Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, etching the dummy gate stack to form an opening, depositing a first dielectric layer extending into the opening, and depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and extending into the opening. A planarization process is then performed to form a gate isolation region including the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The dummy gate stack is then removed to form trenches on opposing sides of the gate isolation region. The method further includes performing a first etching process to remove sidewall portions of the first dielectric layer, performing a second etching process to thin the second dielectric layer, and forming replacement gates in the trenches.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate. The method includes forming a first dummy gate structure that straddles the first fin and the second fin. The first dummy gate structure includes a first dummy gate dielectric and a first dummy gate disposed over the first dummy gate dielectric. The method includes replacing a portion of the first dummy gate with a gate isolation structure. The portion of the first dummy gate is disposed over the second fin. The method includes removing the first dummy gate. The method includes removing a first portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the first fin, while leaving a second portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the second fin intact. The method includes forming a gate feature straddling the first fin and the second fin, wherein the gate isolation structure intersects the gate feature.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas spacer in a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device including the same are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate; forming a first gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stack; forming a second gate spacer on sidewalls of the first gate spacer; removing the second gate spacer using an etching process to form a first opening, the etching process being performed at a temperature less than 0° C., the etching process using an etching solution including hydrogen fluoride; and depositing a dielectric layer over the first gate spacer and the gate stack, the dielectric layer sealing a gas spacer in the first opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor. The first and second transistors operate under a lower gate voltage than the third and fourth transistors. The first transistor has a first active gate structure and the second transistor has a second active gate structure. The first and second active gate structures are separated by a first gate isolation structure along a first direction. The third transistor has a third active gate structure and the fourth transistor has a fourth active gate structure. The third and fourth active gate structures are separated by a second gate isolation structure along the first direction. The variation of a first distance between respective sidewalls of the first gate isolation structure is equal to the variation of a second distance between respective sidewalls of the second gate isolation structure along the first direction.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, etching the dummy gate stack to form an opening, depositing a first dielectric layer extending into the opening, and depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and extending into the opening. A planarization process is then performed to form a gate isolation region including the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The dummy gate stack is then removed to form trenches on opposing sides of the gate isolation region. The method further includes performing a first etching process to remove sidewall portions of the first dielectric layer, performing a second etching process to thin the second dielectric layer, and forming replacement gates in the trenches.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate. The method includes forming a first dummy gate structure that straddles the first fin and the second fin. The first dummy gate structure includes a first dummy gate dielectric and a first dummy gate disposed over the first dummy gate dielectric. The method includes replacing a portion of the first dummy gate with a gate isolation structure. The portion of the first dummy gate is disposed over the second fin. The method includes removing the first dummy gate. The method includes removing a first portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the first fin, while leaving a second portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the second fin intact. The method includes forming a gate feature straddling the first fin and the second fin, wherein the gate isolation structure intersects the gate feature.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate. The method includes forming a first dummy gate structure that straddles the first fin and the second fin. The first dummy gate structure includes a first dummy gate dielectric and a first dummy gate disposed over the first dummy gate dielectric. The method includes replacing a portion of the first dummy gate with a gate isolation structure. The portion of the first dummy gate is disposed over the second fin. The method includes removing the first dummy gate. The method includes removing a first portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the first fin, while leaving a second portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the second fin intact. The method includes forming a gate feature straddling the first fin and the second fin, wherein the gate isolation structure intersects the gate feature.

Abstract: A method for forming a degreFinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate and forming a liner layer over the first fin structure and the second fin structure. The method also includes forming an isolation layer over the liner layer and removing a portion of the liner layer and a portion of the isolation layer, such that the liner layer includes a first liner layer on an outer sidewall surface of the first fin structure and a second liner layer on an inner sidewall surface of the first fin structure, and a top surface of the second liner layer is higher than a top surface of the first liner layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor fin extending along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor fin also extending along the first direction. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric structure disposed between the first and second semiconductor fins. The semiconductor device includes a gate isolation structure vertically disposed above the dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a metal gate layer extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the metal gate layer includes a first portion straddling the first semiconductor fin and a second portion straddling the second semiconductor fin. The gate isolation structure separates the first and second portions of the metal gate layer from each other and includes a bottom portion extending into the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, the first gate stack being between a first gate spacer and a second gate spacer. The device further includes a second gate stack over the semiconductor substrate between the first gate spacer and the second gate spacer and a dielectric material separating the first gate stack from the second gate stack. The dielectric material is at least partially between the first gate spacer and the second gate spacer, a first width of an upper portion of the dielectric material is greater than a second width of a lower portion of the dielectric material, and a third width of an upper portion of the first gate spacer is less than a fourth width of a lower portion of the first gate spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas spacer in a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device including the same are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate; forming a first gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stack; forming a second gate spacer on sidewalls of the first gate spacer; removing the second gate spacer using an etching process to form a first opening, the etching process being performed at a temperature less than 0° C., the etching process using an etching solution including hydrogen fluoride; and depositing a dielectric layer over the first gate spacer and the gate stack, the dielectric layer sealing a gas spacer in the first opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate and forming a liner layer over the first fin structure and the second fin structure. The method also includes forming an isolation layer over the liner layer and removing a portion of the liner layer and a portion of the isolation layer, such that the liner layer includes a first liner layer on an outer sidewall surface of the first fin structure and a second liner layer on an inner sidewall surface of the first fin structure, and a top surface of the second liner layer is higher than a top surface of the first liner layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, etching the dummy gate stack to form an opening, depositing a first dielectric layer extending into the opening, and depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and extending into the opening. A planarization process is then performed to form a gate isolation region including the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The dummy gate stack is then removed to form trenches on opposing sides of the gate isolation region. The method further includes performing a first etching process to remove sidewall portions of the first dielectric layer, performing a second etching process to thin the second dielectric layer, and forming replacement gates in the trenches.

Abstract: A conductive gate over a semiconductor fin is cut into a first conductive gate and a second conductive gate. An oxide is removed from sidewalls of the first conductive gate and a dielectric material is applied to the sidewalls. Spacers adjacent to the conductive gate are removed to form voids, and the voids are capped with a dielectric material to form air spacers.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes removing a top portion of a dielectric layer surrounding a metal gate to form a recess in the dielectric layer; filling the recess with a capping structure; forming a patterned hard mask over the capping structure and over the metal gate, wherein a portion of the metal gate, a portion of the capping structure, and a portion of the dielectric layer are aligned vertically with an opening of the patterned hard mask; and performing an etch process on said portions of the metal gate, the capping structure, and the dielectric layer that are aligned vertically with the opening of the patterned hard mask, wherein the capping structure has an etch resistance higher than an etch resistance of the dielectric layer during the etch process.

Abstract: A conductive gate over a semiconductor fin is cut into a first conductive gate and a second conductive gate. An oxide is removed from sidewalls of the first conductive gate and a dielectric material is applied to the sidewalls. Spacers adjacent to the conductive gate are removed to form voids, and the voids are capped with a dielectric material to form air spacers.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes etching a gate stack to form a trench extending into the gate stack, forming a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the gate stack, with the sidewall exposed to the trench, and etching the dielectric layer to remove a first portion of the dielectric layer at a bottom of the trench. A second portion of the dielectric layer on the sidewall of the gate stack remains after the dielectric layer is etched. After the first portion of the dielectric layer is removed, the second portion of the dielectric layer is removed to reveal the sidewall of the gate stack. The trench is filled with a dielectric region, which contacts the sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes removing a top portion of a dielectric layer surrounding a metal gate to form a recess in the dielectric layer; filling the recess with a capping structure; forming a patterned hard mask over the capping structure and over the metal gate, wherein a portion of the metal gate, a portion of the capping structure, and a portion of the dielectric layer are aligned vertically with an opening of the patterned hard mask; and performing an etch process on said portions of the metal gate, the capping structure, and the dielectric layer that are aligned vertically with the opening of the patterned hard mask, wherein the capping structure has an etch resistance higher than an etch resistance of the dielectric layer during the etch process.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes etching a gate stack to form a trench extending into the gate stack, forming a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the gate stack, with the sidewall exposed to the trench, and etching the dielectric layer to remove a first portion of the dielectric layer at a bottom of the trench. A second portion of the dielectric layer on the sidewall of the gate stack remains after the dielectric layer is etched. After the first portion of the dielectric layer is removed, the second portion of the dielectric layer is removed to reveal the sidewall of the gate stack. The trench is filled with a dielectric region, which contacts the sidewall of the gate stack.

Abstract: A conductive gate over a semiconductor fin is cut into a first conductive gate and a second conductive gate. An oxide is removed from sidewalls of the first conductive gate and a dielectric material is applied to the sidewalls. Spacers adjacent to the conductive gate are removed to form voids, and the voids are capped with a dielectric material to form air spacers.