Abstract: A limited number of cycles of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Hi-K material followed by deposition of an interlayer dielectric and application of further Hi-K material and optional but preferred annealing provides increased Hi-K material content and increased breakdown voltage for input/output (I/O) transistors compared with logic transistors formed on the same chip or wafer while providing scalability of the inversion layer of the I/O and logic transistors without significantly compromising performance or bias temperature instability (BTI) parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer annealing tool and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the wafer annealing tool, wherein the electrodes are configured to be in physical contact with a wafer so that, when the wafer is annealed, a negative electrical bias is formed across one or more gate stacks of the wafer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode structure includes an insulating layer of a dielectric material on the semiconductor substrate, an oxygen barrier layer on the insulating layer, and a tungsten (W) metal layer on the oxygen barrier layer. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode structure includes an insulating layer of a dielectric material on the semiconductor substrate, an oxygen barrier layer on the insulating layer, and a tungsten (W) metal layer on the oxygen barrier layer.

Abstract: A high mobility semiconductor layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An interfacial oxide layer is formed over the high mobility semiconductor layer. A high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer is formed over the interfacial oxide layer. A stack is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. The stack comprises a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer comprising a scavenging metal, and an upper metal layer formed on the scavenging metal layer. A Gibbs free energy change of a chemical reaction, in which an atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer combines with a metal oxide material comprising the scavenging metal and oxygen to form the scavenging metal in elemental form and oxide of the atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer, is positive. A gate electrode and a gate dielectric are formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a high mobility semiconductor, an interfacial oxide layer, a high dielectric constant (high-k) layer, a stack, a gate electrode, and a gate dielectric. The stack comprises a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer comprising a scavenging metal, and an upper metal layer formed on the scavenging metal layer. A Gibbs free energy change of a chemical reaction, in which an atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer combines with a metal oxide material comprising the scavenging metal and oxygen to form the scavenging metal in elemental form and oxide of the atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer, is positive.

Abstract: A field effect transistor fabrication method includes defining a gate structure on a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer on the gate structure, depositing a first metal layer on the dielectric layer, removing a portion of the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer, annealing the first and second metal layers, and defining a carbon based device on the dielectric layer and the gate structure.

Abstract: An example embodiment disclosed is a process for fabricating a phase change memory cell. The method includes forming a bottom electrode, creating a pore in an insulating layer above the bottom electrode, depositing piezoelectric material in the pore, depositing phase change material in the pore proximate the piezoelectric material, and forming a top electrode over the phase change material. Depositing the piezoelectric material in the pore may include conforming the piezoelectric material to at least one wall defining the pore such that the piezoelectric material is deposited between the phase change material and the wall. The conformal deposition may be achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or by atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: An example embodiment disclosed is a phase change memory cell. The memory cell includes a phase change material and a transducer positioned proximate the phase change material. The phase change material is switchable between at least an amorphous state and a crystalline state. The transducer is configured to activate when the phase change material is changed from the amorphous state to the crystalline state. In a particular embodiment, the transducer is ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A structure includes a first metallic electrode, a dielectric film formed over the first metallic electrode, and a second metallic electrode formed over the dielectric film. The second metallic electrode includes an oxygen scavenging material. The oxygen scavenging material is selected such that an oxygen density decreases in a region between the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode responsive to elevating a temperature of the first metallic electrode, the dielectric film, and the second metallic electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a high-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; and a gate layer over the high-k dielectric layer, wherein the gate layer has a negative electrical bias during anneal.

Abstract: A field effect transistor fabrication method includes defining a gate structure on a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer on the gate structure, depositing a first metal layer on the dielectric layer, removing a portion of the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer, annealing the first and second metal layers, and defining a carbon based device on the dielectric layer and the gate structure.

Abstract: A field effect transistor fabrication method includes defining a gate structure on a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer on the gate structure, depositing a first metal layer on the dielectric layer, removing a portion of the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer, annealing the first and second metal layers, and defining a carbon based device on the dielectric layer and the gate structure.

Abstract: A method of controlling ferroelectric characteristics of integrated circuit device components includes forming a ferroelectrically controllable dielectric layer over a substrate; and forming a stress exerting structure proximate the ferroelectrically controllable dielectric layer such that a substantially uniaxial strain is induced in the ferroelectrically controllable dielectric layer by the stress exerting structure; wherein the ferroelectrically controllable dielectric layer comprises one or more of: a ferroelectric oxide layer and a normally non-ferroelectric material layer that does not exhibit ferroelectric properties in the absence of an applied stress.

Abstract: A structure has a semiconductor substrate and an nFET and a pFET disposed upon the substrate. The pFET has a semiconductor SiGe channel region formed upon or within a surface of the semiconductor substrate and a gate dielectric having an oxide layer overlying the channel region and a high-k dielectric layer overlying the oxide layer. A gate electrode overlies the gate dielectric and has a lower metal layer abutting the high-k layer, a scavenging metal layer abutting the lower metal layer, and an upper metal layer abutting the scavenging metal layer. The metal layer scavenges oxygen from the substrate (nFET) and SiGe (pFET) interface with the oxide layer resulting in an effective reduction in Tinv and Vt of the pFET, while scaling Tiny and maintaining Vt for the nFET, resulting in the Vt of the pFET becoming closer to the Vt of a similarly constructed nFET with scaled Tinv values.

Abstract: A stack of a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate structure includes a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer, and an upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meets the following two criteria 1) a metal (M) for which the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction Si+2/y MxOy?2x/y M+SiO2 is positive 2) a metal that has a more negative Gibbs free energy per oxygen atom for formation of oxide than the material of the lower metal layer and the material of the upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meeting these criteria captures oxygen atoms as the oxygen atoms diffuse through the gate electrode toward the high-k gate dielectric. In addition, the scavenging metal layer remotely reduces the thickness of a silicon oxide interfacial layer underneath the high-k dielectric. As a result, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the total gate dielectric is reduced and the field effect transistor maintains a constant threshold voltage even after high temperature processes during CMOS integration.

Abstract: A floating gate device is provided. A tunnel oxide layer is formed over the channel. A floating gate is formed over the tunnel oxide layer. A high-k dielectric layer is formed over the floating gate. A control gate is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. At least one of the control gate and/or the floating gate includes an oxygen scavenging element. The oxygen scavenging element is configured to decrease an oxygen density at least one of at a first interface between the control gate and the high-k dielectric layer, at a second interface between the high-k dielectric layer and the floating gate, at a third interface between the floating gate and the tunnel oxide layer, and at a fourth interface between the tunnel oxide layer and the channel responsive to annealing.

Abstract: A structure includes a first metallic electrode, a dielectric film formed over the first metallic electrode, and a second metallic electrode formed over the dielectric film. The second metallic electrode includes an oxygen scavenging material. The oxygen scavenging material is selected such that an oxygen density decreases in a region between the first metallic electrode and the second metallic electrode responsive to elevating a temperature of the first metallic electrode, the dielectric film, and the second metallic electrode.

Abstract: A floating gate device is provided. A tunnel oxide layer is formed over the channel. A floating gate is formed over the tunnel oxide layer. A high-k dielectric layer is formed over the floating gate. A control gate is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. At least one of the control gate and/or the floating gate includes an oxygen scavenging element. The oxygen scavenging element is configured to decrease an oxygen density at least one of at a first interface between the control gate and the high-k dielectric layer, at a second interface between the high-k dielectric layer and the floating gate, at a third interface between the floating gate and the tunnel oxide layer, and at a fourth interface between the tunnel oxide layer and the channel responsive to annealing.

Abstract: A layered structure and semiconductor device and methods for fabricating a layered structure and semiconductor device. The layered structure includes: a base layer including a material containing titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, or a combination thereof; a conductive layer including a material containing: tantalum aluminum nitride, titanium aluminum nitride, tantalum silicon nitride, titanium silicon nitride, tantalum hafnium nitride, titanium hafnium nitride, hafnium nitride, hafnium carbide, tantalum carbide, vanadium nitride, niobium nitride, or any combination thereof; and a tungsten layer. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a base layer; a conductive layer; and a tungsten layer.