Abstract: Circuit structure fabrication methods are provided which include: providing an interlayer structure above a substrate, the interlayer structure including porogens dispersed within a dielectric material; and pulse laser annealing the interlayer structure to form a treated interlayer structure, the pulse laser annealing polymerizing the dielectric material of the interlayer structure to form a polymeric dielectric material, that includes pores disposed therein. The pulse laser annealing facilitates increasing elasticity modulus of the treated interlayer structure by, in part, maintaining structural integrity of the treated interlayer structure, notwithstanding that there are pores disposed within the polymeric dielectric material which, for instance, facilitates reducing dielectric constant of the treated interlayer structure.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a fin structure overlying a semiconductor substrate. The fin structure defines a fin axis extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a lateral direction and has two fin sidewalls parallel to the fin axis. The method includes forming gate structures overlying the fin structure and transverse to the fin axis. Further, the method includes growing an epitaxial material on the fin structure and confining growth of the epitaxial material in the lateral direction.

Abstract: Methods of facilitating fabrication of defect-free semiconductor structures are provided which include, for instance: providing a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer comprising at least one consumable material; selectively removing a portion of the dielectric layer, wherein the selectively removing consumes, in part, a remaining portion of the at least one consumable material, leaving, within the remaining portion of the dielectric layer, a depleted region; and subjecting the depleted region of the dielectric layer to a treatment process, to restore the depleted region with at least one replacement consumable material, thereby facilitating fabrication of a defect-free semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Methods are presented for facilitating fabrication of a semiconductor device, such as a gate-all-around nanowire field-effect transistor. The methods include, for instance: providing at least one stack structure including at least one layer or bump extending above the substrate structure; selectively oxidizing at least a portion of the at least one stack structure to form at least one nanowire extending within the stack structure(s) surrounded by oxidized material of the stack structure(s); and removing the oxidized material from the stack structure(s), exposing the nanowire(s). This selectively oxidizing may include oxidizing an upper portion of the substrate structure, such as an upper portion of one or more fins supporting the stack structure(s) to facilitate full 360° exposure of the nanowire(s). In one embodiment, the stack structure includes one or more diamond-shaped bumps or ridges.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with FinFETs are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device with a substrate and at least one shallow trench isolation region; depositing a hard mask layer over the intermediate semiconductor device; etching the hard mask layer to form at least one fin hard mask; and depositing at least one sacrificial gate structure over the at least one fin hard mask and at least a portion of the substrate. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate with at least one shallow trench isolation region; at least one fin hard mask over the substrate; at least one sacrificial gate structure over the at least one fin hard mask; at least one spacer disposed on the at least one sacrificial gate structure; and at least one pFET region and at least one nFET region grown into the substrate.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a fin structure overlying a semiconductor substrate. The fin structure defines a fin axis extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a lateral direction and has two fin sidewalls parallel to the fin axis. The method includes forming gate structures overlying the fin structure and transverse to the fin axis. Further, the method includes growing an epitaxial material on the fin structure and confining growth of the epitaxial material in the lateral direction.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with FinFETs are provided. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate with at least one fin with at least one channel; at least one gate over the channel; at least one hard-mask over the gate; and at least one spacer disposed over the gate and hard-mask. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device; forming at least one recess into the substrate, the recess including a bottom and at least one sidewall exposing a portion of the at least one fin; depositing a dielectric layer into the at least one recess; removing at least a portion of the dielectric layer to form a barrier dielectric layer; and performing selective epitaxial growth in the at least one recess over the barrier dielectric layer.

Abstract: Thermal oxidation treatment methods and processes used during fabrication of semiconductor devices are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a device with at least one cavity etched into the device; performing a thermal oxidation treatment to the at least one cavity; and cleaning the at least one cavity. One process includes, for instance: providing a semiconductor device with a substrate, at least one layer over the substrate and at least one fin; forming at least one gate over the fin; doping at least one region below the fin; applying a spacer layer over the device; etching the spacer layer to expose at least a portion of the gate material; etching a cavity into the at least one fin; etching a shaped opening into the cavity; performing thermal oxidation processing on the at least one cavity; and growing at least one epitaxial layer on an interior surface of the cavity.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes etching an enhanced high-aspect-ratio process (eHARP) oxide fill that is disposed in an STI trench between two adjacent fins to form a recessed eHARP oxide fill. The two adjacent fins extend from a bulk semiconductor substrate. A silicon layer is formed overlying the recessed eHARP oxide fill. The silicon layer is converted to a thermal oxide layer to further fill the STI trench with oxide material.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a semiconductor substrate includes a shallow trench isolation structure disposed therein. A gate electrode structure overlies semiconductor material of the semiconductor substrate. A first sidewall spacer is formed adjacent to the gate electrode structure, with a first surface of the shallow trench isolation structure exposed and spaced from the first sidewall spacer by a region of the semiconductor material. The first surface of the shallow trench isolation structure is masked with an isolation structure mask. The region of the semiconductor material is free from the isolation structure mask. A recess is etched in the region of the semiconductor material, with the isolation structure mask in place. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown within the recess to form an epitaxially-grown semiconductor region adjacent to the gate electrode structure.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention comprise methods for and semiconductor structures comprised of: a MOS transistor comprised of source/drain regions, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, channel region; a carbon doped SiGe region that applies a stress on the channel region whereby the carbon doped SiGe region retains stress/strain on the channel region after subsequent heat processing.

Abstract: A transistor device structure comprising: a substrate portion formed from a first material; and a source region, a drain region and a channel region formed in said substrate, the source and drain regions comprising a plurality of islands of a second material different from the first material, the islands being arranged to induce a strain in said channel region of the substrate.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention comprise methods for and semiconductor structures comprised of: a MOS transistor comprised of source/drain regions, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, channel region; a carbon doped SiGe region that applies a stress on the channel region whereby the carbon doped SiGe region retains stress/strain on the channel region after subsequent heat processing.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention comprise methods for and semiconductor structures comprised of: a MOS transistor comprised of source/drain regions, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, channel region; a carbon doped SiGe region that applies a stress on the channel region whereby the carbon doped SiGe region retains stress/strain on the channel region after subsequent heat processing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system includes a substrate, a carbon-containing silicon region over the substrate, a non-carbon-containing silicon region over the substrate, and a silicon-carbon region, including the non-carbon-containing silicon region and the carbon-containing silicon region.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention comprise methods for and semiconductor structures comprised of: a MOS transistor comprised of source/drain regions, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, channel region; a carbon doped SiGe region that applies a stress on the channel region whereby the carbon doped SiGe region retains stress/strain on the channel region after subsequent heat processing.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the invention comprise methods for and semiconductor structures comprised of: a MOS transistor comprised of source/drain regions, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, channel region; a carbon doped SiGe region that applies a stress on the channel region whereby the carbon doped SiGe region retains stress/strain on the channel region after subsequent heat processing.

Abstract: Structures and methods of fabricating isolation regions for a semiconductor device. An example method comprises the following. We form one or more buried doped regions in a substrate. We form a stressor layer over the substrate. We form a strained layer over the stressor layer. We form STI trenches down through the strained layer and the stressor layer to as least partially expose the buried doped regions. We etch the buried doped regions to form at least a buried cavity in communication with the STI trenches. In the first and second embodiments, we fill only the STI trenches with insulation material to form isolation regions and form voids in the cavities. In the third and fourth embodiments, we fill both the STI trenches and the cavities with insulation material.

Abstract: A transistor device structure comprising: a substrate portion formed from a first material; and a source region, a drain region and a channel region formed in said substrate, the source and drain regions comprising a plurality of islands of a second material different from the first material, the islands being arranged to induce a strain in said channel region of the substrate.

Abstract: A transistor device structure comprising: a substrate portion formed from a first material; and a source region, a drain region and a channel region formed in said substrate, the source and drain regions comprising a plurality of islands of a second material different from the first material, the islands being arranged to induce a strain in said channel region of the substrate.