Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip with polish stop layers and a method of fabricating the IC chip are disclosed. The method includes forming a first IC chip having a device region and a peripheral region. Forming the first IC chip includes forming a device layer on a substrate, forming an interconnect structure on the device layer, depositing a first dielectric layer on a first portion of the interconnect structure in the peripheral region, depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and on a second portion of the interconnect structure in the device region, and performing a polishing process on the second dielectric layer to substantially coplanarize a top surface of the second dielectric layer with a top surface of the first dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a bonding process on the second dielectric layer to bond a second IC chip to the first IC chip.

Abstract: A photonic assembly includes: a composite die including a photonic integrated circuits (PIC) die and an electronic integrated circuits (EIC) die, the PIC die including waveguides and photonic devices therein, and the EIC die including semiconductor devices therein; an optical connector unit including a first connector-side mirror reflector and a first transition edge coupler and attached to a top surface of the composite die, wherein the first connector-side mirror reflector is configured to change a beam direction between a vertically-extending beam path through the composite die and a horizontally-extending beam path through the first transition edge coupler; and a fiber array units assembly attached to a sidewall of the optical connector unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. The method includes: forming a metal oxide layer over a gate structure over a substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the metal oxide layer; forming a metal layer over the metal oxide layer; and performing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) operation to remove a portion of the dielectric layer and a portion of the metal layer, the CMP operation stopping at the metal oxide layer, wherein a slurry used in the CMP operation includes a ceria compound. The present disclosure also provides a method for planarizing a metal-dielectric surface.

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: The present disclosure describes forming a crystalline high-k dielectric layer at a reduced crystallization temperature in a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a channel structure on a substrate, forming an interfacial layer on the channel structure, forming a first high-k dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, forming dipoles in the first high-k dielectric layer with a dopant, and forming a second high-k dielectric layer on the first high-k dielectric layer. The dopant includes a first metal element. The second high-k dielectric layer includes a second metal element different from the first metal element.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, first and second fin structures formed over the substrate, and an isolation structure between the first and second fin structures. The isolation structure can include a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion of the isolation structure can include a metal-free dielectric material. The upper portion of the isolation structure can include a metallic element and silicon.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer over the base portion and surrounding the fin portion. The isolation layer includes fluorine, and a first concentration of fluorine in the isolation layer increases toward a top surface of the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over the isolation layer and wrapping around the fin portion.

Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with different gate structures configured to provide ultra-low threshold voltages and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second nanostructured channel regions in first and second nanostructured layers, respectively, and forming first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures surrounding the first and second nanostructured channel regions, respectively. The forming the first and second GAA structures includes selectively forming an Al-based n-type work function metal layer and a Si-based capping layer on the first nanostructured channel regions, depositing a bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function metal layers on the first and second nanostructured channel regions, depositing a fluorine blocking layer on the bi-layer of Al-free p-type work function layers, and depositing a gate metal fill layer on the fluorine blocking layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming a source/drain region on a side of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form a trench, depositing a gate dielectric layer extending into the trench, depositing a metal-containing layer over the gate dielectric layer, and depositing a silicon-containing layer on the metal-containing layer. The metal-containing layer and the silicon-containing layer in combination act as a work-function layer. A planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer, and the gate dielectric layer, with remaining portions of the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer, and the gate dielectric layer forming a gate stack.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first and second transistors arranged over a substrate. The first transistor includes first channel structures extending between first and second source/drain regions. A first gate electrode is arranged between the first channel structures, and a first protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the first channel structures. The second transistor includes second channel structures extending between the second source/drain region and a third source/drain region. A second gate electrode is arranged between the second channel structures, and a second protection layer is arranged over a topmost one of the second channel structures. The integrated chip further includes a first interconnect structure arranged between the substrate and the first and second channel structures, and a contact plug structure coupled to the second source/drain region and arranged above the first and second gate electrodes.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes exposing one or more surfaces of a conduction channel of a transistor; overlaying the one or more surfaces with a dielectric interfacial layer; overlaying the dielectric interfacial layer with a blocking layer; performing a first annealing process to densify the dielectric interfacial layer, overlaying the blocking layer with a first high-k dielectric layer; forming one or more threshold voltage modulation layers over the first high-k dielectric layer; performing a second annealing process to adjust a doping profile of the first high-k dielectric layer; and overlaying the first high-k dielectric layer with a second high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a hard mask on a transistor's gate structure that minimizes gate spacer loss and gate height loss during the formation of self-aligned contact openings. The method includes forming spacers on sidewalls of spaced apart gate structures and disposing a dielectric layer between the gate structures. The method also includes etching top surfaces of the gate structures and top surfaces of the spacers with respect to a top surface of the dielectric layer. Additionally, the method includes depositing a hard mask layer having a metal containing dielectric layer over the etched top surfaces of the gate structures and the spacers and etching the dielectric layer with an etching chemistry to form contact openings between the spacers, where the hard mask layer has a lower etch rate than the spacers when exposed to the etching chemistry.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes trimming a semiconductor region using a gaseous halogen-based etchant such that the trimmed semiconductor region has a first part and a second part which is formed on the first part and which has a halogen-terminated trimmed surface, and treating the halogen-terminated trimmed surface of the second part using a gaseous oxidant including hydrogen and oxygen such that the second part is oxidized to form an oxidized part, and such that the halogen-terminated trimmed surface is converted into a hydroxyl group-terminated surface of the oxidized part.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming nanostructured channel regions, forming gate openings surrounding the nanostructured channel regions, forming oxide layers on exposed surfaces of the nanostructured channel regions in the gate openings, depositing a diffusion barrier layer on the oxide layers, depositing a first dielectric layer on the diffusion barrier layer, performing a doping process on the diffusion barrier layer and the first dielectric layer to form a doped diffusion barrier layer and a doped dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive layer on the doped dielectric layer.

Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device that is protected from the effects of an oxide on the metal gate layers of ferroelectric field effect transistors. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate with fins thereon; an interfacial layer on the fins; a crystallized ferroelectric layer on the interfacial layer, and a metal gate layer on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a semiconductor stack on a semiconductor substrate in a flat state, the semiconductor stack including sacrificial layer portions and channel layer portions that are alternately stacked over one another; forming source/drain trenches in the semiconductor stack, each of the source/drain trenches penetrating the channel layer portions, the sacrificial layer portions and an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate, and terminating at a lower portion of the semiconductor substrate, so as to form the channel layer portions into channel features and form the sacrificial layer portions into sacrificial features; transforming the semiconductor substrate from the flat state to a bending state; forming source/drain regions in the source/drain trenches, respectively; and reverting the semiconductor substrate from the bending state back to the flat state, so as to induce a strain in the channel features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming nanostructured channel regions on a fin or sheet base, forming gate openings surrounding the nanostructured channel regions, forming oxide layers on exposed surfaces of the nanostructured channel regions and the fin or sheet base in the gate openings, performing a first doping process on the oxide layers to form doped oxide layers, depositing a first dielectric layer on the doped oxide layers, performing a second doping process on the first dielectric layer to form a doped dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive layer on the doped dielectric layer.