Patents by Inventor Li-Li Su

Li-Li Su has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12720827
    Abstract: Provided is an epitaxial structure and a method for forming such a structure. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a semiconductor material having substantially a {110} crystallographic orientation. The method includes etching a portion of the fin structure to expose a sidewall portion of the semiconductor material. Further, the method includes growing an epitaxial structure on the sidewall of the semiconductor material, wherein the epitaxial structure propagates with facets having a {110} crystallographic orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Yung-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo, Hui-Lin Huang
  • Publication number: 20260223416
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for forming source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures with a hexagonal shape. The method includes forming a fin structure that includes a first portion and a second portion proximate to the first portion, forming a gate structure on the first portion of the fin structure, and recessing the second portion of the fin structure. The method further includes growing a S/D epitaxial structure on the recessed second portion of the fin structure, where growing the S/D epitaxial structure includes exposing the recessed second portion of the fin structure to a precursor and one or more reactant gases to form a portion of the S/D epitaxial structure. Growing the S/D epitaxial structure further includes exposing the portion of the S/D structure to an etching chemistry and exposing the portion of the S/D epitaxial structure to a hydrogen treatment to enhance growth of the S/D epitaxial structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Min LIU, Yee-Chia YEO, Li-Li SU
  • Patent number: 12568648
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a device layer comprising: a channel region; a gate stack over and along sidewalls of the channel region and a first insulating fin; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the channel region, wherein the epitaxial source/drain region extends through the first insulating fin. The semiconductor device further includes a front-side interconnect structure on a first side of the device layer; and a backside interconnect structure on a second side of the device layer opposite the first side of the device layer. The backside interconnect structure comprises a backside source/drain contact that is electrically connected to the epitaxial source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Hao Lu, Li-Li Su, Chien-I Kuo, Yee-Chia Yeo, Wei-Yang Lee, Yu-Xuan Huang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 12557367
    Abstract: A method includes etching a first recess adjacent a first dummy gate stack and a first fin; etching a second recess adjacent a second dummy gate stack and a second fin; and epitaxially growing a first epitaxy region in the first recess. The method further includes depositing a first metal-comprising mask over the first dummy gate stack, over the second dummy gate stack, over the first epitaxy region in the first recess, and in the second recess; patterning the first metal-comprising mask to expose the first dummy gate stack and the first epitaxy region; epitaxially growing a second epitaxy region in the first recess over the first epitaxy region; and after epitaxially growing the second epitaxy region, removing remaining portions of the first metal-comprising mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Huang, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo, Chii-Horng Li
  • Patent number: 12532518
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a semiconductor fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a nanostructure above the semiconductor fin; a source/drain region adjacent a channel region of the nanostructure; a bottom spacer between the source/drain region and the semiconductor fin; and a gap between the bottom spacer and the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Hui-Lin Huang, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250374663
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first fin and a second fin extending from a substrate and an epitaxial source/drain region. The epitaxial source/drain region includes a first portion grown on the first fin and a second portion grown on the second fin, and the first portion and the second portion are joined at a merging boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Wei Hao Lu, Yi-Fang Pai, Cheng-Wen Cheng, Li-Li Su, Chien-I Kuo
  • Publication number: 20250359236
    Abstract: Provided is an epitaxial structure and a method for forming such a structure. A structure includes a first sidewall spaced from a second sidewall to define a gap overlying a recess; a bottom gap structure filling the recess; and an epitaxial structure grown on the first sidewall and the second sidewall and in the gap with facets having a {110} crystallographic orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Yung-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo, Hui-Lin Huang
  • Publication number: 20250359197
    Abstract: A device includes a channel structure, a gate structure, a first source/drain structure, a second source/drain structure, a backside via, a semiconductor structure, and a dielectric layer. The gate structure covers the channel structure. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and at least one metal layer over the gate dielectric layer. The first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure are on opposite sides and adjacent to sidewalls of the channel structure. The backside via is under the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor structure is under the second source/drain structure. The dielectric layer surrounds the backside via and under the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Hao LU, Chien-I KUO, Li-Li SU, Wei-Yang LEE, Yee-Chia YEO
  • Publication number: 20250351484
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure over a substrate and a first source/drain region adjacent the first nanostructure. The first source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer covering a first sidewall of the first nanostructure. The first epitaxial layer has a first concentration of a first dopant. The first epitaxial layer has a round convex profile opposite the first sidewall of the first nanostructure in a cross-sectional view. The first source/drain region further includes a second epitaxial layer covering the round convex profile of the first epitaxial layer in the cross-sectional view. The second epitaxial layer has a second concentration of the first dopant, the second concentration being different from the first concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Yung-Chun Yang, Wei Hao Lu, Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250338566
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the semiconductor devices are described herein. The method includes steps for patterning fins in a multilayer stack and forming an opening in a fin as an initial step in forming a source/drain region. The opening is formed into a parasitic channel region of the fin. Once the opening has been formed, a first semiconductor material is epitaxially grown at the bottom of the opening to a level over the top of the parasitic channel region. A second semiconductor material is epitaxially grown from the top of the first semiconductor material to fill and/or overfill the opening. The second semiconductor material is differently doped from the first semiconductor material. A stack of nanostructures is formed by removing sacrificial layers of the multilayer stack, the second semiconductor material being electrically coupled to the nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250324639
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method including forming a raised portion of a substrate, forming fins on the raised portion of the substrate, forming an isolation region surrounding the fins, a first portion of the isolation region being on a top surface of the raised portion of the substrate between adjacent fins, forming a gate structure over the fins, and forming source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate structure, wherein forming the source/drain regions includes epitaxially growing a first epitaxial layer on the fin adjacent the gate structure, etching back the first epitaxial layer, epitaxially growing a second epitaxial layer on the etched first epitaxial layer, and etching back the second epitaxial layer, the etched second epitaxial layer having a non-faceted top surface, the etched first epitaxial layer and the etched second epitaxial layer forming source/drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Tzu-Ching Lin, Wei Te Chiang, Wei Hao Lu, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su
  • Publication number: 20250324685
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure over a semiconductor substrate; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a gate structure surrounding the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure; a first epitaxial region in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the first epitaxial region is a first doped semiconductor material; and a second epitaxial region over the first epitaxial region, wherein the second epitaxial region is adjacent the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, wherein the second epitaxial region is a second doped semiconductor material that is different from the first doped semiconductor material. In an embodiment, the first doped semiconductor material has a smaller doping concentration than the second doped semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250318187
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a seeding layer in the source/drain region and a method of forming is provided. The semiconductor device may include a plurality of nanostructures over a substrate, a gate structure wrapping around the plurality of nanostructures, a source/drain region adjacent the plurality of nanostructures, and inner spacers between the source/drain region and the gate structure. The source/drain region may include a polycrystalline seeding layer covering sidewalls of the plurality of nanostructures and sidewalls of the inner spacers, and a semiconductor layer over the seeding layer. The semiconductor layer may have a higher dopant concentration than the seeding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventors: Shao-Yang Ma, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 12437990
    Abstract: A method includes flowing first precursors over a semiconductor substrate to form an epitaxial region, the epitaxial region includes a first element and a second element; converting a second precursor into first radicals and first ions; separating the first radicals from the first ions; and flowing the first radicals over the epitaxial region to remove at least some of the second element from the epitaxial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 12439651
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) structure is provided. The method includes: etching a first recess and a second recess in a substrate; forming a sacrificial epitaxial plug in the first recess in the substrate; forming a first epitaxial feature and a second epitaxial feature respectively in the first recess and the second recess, wherein the first epitaxial feature is over the sacrificial epitaxial plug; forming a first source/drain epitaxial structure and a second source/drain epitaxial structure over the first epitaxial feature and the second epitaxial feature respectively; forming a gate structure laterally between the first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure; removing the sacrificial epitaxial plug and the first epitaxial feature to form a backside via opening exposing a backside of the first source/drain epitaxial structure; and forming a backside via in the backside via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Hao Lu, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su, Wei-Yang Lee, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250311324
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a semiconductor fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a nanostructure above the semiconductor fin; a source/drain region adjacent a channel region of the nanostructure; a bottom spacer between the source/drain region and the semiconductor fin; and a gap between the bottom spacer and the source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Hui-Lin Huang, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250311323
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure; a source/drain region adjoining a first channel region of the first nanostructure, the source/drain region including: a main layer; and a first liner layer between the main layer and the first nanostructure, a carbon concentration of the first liner layer being greater than a carbon concentration of the main layer; an inter-layer dielectric on the source/drain region; and a contact extending through the inter-layer dielectric, the contact connected to the main layer, the contact spaced apart from the first liner layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250311381
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin-shape base protruding from a substrate, channel structures suspended above the fin-shape base, a gate structure wrapping around at least one of the channel structures, a source/drain (S/D) epitaxial feature abutting the channel structures and directly above a top surface of the fin-shape base, and a separation layer disposed vertically between the top surface of the fin-shape base and a bottom surface of the S/D epitaxial feature. The separation layer interfaces the bottom surface of the S/D epitaxial feature. A width of the separation layer is less than a width of the S/D epitaxial feature along a lengthwise direction of the channel structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Bo-Yu Lai, Jyun-Chih Lin, Yen-Ting Chen, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Wei Hao Lu, Li-Li Su
  • Publication number: 20250301756
    Abstract: A method includes forming a stack of layers, which includes a plurality of semiconductor nano structures and a plurality of sacrificial layers. The plurality of semiconductor nano structures and the plurality of sacrificial layers are arranged alternatingly. The method further includes laterally recessing the plurality of sacrificial layers to form lateral recesses, forming inner spacers in the lateral recesses, and epitaxially growing a source/drain region from the plurality of semiconductor nano structures. The source/drain region is spaced apart from the inner spacers by air inner spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20250294805
    Abstract: A method includes forming a protruding semiconductor stack including a plurality of sacrificial layers and a plurality of nanostructures, with the plurality of sacrificial layers and the plurality of nanostructures being laid out alternatingly. The method further includes forming a dummy gate structure on the protruding semiconductor stack, etching the protruding semiconductor stack to form a source/drain recess, and forming a source/drain region in the source/drain recess. The formation of the source/drain region includes growing first epitaxial layers. The first epitaxial layers are grown on sidewalls of the plurality of nanostructures, and a cross-section of each of the first epitaxial layers has a quadrilateral shape. The first epitaxial layers have a first dopant concentration. The formation of the source/drain region further includes growing a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layers. The second epitaxial layer has a second dopant concentration higher than the first dopant concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Tsz-Mei Kwok, Yung-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yen Wen, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo