Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. An exemplary method includes depositing forming a first metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor over a substrate and forming a second MIM capacitor over the first MIM capacitor. The forming of the first MIM capacitor includes forming a first conductor plate over a substrate, the first conductor plate comprising a first metal element, conformally depositing a first dielectric layer on the first conductor plate, the first dielectric layer comprising the first metal element, forming a first high-K dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, conformally depositing a second dielectric layer on the first high-K dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer comprising a second metal element, and forming a second conductor plate over the second dielectric layer, the second conductor plate comprises the second metal element.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form a strip including a first semiconductor material, forming an isolation region along a sidewall of the strip, an upper portion of the strip extending above the isolation region, forming a dummy structure along sidewalls and a top surface of the upper portion of the strip, performing a first etching process on an exposed portion of the upper portion of the strip to form a first recess, the exposed portion of the strip being exposed by the dummy structure, after performing the first etching process, reshaping the first recess to have a V-shaped bottom surface using a second etching process, wherein the second etching process is selective to first crystalline planes having a first orientation relative to second crystalline planes having a second orientation, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the reshaped first recess.

Abstract: A device includes a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer have different material compositions. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure is embedded in the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is disposed over the second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer have different material compositions. The first dielectric layer or the third dielectric layer may contain silicon nitride (SiN), the second dielectric layer may contain silicon oxide (SiO2).

Abstract: A method and semiconductor device including a substrate having one or more semiconductor devices. In some embodiments, the device further includes a first passivation layer disposed over the one or more semiconductor devices, and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure formed over the first passivation layer. In some embodiments, the MIM capacitor structure includes a first conductor plate layer, an insulator layer on the first conductor plate layer, and a second conductor plate layer on the insulator layer. In some examples, the insulator layer includes a metal oxide sandwich structure.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form a strip including a first semiconductor material, forming an isolation region along a sidewall of the strip, an upper portion of the strip extending above the isolation region, forming a dummy structure along sidewalls and a top surface of the upper portion of the strip, performing a first etching process on an exposed portion of the upper portion of the strip to form a first recess, the exposed portion of the strip being exposed by the dummy structure, after performing the first etching process, reshaping the first recess to have a V-shaped bottom surface using a second etching process, wherein the second etching process is selective to first crystalline planes having a first orientation relative to second crystalline planes having a second orientation, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the reshaped first recess.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate structure to form a recess around a first nanostructure and a second nanostructure; depositing a sacrificial layer in the recess with a flowable chemical vapor deposition (CVD); and patterning the sacrificial layer to leave a portion of the sacrificial layer between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure. The method further include depositing a first work function metal in first recess; removing the first work function metal and the portion of the sacrificial layer from the recess; depositing a second work function metal in the recess, wherein the second work function metal is of an opposite type than the first work function metal; and depositing a fill metal over the second work function metal in the recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a pair of semiconductor fins, a dummy fin structure, a gate structure, a plurality of source/drain structures, a crystalline hard mask layer, and an amorphous hard mask layer. The pair of semiconductor fins extend upwardly from the substrate. The dummy fin structure extends upwardly above the substrate and is laterally between the pair of semiconductor fins. The gate structure extends across the pair of semiconductor fins and the dummy fin structure. The source/drain structures are above the pair of semiconductor fins and on either side of the gate structure. The crystalline hard mask layer extends upwardly from the dummy fin and has a U-shaped cross section. The amorphous hard mask layer is in the first hard mask layer, wherein the amorphous hard mask layer having an U-shaped cross section conformal to the U-shaped cross section of the crystalline hard mask layer.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate structure to form a recess around a first nanostructure and a second nanostructure; depositing a sacrificial layer in the recess with a flowable chemical vapor deposition (CVD); and patterning the sacrificial layer to leave a portion of the sacrificial layer between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure. The method further include depositing a first work function metal in first recess; removing the first work function metal and the portion of the sacrificial layer from the recess; depositing a second work function metal in the recess, wherein the second work function metal is of an opposite type than the first work function metal; and depositing a fill metal over the second work function metal in the recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a pair of semiconductor fins, a dummy fin structure, a gate structure, a plurality of source/drain structures, a crystalline hard mask layer, and an amorphous hard mask layer. The pair of semiconductor fins extend upwardly from the substrate. The dummy fin structure extends upwardly above the substrate and is laterally between the pair of semiconductor fins. The gate structure extends across the pair of semiconductor fins and the dummy fin structure. The source/drain structures are above the pair of semiconductor fins and on either side of the gate structure. The crystalline hard mask layer extends upwardly from the dummy fin and has an U-shaped cross section. The amorphous hard mask layer is in the first hard mask layer, wherein the amorphous hard mask layer having an U-shaped cross section conformal to the U-shaped cross section of the crystalline hard mask layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form a strip including a first semiconductor material, forming an isolation region along a sidewall of the strip, an upper portion of the strip extending above the isolation region, forming a dummy structure along sidewalls and a top surface of the upper portion of the strip, performing a first etching process on an exposed portion of the upper portion of the strip to form a first recess, the exposed portion of the strip being exposed by the dummy structure, after performing the first etching process, reshaping the first recess to have a V-shaped bottom surface using a second etching process, wherein the second etching process is selective to first crystalline planes having a first orientation relative to second crystalline planes having a second orientation, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the reshaped first recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a semiconductor substrate and a first epitaxial structure over the first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second epitaxial structure over the second fin structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a dielectric fin over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric fin is between the first fin structure and the second fin structure. The dielectric fin has an inner portion and a protective layer. The protective layer extends along sidewalls and a bottom of the inner portion, and the protective layer has a dielectric constant higher than that of the inner portion.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a method for patterning a doping layer, such as a lanthanum containing layer, used to dope a high-k dielectric layer in a gate stack of a FinFET device for threshold voltage tuning. A blocking layer may be formed between the doping layer and a hard mask layer used to pattern the doping layer. In an embodiment, the blocking layer may include or be aluminum oxide (AlOx). The blocking layer can prevent elements from the hard mask layer from diffusing into the doping layer, and thus, can improve reliability of the devices formed. The blocking layer can also improve a patterning process by reducing patterning induced defects.

Abstract: A structure and formation method of a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric fin over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric fin extends upwards to exceed a bottom surface of the epitaxial structure. The dielectric fin has a dielectric structure and a protective shell, and the protective shell extends along sidewalls and a bottom of the dielectric structure. The protective shell has a first average grain size, and the dielectric structure has a second average grain size. The first average grain size is larger than the second average grain size.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a pair of semiconductor fins, a dummy fin structure, a gate structure, a plurality of source/drain structures, a crystalline hard mask layer, and an amorphous hard mask layer. The pair of semiconductor fins extend upwardly from the substrate. The dummy fin structure extends upwardly above the substrate and is laterally between the pair of semiconductor fins. The gate structure extends across the pair of semiconductor fins and the dummy fin structure. The source/drain structures are above the pair of semiconductor fins and on either side of the gate structure. The crystalline hard mask layer extends upwardly from the dummy fin and has an U-shaped cross section. The amorphous hard mask layer is in the first hard mask layer, wherein the amorphous hard mask layer having an U-shaped cross section conformal to the U-shaped cross section of the crystalline hard mask layer.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.

Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate structure to form a recess around a first nanostructure and a second nanostructure; depositing a sacrificial layer in the recess with a flowable chemical vapor deposition (CVD); and patterning the sacrificial layer to leave a portion of the sacrificial layer between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure. The method further include depositing a first work function metal in first recess; removing the first work function metal and the portion of the sacrificial layer from the recess; depositing a second work function metal in the recess, wherein the second work function metal is of an opposite type than the first work function metal; and depositing a fill metal over the second work function metal in the recess.

Abstract: A structure and formation method of a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric fin over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric fin extends upwards to exceed a bottom surface of the epitaxial structure. The dielectric fin has a dielectric structure and a protective shell, and the protective shell extends along sidewalls and a bottom of the dielectric structure. The protective shell has a first average grain size, and the dielectric structure has a second average grain size. The first average grain size is larger than the second average grain size.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a substrate to form a strip including a first semiconductor material, forming an isolation region along a sidewall of the strip, an upper portion of the strip extending above the isolation region, forming a dummy structure along sidewalls and a top surface of the upper portion of the strip, performing a first etching process on an exposed portion of the upper portion of the strip to form a first recess, the exposed portion of the strip being exposed by the dummy structure, after performing the first etching process, reshaping the first recess to have a V-shaped bottom surface using a second etching process, wherein the second etching process is selective to first crystalline planes having a first orientation relative to second crystalline planes having a second orientation, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the reshaped first recess.