Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate having a first portion in a first device region and a second portion in a second device region. A first semiconductor strip is in the first device region. A dielectric liner has an edge contacting a sidewall of the first semiconductor strip, wherein the dielectric liner is configured to apply a compressive stress or a tensile stress to the first semiconductor strip. A Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region is over the dielectric liner, wherein a sidewall and a bottom surface of the STI region is in contact with a sidewall and a top surface of the dielectric liner.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a device having a substrate and a hard mask layer over the substrate; forming a mandrel over the hard mask layer; depositing a material layer on sidewalls of the mandrel; implanting a dopant into the material layer; performing an etching process on the hard mask layer using the mandrel and the material layer as an etching mask, thereby forming a patterned hard mask layer, wherein the etching process concurrently produces a dielectric layer deposited on sidewalls of the patterned hard mask layer, the dielectric layer containing the dopant; and forming a fin by etching the substrate using the patterned hard mask layer and the dielectric layer collectively as an etching mask.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The fin portion has a channel region and a source/drain region. The method also includes forming a stack structure over the fin portion. The stack structure includes first and second semiconductor layers. The method also includes forming a source/drain portion in the stack structure at the source/drain region, and removing a portion of the second semiconductor layer in the channel region in an etching process. The remaining portion of the first semiconductor layer in the channel region forms a nanowire. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer surrounding the nanowire, forming a high-k dielectric layer surrounding the gate dielectric layer, and forming a gate electrode surrounding the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: An exemplary method of forming a fin field effect transistor that includes first and second etching processes to form a fin structure. The fin structure includes an upper portion and a lower portion separated at a transition. The upper portion has sidewalls that are substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. The lower portion has tapered sidewalls on opposite sides of the upper portion and a base having a second width larger than the first width.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate having a first portion in a first device region and a second portion in a second device region. A first semiconductor strip is in the first device region. A dielectric liner has an edge contacting a sidewall of the first semiconductor strip, wherein the dielectric liner is configured to apply a compressive stress or a tensile stress to the first semiconductor strip. A Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region is over the dielectric liner, wherein a sidewall and a bottom surface of the STI region is in contact with a sidewall and a top surface of the dielectric liner.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus is provided. The CVD apparatus includes a CVD chamber including multiple wall portions. A pedestal is disposed inside the CVD chamber, configured to support a substrate. A gas inlet port is disposed on one of the wall portions and below a substrate support portion of the pedestal. In addition, a gas flow guiding member is disposed inside the CVD chamber, coupled to the gas inlet port, and configured to dispense cleaning gases from the gas inlet port into the CVD chamber.

Abstract: FinFETs and methods of forming finFETs are described. According to some embodiments, a structure includes a channel region, first and second source/drain regions, a dielectric layer, and a gate electrode. The channel region includes semiconductor layers above a substrate. Each of the semiconductor layers is separated from neighboring ones of the semiconductor layers, and each of the semiconductor layers has first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls are aligned along a first and second plane, respectively, extending perpendicularly to the substrate. The first and second source/drain regions are disposed on opposite sides of the channel region. The semiconductor layers extend from the first source/drain region to the second source/drain region. The dielectric layer contacts the first and second sidewalls of the semiconductor layers, and the dielectric layer extends into a region between the first plane and the second plane. The gate electrode is over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a device having a substrate and a hard mask layer over the substrate; forming a mandrel over the hard mask layer; depositing a material layer on sidewalls of the mandrel; implanting a dopant into the material layer; performing an etching process on the hard mask layer using the mandrel and the material layer as an etching mask, thereby forming a patterned hard mask layer, wherein the etching process concurrently produces a dielectric layer deposited on sidewalls of the patterned hard mask layer, the dielectric layer containing the dopant; and forming a fin by etching the substrate using the patterned hard mask layer and the dielectric layer collectively as an etching mask.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure with dummy fin structures and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes an isolation structure over a substrate and a first fin structure extended above the isolation structure. The FinFET device structure includes a second fin structure embedded in the isolation structure and a liner layer formed on sidewalls of the first fin structures and sidewalls of the second fin structures. The FinFET device structure also includes a material layer formed over the second fin structures, and the material layer and the isolation structure are made of different materials.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The fin portion has a channel region and a source/drain region. The method also includes forming a stack structure over the fin portion. The stack structure includes first and second semiconductor layers. The method also includes forming a source/drain portion in the stack structure at the source/drain region, and removing a portion of the second semiconductor layer in the channel region in an etching process. The remaining portion of the first semiconductor layer in the channel region forms a nanowire. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer surrounding the nanowire, forming a high-k dielectric layer surrounding the gate dielectric layer, and forming a gate electrode surrounding the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). The FinFET includes a channel disposed on a fin, a gate disposed over the channel and a source and drain. The channel includes at least two pairs of a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has a different lattice constant than the second semiconductor layer. A thickness of the first semiconductor layer is three to ten times a thickness of the second semiconductor layer at least in one pair.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of isolation features on a semiconductor substrate, thereby defining a first set of semiconductor features, performing an etching process on the first set of semiconductor features such that larger semiconductor features are etched deeper than smaller semiconductor features, after the etching process, forming anti-punch-through features on surfaces of the exposed features of the first set of semiconductor features, forming a semiconductor layer over the anti-punch-through features, and forming transistors on the semiconductor layer of each of the features of the first set of semiconductor features.

Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), a sacrificial layer is formed over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. A mask pattern is formed over the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer and the source/drain structure are patterned by using the mask pattern as an etching mask, thereby forming openings adjacent to the patterned sacrificial layer and source/drain structure. A dielectric layer is formed in the openings. After the dielectric layer is formed, the patterned sacrificial layer is removed to form a contact opening over the patterned source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening.

Abstract: FinFETs and methods of forming finFETs are described. According to some embodiments, a structure includes a channel region, first and second source/drain regions, a dielectric layer, and a gate electrode. The channel region includes semiconductor layers above a substrate. Each of the semiconductor layers is separated from neighboring ones of the semiconductor layers, and each of the semiconductor layers has first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls are aligned along a first and second plane, respectively, extending perpendicularly to the substrate. The first and second source/drain regions are disposed on opposite sides of the channel region. The semiconductor layers extend from the first source/drain region to the second source/drain region. The dielectric layer contacts the first and second sidewalls of the semiconductor layers, and the dielectric layer extends into a region between the first plane and the second plane. The gate electrode is over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). The FinFET includes a channel disposed on a fin, a gate disposed over the channel and a source and drain. The channel includes at least two pairs of a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has a different lattice constant than the second semiconductor layer. A thickness of the first semiconductor layer is three to ten times a thickness of the second semiconductor layer at least in one pair.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first dummy gate over a substrate; forming at least one epitaxy structure in contact with the first dummy gate; forming a spacer layer in contact with the first dummy gate and the epitaxy structure; and replacing the first dummy gate with a metal gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods which provide for strained epitaxial regions. A method of semiconductor fabrication is provided that includes forming a gate structure over a fin of a semiconductor substrate and forming a recess in the fin adjacent the gate structure. A sidewall of the recess is then altered. Exemplary alterations include having an altered profile, treating the sidewall, and forming a layer on the sidewall. An epitaxial region is then grown in the recess. The epitaxial region interfaces the altered sidewall of the recess and is a strained epitaxial region.

Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), a sacrificial layer is formed over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. A mask pattern is formed over the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer and the source/drain structure are patterned by using the mask pattern as an etching mask, thereby forming openings adjacent to the patterned sacrificial layer and source/drain structure. A dielectric layer is formed in the openings. After the dielectric layer is formed, the patterned sacrificial layer is removed to form a contact opening over the patterned source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). The FinFET includes a channel disposed on a fin, a gate disposed over the channel and a source and drain. The channel includes at least two pairs of a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has a different lattice constant than the second semiconductor layer. A thickness of the first semiconductor layer is three to ten times a thickness of the second semiconductor layer at least in one pair.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure extending above a substrate. The fin structure includes a channel region, a portion of the channel region is made of silicon germanium (SiGe), and the silicon germanium (SiGe) has a gradient germanium (Ge) concentration. The FinFET device structure includes a gate structure formed on the channel region of the fin structure.