Abstract: A method includes forming a trench extending from a first surface of a semiconductor body into the semiconductor body such that a first trench section and at least one second trench section adjoin the first trench section, wherein the first trench section is wider than the second trench section. A first electrode is formed, in the at least one second trench section, and dielectrically insulated from semiconductor regions of the semiconductor body by a first dielectric layer. An inter-electrode dielectric layer is formed, in the at least one second trench section, on the first electrode. A second electrode is formed, in the at least one second trench section on the inter-electrode dielectric layer, and in the first trench section, such that the second electrode at least in the first trench section is dielectrically insulated from the semiconductor body by a second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with a silicide interface between the work function layer and polycrystalline silicon. Embodiments include forming a high-k/metal gate stack by: forming a high-k dielectric layer on a substrate, forming a work function metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicide on the work function metal layer, and forming a poly Si layer on the silicide. Embodiments include forming the silicide by: forming a reactive metal layer in situ on the work function layer, forming an a-Si layer in situ on the entire upper surface of the reactive metal layer, and annealing concurrently with forming the poly Si Layer.

Abstract: An eDRAM is fabricated including high performance logic transistor technology and ultra low leakage DRAM transistor technology. Embodiments include forming a recessed channel in a substrate, forming a first gate oxide to a first thickness lining the channel and a second gate oxide to a second thickness over a portion of an upper surface of the substrate, forming a first polysilicon gate in the recessed channel and overlying the recessed channel, forming a second polysilicon gate on the second gate oxide, forming spacers on opposite sides of each of the first and second polysilicon gates, removing the first and second polysilicon gates forming first and second cavities, forming a high-k dielectric layer on the first and second gate oxides, and forming first and second metal gates in the first and second cavities, respectively.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating an integrated circuit that includes a deep trench capacitor. One method includes fabricating a plurality of transistors on a semiconductor substrate, the plurality of transistors each including gate structures, source and drain regions, and silicide contacts to the source and drain regions. A trench is then etched into the semiconductor substrate in proximity to the drain region of a selected transistor. The trench is filled with a layer of metal in contact with the semiconductor substrate, a layer of dielectric material overlying the layer of metal, and a second metal overlying the layer of dielectric material. A metal contact is then formed coupling the second metal to the silicide contact on the drain region of the selected transistor. A bit line is formed contacting the source region of the selected transistor and a word line is formed contacting the gate structure of the transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with a silicide interface between the work function layer and polycrystalline silicon. Embodiments include forming a high-k/metal gate stack by: forming a high-k dielectric layer on a substrate, forming a work function metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicide on the work function metal layer, and forming a poly Si layer on the silicide. Embodiments include forming the silicide by: forming a reactive metal layer in situ on the work function layer, forming an a-Si layer in situ on the entire upper surface of the reactive metal layer, and annealing concurrently with forming the poly Si Layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes forming a conductive logic contact in a logic area of a semiconductor device, forming a bit line contact and a capacitor contact in a memory array of the semiconductor device, and performing at least one first common process to form a first metallization layer comprising a first conductive line in the logic area that is conductively coupled to the conductive logic contact and a bit line in the memory array that is conductively coupled to the bit line contact. The method further includes performing at least one second common process to form a second metallization layer comprising a first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first conductive line in the logic area and a second conductive structure in the memory array that that is conductively coupled to the capacitor contact.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a semiconductor device. In one example, the method includes forming a gate electrode structure above a semiconducting substrate, wherein the gate electrode structure includes a gate insulation layer, a gate electrode, a first sidewall spacer positioned proximate the gate electrode, and a gate cap layer, and forming an etch stop layer above the gate cap layer and above the substrate proximate the gate electrode structure. The method further includes forming a layer of spacer material above the etch stop layer, and performing at least one first planarization process to remove the portion of said layer of spacer material positioned above the gate electrode, the portion of the etch stop layer positioned above the gate electrode and the gate cap layer.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device with DRAM bit lines made from the same material as the gate electrodes in non-memory regions of the device, and methods of making the same. One illustrative method disclosed herein comprises forming a semiconductor device including a memory array and a logic region. The method further comprises forming a buried word line in the memory array and, after forming the buried word line, performing a first common process operation to form at least a portion of a conductive gate electrode in the logic region and to form at least a portion of a conductive bit line in the memory array.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a memory cell array comprises active area lines, bitlines, the bitlines being arranged so that an individual one intersects a plurality of the active area lines to form bitline-contacts, respectively, the bitlines being arranged at a bitline pitch, wordlines being arranged so that an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the active area lines, and an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the bitlines, the wordlines being arranged at a wordline pitch, wherein neighboring bitline-contacts, each of which is connected to one of the active area lines, are connected with different bitlines, and the bitline pitch is different from the wordline pitch.

Abstract: When forming capacitive structures in a metallization system, such as in a dynamic RAM area, placeholder metal regions may be formed together with “regular” metal features, thereby achieving a very efficient overall process flow. At a certain manufacturing stage, the metal of the placeholder metal region may be removed on the basis of a wet chemical etch recipe followed by the deposition of the electrode materials and the dielectric materials for the capacitive structure without unduly affecting other portions of the metallization system. In this manner, very high capacitance values may be realized on the basis of a very efficient overall manufacturing flow.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a memory area including floating body transistors in the form of pillar structures, which are formed in a bulk architecture. The pillar structures may be appropriately addressed on the basis of a buried word line and a buried sense region or sense lines in combination with an appropriate bit line contact regime.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices, a replacement gate approach may be applied in combination with a self-aligned contact regime by forming the self-aligned contacts prior to replacing the placeholder material of the gate electrode structures.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including high-k metal gate electrode structures, a raised drain and source configuration may be used for controlling the height upon performing a replacement gate approach, thereby providing superior conditions for forming contact elements and also obtaining a well-controllable reduced gate height.

Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a semiconductor device with embedded low-k metallization. A method is disclosed that includes forming a plurality of copper metallization layers that are coupled to a plurality of logic devices in a logic area of a semiconductor device and, after forming the plurality of copper metallization layers, forming a plurality of capacitors in a memory array of the semiconductor device. The capacitors are formed using a non-low-k dielectric material (k value greater than 3), while the copper metallization layers are formed in layers of low-k dielectric material (k value less than 3).

Abstract: A transistor, which is formed in a semiconductor substrate having a top surface, includes first and second source/drain regions, a channel connecting the first and second source/drain regions, and a gate electrode for controlling an electrical current flowing in the channel. The gate electrode is disposed in a lower portion of a gate groove defined in the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The upper portion of the groove is filled with an insulating material. The channel includes a fin-like portion in the shape of a ridge having a top side and two lateral sides in a cross-section perpendicular to a direction defined by a line connecting the first and second source/drain regions. The gate electrode encloses the channel at the top side and the two lateral sides thereof.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a capacitor that includes an electrode structure (80), an auxiliary layer (40) is formed over a substrate (10). A recess (60), which determines the shape of the electrode structure (80), is etched into the auxiliary layer (40), and the electrode structure of the capacitor is formed in the recess. As an example, the auxiliary layer can be a semiconductor layer (40).

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a gate electrode is disclosed. One embodiment provides a transistor including a first source/drain electrode and a second source/drain electrode. A channel is arranged between the first and the second source/drain electrode in a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is arranged adjacent the channel layer and is electrically insulated from the channel layer. A semiconductor substrate electrode is provided on a rear side. The gate electrode encloses the channel layer at least two opposite sides.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a memory cell arrangement with a plurality of active regions along a first direction, a plurality of parallel buried word lines (BWL) along a second direction, a plurality of parallel bitlines along a third direction, and a plurality of storage capacitors. The BWLs run through the active regions. Two of the BWLs are spaced apart from one another and from isolation trenches running through a respective active region, the BWLs being insulated from a channel region by a gate dielectric. The bit lines run perpendicular to the second direction, wherein each bit line makes contact with the relevant source region of the associated active region. The first direction lies between the second and third directions. Storage capacitors are connected to associated drain regions in a respective active region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transistor is disclosed. The method includes forming a first and a second source/drain regions, a channel connecting the first and the second source/drain regions and a gate electrode for controlling the conductivity of the channel. The gate electrode is formed by defining a gate groove in the substrate, and defining a pocket in each of the isolation trenches at a position adjacent to the groove so that the two pockets will be connected with the groove and the groove is disposed between the two pockets. A gate insulating material is provided at an interface between the active area and the groove and at an interface between the active area and the pockets. A gate electrode material is deposited so as to fill the groove and the two pockets.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a memory cell array comprises transistors being arranged along parallel active area lines, bitlines, the bitlines being arranged so that an individual one intersects a plurality of the active area lines to form bitline-contacts, respectively, the bitlines being formed as wiggled lines, wordlines being arranged so that an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the active area lines, and an individual one of the wordlines intersects a plurality of the bitlines, wherein neighboring bitline-contacts, each of which is connected to one of the active area lines, are connected with different bitlines.