Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of nanostructures over a substrate; etching the plurality of nanostructures to form recesses; forming source/drain regions in the recesses; removing first nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures leaving second nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures; depositing a gate dielectric over and around the second nano structures; depositing a protective material over the gate dielectric; performing a fluorine treatment on the protective material; removing the protective material; and depositing a first conductive material over the gate dielectric; and depositing a second conductive material over the first conductive material.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device that includes a substrate and a first transistor on the substrate. The first transistor includes a first gate structure and the first gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a first work function layer on the gate dielectric layer. The first gate structure also includes a capping layer on the first work function layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second transistor on the substrate, in which the second transistor includes a second gate structure. The second gate structure includes the gate dielectric layer and a second work function layer on the gate dielectric layer. The second gate structure also includes the first work function layer on the second work function layer and the silicon capping layer on the first work function layer.

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: A method of forming a transistor is disclosed. The method includes forming a high-k dielectric constant layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a pretreatment layer (PL) on the high-k dielectric constant layer, determining a thickness for a conductive work function layer (WFL) based on a target effective work function of the transistor, and forming the conductive work function layer (WFL) on the first pretreatment layer, where the conductive work function layer has a WFL thickness substantially equal to the determined thickness. Forming the transistor also includes forming a coating layer on the first conductive work function layer. The gate stack has a tuned effective work function according to the determined thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an interfacial layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a high-k dielectric layer formed on the interfacial layer, and a conductive gate electrode layer formed on the high-k dielectric layer. At least one of the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer is doped with: a first dopant species, a second dopant species, and a third dopant species. The first dopant species and the second dopant species form a plurality of first dipole elements having a first polarity. The third dopant species forms a plurality of second dipole elements having a second polarity, and the first and second polarities are opposite.

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 of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor comprising a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate by, at least, forming a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a dipole layer on the dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the dipole layer, forming a conductive work function layer on the second dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode layer on the conductive work function layer. The method also includes varying a distance between dipole inducing elements in the dipole layer and a surface of the semiconductor substrate by tuning a thickness of the first dielectric layer to adjust a threshold voltage of the transistor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of forming N-type and P-type source/drain features using one patterned mask and one self-aligned mask to increase windows of error tolerance and provide flexibilities for source/drain features of various shapes and/or volumes. In some embodiments, after forming a first type of source/drain features, a self-aligned mask layer is formed over the first type of source/drain features without using photolithography process, thus, avoid damaging the first type of source/drain features in the patterning process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure disposed on the substrate, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the fin structure, and a gate structure disposed on the fin structure adjacent to the S/D region. The gate structure includes a gate stack disposed on the fin structure and a gate capping structure disposed on the gate stack. The gate capping structure includes a conductive gate cap disposed on the gate stack and an insulating gate cap disposed on the conductive gate cap. The semiconductor device further includes a first contact structure disposed within the gate capping structure and a first via structure disposed on the first contact structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with liner-free contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second source/drain (S/D) regions on first and second fin structures, forming a first dielectric layer between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures on the first and second fin structures, forming a second dielectric layer on the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer, forming a tapered trench opening in the second dielectric layer and on the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer, selectively forming a seed layer on top surfaces of the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer that are exposed in the tapered trench opening, and selectively depositing a conductive layer on the seed layer to fill the tapered trench opening.

Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an interfacial layer disposed over a semiconductor layer, a high-k gate dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial layer, where the high-k gate dielectric layer includes a first metal, a metal oxide layer disposed between the high-k gate dielectric layer and the interfacial layer, where the metal oxide layer is configured to form a dipole moment with the interfacial layer, and a metal gate stack disposed over the high-k gate dielectric layer. The metal oxide layer includes a second metal different from the first metal, and a concentration of the second metal decreases from a top surface of the high-k gate dielectric layer to the interface between the high-k gate dielectric layer and the interfacial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate. The structure also includes a gate structure formed across the fin structure. The structure also includes a source/drain structure formed beside the gate structure. The structure also includes a contact structure formed over the source/drain structure. The structure also includes a dielectric structure extending into the contact structure. The dielectric structure and the source/drain structure are separated by the contact structure.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.

Abstract: A method includes removing a dummy gate structure to form a gate trench over a semiconductor layer, forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over an interfacial layer exposed in the gate trench, depositing a metal-containing precursor over the high-k gate dielectric layer to form a metal-containing layer, and subsequently depositing an aluminum-containing precursor over the metal-containing layer, where depositing the aluminum-containing precursor forms an aluminum oxide layer at an interface between the high-k gate dielectric layer and the interfacial layer and where the metal-containing precursor includes a metal different from aluminum. The method further includes, subsequent to depositing the aluminum-containing precursor, removing a portion of the metal-containing layer, depositing a work-function metal layer over a remaining portion of the metal-containing layer, and forming a bulk conductive layer over the work-function metal layer, resulting in a metal gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a hard mask on a transistor's gate structure that minimizes gate spacer loss and gate height loss during the formation of self-aligned contact openings. The method includes forming spacers on sidewalls of spaced apart gate structures and disposing a dielectric layer between the gate structures. The method also includes etching top surfaces of the gate structures and top surfaces of the spacers with respect to a top surface of the dielectric layer. Additionally, the method includes depositing a hard mask layer having a metal containing dielectric layer over the etched top surfaces of the gate structures and the spacers and etching the dielectric layer with an etching chemistry to form contact openings between the spacers, where the hard mask layer has a lower etch rate than the spacers when exposed to the etching chemistry.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor device that includes a first transistor having a first gate structure. The first gate structure includes a first gate dielectric layer doped with a first dopant at a first dopant concentration and a first work function layer on the first gate dielectric layer. The first gate structure also includes a first gate electrode on the first work function layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second transistor having a second gate structure, where the second gate structure includes a second gate dielectric layer doped with a second dopant at a second dopant concentration lower than the first dopant concentration. The second gate structure also includes a second work function layer on the second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode on the second work function layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device that is protected from the effects of an oxide on the metal gate layers of ferroelectric field effect transistors. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate with fins thereon; an interfacial layer on the fins; a crystallized ferroelectric layer on the interfacial layer; and a metal gate layer on the ferroelectric layer.