Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate. A gate structure is over the substrate. Source/drain epitaxial structures are on opposite sides of the gate structure. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure surrounds and covers the gate structure. A dielectric liner lines a sidewall of the ILD structure and wraps a top corner of the gate structure. The dielectric liner comprises a bottom portion, a top portion above the bottom portion, and a middle portion connecting the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the middle portion has a different composition than the bottom portion and the top portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a dummy gate structure over a nanostructure, where the nanostructure overlies a fin that protrudes above a substrate, where the nanostructure comprises alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material; forming openings in the nanostructure on opposing sides of the dummy gate structure, the openings exposing end portions of the first semiconductor material and end portions of the second semiconductor material; recessing the exposed end portions of the first semiconductor material to form first sidewall recesses; filling the first sidewall recesses with a multi-layer spacer film; removing at least one sublayer of the multi-layer spacer film to form second sidewall recesses; and forming source/drain regions in the openings after removing at least one sublayer, where the source/drain regions seal the second sidewall recesses to form sealed air gaps.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first layer on a semiconductor fin; forming a mask on the first layer, the mask being thicker on a top of the semiconductor fin than along a sidewall of the semiconductor fin. The first layer is thinned along the sidewall of the semiconductor fin using the mask. A second layer is formed on the semiconductor fin, the second layer covering the mask and the first layer. A dummy gate layer is formed on the semiconductor fin and patterned to expose a top surface of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: Improved inner spacers for semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a multi-layer stack of alternating first layers of a first semiconductor material and second layers of a second semiconductor material on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first recess through the multi-layer stack, and laterally recessing sidewalls of the second layers of the multi-layer stack. The sidewalls are adjacent to the first recess. The method further includes forming inner spacers with respective seams adjacent to the recessed second layers of the multi-layer stack and performing an anneal treatment on the inner spacers to close the respective seams.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial layer over a first stack of nanostructures and an isolation region. A dummy gate structure is formed over the first stack of nanostructures, and a first portion of the sacrificial layer. A second portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to expose a sidewall of the first stack of nanostructures adjacent the dummy gate structure. A spacer layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. A first portion of the spacer layer physically contacts the first stack of nanostructures.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing are presented in which inner spacers for nanostructures are manufactured. In embodiments a dielectric material is deposited for the inner spacer and then treated. The treatment may add material and cause an expansion in volume in order to close any seams that can interfere with subsequent processes.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including fin-shaped isolation structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region over the semiconductor substrate adjacent the fin; and a dielectric fin structure over the STI region, the dielectric fin structure extending in a direction parallel to the fin, the dielectric fin structure including a first liner layer in contact with the STI region; and a first fill material over the first liner layer, the first fill material including a seam disposed in a lower portion of the first fill material and separated from a top surface of the first fill material, a first carbon concentration in the lower portion of the first fill material being greater than a second carbon concentration in an upper portion of the first fill material.

Abstract: A method includes following steps. A target layer is formed over a substrate. A first hard mask layer is formed over the target layer by a plasma generated using a first radio frequency generator and a second radio frequency generator. The first radio frequency generator and the second radio frequency generator have different powers. A second hard mask layer is formed over the first hard mask layer by a plasma generated using the first radio frequency generator without using the second radio frequency generator. A photoresist layer is formed over the second hard mask layer. The photoresist layer is exposed. The photoresist layer is developed. The first hard mask layer and the second hard mask layer are patterned using the photoresist layer as an etch mask. The target layer is patterned using the first hard mask layer and the second hard mask layer as an etch mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a first liner is deposited to line a recess between a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin, the first liner comprising a first material. The first liner is annealed to transform the first material to a second material. A second liner is deposited to line the recess, the second liner comprising a third material. The second liner is annealed to transform the third material to a fourth material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with isolation structures of different dielectric constants and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes fin structures with first and second fin portions disposed on first and second device areas on a substrate and first and second pair of gate structures disposed on the first and second fin portions. The second pair of gate structures is electrically isolated from the first pair of gate structures. The semiconductor device further includes a first isolation structure interposed between the first pair of gate structures and a second isolation structure interposed between the second pair of gate structures. The first isolation structure includes a first nitride liner and a first oxide fill layer. The second isolation structure includes a second nitride liner and a second oxide fill layer. The second nitride layer is thicker than the first nitride layer.

Abstract: Improved inner spacers for semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial layer over a first stack of nanostructures and an isolation region. A dummy gate structure is formed over the first stack of nanostructures, and a first portion of the sacrificial layer. A second portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to expose a sidewall of the first stack of nanostructures adjacent the dummy gate structure. A spacer layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. A first portion of the spacer layer physically contacts the first stack of nanostructures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a dielectric fin is formed in order to help isolate adjacent semiconductor fins. The dielectric fin is formed using a deposition process in which deposition times and temperatures are utilized to increase the resistance of the dielectric fin to subsequent etching processes.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including fin-shaped isolation structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region over the semiconductor substrate adjacent the fin; and a dielectric fin structure over the STI region, the dielectric fin structure extending in a direction parallel to the fin, the dielectric fin structure including a first liner layer in contact with the STI region; and a first fill material over the first liner layer, the first fill material including a seam disposed in a lower portion of the first fill material and separated from a top surface of the first fill material, a first carbon concentration in the lower portion of the first fill material being greater than a second carbon concentration in an upper portion of the first fill material.

Abstract: A method includes performing an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to form a dielectric layer on a wafer. The ALD process comprises an ALD cycle includes pulsing calypso ((SiCl3)2CH2), purging the calypso, pulsing ammonia, and purging the ammonia. The method further includes performing a wet anneal process on the dielectric layer, and performing a dry anneal process on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of semiconductor structures and method of forming the same. An example semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature and a hybrid fin disposed between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature and extending lengthwise along a first direction. The hybrid fin includes an inner feature and an outer layer disposed around the inner feature. The outer layer includes silicon oxycarbonitride and the inner feature includes silicon carbonitride.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method including forming an opening in a cut metal gate region of a metal gate structure of a semiconductor device, conformally depositing a first dielectric layer in the opening, conformally depositing a silicon layer over the first dielectric layer, performing an oxidation process on the silicon layer to form a first silicon oxide layer, filling the opening with a second silicon oxide layer, performing a chemical mechanical polishing on the second silicon oxide layer and the first dielectric layer to form a cut metal gate plug, the chemical mechanical polishing exposing the metal gate structure of the semiconductor device, and forming a first contact to a first portion of the metal gate structure and a second contact to a second portion of the metal gate structure, the first portion and the second portion of the metal gate structure being separated by the cut metal gate plug.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a dielectric fin is formed in order to help isolate adjacent semiconductor fins. The dielectric fin is formed using a deposition process in which deposition times and temperatures are utilized to increase the resistance of the dielectric fin to subsequent etching processes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with isolation structures of different dielectric constants and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes fin structures with first and second fin portions disposed on first and second device areas on a substrate and first and second pair of gate structures disposed on the first and second fin portions. The second pair of gate structures is electrically isolated from the first pair of gate structures. The semiconductor device further includes a first isolation structure interposed between the first pair of gate structures and a second isolation structure interposed between the second pair of gate structures. The first isolation structure includes a first nitride liner and a first oxide fill layer. The second isolation structure includes a second nitride liner and a second oxide fill layer. The second nitride layer is thicker than the first nitride layer.