Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes forming a conformal liner layer in a plurality of trenches that define a fin, forming a layer of insulating material above the liner layer, exposing portions of the liner layer, removing portions of the liner layer so as to result in a generally U-shaped liner positioned at a bottom of each of the trenches, performing at least one third etching process on the layer of insulating material, wherein at least a portion of the layer of insulating material is positioned within a cavity of the U-shaped liner layer, and forming a gate structure around the fin. A FinFET device disclosed herein includes a plurality of trenches that define a fin, a local isolation that includes a generally U-shaped liner that defines, in part, a cavity and a layer of insulating material positioned within the cavity, and a gate structure positioned around the fin.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of forming integrated circuits are provided. An integrated circuit includes a gate electrode structure overlying a base substrate. The gate electrode structure includes a gate electrode, with a cap disposed over the gate electrode and sidewall spacers disposed adjacent to sidewalls of the gate electrode structure. A source and drain region are formed in the base substrate aligned with the gate electrode structure. A first dielectric layer is disposed adjacent to the sidewall spacers. The sidewall spacers and the cap have recessed surfaces below a top surface of the first dielectric layer, and a protecting layer is disposed over the recessed surfaces. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the protecting layer. Electrical interconnects are disposed through the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and the electrical interconnects are in electrical communication with the respective source and drain regions.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming at least one layer of insulating material above a semiconductor layer, performing at least one contact opening etching process to form a contact opening in the at least one layer of insulating material that exposes a portion of the semiconductor layer, selectively depositing a metal-oxide insulating material through the contact opening on the exposed surface of the semiconductor layer, and forming a conductive contact in the contact opening that contacts the metal-oxide insulating material.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming, on a substrate, at least one stack of alternating first and second semiconductor layers. The first semiconductor layer may comprise a first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor layer may comprise a second semiconductor material. The first semiconductor material may be selectively etchable with respect to the second semiconductor material. The method may further include removing portions of the at least one stack and substrate to define exposed sidewalls thereof, forming respective spacers on the exposed sidewalls, etching recesses through the at least one stack and substrate to define a plurality of spaced apart pillars, selectively etching the first semiconductor material from the plurality of pillars leaving second semiconductor material structures supported at opposing ends by respective spacers, and forming at least one gate adjacent the second semiconductor material structures.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes forming first and second gate cap protection layers that encapsulate and protect a gate cap layer. A novel transistor device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate, a spacer structure positioned adjacent the gate structure, a layer of insulating material positioned above the substrate and around the spacer structure, a gate cap layer positioned above the gate structure and the spacer structure, and a gate cap protection material that encapsulates the gate cap layer, wherein portions of the gate cap protection material are positioned between the gate cap layer and the gate structure, the spacer structure and the layer of insulating material.

Abstract: An illustrative method includes forming a FinFET device above structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first epi semiconductor material and a second epi semiconductor material that includes forming an initial fin structure that comprises portions of the semiconductor substrate, the first epi material and the second epi material, recessing a layer of insulating material such that a portion, but not all, of the second epi material portion of the initial fin structure is exposed so as to define a final fin structure, forming a gate structure above and around the final fin structure, removing the first epi material of the initial fin structure and thereby define an under-fin cavity under the final fin structure and substantially filling the under-fin cavity with a stressed material.

Abstract: A gate structure straddling a plurality of semiconductor material portions is formed. Source regions and drain regions are formed in the plurality of semiconductor material portions, and a gate spacer laterally surrounding the gate structure is formed. Epitaxial active regions are formed from the source and drain regions by a selective epitaxy process. The assembly of the gate structure and the gate spacer is cut into multiple portions employing a cut mask and an etch to form multiple gate assemblies. Each gate assembly includes a gate structure portion and two disjoined gate spacer portions laterally spaced by the gate structure portion. Portions of the epitaxial active regions can be removed from around sidewalls of the gate spacers to prevent electrical shorts among the epitaxial active regions. A dielectric spacer or a dielectric liner may be employed to limit areas in which metal semiconductor alloys are formed.

Abstract: FinFET semiconductor devices with local isolation features and methods for fabricating such devices are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of fin structures formed thereon, wherein each of the plurality of fin structures has sidewalls, forming spacers about the sidewalls of the plurality of fin structures, and forming a silicon-containing layer over the semiconductor substrate and in between the plurality of fin structures. The method further includes removing at least a first portion of the silicon-containing layer to form a plurality of void regions while leaving at least a second portion thereof in place and depositing an isolation material in the plurality of void regions.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes forming a sacrificial gate structure comprised of upper and lower sacrificial gate electrodes, performing at least one etching process to define a patterned upper sacrificial gate electrode comprised of a plurality of trenches that expose a portion of a surface of the lower sacrificial gate electrode and performing another etching process through the patterned upper sacrificial gate electrode to remove the lower sacrificial gate electrode and a sacrificial gate insulation layer and thereby define a first portion of a replacement gate cavity that is at least partially positioned under the patterned upper sacrificial gate electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) formed between metal layers of a semiconductor device. Specifically, provided is an approach for forming the semiconductor device using only one or two masks, the approach comprising: forming a first metal layer in a dielectric layer of the semiconductor device, forming a bottom electrode layer over the first metal layer, forming a MTJ over the bottom electrode layer, forming a top electrode layer over the MTJ, patterning the top electrode layer and the MTJ with a first mask, and forming a second metal layer over the top electrode layer. Optionally, the bottom electrode layer may be patterned using a second mask. Furthermore, in another embodiment, an insulator layer (e.g., manganese) is formed atop the dielectric layer, wherein a top surface of the first metal layer remains exposed following formation of the insulator layer such that the bottom electrode layer contacts the top surface of the first metal layer.

Abstract: One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a raised isolation post structure between first and second fins, wherein the raised isolation post structure partially defines first and second spaces between the first and second fins, respectively, and forming a gate structure around the first and second fins and the raised isolation post structure, wherein at least portions of the gate structure are positioned in the first and second spaces. One illustrative device includes, among other things, first and second fins, a raised isolation post structure positioned between the first and second fins, first and second spaces defined by the fins and the raised isolation post structure, and a gate structure positioned around a portion of the fins and the isolation post structure.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed includes, among other things, first and second active regions that are separated by an isolation region, first and second replacement gate structures positioned above the first and second active regions, respectively, and a gate registration structure positioned above the isolation region, wherein the gate registration structure comprises a layer of insulating material positioned above the isolation region and a polish-stop layer and wherein a first end surface of the first replacement gate structure abuts and engages a first side surface of the gate registration structure and a second end surface of the second replacement gate structure abuts and engages a second side surface of the gate registration structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming spacers on FinFETs and other semiconductor devices. In one example, the method includes forming a plurality of spaced-apart trenches in a semiconducting substrate that defines a fin, forming a first layer of insulating material in the trenches that covers a lower portion of the fin but exposes an upper portion of the fin, and forming a second layer of insulating material on the exposed upper portion of the fin. The method further comprises selectively forming a dielectric material above an upper surface of the fin and in a bottom of the trench, depositing a layer of spacer material above a gate structure of the device and above the dielectric material above the fin and in the trench, and performing an etching process on the layer of spacer material to define sidewall spacers positioned adjacent the gate structure.

Abstract: Methods and structures for forming fin structures whilst controlling the height of the fin structures with high uniformity across large areas are described. According to some aspects, a multi-layer structure comprising a first etch-stop layer and a second etch-stop layer separated from a substrate and from each other by spacer layers is formed on a substrate. Trenches may be formed through the first and second etch-stop layers. A buffer layer may be formed in the trenches, filling the trenches to a level approximately at a position of the first etch-stop layer. A semiconductor layer may be formed above the buffer layer and etched back to the second etch-stop layer to form semiconductor fins of highly uniform heights.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor structure and a method of forming a semiconductor structure. Embodiments of the semiconductor structure have a plurality of fins on a substrate. The semiconductor has, and the method achieves, a silicide layer formed on and substantially surrounding at least one epitaxial region formed on a top portion of the plurality of fins. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and structure for forming a conformal silicide layer on the epitaxial regions that are formed on the top portion of unmerged fins of a finFET.

Abstract: Techniques and structures for controlling etch-back of a finFET fin are described. One or more layers may be deposited over the fin and etched. Etch-back of a planarization layer may be used to determine a self-limited etch height of one or more layers adjacent the fin and a self-limited etch height of the fin. Strain-inducing material may be formed at regions of the etched fin to induce strain in the channel of a finFET.

Abstract: One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming an overall fin structure having a stepped cross-sectional profile, the fin structure having an upper part and a lower part positioned under the upper part, wherein the upper part has a first width and the lower part has a second width that is less than the first width, forming a layer of insulating material in trenches adjacent the overall fin structure such that the upper part of the overall fin structure and a portion of the lower part of the overall fin structure are exposed above an upper surface of the layer of insulating material, and forming a gate structure around the exposed upper part of the overall fin structure and the exposed portion of the lower part of the overall fin structure.

Abstract: Methods and structures associated with forming finFETs that have fin pitches less than 30 nm are described. A selective nitridation process may be used during spacer formation on the gate to enable finer fin pitch than could be achieved using traditional spacer deposition processes. The spacer formation may also allow precise control over formation of source and drain junctions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and structures for protecting gates during epitaxial growth. An inner spacer of a first material is deposited adjacent a transistor gate. An outer spacer of a different material is deposited adjacent the inner spacer. Stressor cavities are formed adjacent the transistor gate. The inner spacer is recessed, forming a divot. The divot is filled with a material to protect the transistor gate. The stressor cavities are then filled. As the gate is safely protected, unwanted epitaxial growth (“mouse ears”) on the transistor gate is prevented.

Abstract: A high performance GAA FET is described in which vertically stacked silicon nanowires carry substantially the same drive current as the fin in a conventional FinFET transistor, but at a lower operating voltage, and with greater reliability. One problem that occurs in existing nanowire GAA FETs is that, when a metal is used to form the wrap-around gate, a short circuit can develop between the source and drain regions and the metal gate portion that underlies the channel. The vertically stacked nanowire device described herein, however, avoids such short circuits by forming insulating barriers in contact with the source and drain regions, prior to forming the gate. Through the use of sacrificial films, the fabrication process is almost fully self-aligned, such that only one lithography mask layer is needed, which significantly reduces manufacturing costs.