Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor substrate, forming hard mask layers (HMs) over the semiconductor substrate, forming first mandrels over the HMs, forming second mandrels along sidewalls of the first mandrels, forming a protective layer over the first mandrels and the second mandrels, removing a portion of the protective layer to expose portions of the first and the second mandrels, removing the exposed portions of the second mandrels with respect to the exposed portions of the first mandrels, removing remaining portions of the protective layer to expose remaining portions of the first and second mandrels, where the exposed portions of the first mandrels and the remaining portions of the first and second mandrels form a mandrel structure, patterning the HMs using the mandrel structure as an etching mask, and patterning the semiconductor substrate to form a fin structure using the patterned HMs as an etching mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature over a semiconductor substrate, channel layers connected to the source/drain feature, a gate structure between adjacent channel layers and wrapping the channel layers, and an inner spacer between the source/drain feature and the gate structure and between adjacent channel layers. The source/drain feature has a first interface with a first channel layer of the channel layer. The first interface has a convex profile protruding towards the first channel layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; fin active regions protruded above the semiconductor substrate; and a gate stack disposed on the fin active regions; wherein the gate stack includes a high-k dielectric material layer, and various metal layers disposed on the high-k dielectric material layer. The gate stack has an uneven profile in a sectional view with a first dimension D1 at a top surface, a second dimension D2 at a bottom surface, and a third dimension D3 at a location between the top surface and the bottom surface, and wherein each of D1 and D2 is greater than D3.

Abstract: A first layer is formed over a substrate; a second layer is formed over the first layer; and a third layer is formed over the second layer. The first and third layers each have a first semiconductor element; the second layer has a second semiconductor element different from the first semiconductor element. The second layer has the second semiconductor element at a first concentration in a first region and at a second concentration in a second region of the second layer. A source/drain trench is formed in a region of the stack to expose side surfaces of the layers. A first portion of the second layer is removed from the exposed side surface to form a gap between the first and the third layers. A spacer is formed in the gap. A source/drain feature is formed in the source/drain trench and on a sidewall of the spacer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. A method according one embodiment of the present disclosure include forming an epitaxial stack of channel layers and sacrificial layers on a semiconductor substrate, patterning the epitaxial stack to form a first fin-shape structure in a first region and a second fin-shape structure in a second region, etching the first fin-shape structure to form a first source/drain recess, etching the second fin-shape structure to form a second source/drain recess, forming first inner spacers in the first region, forming second inner spacers in the second region, laterally recessing the second inner spacers, forming a first source/drain feature in the first source/drain recess, and forming a second source/drain feature in the second source/drain recess. After the laterally recessing of the second inner spacers, the second inner spacers have a thickness less than the first inner spacers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of making a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a semiconductor stack on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor stack includes first semiconductor layers of a first semiconductor material and second semiconductor layers of a second semiconductor material alternatively stacked on the substrate; patterning the semiconductor stack and the substrate to form a trench and an active region being adjacent the trench; epitaxially growing a liner of the first semiconductor material on sidewalls of the trench and sidewalls of the active region; forming an isolation feature in the trench; performing a rapid thermal nitridation process, thereby converting the liner into a silicon nitride layer; and forming a cladding layer of the second semiconductor material over the silicon nitride layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a workpiece comprising a substrate, an active region protruding from the substrate, and a dummy gate structure disposed over a channel region of the active region. The method also includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of the active region, forming a sacrificial structure in the trench, conformally depositing a dielectric film over the workpiece, performing a first etching process to etch back the dielectric film to form fin sidewall (FSW) spacers extending along sidewalls of the sacrificial structure, performing a second etching process to remove the sacrificial structure to expose the trench, forming an epitaxial source/drain feature in the trench such that a portion of the epitaxial source/drain feature being sandwiched by the FSW spacers, and replacing the dummy gate structure with a gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a dielectric fin having a helmet layer, a gate structure disposed over a first portion of the helmet layer and extending along a direction, and a dielectric layer adjacent the gate structure and disposed over a second portion of the helmet layer. A width of the first portion along the direction is greater than a width of the second portion along the direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first channel region, a second channel region, and a first insulating fin, the first insulating fin being interposed between the first channel region and the second channel region. The first insulating fin includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion includes a fill material. The upper portion includes a first dielectric layer on the lower portion, the first dielectric layer being a first dielectric material, a first capping layer on the first dielectric layer, the first capping layer being a second dielectric material, the second dielectric material being different than the first dielectric material, and a second dielectric layer on the first capping layer, the second dielectric layer being the first dielectric material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a p-well and an n-well in a substrate. The method further includes forming a stack of interleaving first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over the p-well and the n-well, the first semiconductor layers having a first thickness and the second semiconductor layers having a second thickness different than the first thickness. The method further includes annealing the stack of interleaving semiconductor layers. The method further includes patterning the stack to form fin-shaped structures including a first fin-shaped structure over the n-well and a second fin-shaped structure over the p-well. The method further includes etching to remove the second semiconductor layers from the first and second fin-shaped structures, where the first semiconductor layers have a different thickness within each of the first and second fin-shaped structures after the etching. The method further includes forming a metal gate over the first and second fin-shaped structures.

Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) chips and seal ring structures are provided. An IC chip according to the present disclosure includes a circuit region and a seal ring region surrounding the circuit region. The seal ring region includes a first active region extending lengthwise in a first direction and a first gate structure disposed on the first active region. The first gate structure extends lengthwise in a second direction that is tilted from the first direction. The first direction and the second direction form a tilted angle therebetween.

Abstract: The embodiments of the disclosure provide a FinFET. The FinFET includes a substrate, a first gate stack and a second gate stack. The substrate has a first fin and a second fin. The first gate stack is across the first fin and extends along a widthwise direction of the first fin. The second gate stack is across the second fin and extends along a widthwise direction of the second fin. A bottommost surface of the first gate stack is lower than a bottommost surface of the second gate stack, and a first gate height of the first gate stack directly on the first fin is substantially equal to a second gate height of the second gate stack directly on the second fin.

Abstract: A method includes forming a stack of channel layers and sacrificial layers on a substrate. The channel layers and the sacrificial layers have different material compositions and being alternatingly disposed in a vertical direction. The method further includes patterning the stack to form a semiconductor fin, forming an isolation feature on sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, recessing the semiconductor fin, thereby forming a source/drain recess, such that a recessed top surface of the semiconductor fin is below a top surface of the isolation feature, growing a base epitaxial layer from the recessed top surface of the semiconductor fin, depositing an insulation layer in the source/drain recess, and forming an epitaxial feature in the source/drain recess, wherein the epitaxial feature is above the insulation layer. The insulation layer is above the base epitaxial layer and above a bottommost channel layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor substrate, forming hard mask layers (HMs) over the semiconductor substrate, forming first mandrels over the HMs, forming second mandrels along sidewalls of the first mandrels, forming a protective layer over the first mandrels and the second mandrels, removing a portion of the protective layer to expose portions of the first and the second mandrels, removing the exposed portions of the second mandrels with respect to the exposed portions of the first mandrels, removing remaining portions of the protective layer to expose remaining portions of the first and second mandrels, where the exposed portions of the first mandrels and the remaining portions of the first and second mandrels form a mandrel structure, patterning the HMs using the mandrel structure as an etching mask, and patterning the semiconductor substrate to form a fin structure using the patterned HMs as an etching mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first channel region, a second channel region, and a first insulating fin, the first insulating fin being interposed between the first channel region and the second channel region. The first insulating fin includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion includes a fill material. The upper portion includes a first dielectric layer on the lower portion, the first dielectric layer being a first dielectric material, a first capping layer on the first dielectric layer, the first capping layer being a second dielectric material, the second dielectric material being different than the first dielectric material, and a second dielectric layer on the first capping layer, the second dielectric layer being the first dielectric material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; fin active regions protruded above the semiconductor substrate; and a gate stack disposed on the fin active regions; wherein the gate stack includes a high-k dielectric material layer, and various metal layers disposed on the high-k dielectric material layer. The gate stack has an uneven profile in a sectional view with a first dimension D1 at a top surface, a second dimension D2 at a bottom surface, and a third dimension D3 at a location between the top surface and the bottom surface, and wherein each of D1 and D2 is greater than D3.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nanostructures extending in a first direction above a semiconductor substrate and arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and a gate structure extending in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions, the gate structure surrounding each of the plurality of nanostructures. Each of the plurality of nanostructures has an outer region having a composition different from a composition of an inner region of each of the plurality of the nanostructures. The gate structure includes a plurality of high-k gate dielectric layers respectively surrounding the plurality of nanostructures, a work function layer surrounding each of the plurality of high-k gate dielectric layers and a fill metal layer surrounding the work function layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a workpiece comprising a substrate, an active region protruding from the substrate, and a dummy gate structure disposed over a channel region of the active region. The method also includes forming a trench in a source/drain region of the active region, forming a sacrificial structure in the trench, conformally depositing a dielectric film over the workpiece, performing a first etching process to etch back the dielectric film to form fin sidewall (FSW) spacers extending along sidewalls of the sacrificial structure, performing a second etching process to remove the sacrificial structure to expose the trench, forming an epitaxial source/drain feature in the trench such that a portion of the epitaxial source/drain feature being sandwiched by the FSW spacers, and replacing the dummy gate structure with a gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes fins protruding from a substrate and separated by a dielectric layer, each semiconductor fin including a plurality of semiconductor layers, source/drain (S/D) features disposed in the semiconductor fins, a first metal gate stack and a second metal gate stack disposed over the semiconductor fins and adjacent to the S/D features, where the first and the second metal gate stacks each include a top portion and a bottom portion disposed below the top portion, and where the bottom portion is interleaved with the semiconductor layers, and an isolation feature disposed on the dielectric layer and in contact with a sidewall surface of each of the first and the second metal gate stacks, where the isolation feature protrudes from the top portion of the first and the second metal gate stack, and where the isolation feature includes two compositionally different dielectric layers.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure protruding from a substrate, forming a dielectric fin between the first fin structure and the second fin structure, recessing the dielectric fin to form a trench between the first fin structure and the second fin structure, and depositing a first dielectric layer on sidewall surfaces of the trench and on a top surface of the recessed dielectric fin. After the depositing the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer is deposited in the trench. The method further includes depositing a third dielectric layer to cap the second dielectric layer in the trench, and forming a gate structure on the first fin structure, the second fin structure, and the third dielectric layer.