Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a method for patterning a doping layer, such as a lanthanum containing layer, used to dope a high-k dielectric layer in a gate stack of a FinFET device for threshold voltage tuning. A blocking layer may be formed between the doping layer and a hard mask layer used to pattern the doping layer. In an embodiment, the blocking layer may include or be aluminum oxide (AlOx). The blocking layer can prevent elements from the hard mask layer from diffusing into the doping layer, and thus, can improve reliability of the devices formed. The blocking layer can also improve a patterning process by reducing patterning induced defects.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes: a gate dielectric material around each of the nanosheets; a first liner material around the gate dielectric material; a work function material around the first liner material; a second liner material around the work function material; and a gate electrode material around at least portions of the second liner material.

Abstract: One or more semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a gate body, a conductive prelayer over the gate body, at least one inhibitor film over the conductive prelayer and a conductive layer over the at least one inhibitor film, where the conductive layer is tapered so as to have a top portion width that is greater than the bottom portion width. One or more methods of forming a semiconductor device are also provided, where an etching process is performed to form a tapered opening such that the tapered conductive layer is formed in the tapered opening.

Abstract: Methods for tuning effective work functions of gate electrodes in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a channel region over a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric layer over the channel region; and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode including a first work function metal layer over the gate dielectric layer, the first work function metal layer including aluminum (Al); a first work function tuning layer over the first work function metal layer, the first work function tuning layer including aluminum tungsten (AlW); and a fill material over the first work function tuning layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different gate structure configurations and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed on a substrate, a nanostructured channel region disposed on the fin structure, and a gate-all-around (GAA) structure surrounding the nanostructured channel region. The GAA structure includes a high-K (HK) gate dielectric layer with a metal doped region having dopants of a first metallic material, a p-type work function metal (pWFM) layer disposed on the HK gate dielectric layer, a bimetallic nitride layer interposed between the HK gate dielectric layer and the pWFM layer, an n-type work function metal (nWFM) layer disposed on the pWFM layer, and a gate metal fill layer disposed on the nWFM layer. The pWFM layer includes a second metallic material and the bimetallic nitride layer includes the first and second metallic materials.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate dielectric on a semiconductor region, depositing a work-function layer over the gate dielectric, depositing a silicon layer over the work-function layer, and depositing a glue layer over the silicon layer. The work-function layer, the silicon layer, and the glue layer are in-situ deposited. The method further includes depositing a filling-metal over the glue layer; and performing a planarization process, wherein remaining portions of the glue layer, the silicon layer, and the work-function layer form portions of a gate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a method for patterning a doping layer, such as a lanthanum containing layer, used to dope a high-k dielectric layer in a gate stack of a FinFET device for threshold voltage tuning. A blocking layer may be formed between the doping layer and a hard mask layer used to pattern the doping layer. In an embodiment, the blocking layer may include or be aluminum oxide (AlOx). The blocking layer can prevent elements from the hard mask layer from diffusing into the doping layer, and thus, can improve reliability of the devices formed. The blocking layer can also improve a patterning process by reducing patterning induced defects.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a first transistor disposed on the substrate, and a second transistor disposed on the substrate. The first gate structure of the first transistor may include a first high-k layer, a first capping layer and a first work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. A material of the first work function layer includes Ta. The second transistor includes a second gate structure. The second gate structure includes a second high-k layer, a second capping layer and a second work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. The first capping layer and the second capping layer are formed of the same layer, and a material of the second work function layer is different from the material of the first work function layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a barrier layer surrounding a work function metal layer and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first channel region over the semiconductor substrate; a second channel region over the first channel region; gate dielectric layers surrounding the first channel region and the second channel region; work function metal layers surrounding the gate dielectric layers; and barrier layers surrounding the work function metal layers, a first barrier layer surrounding the first channel region being merged with a second barrier layer surrounding the second channel region.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to tuning threshold voltages in transistor devices and the transistor devices formed thereby. Various examples implementing various mechanisms for tuning threshold voltages are described. In an example method, a gate dielectric layer is deposited over an active area in a device region of a substrate. A dipole layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer in the device region. A dipole dopant species is diffused from the dipole layer into the gate dielectric layer in the device region.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate, and recessing the isolation regions. After the recessing, a portion of a semiconductor material between the isolation region protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin. The method further includes forming a gate stack, which includes forming a gate dielectric on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin, and depositing a titanium nitride layer over the gate dielectric as a work-function layer. The titanium nitride layer is deposited at a temperature in a range between about 300° C. and about 400° C. A source region and a drain region are formed on opposing sides of the gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode. The semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure formed in an opening of an insulating layer. The metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a work-function metal layer between the gate dielectric layer and the barrier layer and a work-function adjustment layer over the barrier layer, wherein the work-function metal has an ordered grain orientation. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a semiconductor device with a profiled work-function metal gate electrode.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, FinFET devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed. One of the semiconductor devices includes a substrate and a gate strip disposed over the substrate. The gate strip includes a high-k layer disposed over the substrate, an N-type work function metal layer disposed over the high-k layer, and a barrier layer disposed over the N-type work function metal layer. The barrier layer includes at least one first film containing TiAlN, TaAlN or AlN.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes: a gate dielectric material around each of the nanosheets; a first liner material around the gate dielectric material; a work function material around the first liner material; a second liner material around the work function material; and a gate electrode material around at least portions of the second liner material.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a gate dielectric layer on an interface layer; forming a doping layer on the gate dielectric layer, the doping layer including a dipole-inducing element; annealing the doping layer to drive the dipole-inducing element through the gate dielectric layer to a first side of the gate dielectric layer adjacent the interface layer; removing the doping layer; forming a sacrificial layer on the gate dielectric layer, a material of the sacrificial layer reacting with residual dipole-inducing elements at a second side of the gate dielectric layer adjacent the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer; forming a capping layer on the gate dielectric layer; and forming a gate electrode layer on the capping layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate, a first transistor and a second transistor is provided. The first transistor includes a first gate structure over the first semiconductor fin. The first gate structure includes a first high-k layer and a first work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate, a material of the first work function layer may include metal carbide and aluminum, and a content of aluminum in the first work function layer is less than 10% atm. The second transistor includes a second gate structure. The second gate structure includes a second high-k layer and a second work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. A work function of the first work function layer is greater than a work function of the second work function layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a first transistor disposed on the substrate, and a second transistor disposed on the substrate. The first gate structure of the first transistor may include a first high-k layer, a first capping layer and a first work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate, wherein a material of the first work function layer includes Ta. The second transistor includes a second gate structure. The second gate structure includes a second high-k layer, a second capping layer and a second work function layer sequentially disposed on the substrate, wherein the first capping layer and the second capping layer are formed of the same layer, and a material of the second work function layer is different from the material of the first work function layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, forming a dielectric layer, with the dummy gate stack located in the dielectric layer, removing the dummy gate stack to form a opening in the dielectric layer, forming a metal layer extending into the opening, and etching back the metal layer. The remaining portions of the metal layer in the opening have edges lower than a top surface of the dielectric layer. A conductive layer is selectively deposited in the opening. The conductive layer is over the metal layer, and the metal layer and the conductive layer in combination form a replacement gate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a gate dielectric layer on an interface layer; forming a doping layer on the gate dielectric layer, the doping layer including a dipole-inducing element; annealing the doping layer to drive the dipole-inducing element through the gate dielectric layer to a first side of the gate dielectric layer adjacent the interface layer; removing the doping layer; forming a sacrificial layer on the gate dielectric layer, a material of the sacrificial layer reacting with residual dipole-inducing elements at a second side of the gate dielectric layer adjacent the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer; forming a capping layer on the gate dielectric layer; and forming a gate electrode layer on the capping layer.