Abstract: Transistor structures with a deposited channel semiconductor material may have a vertical structure that includes a gate dielectric material that is localized to a sidewall of a gate electrode material layer. With localized gate dielectric material threshold voltage variation across a plurality of vertical transistor structures, such as a NAND flash memtory string, may be reduced. A via may be formed through a material stack, exposing a sidewall of the gate electrode material layer and sidewalls of the dielectric material layers. A sidewall of the gate electrode material layer may be recessed selectively from the sidewalls of the dielectric material layers. A gate dielectric material, such as a ferroelectric material, may be selectively deposited upon the recessed gate electrode material layer, for example at least partially backfilling the recess. A semiconductor material may be deposited on sidewalls of the dielectric material layers and on the localized gate dielectric material.

Abstract: Methods of selectively depositing high-K gate dielectric on a semiconductor structure are disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure disposed above a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor structure is disposed beside an isolation sidewall. A sacrificial blocking layer is then selectively deposited on the isolation sidewall and not on the semiconductor structure. Thereafter, a high-K gate dielectric is deposited on the semiconductor structure, but not on the sacrificial blocking layer. Properties of the sacrificial blocking layer prevent deposition of oxide material on its surface. A thermal treatment is then performed to remove the sacrificial blocking layer, thereby forming a high-K gate dielectric only on the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for insulating or electrically isolating select vias within a given interconnect layer, so a conductive routing can skip over those select isolated vias to reach other vias or interconnects in that same layer. Such a via blocking layer may be selectively implemented in any number of locations within a given interconnect as needed. Techniques for forming the via blocking layer are also provided, including a first methodology that uses a sacrificial passivation layer to facilitate selective deposition of insulator material that form the via blocking layer, a second methodology that uses spin-coating of wet-recessible polymeric formulations to facilitate selective deposition of insulator material that form the via blocking layer, and a third methodology that uses spin-coating of nanoparticle formulations to facilitate selective deposition of insulator material that form the via blocking layer. Harmful etching processes typically associated with conformal deposition processes is avoided.

Abstract: There is disclosed in an example an integrated circuit, including: a first layer having a dielectric, a first conductive interconnect and a second conductive interconnect; a second layer having a third conductive interconnect; a conductive via between the first layer and the second layer to electrically couple the second conductive interconnect to the third conductive interconnect; a dielectric plug disposed vertically between the first layer and second layer and disposed to prevent the via from electrically shorting to the first conductive interconnect; and a dielectric cap covering the dielectric plug.

Abstract: A computing device including tight pitch features and a method of fabricating a computing device using colored spacer formation is disclosed. The computing device includes a memory and an integrated circuit coupled to the memory. The integrated circuit includes a first multitude of features above a substrate. The integrated circuit die includes a second multitude of features above the substrate. The first multitude of features and the second multitude of features are same features disposed in a first direction. The first multitude of features interleave with the second multitude of features. The first multitude of features has a first size and the second multitude of features has a second size.

Abstract: Selective hardmask-based approaches for conductive via fabrication are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. The plurality of conductive lines includes alternating non-recessed conductive lines and recessed conductive lines. The non-recessed conductive lines are substantially co-planar with the ILD layer, and the recessed conductive lines are recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A dielectric capping layer is in recess regions above the recessed conductive lines. A hardmask layer is over the non-recessed conductive lines but not over the dielectric capping layer of the recessed conductive lines. The hardmask layer differs in composition from the dielectric capping layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the dielectric capping layer and on one of the recessed conductive lines. A portion of the conductive via is on a portion of the hardmask layer.

Abstract: Techniques related to forming selective gate spacers for semiconductor devices and transistor structures and devices formed using such techniques are discussed. Such techniques include forming a blocking material on a semiconductor fin, disposing a gate having a different surface chemistry than the blocking material on a portion of the blocking material, forming a selective conformal layer on the gate but not on a portion of the blocking material, and removing exposed portions of the blocking material.

Abstract: An embodiment includes an apparatus comprising: a metal layer comprising a plurality of interconnect lines on a plurality of vias; an additional metal layer comprising first, second, and third interconnect lines on first, second, and third vias; the first and third vias coupling the first and third interconnect lines to two of the plurality of interconnect lines; a lateral interconnect, included entirely within the additional metal layer, directly connected to each of the first, second, and third interconnect lines; and an insulator layer included entirely between two sidewalls of the second via. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first material block comprising a first block insulator layer and a first multilayer stack on the first block insulator layer, the first multilayer stack comprising interleaved pillar electrodes and insulator layers. A second material block is stacked on the first material block and comprises a second block insulator layer, and a second multilayer stack on the second block insulator layer, the second multilayer stack comprising interleaved pillar electrodes and insulator layers. At least one pillar extends through the first material block and the second material block, wherein the at least one pillar has a top width at a top of the first and second material blocks that is greater than a bottom width at a bottom of the first and second material blocks.

Abstract: Embodiments include an interconnect structure and methods of forming such an interconnect structure. In an embodiment, the interconnect structure comprises a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) and a first interconnect layer with a plurality of first conductive traces partially embedded in the first ILD. In an embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed over surfaces of the first ILD and sidewall surfaces of the first conductive traces. In an embodiment, the interconnect structure further comprises a second interconnect layer that includes a plurality of second conductive traces. In an embodiment, a via between the first interconnect layer and the second interconnect layer may be self-aligned with the first interconnect layer.

Abstract: A stacked transistor architecture has a fin structure that includes lower and upper portions separated by an isolation region built into the fin structure. Upper and lower gate structures on respective upper and lower fin structure portions may be different from one another (e.g., with respect to work function metal and/or gate dielectric thickness). One example methodology includes depositing lower gate structure materials on the lower and upper channel regions, recessing those materials to re-expose the upper channel region, and then re-depositing upper gate structure materials on the upper channel region. Another example methodology includes depositing a sacrificial protective layer on the upper channel region. The lower gate structure materials are then deposited on both the exposed lower channel region and sacrificial protective layer.

Abstract: A conductive route structure may be formed comprising a conductive trace and a conductive via, wherein the conductive via directly contacts the conductive trace. In one embodiment, the conductive route structure may be formed by forming a dielectric material layer on the conductive trace. A via opening may be formed through the dielectric material layer to expose a portion of the conductive trace and a blocking layer may be from only on the exposed portion of the conductive trace. A barrier line may be formed on sidewalls of the via opening and the blocking layer may thereafter be removed. A conductive via may then be formed within the via opening, wherein the conductive via directly contacts the conductive trace.

Abstract: Conductive cap-based approaches for conductive via fabrication is described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an ILD layer above a substrate. Each of the conductive lines is recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A plurality of conductive caps is on corresponding ones of the plurality of conductive lines, in recess regions above each of the plurality of conductive lines. A hardmask layer is on the plurality of conductive caps and on the uppermost surface of the ILD layer. The hardmask layer includes a first hardmask component on and aligned with the plurality of conductive caps, and a second hardmask component on an aligned with regions of the uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the hardmask layer and on a conductive cap of one of the plurality of conductive lines.

Abstract: Approaches based on photobucket floor colors with selective grafting for semiconductor structure fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. For example, a grating structure is formed above an ILD layer formed above a substrate, the grating structure including a plurality of dielectric spacers separated by alternating first trenches and second trenches, grafting a resist-inhibitor layer in the first trenches but not in the second trenches, forming photoresist in the first trenches and in the second trenches, exposing and removing the photoresist in select ones of the second trenches to a lithographic exposure to define a set of via locations, etching the set of via locations into the ILD layer, and forming a plurality of metal lines in the ILD layer, where select ones of the plurality of metal lines includes an underlying conductive via corresponding to the set of via locations.

Abstract: Approaches based on differential hardmasks for modulation of electrobucket sensitivity for semiconductor structure fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes forming a hardmask layer above an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer formed above a substrate. A plurality of dielectric spacers is formed on the hardmask layer. The hardmask layer is patterned to form a plurality of first hardmask portions. A plurality of second hardmask portions is formed alternating with the first hardmask portions. A plurality of electrobuckets is formed on the alternating first and second hardmask portions and in openings between the plurality of dielectric spacers. Select ones of the plurality of electrobuckets are exposed to a lithographic exposure and removed to define a set of via locations.

Abstract: There is disclosed in an example an integrated circuit, including: a first layer having a dielectric, a first conductive interconnect and a second conductive interconnect; a second layer having a third conductive interconnect; a conductive via between the first layer and the second layer to electrically couple the second conductive interconnect to the third conductive interconnect; a dielectric plug disposed vertically between the first layer and second layer and disposed to prevent the via from electrically shorting to the first conductive interconnect; and a dielectric cap covering the dielectric plug.

Abstract: Bottom-up fill dielectric materials for semiconductor structure fabrication, and methods of fabricating bottom-up fill dielectric materials for semiconductor structure fabrication, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a dielectric material for semiconductor structure fabrication includes forming a trench in a material layer above a substrate. A blocking layer is formed partially into the trench along upper portions of sidewalls of the trench. A dielectric layer is formed filling a bottom portion of the trench with a dielectric material up to the blocking layer. The blocking layer is removed. The forming the blocking layer, the forming the dielectric layer, and the removing the blocking layer are repeated until the trench is completely filled with the dielectric material.

Abstract: Techniques related to forming selective gate spacers for semiconductor devices and transistor structures and devices formed using such techniques are discussed. Such techniques include forming a blocking material on a semiconductor fin, disposing a gate having a different surface chemistry than the blocking material on a portion of the blocking material, forming a selective conformal layer on the gate but not on a portion of the blocking material, and removing exposed portions of the blocking material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an interconnect structure with a via and methods of forming such structures. In an embodiment, the interconnect structure comprises a first interlayer dielectric (ILD). A first interconnect line and a second interconnect line extend into the first ILD. According to an embodiment, a second ILD is positioned over the first interconnect line and the second interconnect line. A via may extend through the second ILD and electrically coupled to the first interconnect line. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a portion of a bottom surface of the via being positioned over the second interconnect line. However, an isolation layer may be positioned between the bottom surface of the via and a top surface of the second interconnect line, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: Methods of selectively depositing high-K gate dielectric on a semiconductor structure are disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure disposed above a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor structure is disposed beside an isolation sidewall. A sacrificial blocking layer is then selectively deposited on the isolation sidewall and not on the semiconductor structure. Thereafter, a high-K gate dielectric is deposited on the semiconductor structure, but not on the sacrificial blocking layer. Properties of the sacrificial blocking layer prevent deposition of oxide material on its surface. A thermal treatment is then performed to remove the sacrificial blocking layer, thereby forming a high-K gate dielectric only on the semiconductor structure.