Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure is formed having a conventional STI trench structure formed of dielectric material extending into the substrate. A planarizing stack of nitride and oxide is formed above the STI trench structure (and optionally a dummy gate may be formed above this stack). After further conventional processing, the nitride layer results in a structure that extends laterally outward beyond the outer edges of the underlying STI structure—creating a shadow or umbrella structure. The S/D cavity is formed (between the active gate and dummy gate) and the epitaxial S/D regions are grown. The placement and configuration of the nitride layer assists in reducing the amount of substrate material removed adjacent the STI structure during the S/D region cavity formation.

Abstract: A FinFET-type device is formed having a fin structure with vertically-oriented source/drain regions (with lightly doped extensions) and a channel region extending substantially perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor stack is provided (or formed) having a first heavily doped layer and two lightly doped layer, with a channel region formed between the two lightly doped layers. The stack is etched to form fin structures (for the devices) and a gate stack is formed along the sidewalls of the channel region. A second heavily doped layer is selectively formed on the upper lightly doped layer. A portion of the first heavily doped layer and a portion of the lower lightly doped layer form a lower S/D region with a lightly doped extension region. Similarly, a portion of the second heavily doped layer and a portion of the upper lightly doped layer form an upper S/D region with a lightly doped extension region.

Abstract: We disclose semiconductor devices, comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising bulk silicon; and a plurality of fins formed on the semiconductor substrate; wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises a lower portion disposed on the semiconductor substrate and having a first width, and an upper portion disposed on the lower portion and having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width, as well as methods, apparatus, and systems for fabricating such semiconductor devices.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a fin in a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure around the fin and, after forming the gate structure, forming a final source/drain cavity in the fin, wherein the source/drain cavity comprises an upper innermost edge and a lower innermost edge, both of which extend laterally under at least a portion of the gate structure, and wherein the lower innermost edge extends laterally further under the gate structure than does the upper innermost edge.

Abstract: A method can include applying a patterned mask over a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure having a dielectric layer, forming using the patterned mask a material formation trench intermediate first and second spaced apart metal formations formed in the dielectric layer, and disposing a dielectric material formation in the material formation trench.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin in a semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure is formed adjacent the fin. A first portion of the fin extends above the isolation structure. A gate electrode is formed above the first portion of the fin. A fin spacer is formed on the first portion of the fin. The fin spacer covers less than 50% of a height of the first portion of the fin. An implantation process is performed in the presence of the fin spacer to form a doped region in the first portion of the fin.

Abstract: Methods to reduce a width of a channel region of Si fins and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a Si fin in a Si layer; forming a channel region over the Si fin including a dummy gate with a spacer on each side; forming S/D regions at opposite ends of the Si fin; removing the dummy gate, forming a cavity; thinning sidewalls of the Si fin; and forming a high-k/metal gate in the cavity.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode structure above a channel region defined in a semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is recessed in a source/drain region. A first material is epitaxially grown in the source/drain region. The first material includes a dopant species having a first concentration. A diffusion blocking layer is formed in the source/drain region above the first material. A second material is epitaxially grown in the source/drain region above the diffusion blocking layer. The second material comprises the dopant species having a second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of fabrication are provided, with one or both of an extended source-to-channel interface or an extended drain-to-channel interface. The fabrication method includes, for instance, recessing a semiconductor material to form a cavity adjacent to a channel region of a semiconductor structure being fabricated, the recessing forming a first cavity surface and a second cavity surface within the cavity; and implanting one or more dopants into the semiconductor material through the first cavity surface to define an implanted region within the semiconductor material, and form an extended channel interface, the extended channel interface including, in part, an interface of the implanted region within the semiconductor material to the channel region of the semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor structure with the extended channel interface is a FinFET.

Abstract: A method can include applying a patterned mask over a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure having a dielectric layer, forming using the patterned mask a material formation trench intermediate first and second spaced apart metal formations formed in the dielectric layer, and disposing a dielectric material formation in the material formation trench.

Abstract: Methodologies and a device for reducing capacitance and improving profile control are provided. Embodiments include forming metal vias in a first dielectric layer; forming a graded interlayer dielectric over the metal vias; forming a metal layer in the graded ILD over one of the metal vias; and forming a hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbon film over the metal layer.

Abstract: A method of providing on-chip capacitance includes providing a starting interconnect structure for semiconductor device(s), the starting interconnect structure including a layer of dielectric material. Vias of a same cross-sectional shape are formed in the layer of dielectric material having different and successive geometric cross-sectional size, and capacitors matching the via shape are formed in the vias. The geometric cross-sectional shapes include circles, squares, hexagons and octagons. For the non-circle shapes, a capacitance thereof is approximated by the capacitance of a coaxial capacitor fitting within and touching all sides of the non-circle shape multiplied by a correction factor of about 0.01 to about 2.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of fabrication are provided, with one or both of an extended source-to-channel interface or an extended drain-to-channel interface. The fabrication method includes, for instance, recessing a semiconductor material to form a cavity adjacent to a channel region of a semiconductor structure being fabricated, the recessing forming a first cavity surface and a second cavity surface within the cavity; and implanting one or more dopants into the semiconductor material through the first cavity surface to define an implanted region within the semiconductor material, and form an extended channel interface, the extended channel interface including, in part, an interface of the implanted region within the semiconductor material to the channel region of the semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor structure with the extended channel interface is a FinFET.

Abstract: Diodes for use in FinFET technologies having increased junction electric fields without the need for increased dopant concentrations, as well as methods, apparatus, and systems for fabricating such diodes. The diodes may comprise a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of fins formed on the semiconductor substrate; wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises an N channel doped region comprising an N channel dopant, and the semiconductor substrate further comprises a plurality of P channel doped regions comprising a P channel dopant, wherein each of the P channel doped regions is disposed under one of the plurality of fins and is adjacent to the N channel doped region of the fin.

Abstract: A method of forming a source/drain region with an abrupt, vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a gate electrode over and perpendicular to a semiconductor fin; forming first spacers on opposite sides of the gate electrode; forming second spacers on opposite sides of the fin; forming a cavity in the fin adjacent the first spacers, between the second spacers; partially epitaxially growing source/drain regions in each cavity; implanting a first dopant into the partially grown source/drain regions with an optional RTA thereafter; epitaxially growing a remainder of the source/drain regions in the cavities, in situ doped with a second dopant; and implanting a third dopant in the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method of forming a source/drain region with abrupt vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a first mask over a fin of a first polarity FET and source/drain regions of the first polarity FET; forming spacers on opposite sides of a fin of a second polarity FET, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity, on each side of a gate electrode; implanting a first dopant into the fin of the second polarity FET; etching a cavity in the fin of the second polarity FET on each side of the gate electrode; removing the first mask; performing rapid thermal anneal (RTA); epitaxially growing a source/drain region of the second polarity FET in each cavity; forming a second mask over the fin of the first polarity FET and source/drain regions of the first polarity FET; and implanting a second dopant in the source/drain regions of the second polarity FET.

Abstract: A method can include applying a patterned mask over a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure having a dielectric layer, forming using the patterned mask a material formation trench intermediate first and second spaced apart metal formations formed in the dielectric layer, and disposing a dielectric material formation in the material formation trench.

Abstract: A method of forming fins and the resulting fin-shaped field effect transistors (finFET) are provided. Embodiments include forming silicon (Si) fins over a substrate; forming a first metal over each of the Si fins; forming an isolation material over the first metal; removing an upper portion of the isolation material to expose and upper portion of the first metal; removing the upper portion of the first metal to expose an upper portion of each Si fin; removing the isolation material after removing the upper portion of the first metal; and forming a second metal over the first metal and the upper portion of the Si fins.

Abstract: A method of forming a source/drain region with an abrupt, vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a gate electrode over and perpendicular to a semiconductor fin; forming first spacers on opposite sides of the gate electrode; forming second spacers on opposite sides of the fin; forming a cavity in the fin adjacent the first spacers, between the second spacers; partially epitaxially growing source/drain regions in each cavity; implanting a first dopant into the partially grown source/drain regions with an optional RTA thereafter; epitaxially growing a remainder of the source/drain regions in the cavities, in situ doped with a second dopant; and implanting a third dopant in the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method of forming a source/drain region with abrupt vertical and conformal junction and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a first mask over a fin of a first polarity FET and source/drain regions of the first polarity FET; forming spacers on opposite sides of a fin of a second polarity FET, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity, on each side of a gate electrode; implanting a first dopant into the fin of the second polarity FET; etching a cavity in the fin of the second polarity FET on each side of the gate electrode; removing the first mask; performing rapid thermal anneal (RTA); epitaxially growing a source/drain region of the second polarity FET in each cavity; forming a second mask over the fin of the first polarity FET and source/drain regions of the first polarity FET; and implanting a second dopant in the source/drain regions of the second polarity FET.