Abstract: A method of forming a FinFET fin with low-doped and a highly-doped active portions and/or a FinFET fin having tapered sidewalls for Vt tuning and multi-Vt schemes and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming an Si fin, the Si fin having a top active portion and a bottom active portion; forming a hard mask on a top surface of the Si fin; forming an oxide layer on opposite sides of the Si fin; implanting a dopant into the Si fin; recessing the oxide layer to reveal the active top portion of the Si fin; etching the top active portion of the Si fin to form vertical sidewalls; forming a nitride spacer covering each vertical sidewall; recessing the recessed oxide layer to reveal the active bottom portion of the Si fin; and tapering the active bottom portion of the Si fin.

Abstract: Devices and methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices for increasing performance through gate cut last processes are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device having a substrate including a plurality of fins, an STI layer, an oxide layer, and a gate material over the oxide layer, the fins extending into the gate material; removing the gate material and the oxide layer; depositing a high k material on a top surface of the STI layer, surrounding the fins; depositing a gate stack over the high k material; filling the top of the device with a gate contact metal; etching a portion of the gate contact metal, the metal gate stack, and the high k material; and filling the portion with an inter-layer dielectric. Also disclosed is an intermediate device formed by the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure with robust metal plugs and the resulting IC structure. In the method, openings are formed in an interlayer dielectric layer to expose semiconductor device surfaces. The openings are lined with a two-layer liner, which includes conformal metal and barrier layers, and subsequently filled with a metal layer. However, instead of waiting until after the liner is formed to perform a silicidation anneal, as is conventionally done, the silicidation anneal is performed between deposition of the two liner layers. This is particularly useful because, as determined by the inventors, performing the silicidation anneal prior to depositing the conformal barrier layer prevents the formation of microcracks in the conformal barrier layer. Prevention of such microcracks, in turn, prevents any metal from the metal layer from protruding into the area between the two liner layers and/or completely through the liner.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a source/drain region is disclosed. The source/drain region may include a first epitaxial region along at least one sidewall of the source/drain region having a substantially uniform sidewall thickness. The semiconductor structure may further include a gate structure adjacent and above the source/drain region wherein at least a portion of the first epitaxial region is positioned below a sidewall spacer of the gate structure. A method of forming a source/drain region including a first epitaxial region having a substantially uniform sidewall thickness is disclosed. The method may include forming a trench in a substrate adjacent to a gate structure, forming the first epitaxial region in the trench, forming a spacer material layer on the gate structure and on a portion of the first epitaxial region, and removing a portion of the first epitaxial region using the spacer material layer as a mask.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a sacrificial gate structure above a semiconductor substrate, the sacrificial gate structure comprising a sacrificial gate insulation layer and a multi-layer sacrificial gate electrode structure, removing the sacrificial gate structure to form a replacement gate cavity, and forming a replacement gate structure in the replacement gate cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to selective shallow trench isolation (STI) fill material for stress engineering in semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes a single diffusion break (SDB) region having at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) region with a stress fill material within a recess of the at least one STI region. The stress fill material imparts a stress on a gate structure adjacent to the at least one STI region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to fin structures with single diffusion break facet improvement using an epitaxial insulator and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of fin structures; an insulator material filling a cut between adjacent fin structures of the plurality of fin structures; a metal material (e.g., rare earth oxide or SrTiO3) at least partially lining the cut; and an epitaxial source region or epitaxial drain region in at least one of the plurality of fin structures and adjacent to the metal material.

Abstract: A method of forming nanosheet and nanowire transistors includes the formation of alternating epitaxial layers of silicon germanium (SiGe) and silicon (Si), where the germanium content within respective layers of the silicon germanium is systemically varied in order to mediate the selective etching of these layers. The germanium content is controlled such that recessed regions created by partial removal of the silicon germanium layers have uniform lateral dimensions, and the backfilling of such recessed regions with an etch selective material results in the formation of a robust etch barrier.

Abstract: At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed herein involves forming a sigma shaped source/drain lattice. A fin is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate region is formed over the fin. In a source region and a drain region adjacent bottom portions of the fin, a first recess cavity is formed in the source region, and a second recess cavity is formed in the drain region. The first and second recess cavities comprise sidewalls formed in an angle relative to a vertical axis. Portions of the first and second recess cavities extend below the fin. In the first recess cavity, a first rare earth oxide layer is formed, and in the second recess cavity, a second rare earth oxide layer is formed.

Abstract: A plurality of vertically oriented channel semiconductor structures is formed above a substrate. A bottom source/drain (S/D) region is formed proximate a lower portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A first dielectric layer is formed above the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A thickness of the first dielectric layer is reduced to expose an upper portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A first semiconductor material region is formed on the exposed upper portion. The thickness of the first dielectric layer is further reduced to expose a channel portion of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure and to define a bottom spacer adjacent the bottom S/D region. A gate structure is formed around the channel region of the vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure. A second semiconductor material region is formed on the upper portion to define an upper S/D region after forming the gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to self-aligned junction structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of epitaxial grown fin structures for first type devices; and a plurality epitaxial grown fin structures for second type devices having sidewall liners.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include fabricating integrated circuit (IC) structures using a boron etch-stop layer, and IC structures with a boron-rich region therein. Methods of forming an IC structure according to the present disclosure can include: growing a conductive epitaxial layer on an upper surface of a semiconductor element; forming a boron etch-stop layer directly on an upper surface of the conductive epitaxial layer; forming an insulator on the boron etch-stop layer; forming an opening within the insulator to expose an upper surface of the boron etch-stop layer; annealing the boron etch-stop layer to drive boron into the conductive epitaxial layer, such that the boron etch-stop layer becomes a boron-rich region; and forming a contact to the boron-rich region within the opening, such that the contact is electrically connected to the semiconductor element through at least the conductive epitaxial layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of forming vertical field effect transistor(s) and the resulting structure. In the method, five semiconductor layers are formed in a stack by epitaxial deposition. The first and fifth layers are one semiconductor material, the second and fourth layers are another and the third layer is yet another. The stack is patterned into fin(s). Vertical surfaces of the second and fourth layers of the fin(s) are etched to form upper and lower spacer cavities and these cavities are filled with upper and lower spacers. Vertical surfaces of the third layer of the fin(s) are etched to form a gate cavity and this cavity is filled with a gate. Since epitaxial deposition is used to form the semiconductor layers, the thicknesses of these layers and thereby the heights of the spacer cavities and gate cavity and the corresponding lengths of the spacers and gate can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: A composite etch stop layer includes an oxide layer formed over a sacrificial gate structure and a nitride layer formed over the oxide layer. The oxide layer is disposed over only lower portions of the sacrificial gate structure while the nitride layer envelops the oxide layer and is disposed directly over a top surface of the sacrificial gate structure. Sensitivity of the nitride layer to oxidation, such as during the formation of an interlayer dielectric over the composite etch stop layer, is decreased by eliminating the oxide layer from upper portions of the sacrificial gate layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a structure for a vertical-transport field-effect transistor. A semiconductor fin is formed over a sacrificial layer. A support structure is connected with the semiconductor fin. After forming the support structure, the sacrificial layer is removed to form a cavity extending beneath the semiconductor fin. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown in the cavity to form a source/drain region of the vertical-transport field-effect transistor.

Abstract: Methods of forming a structure for a vertical-transport field-effect transistor. A semiconductor fin is formed over a sacrificial layer. A support structure is connected with the semiconductor fin. After forming the support structure, the sacrificial layer is removed to form a cavity extending beneath the semiconductor fin. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown in the cavity to form a source/drain region of the vertical-transport field-effect transistor.

Abstract: Transistor structures and methods of fabricating transistor structures are provided. The methods include: fabricating a transistor structure at least partially within a substrate, the fabricating including: providing a cavity within the substrate; and forming a first portion and a second portion of the transistor structure at least partially within the cavity, the first portion being disposed at least partially between the substrate and the second portion, where the first portion inhibits diffusion of material from the second portion into the substrate. In one embodiment, the transistor structure is a field-effect transistor structure, and the first portion and the second portion include one of a source region or a drain region of the field-effect transistor structure. In another embodiment, the transistor structure is a bipolar junction transistor structure.

Abstract: Structures for a nanosheet field-effect transistor and methods for forming a structure for a nanosheet field-effect transistor. A seed layer is epitaxially grown on a substrate, and a layer stack is epitaxially grown on the seed layer. The layer stack includes a first plurality of semiconductor layers and a second plurality of semiconductor layers alternatingly arranged with the first plurality of semiconductor layers. The layer stack is patterned to form a body feature located on the seed layer. The body feature includes a plurality of nanosheet channel layers patterned from the first plurality of semiconductor layers and a plurality of sacrificial layers patterned from the second plurality of semiconductor layers. Semiconductor material for a source/drain region is epitaxially grown laterally from the nanosheet channel layers and vertically from the seed layer.

Abstract: An asymmetric transistor may be used for controlling a memory cell. The asymmetric transistor may include at least one gate stack having bottom to top: a gate dielectric layer having a planar upper surface and a uniform thickness extending atop the entirety of the device channel, a dielectric threshold voltage adjusting element including: a sloped dielectric element located on the planar upper surface of the gate dielectric layer, and a sidewall dielectric layer extending from the sloped dielectric element along a first sidewall of the opening space, and a gate conductor located atop an upper surface of the sloped dielectric element and along a side of the sidewall dielectric layer. The dielectric threshold voltage adjusting element creates a threshold voltage that is lower in a writing mode than in a storage mode of the memory cell.

Abstract: At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed herein involves a gate cut process using a stress material for a finFET device. A set of fins are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate region is formed above a portion of the set of fins. A gate cut trench is formed within the gate region. A dielectric material comprising an intrinsic stress is deposited into the gate cut region. A replacement metal gate process is performed in the gate region. Residue metal features are removed about the gate cut region.