Abstract: Transistor structures and methods of fabricating transistor structures are provided. The methods include: fabricating a transistor structure at least partially within a substrate, the fabricating including: providing a cavity within the substrate; and forming a first portion and a second portion of the transistor structure at least partially within the cavity, the first portion being disposed at least partially between the substrate and the second portion, where the first portion inhibits diffusion of material from the second portion into the substrate. In one embodiment, the transistor structure is a field-effect transistor structure, and the first portion and the second portion include one of a source region or a drain region of the field-effect transistor structure. In another embodiment, the transistor structure is a bipolar junction transistor structure.

Abstract: Transistor structures and methods of fabricating transistor structures are provided. The methods include: fabricating a transistor structure at least partially within a substrate, the fabricating including: providing a cavity within the substrate; and forming a first portion and a second portion of the transistor structure at least partially within the cavity, the first portion being disposed at least partially between the substrate and the second portion, where the first portion inhibits diffusion of material from the second portion into the substrate. In one embodiment, the transistor structure is a field-effect transistor structure, and the first portion and the second portion include one of a source region or a drain region of the field-effect transistor structure. In another embodiment, the transistor structure is a bipolar junction transistor structure.

Abstract: Fin-type transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided having one or more nitrided conformal layers, to improve reliability of the semiconductor device. The method includes, for example, providing at least one material layer disposed, in part, conformally over a fin extending above a substrate, the material layer(s) including a gate dielectric layer; and performing a conformal nitridation process over an exposed surface of the material layer(s), the conformal nitridation process forming an exposed, conformal nitrided surface.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate and a 10 to 40 ? thick high-k dielectric layer that contains one or both of hafnium dioxide (HfO2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The high-k dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and it contains at least some tetragonal phase HfO2 and/or tetragonal phase ZrO2. Also provided are methods for making the semiconductor device, and electronic devices that employ the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Transistor structures and methods of fabricating transistor structures are provided. The methods include: fabricating a transistor structure at least partially within a substrate, the fabricating including: providing a cavity within the substrate; and forming a first portion and a second portion of the transistor structure at least partially within the cavity, the first portion being disposed at least partially between the substrate and the second portion, where the first portion inhibits diffusion of material from the second portion into the substrate. In one embodiment, the transistor structure is a field-effect transistor structure, and the first portion and the second portion include one of a source region or a drain region of the field-effect transistor structure. In another embodiment, the transistor structure is a bipolar junction transistor structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing an semiconductor wafer includes forming in an upper mandrel layer a first upper mandrel having a first critical dimension and a second upper mandrel having a second critical dimension; forming upper sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first upper mandrel while leaving the second upper mandrel without sidewall spacers; removing the first upper mandrel from between the upper sidewall spacers; transferring a pattern of the upper sidewall spacers and of the second upper mandrel into a lower mandrel layer to form first lower mandrels according to the pattern of the upper sidewall spacers and a second lower mandrel according to the pattern of the second upper mandrel; and forming lower sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first and second lower mandrels.

Abstract: Reducing liner corrosion during metallization of semiconductor devices at BEOL includes providing a starting metallization structure, the structure including a bottom layer of dielectric material with a via therein, a liner lining the via and extending over upper edges thereof, the lined via over filled with a conductive material, recessing the conductive material down to the liner, further selectively recessing the conductive material below the upper edges of the via without damaging the liner, and forming a cap of the liner material on the conductive material.

Abstract: Reducing liner corrosion during metallization of semiconductor devices at BEOL includes providing a starting metallization structure, the structure including a bottom layer of dielectric material with a via therein, a liner lining the via and extending over upper edges thereof, the lined via over filled with a conductive material, recessing the conductive material down to the liner, further selectively recessing the conductive material below the upper edges of the via without damaging the liner, and forming a cap of the liner material on the conductive material.

Abstract: There is set forth herein in one embodiment a semiconductor structure having a first region and a second region. The first region can include fins of a first fin height and the second region can include fins of a second fin height.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first FET trench in a first FET region and a second FET trench in a second FET region of an interlayer dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate, at least partially filling the first and second FET trenches with a work function metal to form a work function metal layer, and at least partially removing a portion of the work function metal layer in the second FET trench. The first FET trench is defined as an NFET trench and the second FET trench is defined as a PFET trench.

Abstract: A method includes forming a placeholder source/drain contact structure above a semiconductor material. A conformal deposition process is performed to form a liner layer above the placeholder contact structure. A dielectric layer is formed above the liner layer. A first planarization process is performed to remove material of the dielectric layer and expose a first top surface of the liner layer above the placeholder contact structure. A first cap layer is formed above the dielectric layer. A second planarization process is performed to remove material of the first cap layer and the liner layer to expose a second top surface of the placeholder contact structure. The placeholder contact structure is removed to define a source/drain contact recess in the dielectric layer. The sidewalls of the dielectric layer in the source/drain contact recess are covered by the liner layer. A conductive material is formed in the contact recess.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate and a 10 to 40 ? thick high-k dielectric layer that contains one or both of hafnium dioxide (HfO2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The high-k dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and it contains at least some tetragonal phase HfO2 and/or tetragonal phase ZrO2. Also provided are methods for making the semiconductor device, and electronic devices that employ the semiconductor device.

Abstract: In one aspect there is set forth herein a semiconductor device having a first field effect transistor formed in a substrate structure, and a second field effect transistor formed in the substrate structure. The first field effect transistor can include a first substrate structure doping, a first gate stack, and a first threshold voltage. The second field effect transistor can include the first substrate structure doping, a second gate stack different from the first gate stack, and a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method includes forming a line feature above a substrate. Carbon-containing spacers are formed on sidewalls of the line feature. A first dielectric layer is formed above the carbon spacers and the line feature. The first dielectric layer is planarized to expose upper ends of the carbon-containing spacers. An ashing process is performed to remove the carbon-containing spacers and define air gaps adjacent the line feature. A cap layer is formed to seal the upper ends of the air gaps.

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: Methods are provided for fabricating fin structures. The methods include: fabricating at least one fin structure, the at least one fin structure having a doped middle portion separating an upper portion from a lower portion, and the fabricating comprising: providing an isolation layer in contact with the lower portion of the at least one fin structure; forming a doping layer above the isolation layer and in contact with the at least one fin structure; and annealing the doping layer to diffuse dopants therefrom into the at least one fin structure to form the doped middle portion thereof, wherein the isolation layer inhibits diffusion of dopants from the doping layer into the lower portion of the at least one fin structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of sacrificial gate structures are formed above the fin. A selected one of the sacrificial gate structures is removed to define a first opening that exposes a portion of the fin. An etch process is performed through the first opening on the exposed portion of the fin to define a first recess in the fin. The first recess is filled with a dielectric material to define a diffusion break in the fin. A device includes a fin defined in a substrate, a plurality of gates formed above the fin, a plurality of recesses filled with epitaxial material defined in the fin, and a diffusion break defined at least partially in the fin between two of the recesses filled with epitaxial material and extending above the fin.

Abstract: A method includes forming at least one fin in a semiconductor substrate. A placeholder gate structure is formed above the fin. The placeholder gate structure includes a placeholder material and a cap structure defined on a top surface of the placeholder material. The cap structure includes a first cap layer disposed above the placeholder material and a second cap layer disposed above the first cap layer. An oxidization process is performed on at least a portion of the second cap layer to form an oxidized region above a remaining portion of the second cap layer. A portion of the oxidized region is removed to expose the remaining portion. The remaining portion of the second cap layer is removed. The first cap layer is removed to expose the placeholder material. The placeholder material is replaced with a conductive material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of sacrificial gate structures are formed above the fin. A selected one of the sacrificial gate structures is removed to define a first opening that exposes a portion of the fin. An etch process is performed through the first opening on the exposed portion of the fin to define a first recess in the fin. The first recess is filled with a dielectric material to define a diffusion break in the fin. A device includes a fin defined in a substrate, a plurality of gates formed above the fin, a plurality of recesses filled with epitaxial material defined in the fin, and a diffusion break defined at least partially in the fin between two of the recesses filled with epitaxial material and extending above the fin.

Abstract: Fin-type transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided having one or more nitrided conformal layers, to improve reliability of the semiconductor device. The method includes, for example, providing at least one material layer disposed, in part, conformally over a fin extending above a substrate, the material layer(s) including a gate dielectric layer; and performing a conformal nitridation process over an exposed surface of the material layer(s), the conformal nitridation process forming an exposed, conformal nitrided surface.