Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure including a plurality of first semiconductor layers and a plurality of second semiconductor layers alternately stacked over a substrate. A dummy gate structure is formed across the fin structure. The exposed second portions of the fin structure are removed. A selective etching process is performed, using a gas mixture including a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas, to laterally recess the first semiconductor layers. Inner spacers are formed on opposite end surfaces of the laterally recessed first semiconductor layers. Source/drain epitaxial structures are formed on opposite end surfaces of the second semiconductor layers. The dummy gate structure is removed to expose the first portion of the fin structure. The laterally recessed first semiconductor layers are removed. A gate structure is formed to surround each of the second semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including operations of forming a first hard mask over an underlying layer on a substrate by a photolithographic and etching method, forming a sidewall spacer pattern having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion on opposing sides of the first hard mask, etching the first sidewall portion, etching the first hard mask and leaving the second sidewall portion bridging a gap of the etched first hard mask, and processing the underlying layer using the second hard mask.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes a processing chamber for etching; a substrate stage integrated in the processing chamber and being configured to secure a semiconductor wafer; a reflective mirror configured inside the processing chamber to reflect thermal energy from the heating mechanism toward the semiconductor wafer; and a heating mechanism embedded in the process chamber and is operable to perform a baking process to remove a by-product generated during the etching. The heating mechanism is integrated between the reflective mirror and a gas distribution plate of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor arrangement includes performing a first etching of a semiconductive structure to expose a first portion of a sidewall of a first layer adjacent the semiconductive structure. The first etching forms a first protective layer on the first portion of the sidewall of the first layer, and the first protective layer is formed from a first accumulation of by-product material formed from an etchant of the first etching interacting with the semiconductive structure. The method includes performing a first flash to remove at least some of the first protective layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a metal gate stack over the substrate. The metal gate stack has a gate dielectric layer and a work function layer over the gate dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a spacer structure over a sidewall of the metal gate stack. A topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is lower than a topmost surface of the spacer structure. The topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is closer to the topmost surface of the spacer structure than a topmost surface of the work function layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures disposed on first and second fin structures, first and second source/drain (S/D) regions disposed on the first and second fin structures, first and second contact structures disposed on the first and second S/D regions, and a dipole layer disposed at an interface between the first nWFM silicide layer and the first S/D region. The first contact structure includes a first nWFM silicide layer disposed on the first S/D region and a first contact plug disposed on the first nWFM silicide layer. The second contact structure includes a pWFM silicide layer disposed on the second S/D region, a second nWFM silicide layer disposed on the pWFM silicide layer, and a second contact plug disposed on the pWFM silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first nanowire structure over a second nanowire structure, a gate stack wrapping around the first nanowire structure and the second nanowire structure, a source/drain feature adjoining the first nanowire structure and the second nanowire structure, a gate spacer layer over the first nanowire structure and between the gate stack and the source/drain feature, and an inner spacer layer between the first nanowire structure and the second nanowire structure and between the gate stack and the source/drain feature. The gate spacer layer has a first carbon concentration, the inner spacer has a second carbon concentration, and the second carbon concentration is lower than the first carbon concentration.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure disposed on the substrate, a gate structure disposed on the fin structure, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed adjacent to the gate structure, a contact structure disposed on the S/D region, and a dipole layer disposed at an interface between the ternary compound layer and the S/D region. The contact structure includes a ternary compound layer disposed on the S/D region, a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer disposed on the ternary compound layer, and a contact plug disposed on the WFM silicide layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including operations of forming a first hard mask over an underlying layer on a substrate by a photolithographic and etching method, forming a sidewall spacer pattern having a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion on opposing sides of the first hard mask, etching the first sidewall portion, etching the first hard mask and leaving the second sidewall portion bridging a gap of the etched first hard mask, and processing the underlying layer using the second hard mask.

Abstract: A technique for semiconductor manufacturing is provided. The technique includes the operations as follows. A semiconductor structure having a first material and a second material is revived. The first material has a first incubation time to a first etching chemistry. The second material has a second incubation time to the first etching chemistry. The first incubation time is shorter than the second incubation time. A first main etch to the semiconductor structure for a first duration by the first etching chemistry is performed. The first duration is greater than the first incubation time and shorter than the second incubation time.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The method can include forming a fin structure over a substrate. The fin structure can include a first channel layer and a sacrificial layer. The method can further include forming a first recess structure in a first portion of the fin structure, forming a second recess structure in the sacrificial layer of a second portion of the fin structure, forming a dielectric layer in the first and second recess structures, and performing an oxygen-free cyclic etching process to etch the dielectric layer to expose the channel layer of the second portion of the fin structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes a processing chamber for etching; a substrate stage integrated in the processing chamber and being configured to secure a semiconductor wafer; a reflective mirror configured inside the processing chamber to reflect thermal energy from the heating mechanism toward the semiconductor wafer; and a heating mechanism embedded in the process chamber and is operable to perform a baking process to remove a by-product generated during the etching. The heating mechanism is integrated between the reflective mirror and a gas distribution plate of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor arrangement includes forming a first gate structure over a first active region. The first gate structure includes a first conductive layer. An etch process is performed using a process gas mixture to recess the first gate structure and define a recess. The etch process comprises a first phase to form a polymer layer over the first conductive layer and to modify a portion of the first conductive layer to form a modified portion of the first conductive layer and a second phase to remove the polymer layer and to remove the modified portion of the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a channel member suspended above a substrate, depositing a dielectric material layer wrapping around the channel member, performing an oxidation treatment to a surface portion of the dielectric material layer, selectively etching the surface portion of the dielectric material layer to expose sidewalls of the channel member, performing a nitridation treatment to remaining portions of the dielectric material layer and the exposed sidewalls of the channel member, thereby forming a nitride passivation layer partially wrapping around the channel member. The method also includes repeating the steps of performing the oxidation treatment and selectively etching until top and bottom surfaces of the channel member are exposed, removing the nitride passivation layer from the channel member, and forming a gate structure wrapping around the channel member.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes techniques for forming a gate-all-around device where semiconductor layers are released by etching out the buffer layers that are vertically stacked between semiconductor layers in an alternating manner. The buffer layers stacked at different vertical levels include different material compositions, which bring about different etch rates with respect to an etchant that is used to remove at least partially the buffer layers to release the semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor arrangement includes performing a first etching of a semiconductive structure to expose a first portion of a sidewall of a first layer adjacent the semiconductive structure. The first etching forms a first protective layer on the first portion of the sidewall of the first layer, and the first protective layer is formed from a first accumulation of by-product material formed from an etchant of the first etching interacting with the semiconductive structure. The method includes performing a first flash to remove at least some of the first protective layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an underlying structure is formed over a substrate. A film is formed over the underlying structure. Surface topography of the film is measured and the surface topography is stored as topography data. A local etching is performed by using directional etching and scanning the substrate so that an entire surface of the film is subjected to the directional etching. A plasma beam intensity of the directional etching is adjusted according to the topography data.

Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and forming spacer elements over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method also includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess between the spacer elements and forming a metal gate stack in the recess. The method further includes etching back the metal gate stack while the metal gate stack is kept at a temperature that is in a range from about 20 degrees C. to about 55 degrees C. In addition, the method includes forming a protection element over the metal gate stack after etching back the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes multiple channel structures suspended over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes multiple epitaxial structures extending from edges of the channel structures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack wrapping around the channel structures. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes a conductive contact wrapping around terminals of the epitaxial structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate, and an isolation layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The isolation layer includes a first portion disposed on a first sidewall of the semiconductor fin and a second portion disposed on a second sidewall of the semiconductor fin. Top surfaces of the first and second portions of the isolation layer are leveled. The first portion of the isolation layer includes an air pocket. The semiconductor device also includes a dielectric fin with a bottom portion embedded in the second portion of the isolation layer.