Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming diverse transistor channel materials enabled by a thin, inverse-graded, germanium (Ge)-based layer. The thin, inverse-graded, Ge-based layer (e.g., having a thickness of at most 500 nm) can then serve as a template for the growth of compressively strained PMOS channel material and tensile strained NMOS channel material to achieve gains in hole and electron mobility, respectively, in the channel regions of the devices. Such a relatively thin Ge-based layer can be formed with suitable surface quality/relaxation levels due to the inverse grading of the Ge concentration in the layer, where the Ge concentration is relatively greatest near the substrate and relatively lowest near the overlying channel material layer. In addition to the inverse-graded Ge concentration, the Ge-based layer may be characterized by the nucleation, and predominant containment, of defects at/near the interface between the substrate and the Ge-based layer.

Abstract: Integrated circuits include fins including an upper/channel region and a lower/sub-channel region, the lower region having a first chemical composition and opposing sidewalls adjacent to an insulator material, and the upper region having a second chemical composition. A first width indicates the distance between the opposing sidewalls of the lower region at a first location is at least 1 nm wider than a second width indicating the distance between the opposing sidewalls of the upper region at a second location, the first location being within 10 nm of the second location (or otherwise relatively close to one another). The first chemical composition is distinct from the second chemical composition and includes a surface chemical composition at an outer surface of the opposing sidewalls of the lower region and a bulk chemical composition therebetween, the surface chemical composition including one or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sulfur.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate that includes silicon. A first layer is on the substrate and includes a first monocrystalline semiconductor material, the first layer having a plurality of defects. A second layer is on the first layer and includes a second monocrystalline semiconductor material that includes germanium. A strained channel structure is above the first layer. A gate structure is at least above the channel structure. A source region is adjacent the channel structure. A drain region is adjacent the channel structure, such that the channel structure is laterally between the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing silicon (Si) substrate modification to enable formation of a thin, relaxed germanium (Ge)-based layer on the modified Si substrate. The thin, relaxed, Ge-based layer (e.g., having a thickness of at most 500 nm) can then serve as a template for the growth of compressively strained PMOS channel material and tensile strained NMOS channel material to achieve gains in hole and electron mobility, respectively, in the channel regions of the devices. Such a relatively thin Ge-based layer can be formed with suitable surface quality/relaxation levels due to the modification of the Si substrate, where such modification may include depositing a modification layer or performing ion implantation in/on the Si substrate. The modification layer can be characterized by the nucleation of defects which predominantly terminate within the Si substrate or the Ge-based layer, rather than running through to the top of the Ge-based layer.

Abstract: Integrated circuits include fins including an upper/channel region and a lower/sub-channel region, the lower region having a first chemical composition and opposing sidewalls adjacent to an insulator material, and the upper region having a second chemical composition. A first width indicates the distance between the opposing sidewalls of the lower region at a first location is at least 1 nm wider than a second width indicating the distance between the opposing sidewalls of the upper region at a second location, the first location being within 10 nm of the second location (or otherwise relatively close to one another). The first chemical composition is distinct from the second chemical composition and includes a surface chemical composition at an outer surface of the opposing sidewalls of the lower region and a bulk chemical composition therebetween, the surface chemical composition including one or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sulfur.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming diverse transistor channel materials enabled by a thin, inverse-graded, germanium (Ge)-based layer. The thin, inverse-graded, Ge-based layer (e.g., having a thickness of at most 500 nm) can then serve as a template for the growth of compressively strained PMOS channel material and tensile strained NMOS channel material to achieve gains in hole and electron mobility, respectively, in the channel regions of the devices. Such a relatively thin Ge-based layer can be formed with suitable surface quality/relaxation levels due to the inverse grading of the Ge concentration in the layer, where the Ge concentration is relatively greatest near the substrate and relatively lowest near the overlying channel material layer. In addition to the inverse-graded Ge concentration, the Ge-based layer may be characterized by the nucleation, and predominant containment, of defects at/near the interface between the substrate and the Ge-based layer.