Abstract: Semiconductor devices employing Field Effect Transistors (FETs) with multiple channel structures without shallow trench isolation (STI) void-induced electrical shorts are disclosed. In one aspect, a semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate. The semiconductor device includes channel structures disposed over the substrate, the channel structures corresponding to a FET. An STI trench is formed between each corresponding pair of channel structures. Each STI trench includes a bottom region filled with a lower quality oxide, and a top region filled with a higher quality oxide. The lower quality oxide is susceptible to void formation in the bottom region during particular fabrication steps of the semiconductor device. However, the higher quality oxide is not susceptible to void formation. Thus, the higher quality oxide does not include voids with which a gate may electrically couple to other active components, thus preventing STI void-induced electrical shorts in the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices employing plasma-doped source/drain structures and related methods are disclosed. In certain aspects, a source and drain of a CMOS device are formed at end portions of a channel structure by plasma doping end portions of the channel structure above solid state solubility of the channel structure, and annealing the end portions for liquid phase epitaxy and activation (e.g., superactivation). In this manner, the source and drain can be integrally formed in the end portions of the channel structure to provide coextensive surface area contact between the source and drain and the channel structure for lower channel contact resistance. This is opposed to forming the source/drain using epitaxial growth that provides an overgrowth beyond the end portion surface area of the channel structure to reduce channel contact resistance, which may short adjacent channels structures.

Abstract: Metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) standard cells employing electrically coupled source regions and supply rails to relax source-drain tip-to-tip spacing between adjacent MOS standard cells are disclosed. In one aspect, a MOS standard cell includes supply rails disposed in a first metal layer and along respective axes in an X-axis direction. The MOS standard cell includes metal lines disposed in the first metal layer and along respective axes in the X-axis direction. The MOS standard cell includes a source region formed in a semiconductor substrate beneath the first metal layer and adjacent to a plane in an X-Z-axis direction disposed between a supply rail and the source region. The source region is electrically coupled to the corresponding supply rail. Forming the source region in this manner allows the MOS standard cell to be disposed adjacent to other MOS standard cells while achieving the minimum required source-drain tip-to-tip spacing.

Abstract: Ferroelectric-modulated Schottky non-volatile memory is disclosed. A resistive memory element is provided that is based on a semiconductive material. Metal elements are formed on a semiconductive material at two places such that two semiconductor-metal junctions are formed. The semiconductive material with the two semiconductor-metal junctions establishes a composite resistive element having a resistance and functions as a relatively fast switch with a relatively low forward voltage drop. Each metal element may couple a terminal to the resistive element. To provide a resistive element capable of being a resistive memory element to store distinctive memory states, a ferroelectric material is provided and disposed adjacent to the semiconductive material to create an electric field from a ferroelectric dipole. The orientation of the ferroelectric dipole changes the resistance of the resistive element to allow it to function as a resistive memory element.

Abstract: Standard cell circuits employing high aspect ratio voltage rails for reduced resistance are disclosed. In one aspect, a standard cell circuit is provided that employs a first high aspect ratio voltage rail configured to receive a first supply voltage. A second high aspect ratio voltage rail is employed that is disposed substantially parallel to the first high aspect ratio voltage rail. A voltage differential between the first and second high aspect ratio voltage rails is used to power a circuit device in the standard cell circuit. The first and second high aspect ratio voltage rails each have a height-to-width ratio greater than 1.0. The height of each respective first and second high aspect ratio voltage rail is greater than each respective width. Employing the first and second high aspect ratio voltage rails allows each to have a cross-sectional area that limits the resistance and corresponding IR drop.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first spacer structure on a dummy gate of a semiconductor device and forming a sacrificial spacer on the first spacer structure. The method also includes etching a structure of the semiconductor device to create an opening, removing the sacrificial spacer via the opening, and depositing a material to close to define a gap.

Abstract: A sacrificial cap is grown on an upper surface of a conductor. A dielectric spacer is against a side of the conductor. An upper dielectric side spacer is formed on a sidewall of the sacrificial cap. The sacrificial cap is selectively etched, leaving a cap recess, and the upper dielectric side spacer facing the cap recess. Silicon nitride is filled in the cap recess, to form a center cap and a protective cap having center cap and the upper dielectric spacer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first nanowire field effect transistor (FET), and a second nanowire FET positioned between the substrate and the first nanowire FET. The device also includes a first nanowire electrically coupled to the first nanowire FET and to the second nanowire FET.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices employing reduced area conformal contacts for reducing parasitic capacitance and improving performance, and related methods are disclosed. The area of the source/drain contacts for providing an electrical contract to a source/drain is reduced in size to reduce parasitic capacitance between a gate and the source/drain contacts for improved performance. To mitigate or avoid increase in contact resistance between the source/drain contacts and source/drain, a conformal contact layer of a desired thickness is disposed adjacent to the source/drain to reduce the source/drain contact resistance. Thus, the source/drain contacts may only have to extend down adjacent to an upper region of the source/drain to still achieve a desired, lower contact resistance with the source/drain contacts, which results in a reduced area source/drain contact for reducing parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: Nanowire channel structures of continuously stacked nanowires for complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an exemplary CMOS device includes a nanowire channel structure that includes a plurality of continuously stacked nanowires. Vertically adjacent nanowires are connected at narrow top and bottom end portions of each nanowire. Thus, the nanowire channel structure comprises a plurality of narrow portions that are narrower than a corresponding plurality of central portions. A wrap-around gate material is disposed around the nanowire channel structure, including the plurality of narrow portions, without entirely wrapping around any nanowire therein. The exemplary CMOS device provides, for example, a larger effective channel width and better gate control than a conventional fin field-effect transistor (FET) (FinFET) of a similar footprint. The exemplary CMOS device further provides, for example, a shorter nanowire channel structure than a conventional nanowire FET.

Abstract: Aspects for reducing tip-to-tip distance between end portions of metal lines formed in an interconnect layer of an integrated circuit (IC) are provided. In one aspect, a method includes exposing a photoresist layer disposed over a hardmask layer to a light to form a metal line pattern on the photoresist layer. The metal line pattern includes metal line templates corresponding to tracks substantially parallel to an axis. The sections of the photoresist layer corresponding to the metal line pattern are removed to expose the hardmask layer according to the metal line pattern. The exposed portions of the hardmask layer are etched such that trenches are formed corresponding to the metal line pattern. The hardmask layer is directionally etched such that at least one trench is extended in a first direction along the axis. This allows the trenches to be spaced with a reduced pitch and reduced tip-to-tip distance.

Abstract: Ferroelectric-modulated Schottky non-volatile memory is disclosed. A resistive memory element is provided that is based on a semiconductive material. Metal elements are formed on a semiconductive material at two places such that two semiconductor-metal junctions are formed. The semiconductive material with the two semiconductor-metal junctions establishes a composite resistive element having a resistance and functions as a relatively fast switch with a relatively low forward voltage drop. Each metal element may couple a terminal to the resistive element. To provide a resistive element capable of being a resistive memory element to store distinctive memory states, a ferroelectric material is provided and disposed adjacent to the semiconductive material to create an electric field from a ferroelectric dipole. The orientation of the ferroelectric dipole changes the resistance of the resistive element to allow it to function as a resistive memory element.

Abstract: Standard cell circuits employing voltage rails electrically coupled to metal shunts for reducing or avoiding increases in voltage drop are disclosed. In one aspect, a standard cell circuit is provided that employs active devices that include corresponding gates disposed with a gate pitch. First and second voltage rails having a line width are disposed in a first metal layer. Employing the first and second voltage rails having substantially a same line width reduces the height of the standard cell circuit as compared to conventional standard cell circuits. Metal lines are disposed in a second metal layer with a metal pitch less than the gate pitch such that the number of metal lines exceeds the number of gates. Electrically coupling the first and second voltage rails to the metal shunts increases the conductive area of each voltage rail, which reduces a voltage drop across each voltage rail.

Abstract: A first and a second instance of a common structured stack are formed, respectively, on a first fin and a second fin. The common structured stack includes a work-function metal layer, and a barrier layer. The barrier layer of the first instance of the common structured stack is etched through, and the work-function metal layer of the first instance of the common structure is partially etched. The partial etch forms a thinner work-function metal layer, having an oxide of the work-function metal as a new barrier layer. A gate element is formed on the new barrier layer.

Abstract: Minimum track standard cell circuits for reduced area are provided. In one aspect, a minimum track standard cell circuit employs a first high aspect ratio voltage rail disposed over a first one-half track and configured to provide a first voltage (e.g., VDD) to the minimum track standard cell circuit. A second high aspect ratio voltage rail is disposed over a second one-half track substantially parallel to the first high aspect ratio voltage rail. The second high aspect ratio voltage rail is configured to provide a second voltage less than the first voltage (e.g., VSS) to the minimum track standard cell circuit. The minimum track standard cell circuit employs multiple tracks disposed between the first and second one-half tracks. The number of tracks can be limited based on particular factors. Minimizing tracks reduces area compared to conventional standard cell circuits.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first spacer structure on a dummy gate of a semiconductor device and forming a sacrificial spacer on the first spacer structure. The method also includes etching a structure of the semiconductor device to create an opening, removing the sacrificial spacer via the opening, and depositing a material to close to define a gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate stack. The semiconductor device also includes a wrap-around contact arranged around and contacting substantially all surface area of a regrown source/drain region of the semiconductor device proximate to the gate stack.

Abstract: Devices and methods to reduce parasitic capacitance are disclosed. A device may include a dielectric layer. The device may include first and second conductive structures and an etch stop layer proximate to the dielectric layer. The etch stop layer may define first and second openings proximate to a region of the dielectric layer between the first and second conductive structures. The device may include first and second airgaps within the region. The device may include a layer of material proximate to (e.g., on, above, or over) the etch stop layer. The layer of material proximate to the etch stop layer may cover the first and second airgaps.

Abstract: A first and a second instance of a common structured stack are formed, respectively, on a first fin and a second fin. The common structured stack includes a work-function metal layer, and a barrier layer. The barrier layer of the first instance of the common structured stack is etched through, and the work-function metal layer of the first instance of the common structure is partially etched. The partial etch forms a thinner work-function metal layer, having an oxide of the work-function metal as a new barrier layer. A gate element is formed on the new barrier layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices employing Field Effect Transistors (FETs) with multiple channel structures without shallow trench isolation (STI) void-induced electrical shorts are disclosed. In one aspect, a semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate. The semiconductor device includes channel structures disposed over the substrate, the channel structures corresponding to a FET. An STI trench is formed between each corresponding pair of channel structures. Each STI trench includes a bottom region filled with a lower quality oxide, and a top region filled with a higher quality oxide. The lower quality oxide is susceptible to void formation in the bottom region during particular fabrication steps of the semiconductor device. However, the higher quality oxide is not susceptible to void formation. Thus, the higher quality oxide does not include voids with which a gate may electrically couple to other active components, thus preventing STI void-induced electrical shorts in the semiconductor device.