Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a masking layer over at least a first portion of a source contact layer formed on a substrate. At least a second portion of the source contact layer is recessed below the first portion of the source contact layer. The mask layer is removed and a first spacer layer, a replacement gate on the first spacer layer, a second spacer layer on the replacement gate, and an insulating layer on the second spacer layer are formed. First and second trenches are then formed. A first channel layer is epitaxially grown within the first trench. A second channel layer is epitaxially grown within the second trench. A length of the second channel layer is greater than a length of the first channel layer.

Abstract: A silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor device, including a SiC substrate, a first SiC layer formed on the substrate, first and second impurity layers selectively formed in the first SiC layer, a second SiC layer formed on the first SiC layer, a third impurity layer selectively formed in the second SiC layer and on the second impurity layer, a third SiC layer formed on the second SiC layer, a fourth impurity layer selectively formed in the third SiC layer, a trench that penetrates the fourth impurity layer and the second and third SiC layers, a bottom thereof reaching the first impurity layer, and a gate electrode formed in the trench via a gate insulating film. The first SiC layer has first and second regions adjacent respectively to the first and second impurity layers on a side facing the substrate, an impurity concentration at the first region being lower than that at the second region.

Abstract: Provided in the present invention is a trench gate power MOSFET (TMOS/UMOS) structure with a heavily doped polysilicon source region. The polysilicon source region is formed by deposition, and a trench-shaped contact hole is used at the source region, in order to attain low contact resistance and small cell pitch. The present invention may also be implemented in an IGBT.

Abstract: A method of forming transistors with close proximity stressors to channel regions of the transistors is provided. The method includes forming a first transistor, in a first region of a substrate, having a gate stack on top of the first region of the substrate and a set of spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the gate stack, the first region including a source and drain region of the first transistor; forming a second transistor, in a second region of the substrate, having a gate stack on top of the second region of the substrate and a set of spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the gate stack, the second region including a source and drain region of the second transistor; covering the first transistor with a photo-resist mask without covering the second transistor; creating recesses in the source and drain regions of the second transistor; and forming stressors in the recesses.

Abstract: Graphene-channel based devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first wafer having at least one graphene channel formed on a first substrate, a first oxide layer surrounding the graphene channel and source and drain contacts to the graphene channel that extend through the first oxide layer; and a second wafer having a CMOS device layer formed in a second substrate, a second oxide layer surrounding the CMOS device layer and a plurality of contacts to the CMOS device layer that extend through the second oxide layer, the wafers being bonded together by way of an oxide-to-oxide bond between the oxide layers. One or more of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are in contact with the source and drain contacts. One or more other of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are gate contacts for the graphene channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a gate structure disposed on the substrate; a first spacer disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure; a second spacer disposed around the first spacer, wherein the second spacer comprises a L-shaped cap layer and a cap layer on the L-shaped cap layer; a source/drain disposed in the substrate adjacent to two sides of the second spacer; and a CESL disposed on the substrate to cover the gate structure, wherein at least part of the second spacer and the CESL comprise same chemical composition and/or physical property.

Abstract: A high mobility semiconductor layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An interfacial oxide layer is formed over the high mobility semiconductor layer. A high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer is formed over the interfacial oxide layer. A stack is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. The stack comprises a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer comprising a scavenging metal, and an upper metal layer formed on the scavenging metal layer. A Gibbs free energy change of a chemical reaction, in which an atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer combines with a metal oxide material comprising the scavenging metal and oxygen to form the scavenging metal in elemental form and oxide of the atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer, is positive. A gate electrode and a gate dielectric are formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a high mobility semiconductor, an interfacial oxide layer, a high dielectric constant (high-k) layer, a stack, a gate electrode, and a gate dielectric. The stack comprises a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer comprising a scavenging metal, and an upper metal layer formed on the scavenging metal layer. A Gibbs free energy change of a chemical reaction, in which an atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer combines with a metal oxide material comprising the scavenging metal and oxygen to form the scavenging metal in elemental form and oxide of the atom constituting the high mobility semiconductor layer that directly contacts the interfacial oxide layer, is positive.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an interlayer dielectric on a substrate, the interlayer dielectric including first and second openings respectively disposed in first and second regions formed separately in the substrate; forming a first conductive layer filling the first and second openings; etching the first conductive layer such that a bottom surface of the first opening is exposed and a portion of the first conductive layer in the second opening remains; and forming a second conductive layer filling the first opening and a portion of the second opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive display device that includes an ion sensor portion and a display and that can be miniaturized. The present invention is a display device that includes an ion sensor portion including an ion sensor circuit and a display including a display-driving circuit. The display device has a substrate, and at least one portion of the ion sensor circuit and at least one portion of the display-driving circuit are formed on the same main surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods of facilitating replacement gate processing and semiconductor devices formed from the methods are provided. The methods include, for instance, providing a plurality of sacrificial gate electrodes with sidewall spacers, the sacrificial gate electrodes with sidewall spacers being separated by, at least in part, a first dielectric material, wherein the first dielectric material is recessed below upper surfaces of the sacrificial gate electrodes, and the upper surfaces of the sacrificial gate electrodes are exposed and coplanar; conformally depositing a protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes, the sidewall spacers, and the first dielectric material; providing a second dielectric material over the protective film, and planarizing the second dielectric material, stopping on and exposing the protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes; and opening the protective film over the sacrificial gate electrodes to facilitate performing a replacement gate process.

Abstract: Methods and devices for connecting a through via and a terminal of a transistor formed of a strained silicon material are provided. The terminal, which can be a source or a drain of a NMOS or a PMOS transistor, is formed within a substrate. A first contact within a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer over the substrate is formed over and connected to the terminal. A through via extends through the first ILD layer into the substrate. A second contact is formed over and connected to the first contact and the through via within a second ILD layer and a contact etch stop layer (CESL). The second ILD layer is over the CESL, and the CESL is over the first ILD layer, which are all below a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer and the first metal layer of the transistor.

Abstract: A transistor. The transistor including: a well region in a substrate; a gate dielectric layer on a top surface of the well region; a polysilicon gate electrode on a top surface of the gate dielectric layer; spacers formed on opposite sidewalls of the polysilicon gate electrode; source/drain regions formed on opposite sides of the polysilicon gate electrode in the well region; a first doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode, the first doped region extending into the polysilicon gate electrode from a top surface of the polysilicon gate electrode; and a buried second doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes pMISFET and nMIS formed on the semiconductor substrate. The pMISFET includes, on the semiconductor substrate, first source/drain regions, a first gate dielectric formed therebetween, first lower and upper metal layers stacked on the first gate dielectric, a first upper metal layer containing at least one metallic element belonging to groups IIA and IIIA. The nMISFET includes, on the semiconductor substrate, second source/drain regions, second gate dielectric formed therebetween, a second lower and upper metal layers stacked on the second gate dielectric and the second upper metal layer substantially having the same composition as the first upper metal layer. The first lower metal layer is thicker than the second lower metal layer, and the atomic density of the metallic element contained in the first gate dielectric is lower than the atomic density of the metallic element contained in the second gate dielectric.

Abstract: A method for patterning a multi-layer film in a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a multi-layer film on the substrate. The multi-layer film comprises N conductive layers and N dielectric layers alternatingly stacked, and 2N contact plugs. The Nth dielectric layer is formed at the top of the multi-layer film. The distances between the centers of each adjacent contact plugs are the same.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming a semiconductor substrate as a convex shape to increase a effective channel of a transistor and by stacking a first silicon germanium layer and a first silicon layer on the semiconductor substrate to form a first layer and stacking a second silicon germanium layer and a second silicon layer on the first layer to form a second layer such that the current reduced due to the increased effective channel is ensured, thereby being capable of high speed performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and at least a first conductive-type metal gate formed on the gate dielectric layer. The first conductive-type metal gate includes a filling metal layer and a U-type metal layer formed between the filling metal layer and the gate dielectric layer. A topmost portion of the U-type metal layer is lower than the filling metal layer.

Abstract: A peripheral circuit area is formed around a memory cell array area. The peripheral circuit area has element regions, an element isolation region isolating the element regions, and field-effect transistor formed in each of the element regions and including a gate electrode extending in a channel width direction, on a semiconductor substrate. An end portion and a corner portion of the gate electrode are on the element isolation region. A radius of curvature of the corner portion of the gate electrode is smaller than a length from the end portion of the element region in the channel width direction to the end portion of the gate electrode in the channel width direction, and is less than 85 nm.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least one first gate dielectric layer over a substrate. A first transition-metal oxycarbide (MCxOy) containing layer is formed over the at least one first gate dielectric layer, wherein the transition-metal (M) has an atomic percentage of about 40 at. % or more. A first gate is formed over the first transition-metal oxycarbide containing layer. At least one first doped region is formed within the substrate and adjacent to a sidewall of the first gate.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit devices include first and second source/drain regions on an active area of an integrated circuit substrate. The first and second source/drain regions form p-n rectifying junctions with the active area. A channel region extends between the first and second source/drain regions. An insulated gate electrode surrounds the channel region.

Abstract: A method for fabricating metal gate transistor is disclosed. First, a substrate having a first transistor region and a second transistor region is provided. Next, a stacked film is formed on the substrate, in which the stacked film includes at least one high-k dielectric layer and a first metal layer. The stacked film is patterned to form a plurality of gates in the first transistor region and the second transistor region, a dielectric layer is formed on the gates, and a portion of the dielectric layer is planarized until reaching the top of each gates. The first metal layer is removed from the gate of the second transistor region, and a second metal layer is formed over the surface of the dielectric layer and each gate for forming a plurality of metal gates in the first transistor region and the second transistor region.

Abstract: A gate stack structure for field effect transistor (FET) devices includes a nitrogen rich first dielectric layer formed over a semiconductor substrate surface; a nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer formed on the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer, the first and second dielectric layers forming, in combination, a bi-layer interfacial layer; a high-k dielectric layer formed over the bi-layer interfacial layer; a metal gate conductor layer formed over the high-k dielectric layer; and a work function adjusting dopant species diffused within the high-k dielectric layer and within the nitrogen deficient, oxygen rich second dielectric layer, and wherein the nitrogen rich first dielectric layer serves to separate the work function adjusting dopant species from the semiconductor substrate surface.

Abstract: Thin effective gate oxide thickness with reduced leakage for replacement metal gate transistors is achieved by forming a protective layer between the gate oxide layer and metal gate electrode, thereby reducing stress. Embodiments include forming a protective layer of amorphous carbon containing metal carbides decreasing in concentration from the metal gate electrode toward the gate oxide layer across the protective layer. Embodiments of methodology include removing the removable gate, depositing a layer of amorphous carbon on the gate oxide layer, forming the metal gate electrode and then heating at an elevated temperature to diffuse metal from the metal gate electrode into the amorphous carbon layer, thereby forming the metal carbides. Embodiments also include metal gate transistors with a gate oxide layer having a high dielectric constant and silicon concentrated at the interfaces with the metal gate electrode and substrate.

Abstract: A transistor, comprising a first gate structure formed on a substrate, and having a stacked structure of a first gate electrode and a first gate hard mask, a first gate spacer formed on sidewalls of the first gate structure, a second gate structure having a stacked structure of a second gate electrode and a second gate hard mask, the second gate structure surrounding both sidewalls and top surfaces of the first gate structure and the first gate spacer, and a second gate spacer formed on sidewalls of the second gate structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method of forming an integrated circuit. One embodiment includes a conductive line formed above a surface of a carrier. A slope of the sidewalls of the conductive line in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the carrier reveals a discontinuity and a width of the conductive line in an upper portion thereof is larger than the corresponding width in the lower portion.

Abstract: A transistor. The transistor including: a well region in a substrate; a gate dielectric layer on a top surface of the well region; a polysilicon gate electrode on a top surface of the gate dielectric layer; spacers formed on opposite sidewalls of the polysilicon gate electrode; source/drain regions formed on opposite sides of the polysilicon gate electrode in the well region; a first doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode, the first doped region extending into the polysilicon gate electrode from a top surface of the polysilicon gate electrode; and a buried second doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode.

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: A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming a semiconductor substrate as a convex shape to increase a effective channel of a transistor and by stacking a first silicon germanium layer and a first silicon layer on the semiconductor substrate to form a first layer and stacking a second silicon germanium layer and a second silicon layer on the first layer to form a second layer such that the current reduced due to the increased effective channel is ensured, thereby being capable of high speed performance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes an integrated circuit substrate and a first gate pattern on the substrate. A non-conductive barrier layer pattern is on the first gate pattern. The barrier layer pattern has openings at selected locations therein extending to the first gate pattern. A second gate pattern is on the barrier layer pattern and extends into the opening in the barrier layer pattern to electrically connect the second gate pattern to the first gate pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of forming the same are provided. The example semiconductor device may include a gate pattern including a gate electrode and a capping layer pattern on a semiconductor substrate, a spacer covering first and second sidewalls of the gate pattern, an impurity injection region formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate pattern and an etch stopping layer covering a surface of the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the spacer, the etch stopping layer substantially not covering the first and second sidewalls of the spacer and an upper surface of the capping layer pattern.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor (TFT) with a multilayer gate insulator is provided, along with a method for forming the same. The method comprises: forming a channel, first source/drain (S/D) region, and a second S/D region in a Silicon (Si) active layer; using a high-density plasma (HDP) source, growing a first layer of Silicon oxide (SiOx) from the Si active layer, to a first thickness, where x is less than, or equal to 2; depositing a second layer of SiOx having a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, overlying the first layer of SiOx; using the HDP source, additionally oxidizing the second layer of SiOx, wherein the first and second SiOx layers form a gate insulator; and, forming a gate electrode adjacent the gate insulator. In one aspect, the second Si oxide layer is deposited using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) precursors.

Abstract: Methods to selectively form a dielectric etch stop layer over a patterned metal feature. Embodiments include a transistor incorporating such an etch stop layer over a gate electrode. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, a metal is selectively formed on the surface of the gate electrode which is then converted to a silicide or germanicide. In other embodiments, the metal selectively formed on the gate electrode surface enables a catalytic growth of a silicon or germanium mesa over the gate electrode. At least a portion of the silicide, germanicide, silicon mesa or germanium mesa is then oxidized, nitridized, or carbonized to form a dielectric etch stop layer over the gate electrode only.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a drift region of a first conduction type, a base region of a second conduction type, a source region of the first conduction type, a contact hole, a column region of the second conduction type, a plug and wiring. The drift region formed on a semiconductor substrate of the first conduction type. The base region of a second is formed in a prescribed region of the surface of the drift region. The source region is formed in a prescribed region of the surface of the base region. The contact hole extends from the source region surface side to the base region. The column region is formed in the drift region below the contact hole. The plug comprises a first conductive material and fills the contact hole. The wiring comprises a second conductive material and is electrically connected to the plug.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin-silicon-on-insulator transistor with borderless self-aligned contacts is disclosed. A gate stack is formed on a silicon layer that is above a buried oxide layer. The gate stack includes a gate oxide layer on the silicon layer and a gate electrode layer on the gate oxide layer. A hard mask on top of the gate stack is formed. An off-set spacer is formed surrounding the gate stack. A raised source/drain region is epitaxially formed adjacent to the off-set spacer. The raised source/drain region is grown slightly about a height of the gate stack including the hard mask. The raised source/drain region forms borderless self-aligned contact.

Abstract: Provided are relatively higher-performance wire-type semiconductor devices and relatively economical methods of fabricating the same. A wire-type semiconductor device may include at least one pair of support pillars protruding above a semiconductor substrate, at least one fin protruding above the semiconductor substrate and having ends connected to the at least one pair of support pillars, at least one semiconductor wire having ends connected to the at least one pair of support pillars and being separated from the at least one fin, a common gate electrode surrounding the surface of the at least one semiconductor wire, and a gate insulating layer between the at least one semiconductor wire and the common gate electrode.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing a breaking and poor contact, without increasing the number of steps, thereby forming an integrated circuit with high driving performance and reliability. The present invention applies a photo mask or a reticle each of which is provided with a diffraction grating pattern or with an auxiliary pattern formed of a semi-translucent film having a light intensity reducing function to a photolithography step for forming wires in an overlapping portion of wires. And a conductive film to serve as a lower wire of a two-layer structure is formed, and then, a resist pattern is formed so that a first layer of the lower wire and a second layer narrower than the first layer are formed for relieving a steep step.

Abstract: A semiconductor device using a CESL (contact etch stop layer) to induce strain in, for example, a CMOS transistor channel, and a method for fabricating such a device. A stress-producing CESL, tensile in an n-channel device and compressive in a p-channel device, is formed over the device gate structure as a discontinuous layer. This may be done, for example, by depositing an appropriate CESL, then forming an ILD layer, and simultaneously reducing the ILD layer and the CESL to a desired level. The discontinuity preferably exposes the gate electrode, or the metal contact region formed on it, if present. The upper boundary of the CESL may be further reduced, however, to position it below the upper boundary of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A CMOS device includes NMOS (110) and PMOS (130) transistors, each of which include a gate electrode (111, 131) and a gate insulator (112, 132) that defines a gate insulator plane (150, 170). The transistors each further include source/drain regions (113/114, 133/134) having a first portion (115, 135) below the gate insulator plane and a second portion (116, 136) above the gate insulator plane, and an electrically insulating material (117). The NMOS transistor further includes a blocking layer (121) having a portion (122) between the gate electrode and a source contact (118) and a portion (123) between the gate electrode and a drain contact (119). The PMOS transistor further includes a blocking layer (141) having a portion (142) between the source region and the insulating material and a portion (143) between the drain region and the insulating material.

Abstract: Methods to selectively form a dielectric etch stop layer over a patterned metal feature. Embodiments include a transistor incorporating such an etch stop layer over a gate electrode. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, a metal is selectively formed on the surface of the gate electrode which is then converted to a silicide or germanicide. In other embodiments, the metal selectively formed on the gate electrode surface enables a catalytic growth of a silicon or germanium mesa over the gate electrode. At least a portion of the silicide, germanicide, silicon mesa or germanium mesa is then oxidized, nitridized, or carbonized to form a dielectric etch stop layer over the gate electrode only.

Abstract: A transistor contact over a gate active area includes a transistor gate formed on a substrate of an integrated circuit. A gate insulator is formed beneath the transistor gate and helps define an active area for the transistor gate. An insulating layer is formed over the transistor gate. A metal contact plug is formed within a portion of the insulating layer that lies over the active area such that the metal contact plug forms an electrical contact with the transistor gate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductive film stack for use as a polysilicon germanium gate electrode to address problems associated with implant and diffusion of dopants. Achieving a sufficiently high active dopant concentration at a gate-dielectric interface while avoiding gate penetration of dopants such as boron is problematic. A higher gate implant dosage or annealing temperature is needed, and boron penetration through the thin gate oxide is inevitably enhanced. Both problems are exacerbated as the gate dielectric becomes thinner. In order to achieve a high level of active dopant concentration next to the gate dielectric without experiencing problems associated with gate depletion and penetration, a method and procedures of applying a diffusion-blocking layer is described with respect to an exemplary MOSFET application. However, a diffusion-blocking concept is also presented, which is readily amenable to a variety of semiconductor related technologies.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided in which a CMOS transistor is formed on a first conductivity type semiconductor film provided on a first conductivity type supporting substrate through an embedded insulating film. Second conductivity type source and drain regions are formed in the semiconductor film. The source region has an ultra-shallow high-density second conductivity type source extension region at a boundary with a channel region, a low-density second conductivity type source extension region under the ultra-shallow high-density second conductivity type source extension region, and a high-density second conductivity type source extension region under the low-density second conductivity type source extension region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a semiconductor layer at a surface, a gate insulating film disposed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode includes a conductive layer consisting of a nitride of a predetermined metal in contact with the gate insulating film. The conductive layer is formed by stacking a first film consisting of a nitride of the predetermined metal and a second film consisting of the predetermined metal, and diffusing nitrogen from the first film to the second film by solid-phase diffusion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an nMISFET formed on the substrate, the nMISFET including a first dielectric formed on the substrate and a first metal gate electrode formed on the first dielectric and formed of one metal element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Sc, Y, a lanthanoide and actinide series and of one selected from boride, silicide and germanide compounds of the one metal element, and a pMISFET formed on the substrate, the pMISFET including a second dielectric formed on the substrate and a second metal gate electrode formed on the second dielectric and made of the same material as that of the first metal gate electrode, at least a portion of the second dielectric facing the second metal gate electrode being made of an insulating material different from that of at least a portion of the first dielectric facing the first metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type extending over the semiconductor region. A gate electrode is adjacent to but insulated from the well region, and a source region of the first conductivity type is in the well region. A heavy body region is in electrical contact with the well region, and includes a material having a lower energy gap than the well region.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an LDMOS semiconductor device mask that may reduce current leakage under a gate-off condition. According to embodiments, an LDMOS semiconductor device mask may include a moat mask to define a moat region, an NDT mask to define an N drift region, a PDT mask to define a P drift region, and a gate mask to form a gate. According to embodiments, a PDT mask may be configured to expose a field region of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate electrode for a gate of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), where the transistor has a structure incorporating a gate disposed on a substrate. The substrate comprises a source-drain region. The gate includes a gate electrode disposed on a gate dielectric and surrounded by a spacer. The gate electrode includes a capping layer of polysilicon (poly-Si) and a thin polycrystalline intermixed silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer superposed on the gate dielectric. The thin polycrystalline intermixed silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer may be formed by a high-temperature ultrafast melt-crystalization annealing process. The melt-crystallization process of the intermixed silicon-germanium provides an active dopant concentration that reduces the width of a depletion region formed at an interface of the polycrystalline intermixed silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer and the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a stacked layer including a tungsten layer, forming a hard mask pattern over the stacked layer, and oxidizing a surface of the hard mask pattern to form a stress buffer layer. A portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed using the hard mask pattern and the stress buffer layer as an etch mask, thereby forming a first resultant structure. A capping layer is formed over the first resultant structure, the capping layer is etched to retain the capping layer on sidewalls of the first resultant structure, and the remaining portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor device and methods of fabricating the same. Other example embodiments of the present invention relate to a fin-field effect transistor (Fin-FET) having a fin-type channel region and methods of fabricating the same. A Fin-FET having a gate all around (GAA) structure that may use an entire area around a fin as a channel region is provided. The Fin-FET having the GAA structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a body, a pair of support pillars and a fin. The pair of support pillars may protrude from the body. A fin may be spaced apart from the body and may have ends connected to and supported by the pair of support pillars. A gate electrode may surround at least a portion of the fin of the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode may be insulated from the semiconductor substrate. A gate insulation layer may be interposed between the gate electrode and the fin of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first MIS transistor and a second MIS transistor. The first MIS transistor includes a first sidewall formed on a side surface of a first gate electrode, and including a first inner sidewall having an L-shaped cross-section and a first outer sidewall. The second MIS transistor includes a second sidewall formed on a side surface of a second gate electrode, and including a second inner sidewall having an L-shaped cross-section and a second outer sidewall, a trench provided in a region outside the second sidewall in a second active region, and a silicon mixed-crystal layer formed in the trench, for causing first stress in a gate length direction of a channel region in the second active region. A height of an upper end of the second inner sidewall is lower than a height of an upper end of the first inner sidewall.