Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, epitaxially growing a Ge layer on the substrate, and epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer on the Ge layer, where the semiconductor layer has a thickness of 10 nm or less. This method further comprises removing at least a portion of the Ge layer to form a void beneath the Si layer, and filling the void at least partially with a dielectric material. In this way, the semiconductor layer becomes an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator layer. In one embodiment, after the void is filled with the dielectric material, in-situ doped source and drain regions are grown on the semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, the method further comprises annealing said source and drain regions to form doped extension regions in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and fabrication methods include a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET). Each of the PFET and the NFET include a transistor body of a first type of material and source and drain regions. The source and drain regions have a second type of material such that an injection charge into the source and drain region is greater than a parasitic charge into the transistor body to decrease parasitic bipolar current gain, increase critical charge (Qcrit) and reduce sensitivity to soft errors.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOS transistor) are disclosed. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming dielectric spacers that are disposed in trenches and are adjacent to the silicon substrate, which minimizes leakage current. Furthermore, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions, wherein the source region and drain regions are spaced at a distance from each other. The epitaxial layers are disposed adjacent to the dielectric spacers and the transistor body regions (i.e., portion of substrate below the gates), which can minimize transistor junction capacitance. Minimizing transistor junction capacitance can enhance the switching speed of the CMOS transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOS transistor) are disclosed. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming dielectric spacers that are disposed in trenches and are adjacent to the silicon substrate, which minimizes leakage current. Furthermore, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions, wherein the source region and drain regions are spaced at a distance from each other. The epitaxial layers are disposed adjacent to the dielectric spacers and the transistor body regions (i.e., portion of substrate below the gates), which can minimize transistor junction capacitance. Minimizing transistor junction capacitance can enhance the switching speed of the CMOS transistor.

Abstract: A gate stack structure for field effect transistor (FET) devices includes a nitrogen rich first dielectric layer formed over a semiconductor substrate surface; a nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer formed on the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer, the first and second dielectric layers forming, in combination, a bi-layer interfacial layer; a high-k dielectric layer formed over the bi-layer interfacial layer; a metal gate conductor layer formed over the high-k dielectric layer; and a work function adjusting dopant species diffused within the high-k dielectric layer and within the nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer, and wherein the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer serves to separate the work function adjusting dopant species from the semiconductor substrate surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, epitaxially growing a Ge layer on the substrate, and epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer on the Ge layer, where the semiconductor layer has a thickness of 10 nm or less. This method further comprises removing at least a portion of the Ge layer to form a void beneath the Si layer, and filling the void at least partially with a dielectric material. In this way, the semiconductor layer becomes an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator layer. In one embodiment, after the void is filled with the dielectric material, in-situ doped source and drain regions are grown on the semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, the method further comprises annealing said source and drain regions to form doped extension regions in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a stressed channel field effect transistor (FET) with source/drain buffers includes etching cavities in a substrate on either side of a gate stack located on the substrate; depositing source/drain buffer material in the cavities; etching the source/drain buffer material to form vertical source/drain buffers adjacent to a channel region of the FET; and depositing source/drain stressor material in the cavities adjacent to and over the vertical source/drain buffers.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of spacers disposed on laterally opposing sides of the gate stack; source and drain regions proximate to the spacers, and a channel region subjacent to the gate stack and disposed between the source and drain regions; and a stressor subjacent to the channel region, and embedded within the semiconductor substrate, the embedded stressor being formed of a triangular-shape.

Abstract: A method of determining one or more transistors within a particular circuit to be respectively replaced with a hardened transistor includes: identifying, as not requiring hardening, one or more transistors; identifying, as candidates for hardening, each transistor in the circuit not previously identified as not requiring hardening; and employing the hardened transistor in place of a transistor identified as a candidate for hardening. The circuit is a latch and the transistor is an SOI CMOS FET. The transistor is also an SOI transistor. The series transistor includes first and second series-connected transistors having a shared source/drain region whereby a drain of the first series-connected transistor is merged with a source of the second series-connected transistor.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an embedded stressor within a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure including the embedded stressor includes forming forming a dummy gate stack over a substrate of stressor material, anistropically etching sidewall portions of the substrate subjacent to the dummy gate stack to form the embedded stressor having angled sidewall portions, forming conductive material onto the angled sidewall portions of the embedded stressor, removing the dummy gate stack, planarizing the conductive material, and forming a gate stack on the conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, epitaxially growing a Ge layer on the substrate, and epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer on the Ge layer, where the semiconductor layer has a thickness of 10 nm or less. This method further comprises removing at least a portion of the Ge layer to form a void beneath the Si layer, and filling the void at least partially with a dielectric material. In this way, the semiconductor layer becomes an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator layer. In one embodiment, after the void is filled with the dielectric material, in-situ doped source and drain regions are grown on the semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, the method further comprises annealing said source and drain regions to form doped extension regions in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of spacers disposed on laterally opposing sides of the gate stack; source and drain regions proximate to the spacers, and a channel region subjacent to the gate stack and disposed between the source and drain regions; and a stressor subjacent to the channel region, and embedded within the semiconductor substrate, the embedded stressor being formed of a triangular-shape.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOS transistor) are disclosed. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming dielectric spacers that are disposed in trenches and are adjacent to the silicon substrate, which minimizes leakage current. Furthermore, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions, wherein the source region and drain regions are spaced at a distance from each other. The epitaxial layers are disposed adjacent to the dielectric spacers and the transistor body regions (i.e., portion of substrate below the gates), which can minimize transistor junction capacitance. Minimizing transistor junction capacitance can enhance the switching speed of the CMOS transistor.

Abstract: A field effect transistor device includes a gate stack portion disposed on a substrate, and a channel region in the substrate having a depth partially defined by the gate stack portion and a silicon region of the substrate, the silicon region having a sloped profile such that a distal regions of the channel region have greater depth than a medial region of the channel region.

Abstract: A method for forming a stressed channel field effect transistor (FET) with source/drain buffers includes etching cavities in a substrate on either side of a gate stack located on the substrate; depositing source/drain buffer material in the cavities; etching the source/drain buffer material to form vertical source/drain buffers adjacent to a channel region of the FET; and depositing source/drain stressor material in the cavities adjacent to and over the vertical source/drain buffers.

Abstract: A field effect transistor device includes a gate stack portion disposed on a substrate, and a channel region in the substrate having a depth partially defined by the gate stack portion and a silicon region of the substrate, the silicon region having a sloped profile such that a distal regions of the channel region have greater depth than a medial region of the channel region.

Abstract: A semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and fabrication methods include a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET). Each of the PFET and the NFET include a transistor body of a first type of material and source and drain regions. The source and drain regions have a second type of material such that an injection charge into the source and drain region is greater than a parasitic charge into the transistor body to decrease parasitic bipolar current gain, increase critical charge (Qcrit) and reduce sensitivity to soft errors.

Abstract: A gate stack structure for field effect transistor (FET) devices includes a nitrogen rich first dielectric layer formed over a semiconductor substrate surface; a nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer formed on the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer, the first and second dielectric layers forming, in combination, a bi-layer interfacial layer; a high-k dielectric layer formed over the bi-layer interfacial layer; a metal gate conductor layer formed over the high-k dielectric layer; and a work function adjusting dopant species diffused within the high-k dielectric layer and within the nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer, and wherein the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer serves to separate the work function adjusting dopant species from the semiconductor substrate surface.

Abstract: Method of forming a semiconductor device which includes the steps of obtaining a semiconductor substrate having a logic region and an STI region; sequentially depositing layers of high K material, metal gate, first silicon and hardmask; removing the hardmask and first silicon layers from the logic region; applying a second layer of silicon on the semiconductor substrate such that the logic region has layers of high K material, metal gate and second silicon and the STI region has layers of high K material, metal gate, first silicon, hardmask and second silicon. There may also be a second hardmask layer between the metal gate layer and the first silicon layer in the STI region. There may also be a hardmask layer between the metal gate layer and the first silicon layer in the STI region but no hardmask layer between the first and second layers of silicon in the STI region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an embedded stressor within a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure including the embedded stressor includes forming forming a dummy gate stack over a substrate of stressor material, anistropically etching sidewall portions of the substrate subjacent to the dummy gate stack to form the embedded stressor having angled sidewall portions, forming conductive material onto the angled sidewall portions of the embedded stressor, removing the dummy gate stack, planarizing the conductive material, and forming a gate stack on the conductive material.