Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate, and forming a first layer including a first material over the first and second fin elements, wherein the first layer includes a gap disposed between the first and second fin elements. An anneal process is performed to remove the gap in the first layer, wherein performing the anneal process includes adjusting an energy applied to the first layer during the anneal process. The gap is filled by a portion of the first material around the gap reaching a sub-melt temperature that is different from a melting point of the first material.

Abstract: A gate structure, a semiconductor device, and the method of forming a semiconductor device are provided. In various embodiments, the gate structure includes a gate stack and a doped spacer overlying a sidewall of the gate stack. The gate stack contains a doped work function metal (WFM) stack and a metal gate electrode overlying the doped WFM stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes receiving a substrate having an active region and an isolation region; forming gate stacks on the substrate and extending from the active region to the isolation region; forming an inner gate spacer and an outer gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stacks; forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer on the substrate; removing the outer gate spacer in the isolation region, resulting in an air gap between the inner gate spacer and the ILD layer; and performing an ion implantation process to the ILD layer, thereby expanding the ILD layer to cap the air gap.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein are directed to a method for the fabrication of transistors with aluminum-free n-type work function layers as opposed to aluminum-based n-type work function layers. The method includes forming a channel portion disposed between spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and forming a gate stack on the channel portion, where forming the gate stack includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer on the channel portion and depositing a p-type work function layer on the dielectric layer. After depositing the p-type work function layer, forming without a vacuum break, an aluminum-free n-type work function layer on the p-type work function layer and depositing a metal on the aluminum-free n-type work function layer. The method further includes depositing an insulating layer to surround the spaced apart source/drain epitaxial layers and the gate stack.

Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with different gate structures configured to provide ultra-low threshold voltages and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second nanostructured channel regions in first and second nanostructured layers, respectively, and first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures surrounding the first and second nanostructured channel regions, respectively. The first GAA structure includes an Al-based gate stack with a first gate dielectric layer, an Al-based n-type work function metal layer, a first metal capping layer, and a first gate metal fill layer. The second GAA structure includes an Al-free gate stack with a second gate dielectric layer, an Al-free p-type work function metal layer, a metal growth inhibition layer, a second metal capping layer, and a second gate metal fill layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a high-temperature ion implantation process includes providing a substrate including a plurality of fins. In some examples, a mask material is deposited and patterned to expose a group of fins of the plurality of fins and a test structure. By way of example, a first ion implantation may be performed, at a first temperature, through the group of fins and the test structure. Additionally, a second ion implantation may be performed, at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, through the group of fins and the test structure. In various examples, an interstitial cluster is formed within the group of fins and within the test structure. In some embodiments, an anneal process is performed, where the anneal process serves to remove the interstitial cluster from the group of fins and form at least one dislocation loop within the test structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first channel region and a first gate structure formed over the first channel region. A first source/drain region is formed adjacent the first channel region and the first source/drain region includes a crystalline structure doped with a first dopant. A first silicide is formed over the first source/drain region. The first source/drain region includes a first concentration of the first dopant between 2.0×1021 atoms per centimeter cubed and 4.0×1021 atoms per centimeter cubed at a depth of 8 to 10 nanometers.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes patterning a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor fin, forming a source/drain structure on the semiconductor fin, forming a gate electrode layer across the semiconductor fin, forming a first halogen-containing metal cap layer on the gate electrode layer, forming a contact structure on the source/drain structure and connected to the source/drain structure, and forming a second halogen-containing metal cap layer on the contact structure. The first halogen-containing metal cap layer and the second halogen-containing metal cap layer include different halogens.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and forming a spacer element over a sidewall of the dummy gate stack. The method also includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess exposing a semiconductor strip and forming an inhibition layer over an interior surface of the spacer element. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the recess to selectively cover the semiconductor strip. The inhibition layer substantially prevents the gate dielectric layer from being formed on the inhibition layer. In addition, the method includes forming a metal gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate, S/D features disposed over the semiconductor fin, and a metal gate stack interposed between the S/D features. The metal gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor fin, a capping layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer, and a gate electrode disposed over the capping layer, where the gate dielectric layer includes hafnium oxide with hafnium atoms and oxygen atoms arranged in a Pca21 space group.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming an interfacial layer on a substrate, and depositing a gate dielectric layer on the interfacial layer. The method also includes treating the gate dielectric layer with a first post deposition annealing (PDA) process. The method further includes depositing a first capping layer on the gate dielectric layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer by performing a post metal annealing (PMA) process on the first capping layer. In addition, the method includes removing the first capping layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer with a second PDA process. The method also includes forming a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes first nanostructures vertically stacked over a first region of a substrate, a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the first nanostructures, a first oxygen blocking layer wrapping around the gate dielectric layer in the first region, a first-type work function layer wrapping around the first oxygen blocking layer in the first region, a second oxygen blocking layer wrapping around the first-type work function layer in the first region, and a second-type work function layer wrapping around the second oxygen blocking layer in the first region.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), the method includes forming a first sacrificial layer over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. The first sacrificial layer is patterned, thereby forming an opening. A first liner layer is formed on the isolation insulating layer in a bottom of the opening and on at least side faces of the patterned first sacrificial layer. After the first liner layer is formed, forming a dielectric layer in the opening. After the dielectric layer is formed, removing the patterned first sacrificial layer, thereby forming a contact opening over the source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening. The FinFET is an n-type FET, and the source/drain structure includes an epitaxial layer made of Si1-y-a-bGeaSnbM2y, wherein 0<a, 0<b, 0.01?(a+b)?0.1, 0.01?y?0.1, and M2 is P or As.

Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure extended above a substrate and forming a gate structure formed over a portion of the fin structure. The method also includes forming a source/drain (S/D) structure over the fin structure, and the S/D structure is adjacent to the gate structure. The method further includes doping an outer portion of the S/D structure to form a doped region, and the doped region includes gallium (Ga). The method includes forming a metal silicide layer over the doped region; and forming an S/D contact structure over the metal silicide layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a first sacrificial layer over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. The first sacrificial layer is patterned, thereby forming an opening. A first liner layer is formed on the isolation insulating layer in a bottom of the opening and on at least side faces of the patterned first sacrificial layer. After the first liner layer is formed, forming a dielectric layer in the opening. After the dielectric layer is formed, removing the patterned first sacrificial layer, thereby forming a contact opening over the source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening. The FinFET is an n-type FET, and the source/drain structure includes an epitaxial layer including Si1?x?yM1xM2y, where M1 includes Sn, M2 is one or more of P and As, and 0.01?x?0.1, and 0.01?y?0.1.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a work function material around a first semiconductor layer in a first region and a second semiconductor layer in a second region. The method also includes forming a first gate electrode material over the work function material. The method also includes removing the first gate electrode material in the first region. The method also includes forming a second gate electrode material over the work function material in the first region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure having metal contact features and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer covering an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the epitaxial structure. The method includes forming a metal-containing layer over the dielectric layer and the epitaxial structure. The method includes heating the epitaxial structure and the metal-containing layer to transform a first portion of the metal-containing layer contacting the epitaxial structure into a metal-semiconductor compound layer. The method includes oxidizing the metal-containing layer to transform a second portion of the metal-containing layer over the metal-semiconductor compound layer into a metal oxide layer. The method includes applying a metal chloride-containing etching gas on the metal oxide layer to remove the metal oxide layer and forming a metal contact feature over the metal-semiconductor compound layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of channel regions including first, second, and third p-type channel regions as well as first, second, and third n-type channel regions, and a plurality of gate structures. The plurality of gate structures includes an interfacial layer (IL) disposed over the plurality of channel regions, a first high-k (HK) dielectric layer disposed over the first p-type channel region and the first n-type channel region, a second high-k dielectric layer disposed over the first n-type channel region, the second n-type channel region, the first p-type channel region, and the second p-type channel region; and a third high-k dielectric layer disposed over the plurality of channel regions. The first, second and third high-k dielectric layers are different from one another.

Abstract: A FinFET device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, a FinFET device includes a substrate having at least one fin, a gate stack across the at least one fin, a strained layer aside the gate stack and a silicide layer over the strained layer. The strained layer has a boron surface concentration greater than about 2E20 atom/cm3 within a depth range of about 0-5 nm from a surface of the strained layer.