Abstract: A finned semiconductor structure including sets of relatively wide and relatively narrow fins is obtained by employing hard masks having different quality. A relatively porous hard mask is formed over a first region of a semiconductor substrate and a relatively dense hard mask is formed over a second region of the substrate. Patterning of the different hard masks using a sidewall image transfer process causes greater lateral etching of the relatively porous hard mask than the relatively dense hard mask. A subsequent reactive ion etch to form semiconductor fins causes relatively narrow fins to be formed beneath the relatively porous hard mask and relatively wide fins to be formed beneath the relatively dense hard mask.

Abstract: A finned semiconductor structure including sets of relatively wide and relatively narrow fins is obtained by employing hard masks having different quality. A relatively porous hard mask is formed over a first region of a semiconductor substrate and a relatively dense hard mask is formed over a second region of the substrate. Patterning of the different hard masks using a sidewall image transfer process causes greater lateral etching of the relatively porous hard mask than the relatively dense hard mask. A subsequent reactive ion etch to form semiconductor fins causes relatively narrow fins to be formed beneath the relatively porous hard mask and relatively wide fins to be formed beneath the relatively dense hard mask.

Abstract: Compressive and tensile stress is induced, respectively, on semiconductor fins in the pFET and nFET regions of a monolithic semiconductor structure including FinFETs. A tensile stressor is formed from dielectric material and a second, compressive stressor is formed from metal. The stressors may be formed in fin cut regions of the monolithic semiconductor structure and are configured to provide stress in the direction of FinFET current flow. The dielectric material may be deposited on the monolithic semiconductor structure and later removed from the fin cut regions of the pFET region. Metal exhibiting compressive residual stress is then deposited in the fin cut regions from which the dielectric material was removed. Gate cut regions may also be filled with the dielectric stressor material to impart substantially uniaxial tensile stress perpendicular to the semiconductor fins and perpendicular to electrical current flow.

Abstract: Compressive and tensile stress is induced, respectively, on semiconductor fins in the pFET and nFET regions of a monolithic semiconductor structure including FinFETs. A tensile stressor is formed from dielectric material and a second, compressive stressor is formed from metal. The stressors may be formed in fin cut regions of the monolithic semiconductor structure and are configured to provide stress in the direction of FinFET current flow. The dielectric material may be deposited on the monolithic semiconductor structure and later removed from the fin cut regions of the pFET region. Metal exhibiting compressive residual stress is then deposited in the fin cut regions from which the dielectric material was removed. Gate cut regions may also be filled with the dielectric stressor material to impart substantially uniaxial tensile stress perpendicular to the semiconductor fins and perpendicular to electrical current flow.

Abstract: Highly selective dry etching techniques for VFET STI recess are provided. In one aspect, a method for dry etching includes: contacting a wafer including an oxide with at least one etch gas under conditions sufficient to etch the oxide at a rate of less than about 30 ?/min; removing a byproduct of the etch from the wafer using a thermal treatment; and repeating the contacting step followed by the removing step multiple times until a desired recess of the oxide has been achieved. A method of forming a VFET device is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments for an MOL interconnect structure having low metal-to-metal interface resistance interconnect structure including one or more contacts of one or more devices formed on a substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on one or more devices. One or more trenches are formed in the dielectric layer. The MOL interconnect structure also includes a barrier layer formed on one or more portions of the dielectric layer, along with a metallization layer, wherein the metallization layer forms a metal-to-metal interface with the one or more contacts.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a gate stack on a substrate. The method further includes depositing a first spacer layer on a sidewall of the gate stack. The first spacer layer includes silicon and carbon. The method includes performing a first nitrogen plasma treatment process on the first spacer layer to increase a density of the first spacer layer. The method further includes depositing a second spacer layer on the first spacer layer. The second spacer layer includes silicon, carbon, and nitrogen.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of semiconductor fins on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor fins spaced apart from one another by a respective trench to define a fin pitch. A multi-layer electrical isolation region is contained in each trench. The multi-layer electrical isolation region includes an oxide layer and a protective layer. The oxide layer includes a first material on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The protective layer includes a second material on an upper surface of the oxide layer. The second material is different than the first material. The first material has a first etch resistance and the second material has a second etch resistance that is greater than the first etch resistance.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a plurality of fins from a substrate, the fins including nFET fins and pFET fins; forming a trench between the nFET fins and pFET fins; forming a silicon nitride (SiN) layer over the trench, the nFET fins and the pFET fins to create an intermediate device; and depositing with a high density plasma (HDP) process an HDP layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2) over the trench, the nFET fins and the pFET fins. The HDP process includes loading the intermediate device into a deposition chamber and introducing hydrogen (H2) gas and silane (SiH4) into the deposition chamber, wherein the H2 gas is not introduced into the deposition chamber before the SiH4 is introduced into the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of semiconductor fins on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor fins spaced apart from one another by a respective trench to define a fin pitch. A multi-layer electrical isolation region is contained in each trench. The multi-layer electrical isolation region includes an oxide layer and a protective layer. The oxide layer includes a first material on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The protective layer includes a second material on an upper surface of the oxide layer. The second material is different than the first material. The first material has a first etch resistance and the second material has a second etch resistance that is greater than the first etch resistance.

Abstract: A finned semiconductor structure including sets of relatively wide and relatively narrow fins is obtained by employing hard masks having different quality. A relatively porous hard mask is formed over a first region of a semiconductor substrate and a relatively dense hard mask is formed over a second region of the substrate. Patterning of the different hard masks using a sidewall image transfer process causes greater lateral etching of the relatively porous hard mask than the relatively dense hard mask. A subsequent reactive ion etch to form semiconductor fins causes relatively narrow fins to be formed beneath the relatively porous hard mask and relatively wide fins to be formed beneath the relatively dense hard mask.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of semiconductor fins on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor fins spaced apart from one another by a respective trench to define a fin pitch. A multi-layer electrical isolation region is contained in each trench. The multi-layer electrical isolation region includes an oxide layer and a protective layer. The oxide layer includes a first material on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The protective layer includes a second material on an upper surface of the oxide layer. The second material is different than the first material. The first material has a first etch resistance and the second material has a second etch resistance that is greater than the first etch resistance.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of semiconductor fins on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor fins spaced apart from one another by a respective trench to define a fin pitch. A multi-layer electrical isolation region is contained in each trench. The multi-layer electrical isolation region includes an oxide layer and a protective layer. The oxide layer includes a first material on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. The protective layer includes a second material on an upper surface of the oxide layer. The second material is different than the first material. The first material has a first etch resistance and the second material has a second etch resistance that is greater than the first etch resistance.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: An upper layer is formed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The upper layer comprises a plurality of metal interconnects and one or more upper layer air gaps positioned between adjacent metal interconnects. A lower layer is formed in the first ILD layer. The lower layer comprises one or more vias, and one or more lower air gaps positioned between adjacent vias. The upper layer and the lower layer are formed in accordance with a dual-damascene process.