Abstract: A mechanism for accurate alignment of semiconductor package back side interconnect processing is provided. As semiconductor die are placed in position for an encapsulated panel, two or more alignment die having fiducial markings formed on the back, or non-active, side of those die are also placed in the panel. Once all the die and other components have been placed for the panel, the panel is encapsulated using an encapsulant. Excess encapsulant, if any, is removed by a process such as backgrinding. The back grinding process exposes the back side of the alignment die and the fiducial features on those alignment die. The fiducial features on the alignment die can then be used for alignment of backside processing operations on the panel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reverse-conducting semiconductor device (RC-IGBT) with a seventh layer formed as a gate electrode and a first electrical contact on a emitter side and a second electrical contact on a collector side, which is opposite the emitter side, a wafer of a first conductivity type with a first side and a second side opposite the first side is provided. For the manufacturing of the RC-IGBT on the collector side, a first layer of the first conductivity type or of a second conductivity type is created on the second side. A mask with an opening is created on the first layer and those parts of the first layer, on which the opening of the mask is arranged, are removed. The remaining parts of the first layer form a third layer. Afterwards, for the manufacturing of a second layer of a different conductivity type than the third layer, ions are implanted into the wafer on the second side into those parts of the wafer, on which the at least one opening is arranged.

Abstract: A method of forming fins for fin-shaped field effect transistor (finFET) devices includes forming a plurality of sacrificial mandrels over a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of sacrificial mandrels are spaced apart from one another by a first distance along a first direction, and by a second distance along a second direction. Spacer layers are formed on sidewalls of the sacrificial mandrels such that portions of the spacer layers between sacrificial mandrels along the first direction are merged together. Portions of the spacer layers between sacrificial mandrels along the second direction remain spaced apart. The sacrificial mandrels are removed. A pattern corresponding to the spacer layers is transferred into the semiconductor layers to form a plurality of semiconductor fins. Adjacent pairs of fins are merged with one another at locations corresponding to the merged spacer layers.

Abstract: A device and method for semiconductor fabrication includes forming a buffer layer on a semiconductor substrate and depositing an amorphous elemental layer on the buffer layer. Elements of the elemental layer are diffused through the buffer layer and into the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip has self aligned (where a gate electrode and associated spacers define the source/drain implant with respect to the gate electrode) Field Effect Transistors (FETs) in a back end of the line (BEOL) portion of the semiconductor chip. The FETs are used to make buffer circuits in the BEOL to improve delay and signal integrity of long signal paths on the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: In SOI devices, the PN junction of circuit elements, such as substrate diodes, is formed in the substrate material on the basis of the buried insulating material that provides increased etch resistivity during wet chemical cleaning and etch processes. Consequently, undue exposure of the PN junction formed in the vicinity of the sidewalls of the buried insulating material may be avoided, which may cause reliability concerns in conventional SOI devices comprising a silicon dioxide material as the buried insulating layer.

Abstract: Graphene or carbon nanotube-based transistor devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a transistor is provided. The transistor includes a substrate; a carbon-based material on the substrate, wherein a portion of the carbon-based material serves as a channel region of the transistor and other portions of the carbon-based material serve as source and drain regions of the transistor; a patterned organic buffer layer over the portion of the carbon-based material that serves as the channel region of the transistor; a conformal high-k gate dielectric layer disposed selectively on the patterned organic buffer layer; metal source and drain contacts formed on the portions of the carbon-based material that serve as the source and drain regions of the transistor; and a metal top-gate contact formed on the high-k gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a transistor includes providing a substrate including a first electrically conductive material layer. A resist material layer is deposited over the first electrically conductive material layer. The resist material layer is patterned to expose a portion of the first electrically conductive material layer. Some of the first electrically conductive material layer is removed to create a reentrant profile in the first electrically conductive material layer and expose a portion of the substrate. The first electrically conductive material layer and at least a portion of the substrate are conformally coated with an electrically insulating material layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a flexible semiconductor device includes: preparing a layered film 80 including a first metal layer 10, an inorganic insulating layer 20, a semiconductor layer 30, and a second metal layer 40 which are sequentially formed; etching the first metal layer 10 to form a gate electrode 12g; compression bonding a resin layer 50 to a surface of the layered film 80 provided with the gate electrode 12g to allow the gate electrode 12g to be embedded in the resin layer 50; and etching the second metal layer 40 to form a source electrode 42s and a drain electrode 42d, wherein the inorganic insulating layer 20 on the gate electrode 12g functions as a gate insulating film 22, and the semiconductor layer 30 between the source electrode 42s and drain electrode 42d on the inorganic insulating layer 20 functions as a channel 32.

Abstract: An etchant composition for etching a transparent electrode is provided, the etchant composition includes an inorganic acid, an ammonium (NH4+)-containing compound, a cyclic amine compound, and the remaining amount of water.

Abstract: A stacking fault and twin blocking barrier for forming a III-V device layer on a silicon substrate and the method of manufacture is described. Embodiments of the present invention enable III-V InSb device layers with defect densities below 1×108 cm?2 to be formed on silicon substrates. In an embodiment of the present invention, a buffer layer is positioned between a III-V device layer and a silicon substrate to glide dislocations. In an embodiment of the present invention, GaSb buffer layer is selected on the basis of lattice constant, band gap, and melting point to prevent many lattice defects from propagating out of the buffer into the III-V device layer. In a specific embodiment, a III-V InSb device layer is formed directly on the GaSb buffer.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes forming a gate electrode of an NMOS transistor over a substrate by a gate-first process. A gate electrode of a PMOS transistor is formed over the substrate by a gate-last process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a channel region, forming a buffer layer on the channel region, and heat-treating the channel region by using a gas containing halogen atoms.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor fin on a top surface of a substrate, wherein the semiconductor fin includes a middle section having a first width; and a first and a second end section connected to opposite ends of the middle section, wherein the first and the second end sections each comprises at least a top portion having a second width greater than the first width. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate dielectric layer on a top surface and sidewalls of the middle section of the semiconductor fin; and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A system-on-chip device comprises a first capacitor in a first region, a second capacitor in a second region, and may further comprise a third capacitor in a third region, and any additional number of capacitors in additional regions. The capacitors may be of different shapes and sizes. A region may comprise more than one capacitor. Each capacitor in a region has a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a capacitor insulator. The top electrodes of all the capacitors are formed in a common process, while the bottom electrodes of all the capacitors are formed in a common process. The capacitor insulator may have different number of sub-layers, formed with different materials or thickness. The capacitors may be formed in an inter-layer dielectric layer or in an inter-metal dielectric layer. The regions may be a mixed signal region, an analog region, and so forth.

Abstract: A capacitor is fabricated by forming a mold layer of a silicon based material that is not an oxide of silicon, e.g., polysilicon or doped polysilicon, on a substrate, forming an opening through the mold layer, forming a barrier layer pattern along the sides of the opening, subsequently forming a lower electrode in the opening, then removing the mold layer and the barrier layer pattern, and finally sequentially forming dielectric layer and an upper electrode on the lower electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device which includes forming a conductive layer for a floating gate above a semiconductor layer intervening a gate insulating film therebetween, then, forming, over the conductive layer, a first spacer comprising a first silicon oxide material and a second spacer adjacent with the first spacer and comprising a second silicon oxide material, the second silicon oxide material having an etching rate lower than that of the first silicon oxide material, selectively removing the conductive layer by using the first and the second spacers as a mask, and removing the first spacer to expose a portion of the conductive layer. Since the etching rate for the second spacer is lower compared with the etching rate for the first spacer, the etching amount of the second spacer caused upon removal of the first spacer can be suppressed and, as a result, the productivity and the reliability of the semiconductor memory device can be improved.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of pillar structures extending orthogonally from the semiconductor wafer. Each pillar structure forms a vertical pillar transistor having a top surface and a side surface orthogonal to the top surface. Then a hardening species is implanted into the vertical pillar transistor top surface. Then the vertical pillar transistor side surface is oxidized to form a side surface oxide layer. The side surface oxide layer is removed to form vertical pillar transistor having rounded side surfaces.

Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices having vertical access devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming the device includes providing a recess in a semiconductor substrate that includes a pair of opposed side walls and a floor extending between the opposed side walls. A dielectric layer may be deposited on the side walls and the floor of the recess. A conductive film may be formed on the dielectric layer and processed to selectively remove the film from the floor of the recess and to remove at least a portion of the conductive film from the opposed sidewalls.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a gate dielectric. This method, without limitation, includes subjecting a silicon substrate to a first plasma nitridation process to incorporate a nitrogen region therein. This method further includes growing a dielectric material layer over the nitrogen region using a nitrogen containing oxidizer gas, and subjecting the dielectric material layer to a second plasma nitridation process, thereby forming a nitrided dielectric material layer over the nitrogen region.

Abstract: A method of treating a CMOS device. The method may include providing a first stress liner on a transistor of a first dopant type in the CMOS device. The method may further include exposing the CMOS device to first ions in a first exposure, the first ions configured to reduce contact resistance in a source/drain region of a transistor of a second dopant type.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a gate structure present on a substrate. The gate structure includes a gate conductor with an undercut region in sidewalls of a first portion of the gate conductor, wherein a second portion of the gate conductor is present over the first portion of the gate conductor and includes a protruding portion over the undercut region. A spacer is adjacent to sidewalls of the gate structure, wherein the spacer includes an extending portion filling the undercut region. A raised source region and a raised drain region is present adjacent to the spacers. The raised source region and the raised drain region are separated from the gate conductor by the extending portion of the spacers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a bipolar transistor device. The method includes the steps of: providing a SOI substrate having a silicon layer thereon; patterning lithographically a fin hardmask on the silicon layer; placing a dummy contact line over a central portion of patterned fin hardmask; doping the collector/emitter regions; depositing a filler layer over the collector region and the emitter region; removing the dummy contact line to reveal a trench and the central portion of the patterned fin hardmask; forming fin-shaped base regions by removing, within the trench, a portion of the silicon layer not covered by the central portion of the patterned fin hardmask after the step of removing the dummy contact line; doping the fin-shaped base region; and forming a contact line by filling the trench with a contact line material over the fin-shaped base regions, where the collector/emitter regions are self-aligned with the contact line.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming diodes. A stack may be formed over a first conductive material. The stack may include, in ascending order, a sacrificial material, at least one dielectric material, and a second conductive material. Spacers may be formed along opposing sidewalls of the stack, and then an entirety of the sacrificial material may be removed to leave a gap between the first conductive material and the at least one dielectric material. In some embodiments of forming diodes, a layer may be formed over a first conductive material, with the layer containing supports interspersed in sacrificial material. At least one dielectric material may be formed over the layer, and a second conductive material may be formed over the at least one dielectric material. An entirety of the sacrificial material may then be removed.

Abstract: Resistive memory and methods of processing resistive memory are described herein. One or more method embodiments of processing resistive memory include conformally forming a cell material in an opening in an interlayer dielectric such that a seam is formed in the cell material, forming a conductive pathway by modifying the seam, and forming an electrode on the cell material and the seam.

Abstract: A capacitive microphone transducer integrated into an integrated circuit includes a fixed plate and a membrane formed in or above an interconnect region of the integrated circuit. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a capacitive microphone transducer includes etching access trenches through the fixed plate to a region defined for the back cavity, filling the access trenches with a sacrificial material, and removing a portion of the sacrificial material from a back side of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method for fin field effect transistor (finFET) device formation includes forming a plurality of fins on a substrate; forming a gate region over the plurality of fins; and forming isolation areas for the finFET device after formation of the gate region, wherein forming the isolation areas for the finFET device comprises performing one of oxidation or removal of a subset of the plurality of fins.

Abstract: The invention relates to finishing a substrate of the semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) type comprising an insulator layer buried between two semiconducting material layers. The method successively comprises routing the annular periphery of the substrate so as to obtain a routed substrate, and encapsulating the routed substrate so as to cover the routed side edge of the buried insulator layer by means of a semiconducting material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit wafer dicing method is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of integrated circuits and a plurality of test-keys on a wafer substrate, wherein the plurality of test-keys are disposed between the adjacent integrated circuits; forming a patterned protective film on the wafer to cover the plurality of integrated circuits and expose the plurality of test-keys; etching the plurality of test-keys by using the patterned protective film as a mask; and dicing an area between the plurality of integrated circuits to form a plurality of discrete integrated circuit dies.

Abstract: A laser processing method for preventing particles from occurring from cut sections of chips obtained by cutting a silicon wafer is provided. An irradiation condition of laser light L for forming modified regions 77 to 712 is made different from an irradiation condition of laser light L for forming the modified regions 713 to 719 such as to correct the spherical aberration of laser light L in areas where the depth from the front face 3 of a silicon wafer 11 is 335 ?m to 525 ?m. Therefore, even when the silicon wafer 11 and a functional device layer 16 are cut into semiconductor chips from modified regions 71 to 719 acting as a cutting start point, twist hackles do not appear remarkably in the areas where the depth is 335 ?m to 525 ?m, whereby particles are hard to occur.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a high crystalline quality layer in a surface region of a wide bandgap material substrate. The high crystalline quality layer is formed by directing a thermal energy beam onto the wide bandgap material in the presence of a doping gas for converting a layer of the wide bandgap material into the high crystalline quality layer. Various electrical, optical and electro-optical components may be formed within the high crystalline quality layer through a further conversion process. In an alternative embodiment, the high crystalline quality layer may be embedded within the wide bandgap material.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming voids within semiconductor constructions. In some embodiments the voids may be utilized as microstructures for distributing coolant, for guiding electromagnetic radiation, or for separation and/or characterization of materials. Some embodiments include constructions having micro-structures therein which correspond to voids, conduits, insulative structures, semiconductor structures or conductive structures.

Abstract: A vertically oriented nanometer-wires structure is disclosed. The vertically oriented nanometer-wires structure includes a non-crystalline base and many straight nanometer-wires. The straight nanometer-wires are uniformly distributed on the non-crystalline base, and the angle between each of the straight nanometer-wire and the non-crystalline base is 80-90 degrees. The straight nanometer-wires structure can be widely applied in semiconductor, optoelectronic, biological and energy field. What is worth to be noticed is that the non-crystalline base can be glass, ceramics, synthetic, resin, rubber or even metal foil, and the straight nanometer-wires and the non-crystalline base are still orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes providing a first strained layer of a first composition semiconductor material over a dielectric layer. A first portion of the layer of the first composition semiconductor material is etched or implanted to form relaxed islands of the first composition semiconductor material. A second composition semiconductor material is epitaxially formed over the relaxed island of the first composition semiconductor material. The second composition semiconductor material is intermixed with the relaxed islands of the first composition semiconductor material to provide a second strained layer having a different strain than the first strained layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor optical device includes the steps of growing a semiconductor stacked layer including an etch stop layer and a plurality of semiconductor layers on a major surface of a substrate; forming a mask layer on a top surface of the semiconductor stacked layer so that a tip portion of each of protrusions that protrude from the top surface among protrusions generated in the step of growing the semiconductor stacked layer is exposed; etching the protrusion by wet etching using the mask layer; after etching the protrusion by wet etching, removing the protrusion by dry etching; and removing the mask layer from the top surface, after removing the protrusion by dry etching.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by which the length of nanowires perpendicularly formed can be fabricated with high reproducibility. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first layer; forming a stop layer on the first layer, the stop layer having a higher Young's modulus than the first layer; forming a recess by partially removing the first layer and the stop layer; growing nanowires in the recess; forming a planarizing layer; removing the planarizing layer to the level of the stop layer to expose the nanowires from the surface of the planarizing layer; and forming an electrode so as to be in contact with the upper ends of the nanowires.

Abstract: Improved semiconductor substrates are provided that employ a wide bandgap material between the channel and the insulator. A semiconductor substrate comprises a channel layer comprised of a III-V material; an insulator layer; and a wide bandgap material between the channel layer and the insulator layer, wherein a conduction band offset (?Ec) between the channel layer and the wide bandgap material is between 0.05 eV and 0.8 eV. The channel layer can be comprised of, for example, In1?xGaxAs or In1?xGaxSb, with x varying from 0 to 1. The wide bandgap material can be comprised of, for example, In1?yAlyAs, In1?yAlyP, Al1?yGayAs or In1?yGayP, with y varying from 0 to 1.

Abstract: A deposition process to form a conformal phase change material film on the surface of a substrate to produce a memory device wafer comprises providing a substrate to a chamber of a deposition system; providing an activation region; introducing one or more precursors into the chamber upstream of the substrate; optionally introducing one or more co-reactants upstream of the substrate; activating the one or more precursors; heating the substrate; and depositing the phase change material film on the substrate from the one or more precursors by chemical vapor deposition. The deposited phase change material film comprises GexSbyTezAm in which A is a dopant selected from the group of N, C, In, Sn, and Se. In one implementation, the process is carried out to form GST films doped with carbon and nitrogen, to impart beneficial film growth and performance properties to the film.

Abstract: Semiconductor device fabrication methods having enhanced control in recessing processes are provided. In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device or plurality of them, a structure is formed. The method includes preparing a limited amount of the structure having a depth of less than ten atomic layers for removal. Further, the method includes performing a removal process to remove the limited amount of the structure. The method repeats preparation of successive limited amounts of the structure for removal, and performance of the removal process to form a recess at an upper portion of the structure.

Abstract: An improvement is achieved in the manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device including a plurality of field effect transistors having different characteristics over the same substrate. By combining anisotropic dry etching with isotropic wet etching or isotropic dry etching, three types of sidewalls having different sidewall lengths are formed. By reducing the number of anisotropic dry etching steps, in a third n-type MISFET region and a third p-type MISFET region where layout densities are high, it is possible to prevent a semiconductor substrate from being partially cut between n-type gate electrodes adjacent to each other, between the n-type gate electrode and a p-type gate electrode adjacent to each other, and the p-type gate electrodes adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions in which a semiconductor material sidewall is along an opening, a protective organic material is over at least one semiconductor material surface, and the semiconductor material sidewall and protective organic material are both exposed to an etch utilizing at least one fluorine-containing composition. The etch is selective for the semiconductor material relative to the organic material, and reduces sharpness of at least one projection along the semiconductor material sidewall. In some embodiments, the opening is a through wafer opening, and subsequent processing forms one or more materials within such through wafer opening to form a through wafer interconnect. In some embodiments, the opening extends to a sensor array, and the protective organic material is comprised by a microlens system over the sensor array. Subsequent processing may form a macrolens structure across the opening.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate, and epitaxially growing a first semiconductor layer over the substrate. The first semiconductor layer includes a first III-V compound semiconductor material formed of group III and group V elements. The method further includes forming a gate structure on the first semiconductor layer, and forming a gate spacer on at least one sidewall of the gate structure. After the step of forming the gate structure, a second semiconductor layer including a second III-V compound semiconductor material is epitaxially grown on the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method can include dry etching an interlayer insulating layer provided on a foundation layer by using a mask having a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings arranged more closely than the first openings to form simultaneously a first hole reaching the foundation layer under each of the first openings and a second hole reaching the foundation layer under the second openings. The first hole reaches the foundation layer without contacting any other first holes. After starting of the dry etching, a plurality of holes are formed under each of the plurality of second openings, and with the progress of the dry etching, the plurality of holes are connected with each other at least at their upper parts including their open ends to form the second hole having an opening area larger than an opening area of the first hole.

Abstract: A substrate is provided with a first wiring layer 111, an interlayer insulating film 132 on the first wiring layer 111, a hole 112A formed in the interlayer insulating film, a first metal layer 112 covering the hole 112A, a second metal layer 113 formed in the hole 112A, a dielectric insulating film 135 on the first metal layer 112, and second wiring layers 114-116 on the dielectric insulating film 135, wherein the first metal layer 112 constitutes at least part of the lower electrode, an area, facing the lower electrode, of the second wiring layers 114-116 constitutes the upper electrode, and a capacitor 160 is constructed of the lower electrode, the dielectric insulating film 135 and the upper electrode P1.

Abstract: The reliability of wirings, each of which includes a main conductive film containing copper as a primary component, is improved. On an insulating film including the upper surface of a wiring serving as a lower layer wiring, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbonitride film having excellent barrier properties to copper is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbide film having excellent adhesiveness to a low dielectric constant material film is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a low dielectric constant material as an interlayer insulating film is formed; and thereafter a wiring as an upper layer wiring is formed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments pertain to local interconnects formed by subtractive patterning of blanket layer of tungsten or other conductive material. The grain sizes of tungsten or other deposited metal can be grown to relatively large dimensions, which results in increased electrical conductivity due to, e.g., reduced electron scattering at grain boundaries as electrons travel from one grain to the next during conduction.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an interconnect in a semiconductor memory device. The method includes forming a pair of source select transistors on a substrate. A source region is formed in the substrate between the pair of source select transistors. A first inter-layer dielectric is formed between the pair of source select transistors. A mask layer is deposited over the pair of source select transistors and the inter-layer dielectric, where the mask layer defines a local interconnect area between the pair of source select transistors having a width less than a distance between the pair of source select transistors. The semiconductor memory device is etched to remove a portion of the first inter-layer dielectric in the local interconnect area, thereby exposing the source region. A metal contact is formed in the local interconnect area.

Abstract: A local interconnect structure is provided in which a tungsten region, i.e., tungsten stud, that is formed within a middle-of-the-line (MOL) dielectric material is not damaged and/or contaminated during a multiple interconnect patterning process. This is achieved in the present disclosure by forming a self-aligned tungsten nitride passivation layer within a topmost surface and upper sidewalls portions of the tungsten region that extend above a MOL dielectric material which includes a first interconnect pattern formed therein. During the formation of the self-aligned tungsten nitride passivation layer, a nitrogen enriched dielectric surface also forms within exposed surface of the MOL dielectric material. A second interconnect pattern is then formed adjacent to, but not connect with, the first interconnect pattern. Because of the presence of the self-aligned tungsten nitride passivation layer on the tungsten region, no damaging and/or contamination of the tungsten region can occur.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved process for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, the method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate includes forming an adhesion layer containing titanium nitride on a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, forming a tungsten nitride intermediate layer on the adhesion layer, wherein the tungsten nitride intermediate layer contains tungsten nitride and carbon. The method further includes forming a tungsten barrier layer (e.g., tungsten or tungsten-carbon material) from the tungsten nitride intermediate layer by thermal decomposition during a thermal annealing process (e.g., temperature from about 700° C. to less than 1,000° C.).

Abstract: A method for forming an integrated circuit includes forming a first dielectric layer over a gate electrode of a transistor. An etch-stop layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. An opening is formed through the first dielectric layer and the etch-stop layer, exposing a source/drain (S/D) region of the transistor. A metal layer is formed in the opening, contacting the S/D region of the transistor. The metal layer has a surface that is at least partially substantially level with a first top surface of the etch-stop layer. A damascene structure is formed and coupled with the metal layer.