Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region including a plurality of device regions. The semiconductor device further includes a first device disposed in a first device region of the plurality of device regions, the first device including a first gate structure, first gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the first gate structure, and first source and drain features. The semiconductor device further includes a second device disposed in a second device region of the plurality of device regions, the second device including a second gate structure, second gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the second gate structure, and second source and drain features. The second and first source and drain features having a source and drain feature and a contact feature in common. The common contact feature being a self-aligned contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first semiconductor material and a first reactivity; and a low reactivity capping layer of disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the low reactivity capping layer includes a second semiconductor material and a second reactivity less than the first reactivity, the low reactivity capping layer includes silicon germanium Si1-xGex and x is less than about 30%.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: One embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a semiconductor structure that comprises: a first device layer including a first active layer disposed over a substrate and a first gate layer disposed on the active layer, where at least one of the first active layer and the first gate layer includes a first layer alignment structure; a first bounding layer disposed over the first device layer, the first bounding layer including an opening arranged to detectably expose the first layer alignment structure; and a second device layer disposed over the bounding layer including a second layer alignment structure, where the second layer alignment structure is substantially aligned to the first layer alignment structure through the opening.

Abstract: A multi-layer scavenging metal gate stack, and methods of manufacturing the same, are disclosed. In an example, a gate stack disposed over a semiconductor substrate includes an interfacial dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, a high-k dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial dielectric layer, a first conductive layer disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer disposed over the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a first metal layer disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, a second metal layer disposed over the first metal layer, and a third metal layer disposed over the second metal layer. The first metal layer includes a material that scavenges oxygen impurities from the interfacial dielectric layer, and the second metal layer includes a material that adsorbs oxygen impurities from the third metal layer and prevents oxygen impurities from diffusing into the first metal layer.

Abstract: A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device structure are provided. A first device layer is formed over a substrate, where an alignment structure is patterned in the first device layer. A dielectric layer is provided over the first device layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to include an opening over the alignment structure. A second device layer is formed over the dielectric layer. The second device layer is patterned using a mask layer, where the mask layer includes a structure that is aligned relative to the alignment structure. The alignment structure is visible via the opening during the patterning of the second device layer.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first probing on a sample integrated circuit structure to generate a first Raman spectrum. During the first probing, a first laser beam having a first wavelength is projected on the sample integrated circuit structure. The method further includes performing a second probing on the sample integrated circuit structure to generate a second Raman spectrum, wherein a Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering (TERS) method is used to probe the sample integrated circuit structure. During the second probing, a second laser beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is projected on the sample integrated circuit structure. A stress in a first probed region of the sample integrated circuit structure is then from the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.

Abstract: A method includes probing at least one semiconductor fin using a four-point probe head, with four probe pins of the four-point probe head contacting the at least one semiconductor fin. A resistance of the at least one semiconductor fin is calculated. A carrier concentration of the semiconductor fin is calculated from the resistance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate structure over the substrate. The gate structure includes a dielectric portion and an electrode portion that is disposed over the dielectric portion. The dielectric portion includes a carbon-doped high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer over the substrate and a carbon-free high-k dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode portion.

Abstract: A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device structure are provided. A first device layer is formed over a substrate, where an alignment structure is patterned in the first device layer. A dielectric layer is provided over the first device layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to include an opening over the alignment structure. A second device layer is formed over the dielectric layer. The second device layer is patterned using a mask layer, where the mask layer includes a structure that is aligned relative to the alignment structure. The alignment structure is visible via the opening during the patterning of the second device layer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to integrated circuit fabrication and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device with a high-k gate dielectric layer. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a gate structure disposed over the substrate. The gate structure comprises a dielectric portion and an electrode portion that is disposed over the dielectric portion, and the dielectric portion comprises a carbon-doped high-k dielectric layer on the substrate and a carbon-free high-k dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode portion.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first probing on a sample integrated circuit structure to generate a first Raman spectrum. During the first probing, a first laser beam having a first wavelength is projected on the sample integrated circuit structure. The method further includes performing a second probing on the sample integrated circuit structure to generate a second Raman spectrum, wherein a Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering (TERS) method is used to probe the sample integrated circuit structure. During the second probing, a second laser beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is projected on the sample integrated circuit structure. A stress in a first probed region of the sample integrated circuit structure is then from the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including an active region including a plurality of device regions. The semiconductor device further includes a first device disposed in a first device region of the plurality of device regions, the first device including a first gate structure, first gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the first gate structure, and first source and drain features. The semiconductor device further includes a second device disposed in a second device region of the plurality of device regions, the second device including a second gate structure, second gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the second gate structure, and second source and drain features. The second and first source and drain features having a source and drain feature and a contact feature in common. The common contact feature being a self-aligned contact.

Abstract: A gate stressor for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The gate stressor includes a floor, a first stressor sidewall, and a second stressor sidewall. The floor is formed on a first portion of a gate layer. The gate layer is disposed above a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The first stressor sidewall formed on a second portion of the gate layer. The second portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a fin. The second stressor sidewall formed on the third portion of the gate layer. The third portion of the gate layer is disposed on sidewalls of a structure spaced apart from the fin. The first stressor side wall and the second stressor sidewall do not exceed a height of the fin.

Abstract: A multi-layer scavenging metal gate stack, and methods of manufacturing the same, are disclosed. In an example, a gate stack disposed over a semiconductor substrate includes an interfacial dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, a high-k dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial dielectric layer, a first conductive layer disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer disposed over the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a first metal layer disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, a second metal layer disposed over the first metal layer, and a third metal layer disposed over the second metal layer. The first metal layer includes a material that scavenges oxygen impurities from the interfacial dielectric layer, and the second metal layer includes a material that adsorbs oxygen impurities from the third metal layer and prevents oxygen impurities from diffusing into the first metal layer.