Abstract: A system for processing semiconductor wafers, the system including: a processing chamber; a heat source; a substrate holder configured to expose a semiconductor wafer to the heat source; a first electrode configured to be detachably coupled to a first major surface of a semiconductor wafer; and a second electrode coupled to the substrate holder, the first electrode and the second electrode together configured to apply an electric field in the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes placing a semiconductor wafer into a processing chamber, the semiconductor wafer including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer separated by an intermediate layer; applying an electrical bias voltage across the intermediate layer by coupling the first conductive layer to a first potential and coupling the second conductive layer to a second potential; and annealing the semiconductor wafer while applying the electrical bias voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes placing a semiconductor wafer into a processing chamber, the semiconductor wafer including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer separated by an intermediate layer; applying an electrical bias voltage across the intermediate layer by coupling the first conductive layer to a first potential and coupling the second conductive layer to a second potential; and annealing the semiconductor wafer while applying the electrical bias voltage.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a semiconductor device having a first field-effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device comprises forming the first and second FET devices from a first stack and a second stack comprising a channel material arranged on a sacrificial material. The method can include forming first spacers at sidewalls of the first and second stacks, and forming a second spacer between the first spacers. After recessing of the sacrificial material and removal of the first spacers, gate structures may be formed, wrapping around the at least partly released channel portions. The gate structure of the first transistor device can be separated from the gate structure of the second transistor device by the second spacer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes placing a semiconductor wafer into a processing chamber, the semiconductor wafer including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer separated by an intermediate layer; applying an electrical bias voltage across the intermediate layer by coupling the first conductive layer to a first potential and coupling the second conductive layer to a second potential; and annealing the semiconductor wafer while applying the electrical bias voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes placing a semiconductor wafer into a processing chamber, the semiconductor wafer including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer separated by an intermediate layer; applying an electrical bias voltage across the intermediate layer by coupling the first conductive layer to a first potential and coupling the second conductive layer to a second potential; and annealing the semiconductor wafer while applying the electrical bias voltage.

Abstract: A system for processing semiconductor wafers, the system including: a processing chamber; a heat source; a substrate holder configured to expose a semiconductor wafer to the heat source; a first electrode configured to be detachably coupled to a first major surface of a semiconductor wafer; and a second electrode coupled to the substrate holder, the first electrode and the second electrode together configured to apply an electric field in the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a semiconductor device having a first field-effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device comprises forming the first and second FET devices from a first stack and a second stack comprising a channel material arranged on a sacrificial material. The method can include forming first spacers at sidewalls of the first and second stacks, and forming a second spacer between the first spacers. After recessing of the sacrificial material and removal of the first spacers, gate structures may be formed, wrapping around the at least partly released channel portions. The gate structure of the first transistor device can be separated from the gate structure of the second transistor device by the second spacer.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to a gate structure for a semiconductor device, and to methods of forming the same. In an aspect a method for forming a gate structure includes forming a first set of one or more semiconductor features and a second set of one or more semiconductor features. The method additionally includes forming a sacrificial gate extending across the semiconductor features of the first set and the semiconductor features of the second set.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device includes forming a first silicon oxide layer on a substrate and forming a first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer on the first silicon oxide layer. The method further includes forming an aluminum-containing dielectric material layer on the first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer and performing a thermal treatment to intermix the silicon oxide layer, the first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer and the aluminum-containing dielectric material layers. This results in an intermixing dielectric layer containing hafnium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. The method further includes forming a first metal-containing conductive layer on the intermixing dielectric layer and patterning the first metal-containing conductive layer and the intermixing dielectric layer, thereby forming a first gate stack in a first region.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same, and more particularly to metal electrodes whose effective work function can be tuned. In one aspect, a method of forming a metal electrode of a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate having at least a region covered with a dielectric. The semiconductor substrate is introduced into a chamber configured for atomic layer deposition (ALD). A metal for the metal electrode is deposited at least on the dielectric by performing an ALD cycle. Performing the ALD cycle includes pulsing a Ti-containing precursor gas followed by pulsing a Ta-containing precursor gas, and further includes pulsing NH3 gas.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to a gate structure for a semiconductor device, and to methods of forming the same. In an aspect a method for forming a gate structure includes forming a first set of one or more semiconductor features and a second set of one or more semiconductor features. The method additionally includes forming a sacrificial gate extending across the semiconductor features of the first set and the semiconductor features of the second set.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device includes forming a first silicon oxide layer on a substrate and forming a first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer on the first silicon oxide layer. The method further includes forming an aluminum-containing dielectric material layer on the first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer and performing a thermal treatment to intermix the silicon oxide layer, the first hafnium-containing dielectric material layer and the aluminum-containing dielectric material layers. This results in an intermixing dielectric layer containing hafnium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. The method further includes forming a first metal-containing conductive layer on the intermixing dielectric layer and patterning the first metal-containing conductive layer and the intermixing dielectric layer, thereby forming a first gate stack in a first region.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same, and more particularly to metal electrodes whose effective work function can be tuned. In one aspect, a method of forming a metal electrode of a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate having at least a region covered with a dielectric. The semiconductor substrate is introduced into a chamber configured for atomic layer deposition (ALD). A metal for the metal electrode is deposited at least on the dielectric by performing an ALD cycle. Performing the ALD cycle includes pulsing a Ti-containing precursor gas followed by pulsing a Ta-containing precursor gas, and further includes pulsing NH3 gas.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates a semiconductor device comprising transistors, and more particularly to a semiconductor device comprising transistors each having a gate stack with a different effective work function, and methods of fabricating such a device. In one aspect, the method of fabricating the semiconductor comprises providing at least two channel regions in the substrate and providing a dielectric layer on the substrate. The method additionally includes forming a plurality of gate regions by providing openings in the dielectric layer. The method further includes providing a gate dielectric layer in the openings and providing on the gate dielectric layer of each of the gate regions a barrier layer stack having different thickness along the different gate regions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having first and second areas for forming first and second transistor types. The method additionally includes forming a dielectric layer on the substrate, which extends to cover at least parts of the first and second areas. The method additionally includes forming a first metal layer/stack on the dielectric layer in the first area, where the first metal layer/stack comprises a first work function-shifting element. The method additionally includes forming a second metal layer/stack on the first metal layer in the first area and on the dielectric layer in the second area, where the second metal layer/stack comprises a second work function-shifting element.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates a semiconductor device comprising transistors, and more particularly to a semiconductor device comprising transistors each having a gate stack with a different effective work function, and methods of fabricating such a device. In one aspect, the method of fabricating the semiconductor comprises providing at least two channel regions in the substrate and providing a dielectric layer on the substrate. The method additionally includes forming a plurality of gate regions by providing openings in the dielectric layer. The method further includes providing a gate dielectric layer in the openings and providing on the gate dielectric layer of each of the gate regions a barrier layer stack having different thickness along the different gate regions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dual work function semiconductor device is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having first and second areas for forming first and second transistor types. The method additionally includes forming a dielectric layer on the substrate, which extends to cover at least parts of the first and second areas. The method additionally includes forming a first metal layer/stack on the dielectric layer in the first area, where the first metal layer/stack comprises a first work function-shifting element. The method additionally includes forming a second metal layer/stack on the first metal layer in the first area and on the dielectric layer in the second area, where the second metal layer/stack comprises a second work function-shifting element.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to a method for fabricating a high-k dielectric layer. The method comprises depositing onto a substrate a layer of a high-k dielectric material having a first thickness. The high-k dielectric material has a bulk density value and the first thickness is so that the high-k dielectric layer has a density of at least the bulk density value of the high-k dielectric material minus about 10%. The method further comprises thinning the high-k dielectric layer to a second thickness. Another inventive aspect relates to a semiconductor device comprising a high-k dielectric layer as fabricated by the method.

Abstract: A method (and resultant structure) of forming a semiconductor structure, includes forming a mixed rare earth oxide on silicon. The mixed rare earth oxide is lattice-matched to silicon.