Abstract: In the manufacture of a FinFET device, an isolation architecture is provided between gate and source/drain contact locations. The isolation architecture may include a low-k spacer layer and a contact etch stop layer. An upper portion of the isolation architecture is removed and replaced with a high-k, etch-selective spacer layer adapted to resist degradation during an etch to open the source/drain contact locations. The high-k spacer layer, in conjunction with a self-aligned contact (SAC) capping layer disposed over the gate and overlapping a sidewall of the isolation layer, forms an improved isolation structure that inhibits short circuits or parasitic capacitance between the gate and source/drain contacts.

Abstract: An integrated circuit product is disclosed that includes a transistor device that includes a final gate structure, a gate cap, a low-k sidewall spacer positioned on and in contact with opposing sidewalls of the final gate structure, first and second contact etch stop layers (CESLs) located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, whereby the CESLs are positioned on and in contact with the low-k sidewall spacer, and a high-k spacer located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, wherein the high-k spacer is positioned in recesses formed in an upper portion of the CESLs.

Abstract: Device structures and fabrication methods for an on-chip resistor. A dielectric layer includes a trench with a bottom and a sidewall arranged to surround the bottom. A metal layer is disposed on the dielectric layer at the sidewall of the trench. The metal layer includes a surface that terminates the metal layer at the bottom of the trench to define a discontinuity that extends along a length of the trench.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include trenches in a material layer that divide the material layer into fins. With such devices, an insulator partially fills the trenches and contacts the material layer. The top surface of the insulator (e.g., the surface opposite where the insulator contacts the material layer) has a convex dome shape between at least two of the fins. The dome shape has a first thickness from (from the bottom of the trench) where the insulator contacts the fins, and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness where the insulator is between the fins. Further, there is a maximum thickness difference between the first and second thicknesses at the midpoint between the fins (e.g., the highest point of the dome shape is at the midpoint between the fins). Also, the top surface of the first insulator has concave divots where the first insulator contacts the fins.

Abstract: Structures and fabrication methods for a field-effect transistor. First and second spacers are formed adjacent to opposite sidewalls of a gate structure. A section of the gate structure is partially removed with a first etching process to form a cut that extends partially through the gate structure. After partially removing the section of the gate structure with the first etching process, upper sections of the first and second sidewall spacers arranged above the gate structure inside the cut are at least partially removed. After at least partially removing the upper sections of the first and second sidewall spacers, the section of the gate structure is completely removed from the cut with a second etching process. A dielectric material is deposited inside the cut to form a dielectric pillar.

Abstract: Processes form integrated circuit apparatuses that include parallel fins, wherein the fins are patterned in a first direction, and parallel gate structures intersect the fins in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, source/drain structures are positioned on the fins between the gate structures, source/drain contacts are positioned on the source/drain structures, sidewall insulators are positioned between the gate structures and the source/drain contacts (wherein the sidewall insulators have a lower portion adjacent to the fins and an upper portion distal to the fins), and upper sidewall spacers are positioned between the upper portion of the sidewall insulators and the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: A method for producing a finFET to prevent gate contact and trench silicide (TS) electrical shorts. Embodiments include forming a finFET over a substrate, the finFET comprising an epi S/D region formed at sides of a gate; forming an ?-Si layer in a recess over the epi S/D; forming an oxide layer over the ?-Si layer; forming a non-TS isolation opening over the substrate; forming a low dielectric constant layer in the non-TS isolation opening; removing the oxide layer and ?-Si layer; forming an opening over the gate and an opening over the epi S/D region; and forming a gate contact in the opening over the gate and an epi S/D contact over the opening over the epi S/D region.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed includes a gate structure and a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate structure, the sidewall spacer having an upper surface, wherein an upper portion of the gate structure is positioned above a level of the upper surface of the sidewall spacer. In this illustrative example, the device also includes a tapered upper surface on the upper portion of the gate structure and a gate cap, the gate cap being positioned above the tapered upper surface of the gate structure and above the upper surface of the sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-aligned sacrificial epitaxial cap for trench silicide and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include a Si fin formed in a PFET region; a pair of Si fins formed in a NFET region; epitaxial S/D regions formed on ends of the Si fins; a replacement metal gate formed over the Si fins in the PFET and NFET regions; metal silicide trenches formed over the epitaxial S/D regions in the PFET and NEFT regions; a metal layer formed over top surfaces of the S/D region in the PFET region and top and bottom surfaces of the S/D regions in the NFET region, wherein the epitaxial S/D regions in the PFET and NFET regions are diamond shaped in cross-sectional view.

Abstract: One illustrative example of an overlay mark disclosed herein includes four quadrants (I-IV). Each quadrant of the mark contains an inner periodic structure and an outer periodic structure. Each of the outer periodic structures includes a plurality of outer features. Each of the inner periodic structures includes a plurality of first inner groups, each of the first inner groups having a plurality of first inner features, each first inner group being oriented such that there is an end-to-end spacing relationship between each first inner group and a selected one of the outer features.

Abstract: An integrated circuit product is disclosed that includes a transistor device that includes a final gate structure, a gate cap, a low-k sidewall spacer positioned on and in contact with opposing sidewalls of the final gate structure, first and second contact etch stop layers (CESLs) located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, whereby the CESLs are positioned on and in contact with the low-k sidewall spacer, and a high-k spacer located on opposite sides of the final gate structure, wherein the high-k spacer is positioned in recesses formed in an upper portion of the CESLs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to chamfered replacement gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a recessed gate dielectric material in a trench structure; a plurality of recessed workfunction materials within the trench structure on the recessed gate dielectric material; a plurality of additional workfunction materials within the trench structure and located above the recessed gate dielectric material and the plurality of recessed workfunction materials; a gate metal within the trench structure and over the plurality of additional workfunction materials, the gate metal and the plurality of additional workfunction materials having a planar surface below a top surface of the trench structure; and a capping material over the gate metal and the plurality of additional workfunction materials.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed includes a gate structure and a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent the gate structure, the sidewall spacer having an upper surface, wherein an upper portion of the gate structure is positioned above a level of the upper surface of the sidewall spacer. In this illustrative example, the device also includes a tapered upper surface on the upper portion of the gate structure and a gate cap, the gate cap being positioned above the tapered upper surface of the gate structure and above the upper surface of the sidewall spacer.

Abstract: Methods of forming cross-coupling contacts for field-effect transistors and structures for field effect-transistors that include cross-coupling contacts. A sidewall spacer is formed adjacent to a gate structure, a dielectric cap is formed over the gate structure and the sidewall spacer, and an epitaxial semiconductor layer is formed adjacent to the sidewall spacer. A first portion of the dielectric cap is removed from over the sidewall spacer and the gate structure to expose a portion of a top surface of a gate electrode of the gate structure. A portion of the sidewall spacer is modified with an amorphization process. The modified portion of the sidewall spacer and the underlying gate dielectric layer are removed to expose a portion of a sidewall of the gate electrode. A cross-coupling contact is formed that directly connects the portions of the sidewall and top surface of the gate electrode with the epitaxial semiconductor layer.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a low-k sidewall spacer adjacent opposing sidewalls of a gate structure, forming contact etch stop layers (CESLs) adjacent the low-k sidewall spacer in the source/drain regions of the transistor, and forming a first insulating material above the CESLs. In this example, the method also includes recessing the first insulating material so as to expose substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs, removing a portion of a lateral width of the substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs so as to form trimmed CESLs, and forming a high-k spacer on opposite sides of the gate structure, wherein at least a portion of the high-k spacer is positioned laterally adjacent the trimmed substantially vertically oriented portions of the trimmed CESLs.

Abstract: Processes form integrated circuit apparatuses that include parallel fins, wherein the fins are patterned in a first direction, and parallel gate structures intersect the fins in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, source/drain structures are positioned on the fins between the gate structures, source/drain contacts are positioned on the source/drain structures, sidewall insulators are positioned between the gate structures and the source/drain contacts (wherein the sidewall insulators have a lower portion adjacent to the fins and an upper portion distal to the fins), and upper sidewall spacers are positioned between the upper portion of the sidewall insulators and the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a hybrid fin cut with improved fin profiles and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of fin structures in a first region of a first density of fin structures; a plurality of fin structures in a second region of a second density of fin structures; and a plurality of fin structures in a third region of a third density of fin structures. The first density, second density and third density of fin structures are different densities of fin structures, and the plurality of fin structures in the first region, the second region and the third region have a substantially uniform profile.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure in a gate cavity laterally defined by a sidewall spacer and recessing the sidewall spacer so as to form a recessed sidewall spacer with a recessed upper surface is disclosed. In this example, the method also includes performing at least one etching process to form a tapered upper surface on the exposed portion of the gate structure above the recessed upper surface of the spacer and forming a gate cap above the tapered upper surface of the gate structure and above the recessed upper surface of the recessed sidewall spacer.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a low-k sidewall spacer adjacent opposing sidewalls of a gate structure, forming contact etch stop layers (CESLs) adjacent the low-k sidewall spacer in the source/drain regions of the transistor, and forming a first insulating material above the CESLs. In this example, the method also includes recessing the first insulating material so as to expose substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs, removing a portion of a lateral width of the substantially vertically oriented portions of the CESLs so as to form trimmed CESLs, and forming a high-k spacer on opposite sides of the gate structure, wherein at least a portion of the high-k spacer is positioned laterally adjacent the trimmed substantially vertically oriented portions of the trimmed CESLs.

Abstract: Various processes form different structures including exemplary apparatuses that include (among other components) a first layer having channel regions, source/drain structures in the first layer on opposite sides of the channel regions, a gate insulator on the channel region, and a gate stack on the gate insulator. The gate stack can include a gate conductor, and a stack insulator or a gate contact on the gate conductor. The gate stack has lower sidewalls adjacent to the source/drain structures and upper sidewalls distal to the source/drain structures. Further, lower spacers are between the source/drain contacts and the lower sidewalls of the gate stack; and upper spacers between the source/drain contacts and the upper sidewalls of the gate stack. In some structures, the upper spacers can partially overlap the lower spacers.