Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a hydrophobic coating on an inner surface of an exhaust line, connecting the exhaust line to a semiconductor processing chamber, introducing a first precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber, introducing a second precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber, wherein the first precursor reacts with the second precursor to form a layer of oxide material, and pumping the first precursor and the second precursor from the semiconductor processing chamber and through the exhaust line.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing chemical mechanical polish on a wafer includes a polishing head that includes a retaining ring. The polishing head is configured to hold the wafer in the retaining ring. The retaining ring includes a first ring having a first hardness, and a second ring encircled by the first ring, wherein the second ring has a second hardness smaller than the first hardness.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a trench and depositing a first insulating material along sidewalls and a bottom surface of the trench using a conformal deposition process. Depositing the first insulating material includes forming a first seam between a first portion of the first insulating material on a first sidewall of the trench and a second portion of the first insulating material on a second sidewall of the trench. The method further includes etching the first insulating material below a top of the trench and depositing a second insulating material over the first insulating material and in the trench using a conformal deposition process. Depositing the second insulating material comprises forming a second seam between a first portion of the second insulating material on the first sidewall of the trench and a second portion of the second insulating material on a second sidewall of the trench.

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 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: 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 method includes forming a fin extending from a substrate; forming an first isolation region along opposing sidewalls of the fin; forming a gate structure over the fin; forming an epitaxial source/drain region in the fin adjacent the gate structure; forming an etch stop layer over the epitaxial source/drain region and over the gate structure; forming a protection layer over the etch stop layer, the protection layer including silicon oxynitride; and forming a second isolation material over the protection layer, wherein forming the second isolation material reduces a nitrogen concentration of the protection layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a hydrophobic coating on an inner surface of an exhaust line, connecting the exhaust line to a semiconductor processing chamber, introducing a first precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber, introducing a second precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber, wherein the first precursor reacts with the second precursor to form a layer of oxide material, and pumping the first precursor and the second precursor from the semiconductor processing chamber and through the exhaust line.

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 method includes following steps. Fins are formed over a substrate. A dummy gate structure is across the fins. A spacer layer is deposited over the dummy gate structure. The spacer layer has a first portion in a void of the dummy gate structure and a second portion outside the void of the dummy gate structure. The second portion of the spacer layer is treated to have a different material composition than the first portion of the spacer layer, and is then etched to form gate spacers on sidewalls of the dummy gate structure. An etching process is performed on the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench between the gate spacers. The etching process etches the first portion of the spacer layer at a faster etch rate than etching the gate spacers. A gate structure is formed in the gate trench.

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: 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 device includes a semiconductor fin, an isolation layer, a dielectric fin structure, and a gate structure. The semiconductor fin is over a substrate. The isolation layer is over the substrate and adjacent the semiconductor fin. The dielectric fin structure is over the isolation layer and includes a bottom dielectric fin and a top dielectric fin. The isolation layer surrounds a bottom of the bottom dielectric fin. The top dielectric fin is over the bottom dielectric fin and is spaced apart from the isolation layer. The gate structure is across the semiconductor fin and the dielectric fin structure, wherein a portion of the gate structure in contact with the isolation layer has a first width, and another portion of the gate structure in contact with the top dielectric fin has a second width greater than the first width.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin and a second fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; depositing a liner layer along a first sidewall of the first fin, a second sidewall of the second fin, and a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, the liner layer formed of silicon oxynitride having a nitrogen concentration in a range of 5% to 30%; depositing a fill material on the liner layer, the fill material formed of silicon; annealing the liner layer and the fill material, the annealing converting the fill material to silicon oxide, the annealing decreasing the nitrogen concentration of the liner layer to a range of 1% to 5%; and recessing the liner layer and the fill material to form an isolation region between the first fin and the second fin.

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 includes forming a first and a second dummy gate stack crossing over a semiconductor region, forming an ILD to embed the first and the second dummy gate stacks therein, replacing the first and the second dummy gate stacks with a first and a second replacement gate stack, respectively, performing a first etching process to form a first opening. A portion of the first replacement gate stack and a portion of the second replacement gate stack are removed. The method further includes filling the first opening to form a dielectric isolation region, performing a second etching process to form a second opening, with the ILD being etched, and the dielectric isolation region being exposed to the second opening, forming a contact spacer in the second opening, and filling a contact plug in the second opening. The contact plug is between opposite portions of the contact spacer.

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: 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.