Abstract: An air tunnel floating gate memory cell includes an air tunnel defined over a substrate. A first polysilicon layer (floating gate) is defined over the air tunnel. An oxide layer is disposed over the first polysilicon layer such that the oxide layer caps the first polysilicon layer and defines the sidewalls of the air tunnel. A second polysilicon layer, functioning as a word line, is defined over the oxide layer. A method for making an air tunnel floating gate memory cell is also disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed over a substrate. A first polysilicon layer is formed over the sacrificial layer. An oxide layer is deposited over the first polysilicon layer such that the oxide layer caps the first polysilicon layer and defines the sidewalls of the sacrificial layer. A hot phosphoric acid (H3PO4) dip is used to etch away the sacrificial layer to form an air tunnel.

Abstract: An apparatus has a semiconductor device that includes: a semiconductor substrate having a channel region, a high-k dielectric layer disposed at least partly over the channel region, a gate electrode disposed over the dielectric layer and disposed at least partly over the channel region, wherein the gate electrode is made substantially of metal, and a gate contact engaging the gate electrode at a location over the channel region. A different aspect involves a method for making a semiconductor device that includes: providing a semiconductor substrate having a channel region, forming a high-k dielectric layer at least partly over the channel region, forming a gate electrode over the dielectric layer and at least partly over the channel region, the gate electrode being made substantially of metal, and forming a gate contact that engages the gate electrode at a location over the channel region.

Abstract: Horizontal and vertical tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) having an abrupt junction between source and drain regions increases probability of direct tunneling of carriers (e.g., electrons and holes). The increased probability allows a higher achievable on current in TFETs having the abrupt junction. The abrupt junction may be formed by placement of a dielectric layer or a dielectric layer and a semiconductor layer in a current path between the source and drain regions. The dielectric layer may be a low permittivity oxide such as silicon oxide, lanthanum oxide, zirconium oxide, or aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A method for forming silicon nitride films on semiconductor devices is provided. In one embodiment of the method, a silicon-comprising substrate is first exposed to a mixture of dichlorosilane (DCS) and a nitrogen-comprising gas to deposit a thin silicon nitride seeding layer on the surface, and then exposed to a mixture of silicon tetrachloride (TCS) and a nitrogen comprising gas to deposit a TCS silicon nitride layer on the DCS seeding layer. In another embodiment, the method involves first nitridizing the surface of the silicon-comprising substrate prior to forming the DCS nitride seeding layer and the TCS nitride layer. The method achieves a TCS nitride layer having a sufficient thickness to eliminate bubbling and punch-through problems and provide high electrical performance regardless of the substrate type. Also provided are methods of forming a capacitor, and the resulting capacitor structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor of a top-contact structure with suppressed deterioration by a process which is easy and suitable for increase in area without damaging an organic semiconductor pattern. The organic semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate. An electrode material film is formed on the substrate so as to cover the organic semiconductor pattern. A resist pattern is formed on the electrode material film. By wet etching using the resist pattern as a mask, the electrode material film is patterned. By the process, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dielectric layer containing a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film structured as one or more monolayers include the dielectric layer disposed in an integrated circuit. Embodiments of methods of fabricating such a dielectric layer provide a dielectric layer for use in a variety of electronic devices. An embodiment may include forming hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film using atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: High-dielectric-constant (k) materials and electrical devices implementing the high-k materials are provided herein. According to some embodiments, an electrical device includes a substrate and a crystalline-oxide-containing composition. The crystalline-oxide-containing composition can be disposed on a surface of the substrate. Within the crystalline-oxide-containing composition, oxide anions can form at least one of a substantially linear orientation or a substantially planar orientation. A plurality of these substantially linear orientations of oxide anions or substantially planar orientations of oxide anions can be oriented substantially perpendicular or substantially normal to the surface of the substrate such that the oxide-containing composition has a dielectric constant greater than about 3.9 in a direction substantially normal to the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low mismatch semiconductor device that comprises a lightly doped channel region having a first conductivity type and a first dopant concentration in a semiconductor body, and a high-k metal gate stack including a gate metal layer formed over a high-k gate dielectric without having a dielectric cap on the high-k dielectric. The high-k metal gate stack being formed over the lightly doped channel region. The lightly doped channel region may be a P- or N-conductivity region, for example, and may be part of a corresponding P- or N-semiconductor substrate, or a P- or N-well formed in a substrate of the respectively opposite conductivity type. The disclosed semiconductor device, which may be an NMOS or PMOS analog device, for example, can be fabricated as part of an integrated circuit including one or more CMOS logic devices.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to a PMOS device having a transistor channel of silicon germanium material on a substrate, a gate dielectric having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon dioxide on the channel, a gate electrode conductor material having a work function in a range between a valence energy band edge and a conductor energy band edge for silicon on the gate dielectric, and a gate electrode semiconductor material on the gate electrode conductor material.

Abstract: A stack of a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate structure includes a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer, and an upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meets the following two criteria 1) a metal (M) for which the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction Si+2/y MxOy?2x/y M+SiO2 is positive 2) a metal that has a more negative Gibbs free energy per oxygen atom for formation of oxide than the material of the lower metal layer and the material of the upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meeting these criteria captures oxygen atoms as the oxygen atoms diffuse through the gate electrode toward the high-k gate dielectric. In addition, the scavenging metal layer remotely reduces the thickness of a silicon oxide interfacial layer underneath the high-k dielectric. As a result, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the total gate dielectric is reduced and the field effect transistor maintains a constant threshold voltage even after high temperature processes during CMOS integration.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a doped hafnium oxide layer disposed on the substrate, the doped hafnium oxide layer including a hafnium oxide layer doped with doping atoms and having tetragonal unit lattices, an ion size of the doping atom being greater than an ion size of a hafnium atom.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus of fluorine passivation in IC device fabrication. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate and passivating a surface of the substrate with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and alcohol to form a fluorine-passivated surface. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer over the fluorine-passivated surface, and then forming a metal gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. A semiconductor device fabricated by such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a suspended nanochannel transistor structure and a method for fabricating the same. The transistor structure of the present invention comprises a substrate; a side gate formed on the substrate; a dielectric layer covering the substrate and the side gate; a suspended nanochannel formed beside the lateral of the side gate with an air gap existing between the suspended nanochannel and the dielectric layer; a source and a drain formed over the dielectric layer and respectively arranged at two ends of the suspended nanochannel. The electrostatic force of the side gate attracts or repels the suspended nanochannel and thus fast varies the equivalent thickness of the side-gate dielectric layer. Thereby, the on/off state of the element is rapidly switched, or the initial voltage of the channel is altered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thin-film transistors using nanoparticles and thin film transistors manufactured by the method. A hydrophilic buffer layers are deposited on the substrates to facilitate formation of nanoparticle films. Sintered nanoparticles are used as an active layer and dielectric materials of high dielectric coefficient are also used as a gate dielectric layer to form a top gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, thereby enabling low-voltage operation and low-temperature fabrication.

Abstract: A structure, design structure and method of manufacturing is provided for a dual metal gate Vt roll-up structure, e.g., multi-work function metal gate. The multi-work function metal gate structure comprises a first type of metal with a first work function in a central region and a second type of metal with a second work function in at least one edge region adjacent the central region. The first work-function is different from the second work function.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device provided with an MIS transistor which has an effective work function being, as much as possible, suitable for low threshold operation. A CMIS device provided with an electrode having an optimal effective work function and enabling low threshold operation to achieve by producing an in-gap level by the addition of a high valence metal in an Hf (or Zr) oxide and changing a position of the in-gap level by nitrogen or fluorine or the like has been realized.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of fabricating a high-K dielectric films having a high degree of crystallographic alignment at grain boundaries of the film. A disclosed method involves providing a substrate and then depositing a high-K dielectric material assisted with an ion beam to enable the preferential formation of crystal lattices having a selected crystallographic orientation. The resultant dielectric films have a high degree of crystallographic alignment at grain boundaries. Another disclosed method involves providing a substrate and then angularly depositing a material onto the substrate in order to assist in the preferential formation of crystal lattices having a selected crystallographic orientation. The result is a dielectric film having a high degree of crystallographic alignment at grain boundaries of the film.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having an N-channel field effect transistor, the N-channel field effect transistor is formed by a process including the steps of forming a high dielectric constant gate insulating film on a substrate, forming a gate electrode on the high dielectric constant gate insulating film, forming an extension region by introducing N-type impurities into the substrate by using at least the gate electrode as a mask, and forming a pocket region by introducing P-type impurities under the extension region in the substrate by using at least the gate electrode as a mask. An amount of arsenic (As) that is introduced as the N-type impurities is in a range that is equal to or lower than a prescribed value that is determined based on a thickness of the high dielectric constant gate insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the embodiments comprises a gate insulator formed on a substrate, the gate insulator including a high-dielectric film in whole or part, a reaction film including a first metal on the gate insulator; a metal film including a second metal on the reaction film; and a film including Si formed on the metal film.

Abstract: Field effect transistors, methods of fabricating a carbon insulating layer using molecular beam epitaxy and methods of fabricating a field effect transistor using the same are provided, the methods of fabricating the carbon insulating layer include maintaining a substrate disposed in a molecular beam epitaxy chamber at a temperature in a range of about 300° C. to about 500° C. and maintaining the chamber in vacuum of 10?11 Torr or less prior to performing an epitaxy process, and supplying a carbon source to the chamber to form a carbon insulating layer on the substrate. The carbon insulating layer is formed of diamond-like carbon and tetrahedral amorphous carbon.

Abstract: A transistor including a substrate, a gate, a semiconductor layer, a stacked insulating layer and a source and a drain is provided. The gate is disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate, and a first type carrier is the main carrier in the semiconductor layer. The stacked insulating layer is disposed between the semiconductor layer and the gate, and includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer. The first insulating layer contains a first group withdrawing the first type carrier, the second insulating layer contains a second group withdrawing a second type carrier, and the first insulating layer is disposed between the semiconductor layer and the second insulating layer. The source and the drain are disposed on the substrate and at two sides of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a metal gate on the substrate, the metal gate having a first gate resistance, removing a portion of the metal gate thereby forming a trench; and forming a conductive structure within the trench such that a second gate resistance of the conductive structure and remaining portion of the metal gate is lower than the first gate resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and, more specifically, to damascene gates having protected shorting regions and related methods for their manufacture. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of forming a damascene gate with protected shorting regions, the method comprising: forming a damascene gate having: a gate dielectric atop a substrate; a gate conductor atop the gate dielectric; a conductive liner laterally adjacent the gate conductor; a spacer between the conductive liner and the substrate; and a first dielectric atop the gate conductor; removing a portion of the conductive liner; and depositing a second dielectric atop a remaining portion of the conductive liner, such that the second dielectric is laterally adjacent both the first dielectric and the gate.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: In MOS transistor elements, a strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be embedded in the active region with a reduced offset from the channel region by applying a spacer structure of reduced width. In order to reduce the probability of creating semiconductor residues at the top area of the gate electrode structure, a certain degree of corner rounding of the semiconductor material may be introduced, which may be accomplished by ion implantation prior to epitaxially growing the strain-inducing semiconductor material. This concept may be advantageously combined with the provision of sophisticated high-k metal gate electrodes that are provided in an early manufacturing stage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a diffusion layer provided over the semiconductor substrate, source and drain diffusion regions provided in upper regions of the diffusion layer, a gate insulating film provided over the source and drain diffusion regions and the diffusion layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film and positioned over the diffusion layer, a passivation film provided over the gate insulating film and the gate electrode, an insulating film that covers the passivation film, and contact plugs that penetrate the insulating film, the passivation film, and the gate insulating film, so that the contact plugs reach the source and drain diffusion regions. The contact plugs are positioned near side walls of the gate electrode. Fluorine is implanted to the passivation film. Fluorine is diffused to a silicon-insulator interface between the gate insulating film and the diffusion layer under the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device is disclosed. A polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in direct contact with a dielectric material so that the dielectric material induces a stress in the polycrystalline silicon layer as the polycrystalline silicon layer is formed. A MOS transistor that includes a gate comprising the polycrystalline silicon is then completed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: an insulating film provided on a semiconductor substrate so as to have a trench pattern; a gate insulating film provided so as to cover an inner wall of the trench pattern; and a gate electrode formed so as to be filled in the trench pattern through the gate insulating film and so as to protrude more widely than the trench pattern on both sides of the trench pattern on the insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a high dielectric constant gate insulating film formed on an active region in a substrate; a gate electrode formed on the high dielectric constant gate insulating film; and an insulating sidewall formed on each side surface of the gate electrode. The high dielectric constant gate insulating film is continuously formed so as to extend from under the gate electrode to under the insulating sidewall. At least part of the high dielectric constant gate insulating film located under the insulating sidewall has a smaller thickness than a thickness of part of the high dielectric constant gate insulating film located under the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate insulation film that is formed of pyroceramics including an amorphous matrix layer, which is provided on a major surface of a silicon substrate, and crystalline phases lines with a high dielectric constant, which are dispersed in the amorphous matrix layer. The semiconductor device further includes a gate electrode that is provided on the gate insulation film.

Abstract: The use of a poly(arylene ether) polymer as a passivation or gate dielectric layer in thin film transistors. This poly(arylene ether) polymer includes polymer repeat units of the following structure: —(O—Ar1—O—Ar2—O—)m—(—O—Ar3—O—Ar4—O)n— where Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, and Ar4 are identical or different aryl radicals, m is 0 to 1, n is 1?m, and at least one of the aryl radicals is grafted to the backbone of the polymer.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, a superior cross-sectional shape of the gate opening may be achieved by performing a material erosion process in an intermediate state of removing the placeholder material. Consequently, the remaining portion of the placeholder material may efficiently protect the underlying sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, when performing the corner rounding process sequence.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of reducing deterioration of electron mobility while suppressing depletion of gate electrodes is provided. This semiconductor device includes a metal-containing layer so formed that at least either a first gate electrode or a second gate electrode partially covers a corresponding first or second gate insulating film and a semiconductor layer formed on the metal-containing layer to come into contact with a portion of the corresponding first or second gate insulating film not covered with the metal-containing layer. The first and second gate electrodes contain metals different from each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same substantially prevent the degradation of the reliability and characteristics due to hot carriers by using a high-k dielectric material as a gate sidewall spacer material of a gate structure.

Abstract: To provide a gate insulating material which has high chemical resistance, is superior in coatability of a resist and an organic semiconductor coating liquid, and has small hysteresis, a gate insulating film and an FET using the same by a polysiloxane having an epoxy group-containing silane compound as a copolymerization component.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided which comprises a semiconductor layer (109), a dielectric layer (111), first and second gate electrodes (129, 131) having first and second respective work functions associated therewith, and a layer of hafnium oxide (113) disposed between said dielectric layer and said first and second gate electrodes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an insulating layer over a semiconductor region; forming a multilayer resist composite including a plurality of resist layers over the insulating layer; forming an opening in the resist layers of the multilayer resist composite except in the lowermost resist layer adjacent to the insulating layer; forming a reflow opening in the lowermost resist layer; reflowing part of the lowermost resist layer exposed in the reflow opening by heating to form a slope at the surface of the lowermost resist layer; forming a first gate opening in the lowermost resist layer so as to extend from the slope; and forming a gate electrode having a shape depending on the shapes of the opening in the multilayer resist composite, the slope and the first gate opening.

Abstract: A structure includes a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate. The structure also includes a nitride encapsulation layer disposed on a side wall of the gate stack and which has been exposed to a plasma source. The structure also includes at least one other element contacting the nitride encapsulation layer in a region where the nitride encapsulation layer contacts the side wall of the gate stack.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device include forming an insulation layer on a semiconductor structure, forming an opening in the insulation layer, the opening having a sidewall defined by one side of the insulation layer, forming a first metal layer in the opening, at least partially exposing the sidewall of the opening by performing a wet-etching process on the first metal layer, and selectively forming a second metal layer on the etched first metal layer. An average grain size of the first metal layer is smaller than an average grain size of the second metal layer. Related semiconductor devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a transistor adapted to suppress characteristic degradation resulting from fluorine contained in a deposited film, the concentration of fluorine contained in a gate insulating film is reduced to 1.0×1020 atoms/cm3 or less. As a result, the transistor can provide excellent reliability even when it is continuously driven for a long period of time at a relatively high temperature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of suppressing a threshold shift and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. On a high dielectric constant insulating film, a diffusion barrier film for preventing the diffusion of metal elements from the high dielectric constant insulating film to an upper layer is formed. Therefore, the diffusion of the metal elements from the high dielectric constant insulating film to the upper layer can be prevented. As a result, a reaction and bonding between the metal elements and a Si element in a gate electrode can be suppressed near a boundary between an insulating film and the gate electrode.

Abstract: A field effect transistor having a gate structure that comprises an interfacial layer positioned in between the transistor channel region and a high-K dielectric layer of the gate stack. The interfacial layer comprises AlxSiyOz, which has a higher relative dielectric constant value than SiO2. A method of forming the gate structure of a field effect transistor. The method includes forming a gate stack comprising, in order: a SiO2-based layer adjacent a channel region of the field effect transistor; a high-K dielectric layer on the SiO2-based layer; and a gate electrode on the high-K dielectric layer. The method also includes introducing Al into the SiO2-based layer to form an AlxSiyOz interfacial layer in between the high-K dielectric layer and the channel region. A heating step to allows Al introduced into channel region to diffuse out of the channel region into the interfacial layer.

Abstract: An exemplary structure for a gate structure of a field effect transistor comprises a gate electrode; a gate insulator under the gate electrode having footing regions on opposing sides of the gate electrode; and a sealing layer on sidewalls of the gate structure, wherein a thickness of lower portion of the sealing layer overlying the footing regions is less than a thickness of upper portion of the sealing layer on sidewalls of the gate electrode, whereby the field effect transistor made has almost no recess in the substrate surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulating layer with a high dielectric constant (k) and a polysilicon layer on a gate metal layer. The gate metal layer can include silicon atoms. Electron mobility can be improved, and production residue and damage can be minimized.

Abstract: FET device structures are disclosed with the PFET and NFET devices having high-k dielectric gate insulators and metal containing gates. The metal layers of the gates in both the NFET and PFET devices have been fabricated from a single common metal layer. Due to the single common metal, device fabrication is simplified, requiring a reduced number of masks. Also, as a further consequence of using a single layer of metal for the gates of both type of devices, the terminal electrodes of NFETs and PFETs can be butted to each other in direct physical contact. Device thresholds are adjusted by the choice of the common metal material and oxygen exposure of the high-k dielectric. Threshold values are aimed for low power consumption device operation.

Abstract: A gate electrode structure is provided, which includes, from bottom to top, an optional, yet preferred metallic layer, a Ge rich-containing layer and a Si rich-containing layer. The sidewalls of the Ge rich-containing layer include a surface passivation layer. The inventive gate electrode structure serves as a low-temperature electrically activated gate electrode of a MOSFET in which the materials thereof as well as the method of fabricating the same are compatible with existing MOSFET fabrication techniques. The inventive gate electrode structure is electrically activated at low processing temperatures (on the order of less than 750° C.). Additionally, the inventive gate electrode structure also minimizes gate-depletion effects, does not contaminate a standard MOS fabrication facility and has sufficiently low reactivity of the exposed surfaces that renders such a gate electrode structure compatible with conventional MOSFET processing steps.

Abstract: A metal gate transistor is disclosed. The metal gate transistor preferably includes: a substrate, a metal gate disposed on the substrate, and a source/drain region disposed in the substrate with respect to two sides of the metal gate. The metal gate includes a U-shaped high-k dielectric layer, a U-shaped cap layer disposed over the surface of the U-shaped high-k dielectric layer, and a U-shaped metal layer disposed over the U-shaped cap layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. That semiconductor device comprises a high-k gate dielectric layer that is formed on a substrate that applies strain to the high-k gate dielectric layer, and a metal gate electrode that is formed on the high-k gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A plurality of first transistors formed on a substrate share a gate electrode. Isolation regions isolate the plurality of first transistors from one another. In the region where the plurality of first transistors, an impurity region is formed in such a manner that it includes the source and drain regions of the plurality of first transistors and that the depth of the impurity region is greater than the depth of the source and drain regions. The impurity region sets the threshold voltage of the first transistors.

Abstract: An n-type TFT and a p-type TFT are realized by selectively changing only a cover coat without changing a TFT material using an equation for applying the magnitude of a difference in the Fermi energy between an interface of semiconductor and an electrode and between an interface of semiconductor and insulator. At this time, in order to configure a predetermined circuit, the process is performed, as a source electrode and a drain electrode of the p-type TFT and a source electrode and a drain electrode of the n-type TFT being connected all, respectively, and an unnecessary interconnection is cut by irradiating light using a scanning laser exposure apparatus or the like.