Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to an integrated circuit structure that includes a resistive switching device (RSD). The RSD includes a bottom electrode, an insulator region, and a top electrode. The insulator region includes a filament region and is communicatively coupled to the bottom electrode. The top electrode is communicatively coupled to the insulator region. The filament region includes an apex region having a first apex region sidewall and a second apex region sidewall that intersects the first apex region sidewall at an angle that is less than about 90 degrees.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a nano sheet semiconductor device fabrication method that includes forming a gate spacer along a gate region of the nanosheet FET device. Channel nanosheet is formed such that each one has a desired final channel nanosheet width dimension (Wf). An inner spacer is formed between the channel nanosheets. Forming the gate spacer and the inner spacer includes, subsequent to forming the channel nanosheets to the desired Wf, conformally depositing a layer of the spacer material along a sidewall of the gate region, along sidewalls of the channel nanosheets, and within a space between the channel nanosheets. The gate spacer is formed from a portion of the layer of the spacer material along the sidewall of the gate region. The inner spacer is formed from a portion of the layer of the spacer material within the space between the channel nanosheets.

Abstract: A dual interlayer dielectric material structure is located on a passivation dielectric material liner and entirely fills a gap located between each memory device stack of a plurality of memory device stacks. The dual interlayer dielectric material structure includes, from bottom to top, a first void free low-k interlayer dielectric (ILD) material and a second void free low-k ILD material.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first middle-of-line (MOL) oxide layer and a second MOL oxide layer in the semiconductor structure. The first MOL oxide layer including multiple gate stacks formed on a substrate, and each gate stack of the gate stacks including a source/drain junction. A first nitride layer is formed over a silicide in the first MOL oxide layer. A second nitride layer is formed. Trenches are formed through the second nitride layer down to the source/drain junctions. A nitride cap of the plurality of gate stacks is selectively recessed. At least one self-aligned contact area (CA) element is formed within the first nitride layer. The first MOL oxide layer is selectively recessed. An air-gap oxide layer is deposited. The air gap oxide layer is reduced to the at least one self-aligned CA element and the first nitride layer.

Abstract: A Phase-change-memory (PCM) cell and method of forming the PCM are provided. In an illustrative embodiment, a method of forming a PCM cell includes forming a first layer of a first germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) type material over at least a portion of the bottom and sides of a pore through a dielectric layer of low dielectric material to a bottom electrode. The method also includes forming a second layer of a second GST type material over the first GST type material along the bottom and sides of the pore over the bottom electrode. The first GST type material is different from the second GST type material.

Abstract: Techniques related to a boosted vertical field effect transistor and method of fabricating the same are provided. A logic device can comprise a vertical field effect transistor comprising a substrate, a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer. A bottom source/drain contact can be between a top surface and the first epitaxial layer and a top source/drain contact can be between the top surface and the second epitaxial layer at respective first portions of one or more vertical fins. The logic device can also comprise a boosted bipolar junction transistor. A bipolar junction transistor contact can be between the top surface and the second epitaxial layer at respective second portions of the one or more vertical fins. The respective first portions and the respective second portions can be opposite portions of the one or more vertical fins.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming such structures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, and a plurality of gates, including a first gate and a pair of adjacent gates. The method comprises forming gate caps on the adjacent gates, including etching portions of the gate electrodes in the adjacent gates to recess the gate electrodes therein, and forming the caps above the recessed gate electrodes. Conductive metal trenches are formed in the dielectric layer, on the sides of the first gate; and after forming the trenches, a contact is formed over the gate electrode of the first gate and over and on one of the conductive trenches. In embodiments, the contact is a gate contact, and in other embodiments, the contact is a non-gate contact.

Abstract: A method is presented for reducing a reset current for a phase change memory (PCM). The method includes forming a bottom electrode, constructing a PCM cell structure including a plurality of phase change memory layers and a plurality of heat transfer layers, wherein the plurality of phase change memory layers are assembled in an alternating configuration with respect to the plurality of heat transfer layers, and forming a top electrode over the PCM cell structure. The plurality of phase change memory layers are arranged perpendicular to the top and bottom electrodes. Additionally, airgaps are defined adjacent the PCM cell structure.

Abstract: A current CMOS technology compatible process to create a planar gate-insulated vacuum channel semiconductor structure. In one example, the structure is created on highly doped silicon. In another example, the structure is created on silicon on insulator (SOI) over a box oxide layer. The planar gate-insulated vacuum channel semiconductor structure is formed over a planar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device with a gate stack and a tip-shaped SiGe source/drain region. Shallow trench isolation (STI) is used to form cavities on either side of the gate stack. The cavities are filled with dielectric material. Multiple etching techniques disclosed creates a void in a channel in the tip-shaped SiGe source/drain region under the gate stack. A vacuum is created in the void using physical vapor deposition (PVD) in a region above the tip-shaped SiGe source/drain regions.

Abstract: Vertical transport field effect transistors (VTFET) are disclosed along with methods of making. The VTFET is made with a novel gate last replacement metal gate (RMG) process. The invention allows uniform and high doping levels without adversely affecting the gate region in the process. The distance from the S/D regions and the junctions are the same. Fin caps protect the fins and gate protecting hard mask protect the dummy gate material during the beginning process steps. The invention enables easy connection and increased surface area at the connection points to reduce contact resistance.

Abstract: A method is presented for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) stack phase change memory (PCM) device. The method includes forming a plurality of stack layers over a plurality of conductive lines, the plurality of conductive lines formed within trenches of an inter-layer dielectric (ILD), forming isolation trenches extending through the plurality of stack layers, etching the plurality of stack layers to define an opening, filling the opening with at least a phase change material, and constructing vias to the plurality of conductive lines.

Abstract: A method of forming complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) nanosheet devices is provided. The method includes forming at least two adjacent trimmed stacks of sacrificial sheet segments and semiconductor nanosheet segments on a substrate, with a dummy gate structure and sidewall spacers on each of the at least two adjacent trimmed stacks. The method further includes forming a protective cap layer over the trimmed stacks, and forming a sacrificial fill layer on the protective cap layer. The method further includes forming a recess through the sacrificial fill layer and protective cap layer between the stacks, depositing a recess liner in the recess, and forming a dielectric fill layer in the recess on the recess liner. The method further includes forming a capping layer on one of the trimmed stacks, removing the sacrificial fill layer from another one of the trimmed stacks, and forming a source/drain on the semiconductor nanosheet segments.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory structure includes forming an opening on opposing sides of a plurality of memory pillars disposed on a substrate, the opening extends through a capping layer located above a first dielectric layer and a top portion of an oxide layer, the oxide layer is located between the first dielectric layer and an encapsulation layer on the substrate, the encapsulation layer surrounds the plurality of pillars, removing the oxide layer from areas of the memory structure located between the memory pillars, above the encapsulation layer and below the first dielectric layer, after removing the oxide layer a gap remains within the areas of the memory structure, and forming a second dielectric directly above the capping layer, wherein the second dielectric layer pinches off the opening to form airgaps.

Abstract: A self-align metal contact for a phase control memory (PCM) element is provided that mitigates unwanted residual tantalum nitride (TaN) particles that would otherwise remain after patterning a TaN surface using an RIE process.

Abstract: A method is presented for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) stack phase change memory (PCM) device. The method includes forming a plurality of stack layers over a plurality of conductive lines, the plurality of conductive lines formed within trenches of an inter-layer dielectric (ILD), forming isolation trenches extending through the plurality of stack layers, etching the plurality of stack layers to define an opening, filling the opening with at least a phase change material, and constructing vias to the plurality of conductive lines.

Abstract: A vertical vacuum transistor with a sharp tip structure, and associated fabrication process, is provided that is compatible with current vertical CMOS fabrication processing. The resulting vertical vacuum channel transistor advantageously provides improved operational characteristics including a higher operating frequency, a higher power output, and a higher operating temperature while at the same time providing a higher density of vertical transistor devices during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A vertical transport field effect transistor (VTFET) is provided that includes a vertical semiconductor channel material structure (i.e., fin or pillar) having a V-shaped groove located in the topmost surface thereof. A top source/drain structure is formed in contact with the V-shaped groove present in the topmost surface of the vertical semiconductor channel material structure. No drive-in anneal is needed to form the top source/drain structure. The presence of the V-shaped groove at the top junction region provides a VTFET that has improved device performance.

Abstract: Techniques for source/drain isolation in nanosheet devices are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a nanosheet device includes: forming an alternating series of sacrificial/active channel nanosheets as a stack on a substrate; forming gates on the stack; forming spacers alongside opposite sidewalls of the gates; patterning the stack, in between the spacers, into individual PFET/NFET stacks and pockets in the substrate; laterally recessing the sacrificial nanosheets in the PFET/NFET stacks to expose tips of the active channel nanosheets in the PFET/NFET stacks; forming inner spacers alongside the PFET/NFET stacks covering the tips of the active channel nanosheets; forming a protective layer lining the pockets; and selectively etching back the inner spacers to expose tips of the active channel nanosheets and epitaxially growing source and drains from the exposed tips of the active channel nanosheets sequentially in the PFET/NFET stacks. A nanosheet device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a self-aligned phase change memory element is provided. A bottom electrode is formed on a landing pad of a phase change memory element. A layer of dielectric material over the bottom electrode and a via etched through the dielectric material to expose the bottom electrode. The via is lined with a GST phase change layer that is etched back from the top surface of the dielectric layer. The via is then filled with a nitride fill, at least of portion of which is etched back from the top surface of the dielectric layer. A top electrode metal is then deposited at the top of the via, wherein the top electrode material is coupled to the phase change material and nitride fill material.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming such structures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, and a plurality of gates, including a first gate and a pair of adjacent gates. The method comprises forming gate caps on the adjacent gates, including etching portions of the gate electrodes in the adjacent gates to recess the gate electrodes therein, and forming the caps above the recessed gate electrodes. Conductive metal trenches are formed in the dielectric layer, on the sides of the first gate; and after forming the trenches, a contact is formed over the gate electrode of the first gate and over and on one of the conductive trenches. In embodiments, the contact is a gate contact, and in other embodiments, the contact is a non-gate contact.