Abstract: A method of fabricating advanced node field effect transistors using a replacement metal gate process. The method includes dopant a high-k dielectric directly or indirectly by using layers composed of multi-layer thin film stacks, or in other embodiments, by a single blocking layer. By taking advantage of unexpected etch selectivity of the multi-layer stack or the controlled etch process of a single layer stack, etch damage to the high-k may be avoided and work function metal thicknesses can be tightly controlled which in turn allows field effect transistors with low Tinv (inverse of gate capacitance) mismatch.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second semiconductor structures on a semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor structure includes a first gate channel region having a first gate length, and the second semiconductor structure including a second gate channel region having a second gate length that is greater than the first gate length. The method further includes depositing a work function metal layer in each of a first gate void formed at the first gate channel region and a second gate void formed at the second gate channel region. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor masking layer on the work function metal layer, and simultaneously etching the silicon masking layer located at the first and second gate channel regions to re-expose the first and second gate voids. A low-resistive metal is deposited in the first and second gate voids to form low-resistive metal gate stacks.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor device includes forming an interfacial layer and a dielectric layer over a substrate; and forming a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) workfunction metal layer over the dielectric layer, the workfunction metal layer comprising a lower titanium nitride (TiN) first layer and a second layer including one of titanium-aluminum-carbide (TiAlC) and tantalum-aluminum-carbide (TaAlC) formed on the lower TiN first layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating advanced node field effect transistors using a replacement metal gate process. The method includes dopant a high-k dielectric directly or indirectly by using layers composed of multi-layer thin film stacks, or in other embodiments, by a single blocking layer. By taking advantage of unexpected etch selectivity of the multi-layer stack or the controlled etch process of a single layer stack, etch damage to the high-k may be avoided and work function metal thicknesses can be tightly controlled which in turn allows field effect transistors with low Tinv (inverse of gate capacitance) mismatch.

Abstract: A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric for a field effect transistor (FET) and a high-k tunnel dielectric for a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device are simultaneously formed on a semiconductor substrate. A stack of at least one conductive material layer, a control gate dielectric layer, and a disposable material layer is subsequently deposited and lithographically patterned. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited and patterned, and disposable material portions are removed. A remaining portion of the control gate dielectric layer is preserved in the NVRAM device region, but is removed in the FET region. A conductive material is deposited in gate cavities to provide a control gate for the NVRAM device and a gate portion for the FET. Alternately, the control gate dielectric layer may replaced with a high-k control gate dielectric in the NVRAM device region.

Abstract: In-situ melting and crystallization of sealed cooper wires can be performed by means of laser annealing for a duration of nanoseconds. The intensity of the laser irradiation is selected such that molten copper wets interconnect interfaces, thereby forming an interfacial bonding arrangement that increases specular scattering of electrons. Nanosecond-scale temperature quenching preserves the formed interfacial bonding. At the same time, the fast crystallization process of sealed copper interconnects results in large copper grains, typically larger than 80 nm in lateral dimensions, on average. A typical duration of the annealing process is from about 10's to about 100's of nanoseconds. There is no degradation to interlayer low-k dielectric material despite the high anneal temperature due to ultra short duration that prevents collective motion of atoms within the dielectric material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating advanced node field effect transistors using a replacement metal gate process. The method includes dopant a high-k dielectric directly or indirectly by using layers composed of multi-layer thin film stacks, or in other embodiments, by a single blocking layer. By taking advantage of unexpected etch selectivity of the multi-layer stack or the controlled etch process of a single layer stack, etch damage to the high-k may be avoided and work function metal thicknesses can be tightly controlled which in turn allows field effect transistors with low Tinv (inverse of gate capacitance) mismatch.

Abstract: A method of fabricating advanced node field effect transistors using a replacement metal gate process. The method includes dopant a high-k dielectric directly or indirectly by using layers composed of multi-layer thin film stacks, or in other embodiments, by a single blocking layer. By taking advantage of unexpected etch selectivity of the multi-layer stack or the controlled etch process of a single layer stack, etch damage to the high-k may be avoided and work function metal thicknesses can be tightly controlled which in turn allows field effect transistors with low Tiny (inverse of gate capacitance) mismatch.

Abstract: Selective deposition of a silicon-germanium surface layer on semiconductor surfaces can be employed to provide two types of channel regions for field effect transistors. Anneal of an adjustment oxide material on a stack of a silicon-based gate dielectric and a high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric can be employed to form an interfacial adjustment oxide layer contacting a subset of channel regions. Oxygen deficiency can be induced in portions of the high-k dielectric layer overlying the interfacial adjustment oxide layer by deposition of a first work function metallic material layer and a capping layer and a subsequent anneal. Oxygen deficiency can be selectively removed by physically exposing portions of the high-k dielectric layer. A second work function metallic material layer and a gate conductor layer can be deposited and planarized to form gate electrodes that provide multiple effective work functions.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second semiconductor structures on a semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor structure includes a first gate channel region having a first gate length, and the second semiconductor structure including a second gate channel region having a second gate length that is greater than the first gate length. The method further includes depositing a work function metal layer in each of a first gate void formed at the first gate channel region and a second gate void formed at the second gate channel region. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor masking layer on the work function metal layer, and simultaneously etching the silicon masking layer located at the first and second gate channel regions to re-expose the first and second gate voids. A low-resistive metal is deposited in the first and second gate voids to form low-resistive metal gate stacks.

Abstract: A method for forming a replacement metal gate structure sharing a single work function metal for both the N-FET and the P-FET gates. The method oppositely dopes a high-k material of the N-FET and P-FET gate, respectively, using a single lithography step. The doping allows use of a single work function metal which in turn provides more space in the metal gate opening so that a bulk fill material may occupy more volume of the opening resulting in a lower resistance gate.

Abstract: A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric for a field effect transistor (FET) and a high-k tunnel dielectric for a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device are simultaneously formed on a semiconductor substrate. A stack of at least one conductive material layer, a control gate dielectric layer, and a disposable material layer is subsequently deposited and lithographically patterned. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited and patterned, and disposable material portions are removed. A remaining portion of the control gate dielectric layer is preserved in the NVRAM device region, but is removed in the FET region. A conductive material is deposited in gate cavities to provide a control gate for the NVRAM device and a gate portion for the FET. Alternately, the control gate dielectric layer may replaced with a high-k control gate dielectric in the NVRAM device region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure including a scaled n-channel field effect transistor (nFET) and a scaled p-channel field transistor (pFET) is provided. Such a structure is provided by forming a plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within an nFET gate stack, and forming at least a pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within a pFET gate stack. The pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion in the pFET gate stack may also plasma nitrided. The plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion includes up to 15 atomic % N2 and an nFET threshold voltage adjusted species located therein.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods of forming an nFET-tuned gate dielectric and a pFET-tuned gate dielectric. Methods may include forming a high-k layer above a substrate having a pFET region and an nFET region, forming a first sacrificial layer, a pFET work-function metal layer, and a second sacrificial layer above the first high-k layer in the pFET region, and an nFET work-function metal layer above the first high-k layer in the nFET region and above the second sacrificial layer in the pFET region. The first high-k layer then may be annealed to form an nFET gate dielectric layer in the nFET region and a pFET gate dielectric layer in the pFET region. The first high-k layer may be annealed in the presence of a nitrogen source to cause atoms from the nitrogen source to diffuse into the first high-k layer in the nFET region.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first and second semiconductor structures on a semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor structure includes a first gate channel region having a first gate length, and the second semiconductor structure including a second gate channel region having a second gate length that is greater than the first gate length. The method further includes depositing a work function metal layer in each of a first gate void formed at the first gate channel region and a second gate void formed at the second gate channel region. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor masking layer on the work function metal layer, and simultaneously etching the silicon masking layer located at the first and second gate channel regions to re-expose the first and second gate voids. A low-resistive metal is deposited in the first and second gate voids to form low-resistive metal gate stacks.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor structure including a scaled 0 and a scaled pFET which do not exhibit an increased threshold voltage and reduced mobility during operation is provided. The method includes forming a plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within an nFET gate stack, and forming at least a pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion within a pFET gate stack. The pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion in the pFET gate stack can also be plasma nitrided. The plasma nitrided, nFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion contains up to 15 atomic % N2 and an nFET threshold voltage adjusted species, while the plasma nitrided, pFET threshold voltage adjusted high k gate dielectric layer portion contains up to 15 atomic % N2 and a pFET threshold voltage adjusted species.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing multiple finFET devices having different thickness gate oxides. The method may include depositing a first dielectric layer on top of the semiconductor substrate, on top of a first fin, and on top of a second fin; forming a first dummy gate stack; forming a second dummy gate stack; removing the first and second dummy gates selective to the first and second gate oxides; masking a portion of the semiconductor structure comprising the second fin, and removing the first gate oxide from atop the first fin; and depositing a second dielectric layer within the first opening, and within the second opening, the second dielectric layer being located on top of the first fin and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the first pair of dielectric spacers, and on top of the second gate oxide and adjacent to the exposed sidewalls of the second pair of dielectric spacers.

Abstract: A trench structure that in one embodiment includes a trench present in a substrate, and a dielectric layer that is continuously present on the sidewalls and base of the trench. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is greater than 30. The dielectric layer is composed of tetragonal phase hafnium oxide with silicon present in the grain boundaries of the tetragonal phase hafnium oxide in an amount ranging from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %.