Abstract: A semiconductor device and method includes: forming a gate stack over a substrate; growing a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, the source/drain region being n-type doped Si; growing a semiconductor cap layer over the source/drain region, the semiconductor cap layer having Ge impurities, the source/drain region free of the Ge impurities; depositing a metal layer over the semiconductor cap layer; annealing the metal layer and the semiconductor cap layer to form a silicide layer over the source/drain region, the silicide layer having the Ge impurities; and forming a metal contact electrically coupled to the silicide layer.

Abstract: An inner spacer is formed to a length that reduces the likelihood of non-growth in an epitaxial layer of a source/drain region of a nanostructure transistor. This reduces the likelihood that portion of the epitaxial layer become non-merged, which in turn reduces the likelihood of void formation in the source/drain region. Moreover, the epitaxial layer may be formed using a cyclic deposition and etch technique, which enables conformal growth of the epitaxial layer to further reduce the likelihood of void formation and to reduce the likelihood of nodule formation in the source/drain region. The reduction in defects may decrease semiconductor device failure, increase semiconductor device yield, and/or increase semiconductor device performance, among other examples.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of forming a semiconductor device having epitaxial structures with optimized dimensions. The method includes forming first and second fin structures on a substrate, forming a spacer layer on the first and second fin structures, forming a first spacer structure adjacent to the first fin structure, and forming a first epitaxial structure adjacent to the first spacer structure. The first and second fin structures are separated by an isolation layer. The first spacer structure has a first height above the isolation layer. The method further includes forming a second spacer structure adjacent to the second fin structure and forming a second epitaxial structure adjacent to the second spacer structure. The second spacer structure has a second height above the isolation layer greater than the first height. The second epitaxial structure includes a type of dopant different from the first epitaxial structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first insulating fin; a second insulating fin; a nanostructure between the first insulating fin and the second insulating fin; and a gate structure wrapping around the nanostructure, a top surface of the gate structure disposed above a top surface of the first insulating fin, the top surface of the gate structure disposed below a top surface of the second insulating fin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for forming merged source/drain features from two or more fin structures. The merged source/drain features according to the present disclosure have a merged portion with an increased height percentage over the overall height of the source/drain feature. The increase height percentage provides an increased landing range for source/drain contact features, therefore, reducing the connection resistance between the source/drain feature and the source/drain contact features. In some embodiments, the emerged source/drain features include one or more voids formed within the merged portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a fin protruding above the substrate, the fin including a compound semiconductor material that includes a semiconductor material and a first dopant, the first dopant having a different lattice constant than the semiconductor material, where a concentration of the first dopant in the fin changes along a first direction from an upper surface of the fin toward the substrate; a gate structure over the fin; a channel region in the fin and directly under the gate structure; and source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions including a second dopant, where a concentration of the second dopant at a first location within the channel region is higher than that at a second location within the channel region, where the concentration of the first dopant at the first location is lower than that at the second location.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device and methods for forming the same. The semiconductor device includes nanostructures on a substrate and a source/drain region in contact with the nanostructures. The source/drain region includes epitaxial end caps, where each epitaxial end cap is formed at an end portion of a nanostructure of the nanostructures. The source/drain region also includes an epitaxial body in contact with the epitaxial end caps and an epitaxial top cap formed on the epitaxial body. The semiconductor device further includes gate structure formed on the nanostructures.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer on the substrate, and a stacked fin structure on the buffer layer. The buffer layer can include germanium, and the stacked fin structure can include a semiconductor layer with germanium and tin. The semiconductor device further includes a gate structure wrapped around a portion of the semiconductor layer and an epitaxial structure on the buffer layer and in contact with the semiconductor layer. The epitaxial structure includes germanium and tin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a gate structure and a method of forming same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate structure over the substrate. The substrate has a first region and a second region. The gate structure extends across an interface between the first region and the second region. The gate structure includes a first gate dielectric layer over the first region, a second gate dielectric layer over the second region, a first work function layer over the first gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer along a sidewall of the first work function layer and above the interface between the first region and the second region, and a second work function layer over the first work function layer, the barrier layer and the second gate dielectric layer. The second work function layer is in physical contact with a top surface of the first work function layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in an NMOS region, a second source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in the NMOS region, a first dielectric feature disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature, a third source/drain epitaxial feature disposed in a PMOS region, a second dielectric feature disposed between the second source/drain epitaxial feature and the third source/drain epitaxial feature, and a conductive feature disposed over the first, second, and third source/drain epitaxial features and the first and second dielectric features.

Abstract: A method includes forming an N well and a P well in a substrate; depositing a first layer having silicon over the N well and the P well; depositing a first dielectric layer over the first layer; forming a resist pattern over the first dielectric layer, the resist pattern providing an opening directly above the N well; etching the first dielectric layer and the first layer through the opening, leaving a first portion of the first layer over the N well; removing the resist pattern; and epitaxially growing a second layer having silicon germanium (SiGe) over the first portion of the first layer. The epitaxially growing the second layer includes steps of (a) performing a baking process, (b) depositing a silicon seed layer, and (c) depositing a SiGe layer over the silicon seed layer, wherein the steps (a), (b), and (c) are performed under about a same temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates an integrated chip. The integrated chip may include a semiconductor substrate having sidewalls that define a plurality of fins. A dielectric material is arranged between the plurality of fins and a gate structure is disposed over the dielectric material and around the plurality of fins. Epitaxial source/drain regions are disposed along opposing sides of the gate structure and respectively include a plurality of source/drain segments disposed on the plurality of fins and a doped epitaxial material disposed onto and between the plurality of source/drain segments. A first source/drain segment of the plurality of source/drain segments laterally extends in opposing directions to different distances past opposing sides of an underlying first fin of the plurality of fins.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a gate dielectric layer; depositing a work-function (WF) metal layer over the gate dielectric layer; and etching the WF metal layer through an etch mask, thereby removing the first portion of the WF metal layer while keeping the second portion of the WF metal layer, wherein a sidewall of the second portion of the WF metal layer is exposed. The method further includes forming a first barrier on the sidewall of the second portion of the WF metal layer and depositing a gate metal layer. A first portion of the gate metal layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer, a second portion of the gate metal layer is deposited over the first barrier and the second portion of the WF metal layer. The first barrier is disposed between the first portion of the gate metal layer and the second portion of the WF metal layer.

Abstract: A gate structure of a field effect transistor includes a first gate dielectric layer, a second gate dielectric layer, and one or more conductive layers disposed over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer is separated from the second gate dielectric layer by a gap filled with a diffusion blocking layer.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming a set of fins of a device, where the set of fins comprises an isolation fin disposed between a first fin and a second fin of the set of fins. The method also includes forming an isolation structure on at least one side of the isolation fin, with the isolation fin providing electrical isolation between the first fin and the second fin of the set of fins. Additionally, or alternatively, some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming a funnel-shaped isolation structure between a first set of fins and a second set of fins. Additionally, or alternatively, some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming, after forming a first gate structure and a second gate structure, an isolation structure between the first gate structure and the second gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for the fabrication of gate-all-around (GAA) field effect transistors (FETs) with low power consumption. The method includes depositing a first and a second epitaxial layer on a substrate and etching trench openings in the first and second epitaxial layers and the substrate. The method further includes removing, through the trench openings, portions of the first epitaxial layer to form a gap between the second epitaxial layer and the substrate and depositing, through the trench openings, a first dielectric to fill the gap and form an isolation structure. In addition, the method includes depositing a second dielectric in the trench openings to form trench isolation structures and forming a transistor structure on the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: In some implementations, a control device may determine a spacing measurement in a first dimension between a wafer on a susceptor and a pre-heat ring of a semiconductor processing tool and/or a gapping measurement in a second dimension between the wafer and the pre-heat ring, using one or more images captured in situ during a process by at least one optical sensor. Accordingly, the control device may generate a command based on a setting associated with the process being performed by the semiconductor processing tool and the spacing measurement and/or the gapping measurement. The control device may provide the command to at least one motor to move the susceptor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method includes: forming a gate stack over a substrate; growing a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, the source/drain region being n-type doped Si; growing a semiconductor cap layer over the source/drain region, the semiconductor cap layer having Ge impurities, the source/drain region free of the Ge impurities; depositing a metal layer over the semiconductor cap layer; annealing the metal layer and the semiconductor cap layer to form a silicide layer over the source/drain region, the silicide layer having the Ge impurities; and forming a metal contact electrically coupled to the silicide layer.

Abstract: In method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a source/drain epitaxial layer is formed, one or more dielectric layers are formed over the source/drain epitaxial layer, an opening is formed in the one or more dielectric layers to expose the source/drain epitaxial layer, a first silicide layer is formed on the exposed source/drain epitaxial layer, a second silicide layer different from the first silicide layer is formed on the first silicide layer, and a source/drain contact is formed over the second silicide layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a gate dielectric over a substrate; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, the gate electrode including: a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric; a glue layer over the work function tuning layer; a fill layer over the glue layer; and a void defined by inner surfaces of at least one of the fill layer, the glue layer, and the work function tuning layer, a material of the gate electrode at the inner surfaces including a work function tuning element.