Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing are presented in which features of reduced size are formed using an irradiated mask material. In an embodiment a mask material that has been irradiated with charged ions is utilized to focus a subsequent irradiation process. In another embodiment the mask material is irradiated in order to reshape the mask material and reduce the size of openings formed within the mask material. Through such processes the limits of photolithography may be circumvented and smaller feature sizes may be achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides a composite substrate, a semiconductor device including such composite substrate, and a method of making the same. In particular, the composite substrate of the invention includes a nitride-based single crystal layer transformed from a nitride-based poly-crystal layer, which has a specific thickness of approximately between 2 nm and 100 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device and manufacture thereof. The optical device of the invention includes a transparent substrate, a seeding layer, a plurality of nano-rods and a protection layer. The seeding layer is formed to overlay an entrance surface and an exit surface of the transparent substrate. The plurality of nano-rods are formed on the seeding layer. The protection layer is formed to completely overlay the plurality of nano-rods.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The process includes providing a substrate and forming a hard mask on the substrate. The hard mask may be formed by atomic-layer deposition (ALD) or molecular-layer deposition (MLD). The process also includes disposing an exposure mask over the hard mask and exposing the exposure mask to a patterning particle to pattern a gap in the hard mask. The patterning particle may be, for example, a photon or a charged particle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing are presented in which features of reduced size are formed using an irradiated mask material. In an embodiment a mask material that has been irradiated with charged ions is utilized to focus a subsequent irradiation process. In another embodiment the mask material is irradiated in order to reshape the mask material and reduce the size of openings formed within the mask material. Through such processes the limits of photolithography may be circumvented and smaller feature sizes may be achieved.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a buffer layer over the semiconductor substrate. The buffer layer is in an amorphous state. The method includes nitriding the buffer layer into a nitride buffer layer. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over the nitride buffer layer. The method includes performing a thermal annealing process to convert the gate dielectric layer into a crystalline gate dielectric layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode over the crystalline gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor device includes a dielectric film over a dielectric layer. The dielectric film includes a crystalline structure having a substantially uniform composition of zirconium, nitrogen and oxygen. The dielectric film is formed through in situ nitrogen plasma doping of a zirconium layer. The dielectric film functions as a gate dielectric. The dielectric film has a high dielectric constant between about 28-29 and has a low leakage current density of about 4.79×10?5 A/cm2. The substantially uniform distribution of nitrogen throughout the zirconium oxide of the dielectric film increases the k value of the dielectric film by between about 15% to about 17% as compared to a dielectric film that has a non-uniform distribution of nitrogen through a zirconium oxide layer.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The process includes providing a substrate and forming a hard mask on the substrate. The hard mask may be formed by atomic-layer deposition (ALD) or molecular-layer deposition (MLD). The process also includes disposing an exposure mask over the hard mask and exposing the exposure mask to a patterning particle to pattern a gap in the hard mask. The patterning particle may be, for example, a photon or a charged particle.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. A first patterned mask is formed on the substrate, the first patterned mask having a first opening therein. A second patterned mask is formed on the substrate in the first opening, the first patterned mask and the second patterned mask forming a combined patterned mask. The combined patterned mask is formed having one or more second openings, wherein one or more unmasked portions of the substrate are exposed. Trenches that correspond to the one or more unmasked portions of the substrate are formed in the substrate in the one or more second openings.

Abstract: A semiconductor substructure with improved performance and a method of forming the same is described. The semiconductor substructure includes a dielectric film over a substrate, the dielectric film including at least one metal dielectric layer, at least one oxygen-donor layer, and at least one nitride-incorporation layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a composite substrate, a semiconductor device including such composite substrate, and a method of making the same. In particular, the composite substrate of the invention includes a nitride-based single crystal layer transformed from a nitride-based poly-crystal layer, which has a specific thickness of approximately between 2 nm and 100 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a buffer layer over the semiconductor substrate. The buffer layer is in an amorphous state. The method includes nitriding the buffer layer into a nitride buffer layer. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over the nitride buffer layer. The method includes performing a thermal annealing process to convert the gate dielectric layer into a crystalline gate dielectric layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode over the crystalline gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The process includes providing a substrate, forming a hard mask upon the substrate by one of atomic-layer deposition and molecular-layer deposition, and exposing the hard mask to a charged particle from one or more charged particle beams to pattern a gap in the hard mask. In the alternative, the process includes exposing the hard mask to a charged particle from one or more charged-particle beams to pattern a structure on the hard mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor device includes a dielectric film over a dielectric layer. The dielectric film includes a crystalline structure having a substantially uniform composition of zirconium, nitrogen and oxygen. The dielectric film is formed through in situ nitrogen plasma doping of a zirconium layer. The dielectric film functions as a gate dielectric. The dielectric film has a high dielectric constant between about 28-29 and has a low leakage current density of about 4.79×10?5 A/cm2. The substantially uniform distribution of nitrogen throughout the zirconium oxide of the dielectric film increases the k value of the dielectric film by between about 15% to about 17% as compared to a dielectric film that has a non-uniform distribution of nitrogen through a zirconium oxide layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a nitride buffer layer over the semiconductor substrate, and the nitride buffer layer is in an amorphous state. The semiconductor device also includes a crystalline gate dielectric layer over the nitride buffer layer and a gate electrode over the crystalline gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device and manufacture thereof. The optical device of the invention includes a transparent substrate, a seeding layer, a plurality of nano-rods and a protection layer. The seeding layer is formed to overlay an entrance surface and an exit surface of the transparent substrate. The plurality of nano-rods are formed on the seeding layer. The protection layer is formed to completely overlay the plurality of nano-rods.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a nitride buffer layer over the semiconductor substrate, and the nitride buffer layer is in an amorphous state. The semiconductor device also includes a crystalline gate dielectric layer over the nitride buffer layer and a gate electrode over the crystalline gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optoelectronic device and method of fabricating the same. The optoelectronic device according to the invention includes a semiconductor structure combination, a first surface passivation layer formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor structure combination, and a second surface passivation layer formed on the first surface passivation layer. The semiconductor structure combination includes at least one P-N junction. In particular, the interfacial state density of the first surface passivation layer is lower than that of the second surface passivation layer, and the fixed oxide charge density of the second surface passivation layer is higher than that of the first surface passivation layer.

Abstract: A solar cell is provided. The solar cell includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a seed layer, and a plurality of nanorods. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. A conductive type of a portion of the substrate adjacent to the first surface is first conductive type, and a conductive type of the remaining portion of the substrate is second conductive type. The first electrode is disposed on the first surface. The second electrode is disposed on the second surface. The seed layer is disposed on the first surface. The nanorods are disposed on the seed layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes following steps. A first-conductive-type silicon wafer is provided. The silicon wafer has a first (front) surface and a second (back) surface facing each other, and a plurality of nanorods are located on the first surface. A doping process is performed, so that the conductive type of the nanorods and the conductive type of one portion of the silicon wafer located below the nanorods are changed to a second conductive type. A first electrode is formed on the second surface, and a first annealing process is performed on the first electrode. A second electrode is formed on a partial region of the first surface. An atomic layer deposition process is performed to form a passivation layer on the first surface and surfaces of the nanorods.