Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A gate dielectric layer is over the top of the fin and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the fin. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric layer over the top of the fin and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the fin. First and second semiconductor source or drain regions are adjacent the first and second sides of the gate electrode, respectively. First and second trench contact structures are over the first and second semiconductor source or drain regions, respectively, the first and second trench contact structures both comprising a U-shaped metal layer and a T-shaped metal layer on and over the entirety of the U-shaped metal layer.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for sculpting and cladding the channel region of fins on a semiconductor substrate during a replacement gate process (e.g., for transistor channel applications). The sculpting and cladding can be performed when the channel region of the fins are re-exposed after the dummy gate used in the replacement gate process is removed. The sculpting includes performing a trim etch on the re-exposed channel region of the fins to narrow a width of the fins (e.g., by 2-6 nm). A cladding layer, which may include germanium (Ge) or silicon germanium (SiGe), can then be deposited on the trimmed fins, leaving the source/drain regions of the fins unaffected. The sculpting and cladding may be performed in-situ or without air break to increase the quality of the trimmed fins (e.g., as compared to an ex-situ process).

Abstract: Transistor fin elements (e.g., fin or tri gate) may be modified by radio frequency (RF) plasma and/or thermal processing for purpose of dimensional sculpting. The etched, thinned fins may be formed by first forming wider single crystal fins, and after depositing trench oxide material between the wider fins, etching the wider fins using a second etch to form narrower single crystal fins having undamaged top and sidewalls for epitaxially growing active channel material. The second etch may remove a thickness of between a 1 nm and 15 nm of the top surfaces and the sidewalls of the wider fins. It may remove the thickness using (1) chlorine or fluorine based chemistry using low ion energy plasma processing, or (2) low temperature thermal processing that does not damage fins via energetic ion bombardment, oxidation or by leaving behind etch residue that could disrupt the epitaxial growth quality of the second material.

Abstract: The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of source/drain contacts within non-planar transistors, wherein a titanium-containing contact interface may be used in the formation of the source/drain contact with a discreet titanium silicide formed between the titanium-containing interface and a silicon-containing source/drain structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A gate dielectric layer is over the top of the fin and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the fin. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric layer over the top of the fin and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the fin. First and second semiconductor source or drain regions are adjacent the first and second sides of the gate electrode, respectively. First and second trench contact structures are over the first and second semiconductor source or drain regions, respectively, the first and second trench contact structures both comprising a U-shaped metal layer and a T-shaped metal layer on and over the entirety of the U-shaped metal layer.

Abstract: The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of source/drain contacts within non-planar transistors, wherein a titanium-containing contact interface may be used in the formation of the source/drain contact with a discreet titanium silicide formed between the titanium-containing interface and a silicon-containing source/drain structure.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a substrate, a pair of spacers on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer on the substrate and between the pair of spacers, a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer and between the pair of spacers, an insulating cap layer on the gate electrode layer and between the pair of spacers, and a pair of diffusion regions adjacent to the pair of spacers. The insulating cap layer forms an etch stop structure that is self aligned to the gate and prevents the contact etch from exposing the gate electrode, thereby preventing a short between the gate and contact. The insulator-cap layer enables self-aligned contacts, allowing initial patterning of wider contacts that are more robust to patterning limitations.

Abstract: Transistor fin elements (e.g., fin or tri gate) may be modified by radio frequency (RF) plasma and/or thermal processing for purpose of dimensional sculpting. The etched, thinned fins may be formed by first forming wider single crystal fins, and after depositing trench oxide material between the wider fins, etching the wider fins using a second etch to form narrower single crystal fins having undamaged top and sidewalls for epitaxially growing active channel material. The second etch may remove a thickness of between a 1 nm and 15 nm of the top surfaces and the sidewalls of the wider fins. It may remove the thickness using (1) chlorine or fluorine based chemistry using low ion energy plasma processing, or (2) low temperature thermal processing that does not damage fins via energetic ion bombardment, oxidation or by leaving behind etch residue that could disrupt the epitaxial growth quality of the second material.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a substrate, a pair of spacers on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer on the substrate and between the pair of spacers, a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer and between the pair of spacers, an insulating cap layer on the gate electrode layer and between the pair of spacers, and a pair of diffusion regions adjacent to the pair of spacers. The insulating cap layer forms an etch stop structure that is self aligned to the gate and prevents the contact etch from exposing the gate electrode, thereby preventing a short between the gate and contact. The insulator-cap layer enables self-aligned contacts, allowing initial patterning of wider contacts that are more robust to patterning limitations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ball-limiting metallurgy stack for an electrical device that contains at least one copper layer disposed upon a Ti adhesion metal layer. The ball-limiting metallurgy stack resists Sn migration toward the upper metallization of the device.

Abstract: The present description relates to the formation source/drain structures within non-planar transistors, wherein fin spacers are removed from the non-planar transistors in order to form the source/drain structures from the non-planar transistor fins or to replace the non-planar transistor fins with appropriate materials to form the source/drain structures.

Abstract: Transistor fin elements (e.g., fin or tri gate) may be modified by radio frequency (RF) plasma and/or thermal processing for purpose of dimensional sculpting. The etched, thinned fins may be formed by first forming wider single crystal fins, and after depositing trench oxide material between the wider fins, etching the wider fins using a second etch to form narrower single crystal fins having undamaged top and sidewalls for epitaxially growing active channel material. The second etch may remove a thickness of between a 1 nm and 15 nm of the top surfaces and the sidewalls of the wider fins. It may remove the thickness using (1) chlorine or fluorine based chemistry using low ion energy plasma processing, or (2) low temperature thermal processing that does not damage fins via energetic ion bombardment, oxidation or by leaving behind etch residue that could disrupt the epitaxial growth quality of the second material.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a substrate, a pair of spacers on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer on the substrate and between the pair of spacers, a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer and between the pair of spacers, an insulating cap layer on the gate electrode layer and between the pair of spacers, and a pair of diffusion regions adjacent to the pair of spacers. The insulating cap layer forms an etch stop structure that is self aligned to the gate and prevents the contact etch from exposing the gate electrode, thereby preventing a short between the gate and contact. The insulator-cap layer enables self-aligned contacts, allowing initial patterning of wider contacts that are more robust to patterning limitations.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a substrate, a pair of spacers on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer on the substrate and between the pair of spacers, a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer and between the pair of spacers, an insulating cap layer on the gate electrode layer and between the pair of spacers, and a pair of diffusion regions adjacent to the pair of spacers. The insulating cap layer forms an etch stop structure that is self aligned to the gate and prevents the contact etch from exposing the gate electrode, thereby preventing a short between the gate and contact. The insulator-cap layer enables self-aligned contacts, allowing initial patterning of wider contacts that are more robust to patterning limitations.

Abstract: The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of source/drain contacts within non-planar transistors, wherein a titanium-containing contact interface may be used in the formation of the source/drain contact with a discreet titanium silicide formed between the titanium-containing interface and a silicon-containing source/drain structure.

Abstract: The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of source/drain contacts within non-planar transistors, wherein a titanium-containing contact interface may be used in the formation of the source/drain contact with a discreet titanium silicide formed between the titanium-containing interface and a silicon-containing source/drain structure.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for transistor fabrication including a sacrificial protective layer for source/drain (S/D) regions to minimize contact resistance. The sacrificial protective layer may be selectively deposited on S/D regions after such regions have been formed, but prior to the deposition of an insulator layer on the S/D regions. Subsequently, after contact trench etch is performed, an additional etch process may be performed to remove the sacrificial protective layer and expose a clean S/D surface. Thus, the sacrificial protective layer can protect the contact locations of the S/D regions from contamination (e.g., oxidation or nitridation) caused by insulator layer deposition. The sacrificial protective layer can also protect the S/D regions from undesired insulator material remaining on the S/D contact surface, particularly for non-planar transistor structures (e.g., finned or nanowire/nanoribbon transistor structures).

Abstract: Transistor fin elements (e.g., fin or tri gate) may be modified by radio frequency (RF) plasma and/or thermal processing for purpose of dimensional sculpting. The etched, thinned fins may be formed by first forming wider single crystal fins, and after depositing trench oxide material between the wider fins, etching the wider fins using a second etch to form narrower single crystal fins having undamaged top and sidewalls for epitaxially growing active channel material. The second etch may remove a thickness of between a 1 nm and 15 nm of the top surfaces and the sidewalls of the wider fins. It may remove the thickness using (1) chlorine or fluorine based chemistry using low ion energy plasma processing, or (2) low temperature thermal processing that does not damage fins via energetic ion bombardment, oxidation or by leaving behind etch residue that could disrupt the epitaxial growth quality of the second material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ball-limiting metallurgy stack for an electrical device that contains at least one copper layer disposed upon a Ti adhesion metal layer. The ball-limiting metallurgy stack resists Sn migration toward the upper metallization of the device.

Abstract: Transistor fin elements (e.g., fin or tri gate) may be modified by radio frequency (RF) plasma and/or thermal processing for purpose of dimensional sculpting. The etched, thinned fins may be formed by first forming wider single crystal fins, and after depositing trench oxide material between the wider fins, etching the wider fins using a second etch to form narrower single crystal fins having undamaged top and sidewalls for epitaxially growing active channel material. The second etch may remove a thickness of between a 1 nm and 15 nm of the top surfaces and the sidewalls of the wider fins. It may remove the thickness using (1) chlorine or fluorine based chemistry using low ion energy plasma processing, or (2) low temperature thermal processing that does not damage fins via energetic ion bombardment, oxidation or by leaving behind etch residue that could disrupt the epitaxial growth quality of the second material.