Abstract: A surface of a semiconductor-containing dielectric material/oxynitride/nitride is treated with a basic solution in order to provide hydroxyl group termination of the surface. A dielectric metal oxide is subsequently deposited by atomic layer deposition. The hydroxyl group termination provides a uniform surface condition that facilitates nucleation and deposition of the dielectric metal oxide, and reduces interfacial defects between the oxide and the dielectric metal oxide. Further, treatment with the basic solution removes more oxide from a surface of a silicon germanium alloy with a greater atomic concentration of germanium, thereby reducing a differential in the total thickness of the combination of the oxide and the dielectric metal oxide across surfaces with different germanium concentrations.

Abstract: A method of polishing a wafer at the die level with a targeted slurry delivery system. The wafer is placed on a wafer carrier exposing the top side of the wafer, the wafer contains a die. The polishing apparatus will polish a portion of the die using a pad that is smaller than the die and the pad is located above the die. A slurry is applied to a portion of the die being polished. Embodiments of the invention provide multiple pads working on the same die.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least one suspended channel structure of a silicon including material, and a gate structure present on the suspended channel structure. At least one gate dielectric layer is present surrounding the suspended channel structure, and at least one gate conductor is present on the at least one gate dielectric layer. Source and drain structures may be composed of a silicon and germanium including material. The source and drain structures are in contact with the source and drain region ends of the suspended channel structure through a silicon cladding layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide structures and methods for controlling stress in semiconductor wafers during fabrication. Features such as deep trenches (DTs) used in circuit elements such as trench capacitors impart stress on a wafer that is proportional to the surface area of the DTs. In embodiments, a corresponding pattern of dummy (non-functional) DTs is formed on the back side of the wafer to counteract the electrically functional DTs formed on the front side of a wafer. In some embodiments, the corresponding pattern on the back side is a mirror pattern that matches the functional (front side) pattern in size, placement, and number. By creating the minor pattern on both sides of the wafer, the stresses on the front and back of the wafer are in balance. This helps reduce topography issues such as warping that can cause problems during wafer fabrication.

Abstract: Method of forming a deep trench capacitor are provided. The method may include forming a deep trench in a substrate; forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack within a portion of the deep trench, the MIM stack forming including forming an outer electrode by co-depositing a refractory metal and silicon into the deep trench; and filling a remaining portion of the deep trench with a semiconductor.

Abstract: A deep trench capacitor is provided. The deep trench capacitor may include: a deep trench in a substrate, the deep trench including an lower portion having a width that is wider than a width of the rest of the deep trench; a compressive stress layer against the substrate in the lower portion; a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack over the compressive stress layer, the MIM stack including a node dielectric between an inner electrode and an outer electrode; and a semiconductor core within the MIM stack.

Abstract: A method forming a semiconductor device that in one embodiment includes forming a gate structure on a channel region of fin structures, and forming a flowable dielectric material on a source region portion and a drain region portion of the fin structures. The flowable dielectric material is present at least between adjacent fin structures of the plurality of fin structures filling a space between the adjacent fin structures. An upper surface of the source region portion and the drain region portion of fin structures is exposed. An epitaxial semiconductor material is formed on the upper surface of the source region portion and the drain region portion of the fin structures.

Abstract: A method of polishing a wafer at the die level with a targeted slurry delivery system. The wafer is placed on a wafer carrier exposing the top side of the wafer, the wafer contains a die. The polishing apparatus will polish a portion of the die using a pad that is smaller than the die and the pad is located above the die. A slurry is applied to a portion of the die being polished. Embodiments of the invention provide multiple pads working on the same die.

Abstract: Method of forming a deep trench capacitor are provided. The method may include forming a deep trench in a substrate; enlarging a width of a lower portion of the deep trench to be wider than a width of the rest of the deep trench; epitaxially forming a compressive stress layer in the lower portion of the deep trench; forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack within the lower portion of the deep trench; and filling a remaining portion of the deep trench with a semiconductor. Alternatively to forming the compressive stress layer or in addition thereto, a silicide may be formed by co-deposition of a refractory metal and silicon.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first fin and a second fin on a substrate. A gate structure is formed over a first portion of the first fin and the second fin without covering a second portion of the first fin and the second fin. Single-crystal epitaxial layers are deposited surrounding the second portion of the first fin and the second fin such that the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the first fin does not contact the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the second fin. A polycrystalline layer is then deposited surrounding the single-crystal epitaxial layers, so that the polycrystalline layer contacts the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the first fin and the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the second fin. The single-crystal epitaxial layers and the polycrystalline layer form a merged source-drain region.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first fin and a second fin on a substrate. A gate structure is formed over a first portion of the first fin and the second fin without covering a second portion of the first fin and the second fin. Single-crystal epitaxial layers are deposited surrounding the second portion of the first fin and the second fin such that the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the first fin does not contact the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the second fin. A polycrystalline layer is then deposited surrounding the single-crystal epitaxial layers, so that the polycrystalline layer contacts the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the first fin and the single-crystal epitaxial layer on the second fin. The single-crystal epitaxial layers and the polycrystalline layer form a merged source-drain region.

Abstract: A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric for a field effect transistor (FET) and a high-k tunnel dielectric for a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device are simultaneously formed on a semiconductor substrate. A stack of at least one conductive material layer, a control gate dielectric layer, and a disposable material layer is subsequently deposited and lithographically patterned. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited and patterned, and disposable material portions are removed. A remaining portion of the control gate dielectric layer is preserved in the NVRAM device region, but is removed in the FET region. A conductive material is deposited in gate cavities to provide a control gate for the NVRAM device and a gate portion for the FET. Alternately, the control gate dielectric layer may replaced with a high-k control gate dielectric in the NVRAM device region.

Abstract: Formation of deep trench capacitors and isolation structures are decoupled by completing the isolation structures prior to etching trenches for capacitors and forming capacitors therein or vice-versa. Such decoupling of the formation of these respective structures allows different materials to be used in the deep trench capacitors and the isolation structures such as use of low permeability or dielectric constant materials and/or low Young's modulus materials in isolation structures to provide reduced AC capacitive coupling across isolation structures and/or relief of stresses associated with use of high dielectric constant materials or metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures in deep trench capacitors. Such decoupling also allows increased efficiency of use of reaction chambers for the deep trench capacitors and the isolation structures.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are disclosed, and which include an inner conductive metal capacitor electrode and an outer conductive metal capacitor electrode. A capacitor dielectric region is received between the inner and the outer conductive metal capacitor electrodes and has a thickness no greater than 150 Angstroms. Various combinations of materials of thicknesses and relationships relative one another are disclosed which enables and results in the dielectric region having a dielectric constant k of at least 35 yet leakage current no greater than 1×10?7 amps/cm2 at from ?1.1V to +1.1V.

Abstract: Electrical components for microelectronic devices and methods for forming electrical components. One particular embodiment of such a method comprises depositing an underlying layer onto a workpiece, and forming a conductive layer on the underlying layer. The method can continue by disposing a dielectric layer on the conductive layer. The underlying layer is a material that causes the dielectric layer to have a higher dielectric constant than without the underlying layer being present under the conductive layer. For example, the underlying layer can impart a structure or another property to the film stack that causes an otherwise amorphous dielectric layer to crystallize without having to undergo a separate high temperature annealing process after disposing the dielectric layer onto the conductive layer. Several examples of this method are expected to be very useful for forming dielectric layers with high dielectric constants because they avoid using a separate high temperature annealing process.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are disclosed, and which include an inner conductive metal capacitor electrode and an outer conductive metal capacitor electrode. A capacitor dielectric region is received between the inner and the outer conductive metal capacitor electrodes and has a thickness no greater than 150 Angstroms. Various combinations of materials of thicknesses and relationships relative one another are disclosed which enables and results in the dielectric region having a dielectric constant k of at least 35 yet leakage current no greater than 1×10?7 amps/cm2 at from ?1.1V to +1.1V.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A surface of a semiconductor-containing dielectric material/oxynitride/nitride is treated with a basic solution in order to provide hydroxyl group termination of the surface. A dielectric metal oxide is subsequently deposited by atomic layer deposition. The hydroxyl group termination provides a uniform surface condition that facilitates nucleation and deposition of the dielectric metal oxide, and reduces interfacial defects between the oxide and the dielectric metal oxide. Further, treatment with the basic solution removes more oxide from a surface of a silicon germanium alloy with a greater atomic concentration of germanium, thereby reducing a differential in the total thickness of the combination of the oxide and the dielectric metal oxide across surfaces with different germanium concentrations.