Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin that extends from a first source/drain to an opposing second source/drain. The semiconductor fin includes a channel region between the first and second source/drains. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer having an upper surface having the second source/drain formed thereon, and a gate structure a gate structure wrapping around the channel region. The gate structure includes a tapered portion that contacts the spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanosheet device is provided. The method includes forming a nanosheet channel layer stack and dummy gate structure on a substrate. The method further includes forming a curved recess in the substrate surface adjacent to the nanosheet channel layer stack. The method further includes depositing a protective layer on the curved recess, dummy gate structure, and exposed sidewall surfaces of the nanosheet layer stack, and removing a portion of the protective layer on the curved recess to form a downward-spiked ridge around the rim of the curved recess. The method further includes extending the curved recess deeper into the substrate to form an extended recess, and forming a sacrificial layer at the surface of the extended recess in the substrate.

Abstract: Methods are presented for forming multi-threshold field effect transistors. The methods generally include depositing and patterning an organic planarizing layer to protect underlying structures formed in a selected one of the nFET region and the pFET region of a semiconductor wafer. In the other one of the nFET region and the pFET region, structures are processed to form an undercut in the organic planarizing layer. The organic planarizing layer is subjected to a reflow process to fill the undercut. The methods are effective to protect a boundary between the nFET region and the pFET region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a multi-layer patterning material film stack formed on the semiconductor substrate. The patterning material film stack comprises at least a hard mask layer and a resist layer formed over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is configured to support selective deposition of a metal-containing layer on a developed pattern of the resist layer through inclusion in the hard mask layer of one or more materials inhibiting deposition of the metal-containing layer on portions of the hard mask layer corresponding to respective openings in the resist layer. The hard mask layer illustratively comprises, for example, at least one of a grafted self-assembled monolayer configured to inhibit deposition of the metal-containing layer, and a grafted polymer brush material configured to inhibit deposition of the metal-containing layer.

Abstract: A self-priming resist may be formed from a first random copolymer forming a resist and a polymer brush having the general formula poly(A-r-B)-C-D, wherein A is a first polymer unit, B is a second polymer unit, wherein A and B are the same or different polymer units, C is a cleavable unit, D is a grafting group and r indicates that poly(A-r-B) is a second random copolymer formed from the first and second polymer units. The first random copolymer may be the same or different from the second random polymer. The self-priming resist can create a one-step method for forming an adhesion layer and resist by using the resist/brush blend.

Abstract: A tunable amorphous silicon layer for use with multilayer patterning stacks can be used to maximize transparency and minimize reflections so as to improve overlay metrology contrast. By increasing the hydrogen content in the amorphous silicon layer, the extinction coefficient (k) value and the refractive index (n) value can be decreased to desired values. Methods for improving overlay metrology contrast with the tunable amorphous silicon layer are disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor structure includes at least a first channel region and a second channel region. The first channel region and the second channel region each include metal gate structures surrounding a different nanosheet channel layer. The metal gate structures of the first and second channel regions are respectively separated from each other by an unfilled gap. The method includes forming a gap fill layer between and in contact with gate structures surrounding nanosheet channel layers in multiple channel regions. Then, after the gap fill layer has been formed for each nanosheet stack, a masking layer is formed over the gate structures and the gap fill layer in at least a first channel region. The gate structures and the gap fill layer in at least a second channel region remain exposed.

Abstract: Various methods and structures for fabricating a plurality of vertical fins in a vertical fin pattern on a semiconductor substrate where the vertical fins in the vertical fin pattern are separated by wide-open spaces, along a critical dimension, in a low duty cycle of 1:5 or lower. Adjacent vertical fins in the vertical fin pattern can be all separated by respective wide-open spaces, along a critical dimension, in a low duty cycle, and wherein pairs of adjacent vertical fins in the vertical fin pattern, along the critical dimension, are separated by a constant pitch value at near zero tolerance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the wet stripping of an organic planarization layer (OPL) using reversible UV crosslinking and de-crosslinking. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, an interlayer dielectric is formed over a substrate. A trench is formed in the interlayer dielectric. A work function metal is formed over the interlayer dielectric such that a portion of the work function metal partially fills the trench. A UV sensitive OPL is formed over the work function metal such that a portion of the UV sensitive OPL fills the trench. The UV sensitive OPL can be crosslinked by applying light at a first UV frequency and de-crosslinked by applying light at a second UV frequency.

Abstract: A lithographic patterning method includes forming a multi-layer patterning material film stack on a semiconductor substrate. Forming the patterning material film stack includes forming a hard mask layer and forming a resist layer over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is formed such that an interface portion of the hard mask layer proximate the resist layer has a higher metal content than other portions of the hard mask layer. The method further includes exposing the patterning material film stack to patterning radiation to form a desired pattern in the resist layer, developing the pattern formed in the resist layer, etching the hard mask layer in accordance with the developed pattern, and removing remaining portions of the resist layer. The hard mask layer illustratively includes metal oxide, metal nitride and/or metal oxynitride, and may exhibit an elevated surface hydrophobicity due to its high metal content interface portion.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a high temperature soft mask for semiconductor devices are described. In an embodiment, spin coating semiconductor device components with organic planarization material having a defined aromatic content aromatic content to provide an organic planarization layer. The method can further comprise ultra-fast annealing the organic planarization layer and forming an implanted or doped region in the semiconductor device. Three-dimensional FinFET components of a device can be spin coated with organic planarization material having high aromatic content, with the device cured at a first temperature. The organic planarization layer can be ultra-fast annealed at a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature. Aspects can include patterning the device, and forming an implanted or doped region in a semiconductor device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the wet stripping of an organic planarization layer (OPL) using reversible UV crosslinking and de-crosslinking. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, an interlayer dielectric is formed over a substrate. A trench is formed in the interlayer dielectric. A work function metal is formed over the interlayer dielectric such that a portion of the work function metal partially fills the trench. A UV sensitive OPL is formed over the work function metal such that a portion of the UV sensitive OPL fills the trench. The UV sensitive OPL can be crosslinked by applying light at a first UV frequency and de-crosslinked by applying light at a second UV frequency.

Abstract: A method for forming a device with multiple gate lengths includes forming a gate stack on vertical fins. A cutting mask formed on the gate stack is etched to include two or more different heights. Gate structures with two or more gate lengths are etched by employing the two or more different heights in the cutting mask as an etch mask. The cutting mask is removed. A top source/drain regions is formed on top of the vertical fins.

Abstract: Methods and devices for forming multiple fin lengths includes forming a material stack on vertical fins. A plurality of mandrels are formed on the material stack. Spacers are formed along the plurality of mandrels with the spacers width being a length of short fins. One or more of the plurality of mandrels are removed. The material stack is patterned to form the short fins beneath the spacers and long fins. The vertical fins are cut with the pattern of the material stack to form the short fins and the long fins.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the wet stripping of an organic planarization layer (OPL) using reversible UV crosslinking and de-crosslinking. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, an interlayer dielectric is formed over a substrate. A trench is formed in the interlayer dielectric. A work function metal is formed over the interlayer dielectric such that a portion of the work function metal partially fills the trench. A UV sensitive OPL is formed over the work function metal such that a portion of the UV sensitive OPL fills the trench. The UV sensitive OPL can be crosslinked by applying light at a first UV frequency and de-crosslinked by applying light at a second UV frequency.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming a wet-strippable hardmask over semiconductor fins. The wet-strippable hardmask is anisotropically etched away in a first device region. At least one semiconductor fin is doped in the first device region. The wet-strippable hardmask is isotropically etched away in a second device region. Semiconductor devices are formed from the fins in the first and second device regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, an N-type stacked nanosheet channel structure formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a P-type stacked nanosheet channel structure formed adjacent to the N-type stacked nanosheet channel structure on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the adjacent N-type and P-type stacked nanosheet channel structures comprises a plurality of stacked channel regions with each such channel region being substantially surrounded by a gate dielectric layer and a gate work function metal layer, and with the gate work function metal layer being separated from the channel regions by the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric and gate work function metal layers of the adjacent N-type and P-type stacked nanosheet channel structures are substantially eliminated from a shared gate region between the adjacent N-type and P-type stacked nanosheet channel structures.

Abstract: A lithographic patterning method includes forming a multi-layer patterning material film stack on a semiconductor substrate. Forming the patterning material film stack includes forming a hard mask layer and forming a resist layer over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is formed such that an interface portion of the hard mask layer proximate the resist layer has a higher metal content than other portions of the hard mask layer. The method further includes exposing the patterning material film stack to patterning radiation to form a desired pattern in the resist layer, developing the pattern formed in the resist layer, etching the hard mask layer in accordance with the developed pattern, and removing remaining portions of the resist layer. The hard mask layer illustratively includes metal oxide, metal nitride and/or metal oxynitride, and may exhibit an elevated surface hydrophobicity due to its high metal content interface portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a device with multiple gate lengths includes forming a gate stack on vertical fins. A cutting mask formed on the gate stack is etched to include two or more different heights. Gate structures with two or more gate lengths are etched by employing the two or more different heights in the cutting mask as an etch mask. The cutting mask is removed. A top source/drain regions is formed on top of the vertical fins.

Abstract: A tunable amorphous silicon layer for use with multilayer patterning stacks can be used to maximize transparency and minimize reflections so as to improve overlay metrology contrast. By increasing the hydrogen content in the amorphous silicon layer, the extinction coefficient (k) value and the refractive index (n) value can be decreased to desired values. Methods for improving overlay metrology contrast with the tunable amorphous silicon layer are disclosed.