Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a nanostructure having a first set of layers of a first material and a second set of layers, alternating with the first set of layers, having a second material. The method further includes depositing a hard mask on a top layer of the first set of layers, the hard mask including a first hard mask layer on the top layer of the first set of layers and a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask layer. The method also includes depositing elements of a cladding structure on sidewalls of the nanostructure and the hard mask. The method further includes removing a top portion of the cladding structure. The method further includes removing the second hard mask layer after removing the top portion of the cladding structure.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator device includes an array of spatial light modulator cells located over a substrate. Each of the spatial light modulator cells includes: a layer stack including a phase change material plate, a spacer dielectric material plate that underlies the phase change material plate, and a metallic heater plate underlying the spacer dielectric material plate and including outer sidewalls; and a pair of bottom electrode via structures contacting a respective surface segment of a bottom surface of the metallic heater plate. Each of the outer sidewalls of the metallic heater plate is vertically coincident with a respective sidewall of the spacer dielectric material plate and with a respective sidewall of the phase change material plate.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor strip is between the isolation regions. The method further includes recessing the isolation regions so that a top portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin, measuring a fin width of the semiconductor fin, generating an etch recipe based on the fin width, and performing a thinning process on the semiconductor fin using the etching recipe.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a stack of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternatively formed on top of one another, where a topmost layer of the stack is one of the second semiconductor layers; forming a patterned mask layer on the topmost layer of the stack; forming a trench in the stack based on the patterned mask layer to form a fin structure; forming a cladding layer extending along sidewalls of the fin structure; and removing the patterned mask layer and a portion of the cladding layer by performing a two-step etching process, where the portion of the cladding layer is removed to form cladding spacers having a concave top surface with a recess depth increasing from the sidewalls of the fin structure.

Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a nanostructure having a first set of layers of a first material and a second set of layers, alternating with the first set of layers, having a second material. The method further includes depositing a hard mask on a top layer of the first set of layers, the hard mask including a first hard mask layer on the top layer of the first set of layers and a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask layer. The method also includes depositing elements of a cladding structure on sidewalls of the nanostructure and the hard mask. The method further includes removing a top portion of the cladding structure. The method further includes removing the second hard mask layer after removing the top portion of the cladding structure.

Abstract: Methods for improving profiles of channel regions in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor fin including germanium, a germanium concentration of a first portion of the semiconductor fin being greater than a germanium concentration of a second portion of the semiconductor fin, a first distance between the first portion and a major surface of the semiconductor substrate being less than a second distance between the second portion and the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; and trimming the semiconductor fin, the first portion of the semiconductor fin being trimmed at a greater rate than the second portion of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor strip is between the isolation regions. The method further includes recessing the isolation regions so that a top portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin, measuring a fin width of the semiconductor fin, generating an etch recipe based on the fin width, and performing a thinning process on the semiconductor fin using the etching recipe.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first channel structure extending along a first lateral direction and a second channel structure extending along the first lateral direction. The second channel structure is spaced apart from the first channel structure. The semiconductor device further includes a high-k dielectric structure extending along the first lateral direction and disposed between the first and second channel structures. The high-k dielectric structure has a bottom surface that comprises a bottommost portion and at least a first plateau portion elevated from the bottommost portion.

Abstract: Methods for improving profiles of channel regions in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor fin including germanium, a germanium concentration of a first portion of the semiconductor fin being greater than a germanium concentration of a second portion of the semiconductor fin, a first distance between the first portion and a major surface of the semiconductor substrate being less than a second distance between the second portion and the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; and trimming the semiconductor fin, the first portion of the semiconductor fin being trimmed at a greater rate than the second portion of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a substrate to form a wafer, depositing a dielectric layer over the first epitaxial layer, patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening, etching the first epitaxial layer through the opening to form a recess, forming a second epitaxial layer in the recess, etching the dielectric layer to expose a top surface of the first epitaxial layer, and planarizing the exposed top surface of the first epitaxial layer and a top surface of the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A membrane probe card includes probes each having a base electrically connected with a trace of a membrane wiring structure, and a probe tip protruding from the base. The base has a tip placement section and an extension section, which extend from a first side edge to a second side edge of the base in order. The probe tip is made by laser processing and electroplating, located at the tip placement section, and provided with a fixed end portion connected with the base in a way that the width of the tip placement section is greater than the width of the fixed end portion. A distance from a center of the probe tip to the first side edge is less than a distance from the center of the probe tip to the second side edge. As such, requirements of fine pitch and probe height may be achieved.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a substrate to form a wafer, depositing a dielectric layer over the first epitaxial layer, patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening, etching the first epitaxial layer through the opening to form a recess, forming a second epitaxial layer in the recess, etching the dielectric layer to expose a top surface of the first epitaxial layer, and planarizing the exposed top surface of the first epitaxial layer and a top surface of the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A phase-change material switch may include a first interconnect-level dielectric, a heat spreader formed within the first interconnect-level dielectric, a second interconnect-level dielectric formed over the heat spreader, a phase change material element formed in or over the second interconnect-level dielectric, a first electrode and a second electrode in electrically conductive contact with the phase change material element, and a heating element coupled to the phase change material element and configured to supply a heat pulse to the phase change material element. The heat spreader may be located proximate to a first one of the phase change material element and the heating element, and the heat spreader may be smaller than the phase change material element. The heat spreader may be form using materials and processes similar to those used to form electrical interconnects, but unlike electrical interconnects, the heat spreader may be electrically isolated from electrical interconnects.

Abstract: A memory device including a first electrode and a second electrode are over a first dielectric layer. A heater layer is laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode. A thermal transfer layer is over the heater layer. The thermal transfer layer includes a first tapered region between the first electrode and the heater layer. A phase-change layer is over the thermal transfer layer and extends laterally from a top surface of the first electrode to a top surface of the second electrode. The phase-change layer includes a first lateral region over the first electrode and a first step region directly over the first tapered region of the thermal transfer layer. The phase-change layer has a first thickness along the first step region and a second thickness along the first lateral region. A difference between the first thickness and the second thickness is less than 20%.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of contaminated plastic waste decomposition. More specifically, the invention comprises methods and systems to decompose contaminated plastic waste and transform it into value-added products.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor strip is between the isolation regions. The method further includes recessing the isolation regions so that a top portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin, measuring a fin width of the semiconductor fin, generating an etch recipe based on the fin width, and performing a thinning process on the semiconductor fin using the etching recipe.

Abstract: Device structures and methods for forming the same are provided. A device structure according to the present disclosure includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed over an etch stop layer (ESL), a first dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a phase-change material layer disposed over the first electrode, the first dielectric layer and the second electrode, an insulator layer disposed over the phase-change material layer, a metal feature disposed over the insulator layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed over the insulator layer, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the metal feature.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-gate semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate including a fin structure is received. First portions of the fin structure are removed to expose a source/drain region of the fin structure. A semiconductor layer is formed in the source/drain region. Second portions of the fin structure are removed to expose a channel region of the fin structure. A surface of the channel region of the fin structure is cleaned. An interfacial layer is formed over the cleaned surface of the channel region of the fin structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor strip is between the isolation regions. The method further includes recessing the isolation regions so that a top portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin, measuring a fin width of the semiconductor fin, generating an etch recipe based on the fin width, and performing a thinning process on the semiconductor fin using the etching recipe.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a stack of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternatively formed on top of one another, where a topmost layer of the stack is one of the second semiconductor layers; forming a patterned mask layer on the topmost layer of the stack; forming a trench in the stack based on the patterned mask layer to form a fin structure; forming a cladding layer extending along sidewalls of the fin structure; and removing the patterned mask layer and a portion of the cladding layer by performing a two-step etching process, where the portion of the cladding layer is removed to form cladding spacers having a concave top surface with a recess depth increasing from the sidewalls of the fin structure.