielectric layer with a top surface of the first dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a bonding process on the second dielectric layer to bond a second IC chip to the first IC chip.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. The method includes: forming a metal oxide layer over a gate structure over a substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the metal oxide layer; forming a metal layer over the metal oxide layer; and performing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) operation to remove a portion of the dielectric layer and a portion of the metal layer, the CMP operation stopping at the metal oxide layer, wherein a slurry used in the CMP operation includes a ceria compound. The present disclosure also provides a method for planarizing a metal-dielectric surface.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes forming a crystalline high-k dielectric layer at a reduced crystallization temperature in a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a channel structure on a substrate, forming an interfacial layer on the channel structure, forming a first high-k dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, forming dipoles in the first high-k dielectric layer with a dopant, and forming a second high-k dielectric layer on the first high-k dielectric layer. The dopant includes a first metal element. The second high-k dielectric layer includes a second metal element different from the first metal element.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, first and second fin structures formed over the substrate, and an isolation structure between the first and second fin structures. The isolation structure can include a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion of the isolation structure can include a metal-free dielectric material. The upper portion of the isolation structure can include a metallic element and silicon.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer over the base portion and surrounding the fin portion. The isolation layer includes fluorine, and a first concentration of fluorine in the isolation layer increases toward a top surface of the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over the isolation layer and wrapping around the fin portion.

Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with different gate structures configured to provide ultra-low threshold voltages and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second nanostructured channel regions in first and second nanostructured layers, respectively, and forming first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures surrounding the first and second nanostructured channel regions, respectively. The forming the first and second GAA structures includes selectively forming an Al-based n-type work function metal layer and a Si-based capping layer on the first nanostructured channel regions, depositing a bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function metal layers on the first and second nanostructured channel regions, depositing a fluorine blocking layer on the bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function layers, and depositing a gate metal fill layer on the fluorine blocking layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming a source/drain region on a side of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form a trench, depositing a gate dielectric layer extending into the trench, depositing a metal-containing layer over the gate dielectric layer, and depositing a silicon-containing layer on the metal-containing layer. The metal-containing layer and the silicon-containing layer in combination act as a work-function layer. A planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer, and the gate dielectric layer, with remaining portions of the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer, and the gate dielectric layer forming a gate stack.