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: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a source/drain (S/D) epitaxial layer formed in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a S/D silicide layer formed on the S/D epitaxial layer, and the S/D silicide layer has a first width, the S/D epitaxial layer has a second width, and the first width is smaller than the second width. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric spacer between the gate structure and the S/D silicide layer, and a top surface of the dielectric spacer is lower than a top surface of the gate structure.

Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate stack over and along sidewalls of the fin, a gate spacer along a sidewall of the gate stack, and an epitaxial source/drain region in the fin and adjacent the gate spacer. The epitaxial source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer on the fin, the first epitaxial layer including silicon, germanium, and arsenic, and a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer including silicon and phosphorus, the first epitaxial layer separating the second epitaxial layer from the fin. The epitaxial source/drain region further includes a third epitaxial layer on the second epitaxial layer, the third epitaxial layer including silicon, germanium, and phosphorus.

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: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of nanostructures disposed over a substrate, a plurality of inner spacer features interleaving the plurality of nanostructures. The plurality of nanostructures are arranged along a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The plurality of inner spacer features include a bottommost inner spacer feature and upper inner spacer features disposed above the bottommost inner spacer feature. The first height of the bottommost inner spacer feature along the direction is greater than a second height of each of the upper inner spacer features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of nanostructures disposed over a substrate and a gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of nanostructure. Each of the plurality of nanostructures includes a channel layer sandwiched between two cap layers along a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form silicon germanium (SiGe) source/drain epitaxial stacks with a boron doping profile and a germanium concentration that can induce external stress to a fully strained SiGe channel. The method includes forming one or more gate structures over a fin, where the fin includes a fin height, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The method also includes forming a first spacer on the first sidewall of the fin and a second spacer on the second sidewall of the fin; etching the fin to reduce the fin height between the one or more gate structures; and etching the first spacer and the second spacer between the one or more gate structures so that the etched first spacer is shorter than the etched second spacer and the first and second etched spacers are shorter than the etched fin. The method further includes forming an epitaxial stack on the etched fin between the one or more gate structures.

Abstract: A structure includes a stepped crystalline substrate that includes an upper step, a lower step, and a step rise. A first fin includes a crystalline structure having a first lattice constant. The first fin is formed over the lower step. A second fin includes a crystalline structure having a second lattice constant, the second lattice constant being different than the first lattice constant. The second fin can be formed over the upper step apart from the first fin. A second crystalline structure can be formed over the first crystalline structure and the tops of the fins aligned. The first and second fins can be made of the same material, but with different heights and different channel strain values. The first fin can be used as an NMOS fin and the second fin can be used as a PMOS fin of a CMOS FinFET.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a source/drain (S/D) epitaxial layer formed in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The S/D epitaxial layer includes a first S/D epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer. The semiconductor structure includes a gate spacer formed on a sidewall surface of the gate structure, and the gate spacer is directly over the first S/D epitaxial layer. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric spacer formed adjacent to the gate spacer, and the dielectric spacer is directly over the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor processing apparatus according to one embodiment. The semiconductor processing apparatus includes a chamber; a base station located in the chamber for supporting a semiconductor substrate; a preheating assembly surrounding the base station; a first heating element fixed relative to the base station and configured to direct heat to the semiconductor substrate; and a second heating element moveable relative to the base station and operable to direct heat to a portion of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate stack over and along sidewalls of the fin, a gate spacer along a sidewall of the gate stack, and an epitaxial source/drain region in the fin and adjacent the gate spacer. The epitaxial source/drain region includes a first epitaxial layer on the fin, the first epitaxial layer including silicon, germanium, and arsenic, and a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer including silicon and phosphorus, the first epitaxial layer separating the second epitaxial layer from the fin. The epitaxial source/drain region further includes a third epitaxial layer on the second epitaxial layer, the third epitaxial layer including silicon, germanium, and phosphorus.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form silicon germanium (SiGe) source/drain epitaxial stacks with a boron doping profile and a germanium concentration that can induce external stress to a fully strained SiGe channel. The method includes forming one or more gate structures over a fin, where the fin includes a fin height, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The method also includes forming a first spacer on the first sidewall of the fin and a second spacer on the second sidewall of the fin; etching the fin to reduce the fin height between the one or more gate structures; and etching the first spacer and the second spacer between the one or more gate structures so that the etched first spacer is shorter than the etched second spacer and the first and second etched spacers are shorter than the etched fin. The method further includes forming an epitaxial stack on the etched fin between the one or more gate structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes semiconductor wires or sheets disposed over a substrate, a source/drain epitaxial layer in contact with the semiconductor wires or sheets, a gate dielectric layer disposed on and wrapping around each channel region of the semiconductor wires or sheets, a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer and wrapping around each channel region, and insulating spacers disposed in spaces, respectively. The spaces are defined by adjacent semiconductor wires or sheets, the gate electrode layer and the source/drain region. The source/drain epitaxial layer includes multiple doped SiGe layers having different Ge contents and at least one of the source/drain epitaxial layers is non-doped SiGe or Si.

Abstract: Semiconductor device manufacturing includes forming fins over substrate extending in first direction. Gate is formed over fin's first portion, gate extends in second direction crossing first. Fin mask layer formed on fin sidewalls. Fin second portions are recessed, wherein second portions are located on opposing gate sides. Epitaxial source/drains are formed over recessed fins. Epitaxial source/drain structures include first layer having first dopant concentration, second layer having second dopant concentration, and third layer having third dopant concentration. Third concentration is greater than second concentration, second concentration is greater than first concentration.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate, depositing an isolation material surrounding the first and second fins, forming a gate structure along sidewalls and over upper surfaces of the first and second fins, recessing the first and second fins outside of the gate structure to form a first recess in the first fin and a second recess in the second fin, epitaxially growing a first source/drain material protruding from the first and second recesses, and epitaxially growing a second source/drain material on the first source/drain material, wherein the second source/drain material grows at a slower rate on outermost surfaces of opposite ends of the first source/drain material than on surfaces of the first source/drain material between the opposite ends of the first source/drain material, and wherein the second source/drain material has a higher doping concentration than the first source/drain material.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate having an n-doped well feature and an epitaxial silicon germanium fin formed over the n-doped well feature. The epitaxial silicon germanium fin has a lower part and an upper part. The lower part has a lower germanium content than the upper part. A channel is formed from the epitaxial silicon germanium fin. A gate is formed over the epitaxial silicon germanium fin. A doped source-drain is formed proximate the channel.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate, depositing an isolation material surrounding the first and second fins, forming a gate structure along sidewalls and over upper surfaces of the first and second fins, recessing the first and second fins outside of the gate structure to form a first recess in the first fin and a second recess in the second fin, epitaxially growing a first source/drain material protruding from the first and second recesses, and epitaxially growing a second source/drain material on the first source/drain material, wherein the second source/drain material grows at a slower rate on outermost surfaces of opposite ends of the first source/drain material than on surfaces of the first source/drain material between the opposite ends of the first source/drain material, and wherein the second source/drain material has a higher doping concentration than the first source/drain material.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked is formed, a sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure, a source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space, the first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space, and a source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers and at least one of the spacer has width changes along vertical direction of device. At least one of the first semiconductor layers has a composition different from another of the first semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A data feature augmentation system and method for a low-precision neural network are provided. The data feature augmentation system includes a first time difference unit. The first time difference unit includes a first sample-and-hold circuit and a subtractor. The first sample-and-hold circuit is used for receiving an input signal and obtaining a first signal according to the input signal. The first signal is related to a first leakage rate of the first sample-and-hold circuit and the first signal is the signal generated by delaying the input signal by one time unit. The subtractor is used for performing subtraction on the input signal and the first signal to obtain a time difference signal. The input signal and the time difference signal are inputted to the low-precision neural network.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space. The first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space to cover the inner spacer. At least one of the first semiconductor layers has a composition which changes along a stacked direction of the first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers.