Abstract: The formation of shallow trench isolations in a strained silicon MOSFET includes implantation of a dopant into overhang portions of the strained silicon layer and silicon germanium layer at the edges of trenches in which shallow trench isolations are to be formed. The conductivity type of the dopant is chosen to be opposite the conductivity type of the source and drain dopants. The implanted dopant increases the threshold voltage Vt beneath the ends of the gate in overhang portions of the strained silicon layer so that it is approximately equal to or greater than that of the remainder of the MOSFET. The resulting strained silicon MOSFET exhibits reduced leakage current beneath the ends of the gate.

Abstract: A fabrication system utilizes a protocol for removing germanium from a top surface of a wafer. An exposure to a gas, such as a gas containing the hydrochloric acid can remove germanium from the top surface. The protocol can allow shared equipment to be used in both Flash product fabrication lines and strained silicon (SMOS) fabrication lines. The protocol allows better silicidation in SMOS devices.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor includes a fin, a source region, a drain region, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode. The fin includes a channel. The source region is formed adjacent a first end of the fin and the drain region is formed adjacent a second end of the fin. The first gate electrode includes a first layer of metal material formed adjacent the fin. The second gate electrode includes a second layer of metal material formed adjacent the first layer. The first layer of metal material has a different work function than the second layer of metal material. The second layer of metal material selectively diffuses into the first layer of metal material via metal interdiffusion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit with a strained semiconductor channel region. The method can provide a double gate structure. The gate structure can be provided in and above a trench. The trench can be formed in a compound semiconductor material such as a silicon-germanium material. The strained semiconductor can increase the charge mobility associated with the transistor. A silicon-on-insulator substrate can be used.

Abstract: A method forms fin structures for a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first fin structure including a dielectric material and including a first side surface and a second side surface; forming a second fin structure adjacent the first side surface of the first fin structure; and forming a third fin structure adjacent the second side surface of the first fin structure. The second fin structure and the third fin structure are formed of a different material than the first fin structure.

Abstract: A NOR gate includes is constructed with two asymmetric FinFET type transistors instead of the conventional four-transistor NOR gate. The reduction in the number of transistors from four down to two allows for significant improvements in integrated semiconductor circuits.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator substrate is disclosed which comprises: a silicon substrate layer; a first insulation layer over the silicon substrate layer; a conductive layer over the first insulation layer comprising at least one metal or metal silicide over the first insulation layer; a second insulation layer over the conductive layer; a silicon device layer comprising silicon over the second insulation layer; and at least one conductive plug through the silicon substrate layer and the first insulation layer contacting the conductive layer, or at least one conductive plug through the silicon device layer and the second insulation layer contacting the conductive layer. Also disclosed are methods for making silicon-on-insulator substrates having improved heat transfer structures.

Abstract: A method of forming fins for a double-gate fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a second layer of semi-conducting material over a first layer of semi-conducting material and forming double caps in the second layer of semi-conducting material. The method further includes forming spacers adjacent sides of each of the double caps and forming double fins in the first layer of semi-conducting material beneath the double caps. The method also includes thinning the double fins to produce narrow double fins.

Abstract: A method forms fin structures for a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first fin structure including a dielectric material and including a first side surface and a second side surface; forming a second fin structure adjacent the first side surface of the first fin structure; and forming a third fin structure adjacent the second side surface of the first fin structure. The second fin structure and the third fin structure are formed of a different material than the first fin structure.

Abstract: A FinFET device employs strained silicon to enhance carrier mobility. In one method, a FinFET body is patterned from a layer of silicon germanium (SiGe) that overlies a dielectric layer. An epitaxial layer of silicon is then formed on the silicon germanium FinFET body. A strain is induced in the epitaxial silicon as a result of the different dimensionalities of intrinsic silicon and of the silicon germanium crystal lattice that serves as the template on which the epitaxial silicon is grown. Strained silicon has an increased carrier mobility compared to relaxed silicon, and as a result the epitaxial strained silicon provides increased carrier mobility in the FinFET. A higher driving current can therefore be realized in a FinFET employing a strained silicon channel layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed from a semiconductor or metal layer which is deposited in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be a CVD process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of small geometry gate formation on the surface of a high-K gate dielectric. The method provides for processing steps that include gate pattern trimming, gate stack etch, and removal of exposed regions of the high-K dielectric to be performed efficiently in a single etch chamber. As such, process complexity and processing costs are reduced while throughput and overall process efficiency is improved. The method includes fabricating a high-K gate dielectric etch stop dielectric layer on the surface of a silicon substrate to protect the silicon substrate from erosion during an etch step and to prove a gate dielectric. A polysilicon layer is fabricated above the high-K dielectric layer. An anti-reflective coating layer above the polysilicon layer, and a mask is fabricated above the anti-reflective coating layer to define a gate region and an erosion region.

Abstract: A MOSFET gate or a MOSFET source or drain region comprises silicon germanium or polycrystalline silicon germanium. Silicidation with nickel is performed to form a nickel germanosilicide that preferably comprises the monosilicide phase of nickel silicide. The inclusion of germanium in the silicide provides a wider temperature range within which the monosilicide phase may be formed, while essentially preserving the superior sheet resistance exhibited by nickel monosilicide. As a result, the nickel germanosilicide is capable of withstanding greater temperatures during subsequent processing than nickel monosilicide, yet provides approximately the same sheet resistance and other beneficial properties as nickel monosilicide.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a method for forming a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The method includes providing a substrate having a gate formed above the substrate and performing at least one of the following depositing steps: depositing a spacer layer and forming a spacer around a gate and gate insulator located above a layer of silicon above the substrate; depositing an etch stop layer above the spacer, the gate, and the layer of silicon; and depositing a dielectric layer above the etch stop layer. At least one of the depositing a spacer layer, depositing an etch stop layer, and depositing a dielectric layer comprises high compression deposition which increases in tensile strain in the layer of silicon.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a method of making the same is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric layer interposed between a gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. Further, the semiconductor device includes graded dielectric constant spacers formed on sidewalls of the dielectric layer, sidewalls of the gate electrode and portions of an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric constant of the graded dielectric constant spacers decreases in a direction away from the sidewalls of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of fabricating a semiconductor device, including steps of providing a semiconductor wafer; depositing on the semiconductor wafer at least one layer comprising a high-K dielectric material layer; and subsequently removing a selected portion of the at least one layer comprising a high-K dielectric material by implanting ions into the selected portion, and removing the selected portion by etching. As a result of the implantation, the etch rate of the selected portion is increased relative to an etch rate without the implanting.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed to in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be a UVO, ALD, CVD, PECVD, or HDP process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a group of fin structures. The group of fin structures includes a conductive material and is formed by growing the conductive material in an opening of an oxide layer. The semiconductor device further includes a source region formed at one end of the group of fin structures, a drain region formed at an opposite end of the group of fin structures, and at least one gate.

Abstract: A NOR gate includes is constructed with two asymmetric FinFET type transistors instead of the conventional four-transistor NOR gate. The reduction in the number of transistors from four down to two allows for significant improvements in integrated semiconductor circuits.

Abstract: A double gate metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a fin, a first gate and a second gate. The first gate is formed on top of the fin. The second gate surrounds the fin and the first gate. In another implementation, a triple gate MOSFET includes a fin, a first gate, a second gate, and a third gate. The first gate is formed on top of the fin. The second gate is formed adjacent the fin. The third gate is formed adjacent the fin and opposite the second gate.