Abstract: Oxygen scavenging material embedded in an isolation structure provides improved protection of high dielectric constant (Hi-K) materials from oxygen contamination while avoiding alteration of work function and switching threshold shift in transistors including such Hi-K materials.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure including a scaled n-channel field effect transistor (nFET) and a scaled p-channel field transistor (pFET) is provided. Such a structure is provided by forming a plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within an nFET gate stack, and forming at least a pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within a pFET gate stack. The pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion in the pFET gate stack may also plasma nitrided. The plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion includes up to 15 atomic % N2 and an nFET threshold voltage adjusted species located therein.

Abstract: A gate dielectric can be formed by depositing a first silicon oxide material by a first atomic layer deposition process. The thickness of the first silicon oxide material is selected to correspond to at least 10 deposition cycles of the first atomic layer deposition process. The first silicon oxide material is converted into a first silicon oxynitride material by a first plasma nitridation process. A second silicon oxide material is subsequently deposited by a second atomic layer deposition process. The second silicon oxide material is converted into a second silicon oxynitride material by a second plasma nitridation process. Multiple repetitions of the atomic layer deposition process and the plasma nitridation process provides a silicon oxynitride material having a ratio of nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms greater than 1/3, which can be advantageously employed to reduce the leakage current through a gate dielectric.

Abstract: A gate dielectric can be formed by depositing a first silicon oxide material by a first atomic layer deposition process. The thickness of the first silicon oxide material is selected to correspond to at least 10 deposition cycles of the first atomic layer deposition process. The first silicon oxide material is converted into a first silicon oxynitride material by a first plasma nitridation process. A second silicon oxide material is subsequently deposited by a second atomic layer deposition process. The second silicon oxide material is converted into a second silicon oxynitride material by a second plasma nitridation process. Multiple repetitions of the atomic layer deposition process and the plasma nitridation process provides a silicon oxynitride material having a ratio of nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms greater than ?, which can be advantageously employed to reduce the leakage current through a gate dielectric.

Abstract: At least one layer including a scavenging material and a dielectric material is deposited over a gate stack, and is subsequently anisotropically etched to form a oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer. The oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer can be a scavenging-nanoparticle-including gate spacer or a scavenging-island-including gate spacer. The scavenging material is distributed within the oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer in a manner that prevents an electrical short between a gate electrode and a semiconductor material underlying a gate dielectric. The scavenging material actively scavenges oxygen that diffuses toward the gate dielectric from above, or from the outside of, a dielectric gate spacer that can be formed around the oxygen-scavenging-material-including gate spacer.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods of forming an nFET-tuned gate dielectric and a pFET-tuned gate dielectric. Methods may include forming a high-k layer above a substrate having a pFET region and an nFET region, forming a first sacrificial layer, a pFET work-function metal layer, and a second sacrificial layer above the first high-k layer in the pFET region, and an nFET work-function metal layer above the first high-k layer in the nFET region and above the second sacrificial layer in the pFET region. The first high-k layer then may be annealed to form an nFET gate dielectric layer in the nFET region and a pFET gate dielectric layer in the pFET region. The first high-k layer may be annealed in the presence of a nitrogen source to cause atoms from the nitrogen source to diffuse into the first high-k layer in the nFET region.

Abstract: Replacement gate stacks are provided, which increase the work function of the gate electrode of a p-type field effect transistor (PFET). In one embodiment, the work function metal stack includes a titanium-oxide-nitride layer located between a lower titanium nitride layer and an upper titanium nitride layer. The stack of the lower titanium nitride layer, the titanium-oxide-nitride layer, and the upper titanium nitride layer produces the unexpected result of increasing the work function of the work function metal stack significantly. In another embodiment, the work function metal stack includes an aluminum layer deposited at a temperature not greater than 420° C. The aluminum layer deposited at a temperature not greater than 420° C. produces the unexpected result of increasing the work function of the work function metal stack significantly.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second semiconductor structures on a semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor structure includes a first gate channel region having a first gate length, and the second semiconductor structure including a second gate channel region having a second gate length that is greater than the first gate length. The method further includes depositing a work function metal layer in each of a first gate void formed at the first gate channel region and a second gate void formed at the second gate channel region. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor masking layer on the work function metal layer, and simultaneously etching the silicon masking layer located at the first and second gate channel regions to re-expose the first and second gate voids. A low-resistive metal is deposited in the first and second gate voids to form low-resistive metal gate stacks.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a replacement gate structure overlying a channel region of a substrate. A mandrel dielectric layer is formed overlying source and drain regions of the substrate. The replacement gate structure is removed to provide an opening exposing the channel region of the substrate. A functional gate structure is formed over the channel region including a work function metal layer. A protective cap structure is formed over the functional gate structure. At least one via is etched through the mandrel dielectric layer selective to the protective cap structure to expose a portion of at least one of the source region and the drain region. A conductive fill is then formed in the vias to provide a contact to the at least one of the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: A composite high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric includes a stack of a doped high-k gate dielectric and an undoped high-k gate dielectric. The doped high-k gate dielectric can be formed by providing a stack of a first high-k dielectric material layer and a dopant metal layer and annealing the stack to induce the diffusion of the dopant metal into the first high-k dielectric material layer. The undoped high-k gate dielectric is formed by subsequently depositing a second high-k dielectric material layer. The composite high-k gate dielectric can provide an increased gate-leakage oxide thickness without increasing inversion oxide thickness.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor structure including a scaled 0 and a scaled pFET which do not exhibit an increased threshold voltage and reduced mobility during operation is provided. The method includes forming a plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within an nFET gate stack, and forming at least a pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within a pFET gate stack. The pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion in the pFET gate stack can also be plasma nitrided. The plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion contains up to 15 atomic % N2 and an nFET threshold voltage adjusted species, while the plasma nitrided, pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion contains up to 15 atomic % N2 and a pFET threshold voltage adjusted species.

Abstract: A gate dielectric can be formed by depositing a first silicon oxide material by a first atomic layer deposition process. The thickness of the first silicon oxide material is selected to correspond to at least 10 deposition cycles of the first atomic layer deposition process. The first silicon oxide material is converted into a first silicon oxynitride material by a first plasma nitridation process. A second silicon oxide material is subsequently deposited by a second atomic layer deposition process. The second silicon oxide material is converted into a second silicon oxynitride material by a second plasma nitridation process. Multiple repetitions of the atomic layer deposition process and the plasma nitridation process provides a silicon oxynitride material having a ratio of nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms greater than 1/3, which can be advantageously employed to reduce the leakage current through a gate dielectric.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a germanium containing substrate including a gate structure on a channel region of the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure may include a silicon oxide layer that is in direct contact with an upper surface of the germanium containing substrate, at least one high-k gate dielectric layer in direct contact with the silicon oxide layer, and at least one gate conductor in direct contact with the high-k gate dielectric layer. The interface between the silicon oxide layer and the upper surface of the germanium containing substrate is substantially free of germanium oxide. A source region and a drain region may be present on opposing sides of the channel region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric layer is formed on semiconductor fins including one or more semiconductor materials. A patterned diffusion barrier metallic nitride layer is formed to overlie at least one channel, while not overlying at least another channel. A threshold voltage adjustment oxide layer is formed on the physically exposed portions of the high-k gate dielectric layer and the diffusion barrier metallic nitride layer. An anneal is performed to drive in the material of the threshold voltage adjustment oxide layer to the interface between the intrinsic channel(s) and the high-k gate dielectric layer, resulting in formation of threshold voltage adjustment oxide portions. At least one workfunction material layer is formed, and is patterned with the high-k gate dielectric layer and the threshold voltage adjustment oxide portions to form multiple types of gate stacks straddling the semiconductor fins.

Abstract: A memory device, and a method of forming a memory device, is provided that includes a capacitor with a lower electrode of a metal semiconductor alloy. In one embodiment, the memory device includes a trench present in a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor on insulating (SOI) layer on top of a buried dielectric layer, wherein the buried dielectric layer is on top of a base semiconductor layer. A capacitor is present in the trench, wherein the capacitor includes a lower electrode of a metal semiconductor alloy having an upper edge that is self-aligned to the upper surface of the base semiconductor layer, a high-k dielectric node layer, and an upper electrode of a metal. The memory device further includes a pass transistor in electrical communication with the capacitor.