Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to middle of line gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of adjacent gate structures; a bridged gate structure composed of a plurality of the adjacent gate structures; source and drain regions adjacent to the bridged gate structure and comprising source and drain metallization features; and contacts to the bridged gate structure and the source and drain metallization features.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor that includes a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent a sidewall of a gate structure, wherein the sidewall spacer comprises a notch proximate the lower end and wherein the notch is defined by a substantially vertically oriented side surface and a substantially horizontally oriented upper surface. An epi cavity in the substrate includes a substantially vertically oriented cavity sidewall that is substantially vertically aligned with the substantially vertically oriented side surface of the notch and an epi semiconductor material positioned in the epi cavity and in the notch, wherein the epi semiconductor material contacts and engages the substantially vertically oriented side surface of the notch and the substantially horizontally oriented upper surface of the notch.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing FinFETs including providing a precursor FinFET structure having a substrate with fins thereon, S/D junctions on fin tops, an STI layer on the substrate and between fins, a conformal first dielectric layer on the STI layer and S/D junctions, and a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer; forming a conformal third dielectric layer on the second dielectric layer and surfaces of the first dielectric layer located above the second dielectric layer; forming a fourth dielectric layer on the third dielectric layer such that third dielectric layer located between adjacent fins is exposed and such that third dielectric layer located above the adjacent fins is exposed; removing the exposed third dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer located thereunder, thereby exposing the S/D junctions; and forming a metal contact on the exposed S/D junctions and the exposed portion of the third dielectric layer between adjacent fins.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of forming a fin-type field effect transistor (FINFET) and a FINFET structure. In the method, isolation regions are formed on opposing sides of a semiconductor fin. Each isolation region is shorter than the fin, has a lower isolation portion adjacent to a lower fin portion, and has an upper isolation portion that is narrower than the lower isolation portion and separated from a bottom section of an upper fin portion by a space. Surface oxidation of the upper fin portion thins the top section, but leaves the bottom section relatively wide. During gate formation, the gate dielectric layer fills the spaces between the bottom section of the upper fin portion and the adjacent isolation regions. Thus, the gate conductor layer is formed above any fin bulge area and degradation of gate control over the channel region due to a non-uniform fin width is minimized or avoided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a resistor structure for an integrated circuit (IC) and related methods. The resistor structure may include: a shallow trench isolation (STI) region on a substrate; a resistive material above a portion of the shallow trench isolation (STI) region; a gate structure on another portion of the STI region, above the substrate, and horizontally displaced from the resistive material; an insulative barrier above the STI region and contacting an upper surface and sidewalls of the resistive material, an upper surface of the insulative barrier being substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the gate structure; and a pair of contacts within the insulative barrier, and each positioned on an upper surface of the resistive material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a resistor structure for an integrated circuit (IC) and related methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor device fabrication and integrated circuits. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods of forming a protective liner in transistor devices for protecting one or more gate spacers having a low-K dielectric material. The present disclosure further provides a semiconductor structure including a gate structure having a gate spacer, a trench having upper and lower sidewall portions adjacent to the gate spacer, the trench having a conductive structure over a device element and an adjoining insulative structure over an electrical isolation region, a dielectric liner disposed on the lower sidewall portion of the trench, and a protective liner disposed on the upper sidewall portion of the trench and within the insulative structure.

Abstract: A method of forming an IC structure includes providing a metal gate structure, a spacer adjacent the metal gate structure and a contact to each of a pair of source/drain regions adjacent sides of the spacer. The spacer includes a first dielectric having a first dielectric constant. The metal gate structure is recessed, and the spacer is recessed to have an upper surface of the first dielectric below an upper surface of the metal gate structure, leaving a lower spacer portion. An upper spacer portion of a second dielectric having a dielectric constant lower than the first dielectric is formed over the lower spacer portion. A gate cap is formed over the metal gate structure and the upper spacer portion. The second dielectric can include, for example, an oxide or a gas. The method may reduce effective capacitance and gate height loss, and improve gate-to-contact short margin.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: One illustrative integrated circuit product disclosed herein includes a single diffusion break (SDB) isolation structure positioned between a first fin portion and a second fin portion, wherein the first fin portion comprises a first end surface and the second fin portion comprises a second end surface. In this example, the SDB structure includes a conformal liner layer that engages the first end surface of the first fin portion and the second end surface of the second fin portion, an insulating material positioned on the conformal liner layer, a cap structure positioned above an upper surface of the insulating material and an air gap positioned between a bottom surface of the cap structure and the upper surface of the insulating material.

Abstract: One illustrative integrated circuit product disclosed herein includes a single diffusion break (SDB) isolation structure positioned between a first fin portion and a second fin portion, wherein the first fin portion comprises a first end surface and the second fin portion comprises a second end surface. In this example, the SDB structure includes a conformal liner layer that engages the first end surface of the first fin portion and the second end surface of the second fin portion, an insulating material positioned on the conformal liner layer, a cap structure positioned above an upper surface of the insulating material and an air gap positioned between a bottom surface of the cap structure and the upper surface of the insulating material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an active area including at least one active fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET), and a trench isolation adjacent to the active area. At least one inactive gate is positioned over the trench isolation. A vertically extending resistor body is positioned adjacent the at least one inactive gate over the trench isolation. A lower end of the resistor is below an upper surface of the trench isolation. The resistor reduces interconnect layer thickness to improve yield, and significantly reduces resistor footprint to enable scaling.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to an anti-fuse with self-aligned via patterning and methods of manufacture. The anti-fuse includes: a lower wiring layer composed of a plurality of lower wiring structures; at least one via structure in direct contact and misaligned with a first wiring structure of the plurality of lower wiring structures and offset from a second wiring structure of the plurality of lower wiring structures; and an upper wiring layer composed of at least one upper wiring structure in direct contact with the at least one via structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for forming fill materials in trenches having different widths and related structures. A method may include: forming a first fill material in a first and second trench where the second trench has a greater width than the first trench; removing a portion of the first fill material from each trench and forming a second fill material over the first fill material; removing a portion of the first and second fill material within the second trench; and forming a third fill material in the second trench. The structure may include a first fill material in trenches having different widths wherein the upper surfaces of the first fill material in each trench are substantially co-planar. The structure may also include a second fill material on the first fill material in each trench, the second fill material having a substantially equal thickness in each trench.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor device fabrication and integrated circuits. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods of forming a two-part trench in a semiconductor device that includes one or more field-effect transistors (FETs). The present method includes forming a semiconductor layer above a substrate, forming a mask layer above the semiconductor layer, forming a mask opening with sidewalls in the mask layer and exposing the semiconductor layer, depositing a profile control layer on the sidewalls of the mask opening, and forming a trench in the semiconductor layer by simultaneously etching the profile control layer and the exposed semiconductor layer, where the etching of the profile control layer forms the trench with top and bottom sections having different widths.

Abstract: Methods of forming a structure that includes field-effect transistor and structures that include a field effect-transistor. A dielectric cap is formed over a gate structure of a field-effect transistor, and an opening is patterned that extends fully through the dielectric cap to divide the dielectric cap into a first section and a second section spaced across the opening from the first surface. First and second dielectric spacers are respectively selectively deposited on respective first and second surfaces of the first and second sections of the dielectric cap to shorten the opening. A portion of the gate structure exposed through the opening between the first and second dielectric spacers is etched to form a cut that divides the gate electrode into first and second sections disconnected by the cut. A dielectric material is deposited in the opening and in the cut to form a dielectric pillar.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A hardmask is deposited over an interlayer dielectric layer, and a block mask is formed that covers an area on the hardmask. A sacrificial layer is formed over the block mask and the hardmask, and the sacrificial layer is patterned to form a mandrel that extends across the block mask.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of gate structures comprising a gate cap, sidewall spacers and source and drain regions; source and drain metallization features extending to the source and drain regions; and a liner extending along an upper portion of the sidewall spacers of at least one of the plurality of gate structures.

Abstract: Methods of forming a structure that includes field-effect transistor and structures that include a field effect-transistor. A dielectric cap is formed over a gate structure of a field-effect transistor, and an opening is patterned that extends fully through the dielectric cap to divide the dielectric cap into a first section and a second section spaced across the opening from the first surface. First and second dielectric spacers are respectively selectively deposited on respective first and second surfaces of the first and second sections of the dielectric cap to shorten the opening. A portion of the gate structure exposed through the opening between the first and second dielectric spacers is etched to form a cut that divides the gate electrode into first and second sections disconnected by the cut. A dielectric material is deposited in the opening and in the cut to form a dielectric pillar.