Abstract: A high aspect ratio contact structure formed within a dielectric material includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the contact structure includes a tapering profile towards the bottom portion. A first metal stack surrounded by an inner spacer is located within the top portion of the contact structure and a second metal stack is located within the bottom portion of the contact structure. A width of the bottom portion of the contact structure is greater than a minimum width of the top portion of the contact structure.

Abstract: A method of semiconductor manufacture comprising forming a plurality of first mandrels as the top layer of the multi-layered hard mask and forming a first spacer around each of the plurality of first mandrels. Removing the plurality of first mandrels and cutting the first spacer to form a plurality of second mandrels. Forming a second spacer around each of the plurality of second mandrels and forming a first self-aligned pattern that includes a plurality of third mandrels. Removing the plurality of second mandrels and the second spacer and etching the multi-layered hard mask to transfer the first-self aligned pattern to a lower layer of the multi-layered hard mask. Forming a second self-aligned pattern, wherein the second self-aligned pattern is intermixed with the first self-aligned pattern and etching the first self-aligned pattern and the second self-aligned pattern into the conductive metal layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a nanosheet stack including alternating layers of a sacrificial material and a channel material over a substrate, the layers of channel material providing nanosheet channels for one or more nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming a hard mask stack over the nanosheet stack, and forming a patterning layer over the hard mask stack. The method further includes patterning a lithographic mask over the patterning layer, the lithographic mask defining (i) one or more first regions for direct printing of one or more fins of a first width in the nanosheet stack and the substrate and (ii) one or more second regions for setting the spacing between two or more fins of a second width in the nanosheet stack and the substrate using self-aligned double patterning. The second width is less than the first width.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a handler substrate and a device substrate bonded to the handler substrate. The handler substrate comprises a trench, and at least one alignment mark in a bottom surface of the trench. One or more dielectric layers are disposed in the trench and on the at least one alignment mark.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include a lower semiconductor device over a substrate, the lower semiconductor device having a first width. An upper semiconductor device is over the lower semiconductor device. The upper semiconductor device has a second width smaller than the first width. A dielectric structure is over the lower semiconductor device and has a first sidewall that faces the upper semiconductor device and a second sidewall that aligns vertically with a sidewall of the lower semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is presented including semiconductor layers of a first nanosheet stack, semiconductor layers of a second nanosheet stack formed over and having a stepped nanosheet formation with respect to the semiconductor layers of the first nanosheet stack, a first epitaxial growth formed adjacent the semiconductor layers of the first nanosheet stack, and a second epitaxial growth formed adjacent the semiconductor layers of the second nanosheet stack such that the second epitaxial growth has a stepped formation with respect to the first epitaxial growth. The second epitaxial growth has a volume greater than a volume of the first epitaxial growth.

Abstract: Integrated chips and methods of forming the same include forming a stack of layers, including a device stack above a first sacrificial layer, above a substrate. The first sacrificial layer is replaced with a first etch stop layer. The substrate is removed, exposing a substrate-side of the stack of layers. The substrate-side of the stack of layers is etched to form a trench, stopping on the first etch stop layer. A conductive line is formed in the trench.

Abstract: A stacked field effect transistor (FET) device. The device includes an opening in a shallow trench isolation (STI) region on a substrate. The device also includes an epitaxy region located on the substrate at a bottom portion of STI region in the opening. The device further includes a substrate contact that directly contacts the epitaxy region.

Abstract: A method for forming fins includes forming a three-color hardmask fin pattern on a fin base layer. The three-color hardmask fin pattern includes hardmask fins of three mutually selectively etchable compositions. Some of the fins of the first color are etched away with a selective etch that does not remove fins of a second color or a third color and that leaves at least one fin of the first color behind. The fins of the second color are etched away. Fins are etched into the fin base layer by anisotropically etching around remaining fins of the first color and fins of the third color.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor structure including a top transistor stacked above a bottom transistor, and a single gate contact in electrical contact with a top gate conductor of the top transistor and a bottom gate conductor of the bottom transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an interlayer dielectric layer; and a plurality of metal contacts formed in the interlayer dielectric layer. The plurality of metal contacts include a plurality of shallow metal contacts having a first depth, and a plurality of deep metal contacts having a second depth that is greater than the first depth, wherein a first one of the shallow metal contacts overlaps and directly contacts a first one of the deep metal contacts, and wherein the plurality of metal contacts have an equal spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a middle-of-line contact, a backside power rail, and a contact via extending between the middle-of-line contact and the backside power rail, wherein the contact via comprises a first portion having a negative tapered profile and a second portion having a positive tapered profile.

Abstract: A high aspect ratio contact structure formed within a dielectric material includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the contact structure includes a tapering profile towards the bottom portion. A first metal stack surrounded by an inner spacer is located within the top portion of the contact structure and a second metal stack is located within the bottom portion of the contact structure. A width of the bottom portion of the contact structure is greater than a minimum width of the top portion of the contact structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC). The method includes performing fabrication operations to form transistors on a substrate. The fabrication operations include forming a sacrificial metal gate and forming a shared non-sacrificial metal gate. The sacrificial metal gate is recessed to form a sacrificial metal gate, and the shared non-sacrificial metal gate is recessed to form a recessed shared non-sacrificial metal gate. A pattern is formed over the sacrificial metal gate and the recessed shared non-sacrificial metal gate. The pattern defines a single diffusion break footprint over a top surface of the sacrificial metal gate, along with a gate-cut footprint over a central region of a top surface of the recessed shared non-sacrificial metal gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first buried power rail (BPR) disposed through etch stop layers and a second BPR disposed in direct contact with the first BPR, where the first BPR has a larger critical dimension (CD) than the second BPR. A bottom surface of the first BPR directly contacts a via-to buried power rail (VBPR) contact. Source/drain contacts (CA) are disposed adjacent the VBPR contact and source/drain regions collectively defining middle-of-line (MOL) components. Back-end-of-line (BEOL) components are then constructed adjacent to the MOL components, and the MOL and BEOL components bond to a carrier wafer. The second BPR is then constructed on the carrier wafer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include a device region with a first source/drain (S/D) and a second S/D. The semiconductor structure may also include a buried power rail (BPR) under the device region. A critical dimension of the BPR may be larger than a distance between the first S/D and the second S/D. The semiconductor structure may also include a via-contact-to-buried power rail (VBPR) between the BPR and the S/D.

Abstract: A method is presented for constructing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a plurality of fins over a nanosheet stack and a substrate, forming spacers between the nanosheet stack and one or more of the plurality of fins, each spacer defining a different shape, forming gate spacers adjacent the plurality of fins, the gate spacers directly contacting the one or more of the plurality of fins having a spacer, forming a barrier spacer between a set of fins of the plurality of fins, the barrier spacer directly contacting a top surface of a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, forming n-type epitaxial regions between the plurality of fins, forming p-type epitaxy regions over the n-type epitaxial regions, and forming a first contact extending vertically through the semiconductor device adjacent the barrier spacer and extending laterally away from the barrier spacer to directly contact a sidewall of an n-type epitaxial region.

Abstract: A method of semiconductor manufacture comprising forming a plurality of first mandrels as the top layer of the multi-layered hard mask and forming a first spacer around each of the plurality of first mandrels. Removing the plurality of first mandrels and cutting the first spacer to form a plurality of second mandrels. Forming a second spacer around each of the plurality of second mandrels and forming a first self-aligned pattern that includes a plurality of third mandrels. Removing the plurality of second mandrels and the second spacer and etching the multi-layered hard mask to transfer the first-self aligned pattern to a lower layer of the multi-layered hard mask. Forming a second self-aligned pattern, wherein the second self-aligned pattern is intermixed with the first self-aligned pattern and etching the first self-aligned pattern and the second self-aligned pattern into the conductive metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided in which a via to buried power rail (VBPR) contact structure is present that has a via portion contacting a buried power rail and a non-via portion contacting a source/drain region of a first functional gate structure present in a first device region. A dielectric spacer structure including a base dielectric spacer and a replacement dielectric spacer is located between the VPBR contact structure and the first functional gate structure. The replacement dielectric spacer is composed of a gate cut trench dielectric material that is also present in a gate cut trench that is located between the first functional gate structure present in the first device region, and a second functional gate structure that is present in a second device region. The replacement dielectric spacer replaces a damaged region of a dielectric spacer that is originally present during VBPR formation.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor fin portion having an end wall and extending upward from a substrate. A gate structure straddles a portion of the semiconductor fin portion. A first set of gate spacers is located on opposing sidewall surfaces of the gate structure; and a second set of gate spacers is located on sidewalls of the first set of gate spacers. One gate spacer of the second set of gate spacers has a lower portion that directly contacts the end wall of the semiconductor fin portion.