Abstract: The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a metal gate electrode. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a first rectangular gate electrode on the major surface comprising a first layer of multi-layer material; a first dielectric material adjacent to one side of the first rectangular gate electrode; and a second dielectric material adjacent to the other 3 sides of the first rectangular gate electrode, wherein the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material collectively surround the first rectangular gate electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first fin and a second fin over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode traversing over the first fin and the second fin, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer between the first fin and the first gate electrode and between the second fin and the second gate electrode. Further, the semiconductor device includes a dummy gate electrode over the substrate, and the dummy gate electrode is between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. An upper portion of the dummy gate electrode is wider than a lower portion of the dummy gate electrode.

Abstract: To pattern a gate electrode, a mandrel of material is initially deposited and then patterned. In an embodiment the patterning is performed by performing a first etching process and to obtain a rough target and then to perform a second etching process with different etch parameters to obtain a precise target. The mandrel is then used to form spacers which can then be used to form masks to pattern the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming a FinFET is provided. A gate oxide layer and a dummy poly layer are substantially simultaneously etched using an etchant having a higher selectivity on the gate oxide layer than on the dummy poly layer. The gate oxide layer and the dummy poly layer are intersected with the gate oxide layer over a fin layer of the FinFET.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; first and second fins over the substrate and extending lengthwise generally along a first direction; first and second gate stacks over the substrate and the first and second fins respectively; and a first isolation structure disposed between the first and second fins and extending lengthwise generally along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first isolation structure is adjacent to a first source/drain (S/D) region in the first fin and adjacent to a second S/D region in the second fin.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method including forming a first fin in a first region of a substrate and a second fin in a second region of the substrate, forming a first isolation region on the substrate, the first isolation region surrounding the first fin and the second fin, forming a first dummy gate over the first fin and a second dummy gate over the second fin, the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate having a same longitudinal axis, replacing the first dummy gate with a first replacement gate and the second dummy gate with a second replacement gate, forming a first recess between the first replacement gate and the second replacement gate, and a filling an insulating material in the first recess to form a second isolation region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor layer; a gate with a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) surrounding the sidewall spacer; and a nitrogen-containing protection layer, positioning at least on the top surface of the conductive portion of the gate. A top surface of the conductive portion and a top surface of the sidewall spacer are substantially coplanar. The nitrogen-containing protection layer is not covering the sidewall surface of the sidewall spacer. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a metal gate structure having a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer surrounded by a first ILD; forming a protection layer over the metal gate structure, and the protection layer is formed to cover at least the conductive portion of the metal gate structure; and forming a second ILD over the metal gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a fin projecting upwardly through an isolation structure over the substrate; a gate stack over the isolation structure and engaging the fin; and a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack and in physical contact with the gate stack. The semiconductor device further includes a first dielectric layer vertically between the fin and the gate spacer and in physical contact with the sidewall of the gate stack, wherein the first dielectric layer has a laterally extending cavity. The semiconductor device further includes a second dielectric layer filling in the cavity, wherein the first and second dielectric layers include different materials.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a Fin FET transistor. The Fin FET transistor includes a first fin structure extending in a first direction, a gate stack and a source and a drain. The gate stack includes a gate electrode layer and a gate dielectric layer, covers a portion of the fin structure and extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the source and drain includes a stressor layer disposed over the fin structure. The stressor layer applies a stress to a channel layer of the fin structure under the gate stack. The stressor layer penetrates under the gate stack. A vertical interface between the stressor layer and the fin structure under the gate stack in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions includes a flat area, and the flat area extends in the second direction and the third direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having first and second fins extending lengthwise generally along a same line; a first gate stack over the substrate and engaging the first fin; a second gate stack over the substrate and engaging the second fin; a first isolation structure disposed between the first and second fins; and spacer features on sidewalls of the first and second gate stacks and on sidewalls of an upper portion of the first isolation structure.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method including forming a first fin in a first region of a substrate and a second fin in a second region of the substrate, forming a first isolation region on the substrate, the first isolation region surrounding the first fin and the second fin, forming a first dummy gate over the first fin and a second dummy gate over the second fin, the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate having a same longitudinal axis, replacing the first dummy gate with a first replacement gate and the second dummy gate with a second replacement gate, forming a first recess between the first replacement gate and the second replacement gate, and a filling an insulating material in the first recess to form a second isolation region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor layer; a gate with a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) surrounding the sidewall spacer; and a nitrogen-containing protection layer, positioning at least on the top surface of the conductive portion of the gate. A top surface of the conductive portion and a top surface of the sidewall spacer are substantially coplanar. The nitrogen-containing protection layer is not covering the sidewall surface of the sidewall spacer. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a metal gate structure having a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer surrounded by a first ILD; forming a protection layer over the metal gate structure, and the protection layer is formed to cover at least the conductive portion of the metal gate structure; and forming a second ILD over the metal gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of forming the same are disclosed. The method includes receiving a substrate having an active fin, an oxide layer over the active fin, a dummy gate stack over the oxide layer, and a spacer feature over the oxide layer and on sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method further includes removing the dummy gate stack, resulting in a first trench; etching the oxide layer in the first trench, resulting in a cavity underneath the spacer feature; depositing a dielectric material in the first trench and in the cavity; and etching in the first trench so as to expose the active fin, leaving a first portion of the dielectric material in the cavity.

Abstract: A dry etching apparatus includes a process chamber, a stage, a gas supply device and a plasma generating device. The stage is in the process chamber and is configured to support a wafer, wherein the wafer has a center region and a periphery region surrounding the center region. The gas supply device is configured to supply a first flow of an etching gas to the center region and supply a second flow of the etching gas to the periphery region. The plasma generating device is configured to generate plasma from the etching gas.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a field effect transistor structure includes a first semiconductor structure and a gate structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a channel region, and a source region and a drain region. The source region and the drain region are formed on opposite ends of the channel region, respectively. The gate structure includes a central region and footing regions. The central region is formed over the first semiconductor structure. The footing regions are formed on opposite sides of the central region and along where the central region is adjacent to the first semiconductor structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a dielectric region, a non-planar structure and a gate stack. The dielectric region is formed on the substrate, and has a top surface. The non-planar structure protrudes from the top surface, and includes a channel region, and source and drain regions formed on opposite sides of the channel region. The gate stack is formed on the top surface, wraps around the channel region, and includes a gate top surface, and a gate side wall that does not intersect the non-planar structure. The gate side wall has a first distance from a vertical plane at a level of the top surface, and a second distance from the vertical plane at a level of the gate top surface. The vertical plane is vertical with respect to the top surface, and intersects the non-planar structure. The first distance is shorter than the second distance.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a Fin-FET device includes forming a plurality of fins in a substrate, which the substrate includes a center region and a periphery region surrounding the center region. A gate material layer is deposited over the fins, and the gate material layer is etched with an etching gas to form gates, which the etching gas is supplied at a ratio of a flow rate at the center region to a flow rate at the periphery region in a range from 0.33 to 3.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an field effect transistor structure includes a first semiconductor structure and a gate structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a channel region, and a source region and a drain region. The source region and the drain region are formed on opposite ends of the channel region, respectively. The gate structure includes a central region and footing regions. The central region is formed over the first semiconductor structure. The footing regions are formed on opposite sides of the central region and along where the central region is adjacent to the first semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, forming a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a first metal layer over the first dielectric layer, the first metal layer having a first work function, removing at least a portion of the first metal layer in the second region, and thereafter, forming a semiconductor layer over the first metal layer in the first region and over the at least partially removed first metal layer in the second region. The method further includes removing the semiconductor layer and forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer in the first region and on the at least partially removed first metal layer in the second region, the second metal layer having a second work function that is different than the first work function.

Abstract: A method of forming a FinFET is provided. A gate oxide layer and a dummy poly layer are substantially simultaneously etched using an etchant having a higher selectivity on the gate oxide layer than on the dummy poly layer. The gate oxide layer and the dummy poly layer are intersected with the gate oxide layer over a fin layer of the FinFET.