Abstract: Multi-gate transistor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming a fin-shaped structure over a substrate and including channel layers interleaved by sacrificial layers, recessing the fin-shaped structure to form a source/drain recess, recessing the sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to form inner spacer recesses, depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate and the inner spacer recesses, depositing a polymer layer over the dielectric layer, etching back the polymer layer and the dielectric layer to form inner spacer features in the inner spacer recesses and an inner spacer layer over the portion of the substrate, and epitaxially depositing more than one epitaxial layer from the sidewalls of the plurality of channel layers to form a source/drain feature in the source/drain recess. The source/drain feature and the inner spacer layer define a gap.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a region for forming p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices and a region for forming n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices, forming fin structures in both regions of the substrate separated by isolation features, first forming source/drain (S/D) features in the PMOS region, and subsequently forming S/D features in the NMOS region. First forming the PMOS S/D features and then forming the NMOS S/D features results in a greater extent of loss of isolation features in the PMOS region than in the NMOS region.

Abstract: Various examples of an integrated circuit with a sidewall spacer and a technique for forming an integrated circuit with such a spacer are disclosed herein. In some examples, the method includes receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed upon the substrate. A spacer is formed on a side surface of the gate stack that includes a spacer layer with a low-k dielectric material. A source/drain region is formed in the substrate; and a source/drain contact is formed coupled to the source/drain region such that the spacer layer of the spacer is disposed between the source/drain contact and the gate stack.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor device structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain feature over a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor layers over the substrate, a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of each of the plurality of the semiconductor layers, a gate dielectric layer in contact with the gate electrode layer, and a cap layer. The cap layer has a first portion disposed between the plurality of semiconductor layers and the source/drain feature and a second portion extending outwardly from opposing ends of the first portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a dielectric spacer disposed between and in contact with the source/drain feature and the second portion of the cap layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) structure is provided. The method includes: etching a first recess and a second recess in a substrate; forming a sacrificial epitaxial plug in the first recess in the substrate; forming a first epitaxial feature and a second epitaxial feature respectively in the first recess and the second recess, wherein the first epitaxial feature is over the sacrificial epitaxial plug; forming a first source/drain epitaxial structure and a second source/drain epitaxial structure over the first epitaxial feature and the second epitaxial feature respectively; forming a gate structure laterally between the first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure; removing the sacrificial epitaxial plug and the first epitaxial feature to form a backside via opening exposing a backside of the first source/drain epitaxial structure; and forming a backside via in the backside via opening.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first etching process on a backside of a substrate to expose a dummy contact structure, performing a first deposition process to deposit a first dielectric layer around the dummy contract structure, performing a second deposition process to deposit an oxide layer on the first dielectric layer, removing the dummy contract structure to form a trench, depositing a sacrificial layer on sidewalls of the trench, depositing a second dielectric layer on the sacrificial layer, filling the trench with a conductive material, and removing the sacrificial layer to form an air spacer between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a dummy semiconductor layer and a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming spacers on sidewalls of the dummy semiconductor layer, forming a first epitaxial material in the substrate, exposing the dummy semiconductor layer and the first epitaxial material, where exposing the dummy semiconductor layer and the first epitaxial material includes thinning a backside of the substrate, etching the dummy semiconductor layer to expose the first semiconductor layer, where the spacers remain over and in contact with end portions of the first semiconductor layer while etching the dummy semiconductor layer, etching portions of the first semiconductor layer using the spacers as a mask, and replacing a second epitaxial material and the first epitaxial material with a backside via, the backside via being electrically coupled to a source/drain region of a first transistor.

Abstract: Methods and devices formed thereof that include a fin structure extending from a substrate and a gate structure is formed over the fin structure. An epitaxial feature is formed over the fin structure adjacent the gate structure. The epitaxial feature can include a hollow region (or dielectric filled hollow region) in the epitaxial source/drain region. A selective etching process is performed to remove at least a portion of an epitaxial region having a second dopant type to form the hollow area between the first epitaxial portion and the third epitaxial portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor fins extending from a substrate and a source/drain region epitaxially grown in recesses of the first and second semiconductor fins. A top surface of the source/drain region is higher than a surface level with top surfaces of the first and second semiconductor fins. The source/drain region includes a plurality of buffer layers. Respective layers of the plurality of buffer layers are embedded between respective layers of the source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes a first plurality of channel members over a backside dielectric layer, a second plurality of channel members over the backside dielectric layer, a first gate structure over and wrapping around each of the first plurality of channel members, a second gate structure over and wrapping around each of the second plurality of channel members, and a through-substrate contact that extends between the first plurality of channel members and the second plurality of channel members, between the first gate structure and the second gate structure, and through the backside dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin in a substrate. The fin is etched to create a source/drain recess. A source/drain feature is formed in the source/drain recess, in which a lattice constant of the source/drain feature is greater than a lattice constant of the fin. An epitaxy coat is grown over the source/drain feature, in which a lattice constant of the epitaxy coat is smaller than a lattice constant of the fin.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin formed on a substrate; and a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the semiconductor fin, the gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, wherein the gate dielectric layer includes a bottom portion and a side portion, and the gate electrode is separated from the side portion of the gate dielectric layer by a first air gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of forming the semiconductor device are described herein and are directed towards forming a source/drain contact plug for adjacent finFETs. The source/drain regions of the adjacent finFETs are embedded in an interlayer dielectric and are separated by an isolation region of a cut-metal gate (CMG) structure isolating gate electrodes of the adjacent finFETs The methods include recessing the isolation region, forming a contact plug opening through the interlayer dielectric to expose portions of a contact etch stop layer disposed over the source/drain regions through the contact plug opening, the contact etch stop layer being a different material from the material of the isolation region. Once exposed, the portions of the CESL are removed and a conductive material is formed in the contact plug opening and in contact with the source/drain regions of the adjacent finFETs and in contact with the isolation region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first device disposed in an NMOS region of the semiconductor device. The first device includes a first gate-all-around (GAA) device having a vertical stack of nano-structure channels. The semiconductor device also includes a second device in a PMOS region of the semiconductor device. The second device includes a FinFET that includes a fin structure having a fin width. The fin structure is separated from an adjacent fin structure by a fin pitch. A maximum channel width of the nano-structure channels is no greater than a sum of: the fin width and the fin pitch. Alternatively, the second device includes a second GAA device having a different number of nano-structure channels than the first GAA device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gaseous spacer and a method for forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate; forming a first gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stack; forming a second gate spacer over the first gate spacer; removing a portion of the second gate spacer, at least a portion of the second gate spacer remaining; removing the first gate spacer to form a first opening; and after removing the first gate spacer, removing the remaining portion of the second gate spacer through the first opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a workpiece comprising a substrate, an active region protruding from the substrate, and a dummy gate structure disposed over a channel region of the active region. The method also includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of the active region, forming a sacrificial structure in the trench, conformally depositing a dielectric film over the workpiece, performing a first etching process to etch back the dielectric film to form fin sidewall (FSW) spacers extending along sidewalls of the sacrificial structure, performing a second etching process to remove the sacrificial structure to expose the trench, forming an epitaxial source/drain feature in the trench such that a portion of the epitaxial source/drain feature being sandwiched by the FSW spacers, and replacing the dummy gate structure with a gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure; first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the isolation structure, defining a first direction from the first S/D feature to the second S/D feature from a top view; one or more channel layers connecting the first and the second S/D features; a gate structure between the first and the second S/D features and engaging each of the one or more channel layers; and a via structure under the first S/D feature and electrically connecting to the first S/D feature. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the first direction, the via structure has a profile that widens and then narrows along a bottom-up direction.

Abstract: A method includes forming a structure having a dummy gate stack over a fin protruding from a substrate. The fin includes an ML of alternating semiconductor layers and sacrificial layers. The method further includes forming a recess in an S/D region of the ML, forming a recess of the ML, and forming inner spacers on sidewalls of the sacrificial layers. Each inner spacer includes a first layer embedded in the sacrificial layer and a second layer over the first layer. The method further includes forming an S/D feature in the recess, such that the second layer of the inner spacers is embedded in the S/D feature. The method further includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a gate trench, removing the sacrificial layers from the ML, thereby forming openings interleaved between the semiconductor layers, and subsequently forming a high-k metal gate stack in the gate trench and the openings.

Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes a fin extending from a substrate, where the fin includes a lower region, a mid region, and an upper region, the upper region having sidewalls that extend laterally beyond sidewalls of the mid region. The FinFET also includes a gate stack disposed over a channel region of the fin, the gate stack including a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, and a gate spacer on either side of the gate stack. A dielectric material is included that surrounds the lower region and the first interface. A fin spacer is included which is disposed on the sidewalls of the mid region, the fin spacer tapering from a top surface of the dielectric material to the second interface, where the fin spacer is a distinct layer from the gate spacers. The upper region may include epitaxial source/drain material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, first fins extending from the substrate with a first fin pitch, and second fins extending from the substrate with a second fin pitch smaller than the first fin pitch. The semiconductor structure also includes first gate structures engaging the first fins with a first gate pitch and second gate structures engaging the second fins with a second gate pitch smaller than the first gate pitch. The semiconductor structure also includes first epitaxial semiconductor features partially embedded in the first fins and adjacent the first gate structures and second epitaxial semiconductor features partially embedded in the second fins and adjacent the second gate structures. A bottom surface of the first epitaxial semiconductor features is lower than a bottom surface of the second epitaxial semiconductor features.