International Business Machines Corporation

Globalfoundries Inc.

Wing L Lai

Ravikumar Ramachandran

Vijay Narayanan

Unoh Kwon

Reinaldo Ariel Vega

Emre Alptekin

Shahab Siddiqui

Terence B Hook

Zhengwen O Li

David L Harmon

Henry A Bonges, Iii

Sean M Polvino

Takashi Ando

Kisik Choi

Eduard Albert Cartier

Jeanne P Bickford

Henry K Utomo

Alan Weger

Matthew W Stoker

Kerry A Kravec

Sebnem Jaji

Brian M Trapp

Thomas S Barnett

Rashmi D Chatty

Gie Lee

William Y Chang

A first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed over a semiconductor material layer. The first gate structure includes a planar silicon-based gate dielectric, a planar high-k gate dielectric, a metallic nitride portion, and a first semiconductor material portion, and the second gate structure includes a silicon-based dielectric material portion and a second semiconductor material portion. After formation of gate spacers and a planarization dielectric layer, the second gate structure is replaced with a transient gate structure including a chemical oxide portion and a second high-k gate dielectric. A work-function metal layer and a conductive material portion can be formed in each gate electrode by replacement of semiconductor material portions. A gate electrode includes the planar silicon-based gate dielectric, the planar high-k gate dielectric, and a U-shaped high-k gate dielectric, and another gate electrode includes the chemical oxide portion and another U-shaped high-k gate dielectric.

Multi-composition gate dielectric field effect transistors

After removal of the disposable gate structures to form gate cavities in a planarization dielectric layer, a silicon oxide layer is conformally deposited on silicon-oxide-based gate dielectric portions in the gate cavities. A portion of the silicon oxide layer can be nitridated to form a silicon oxynitride layer. A patterned masking material layer can be employed to physically expose a semiconductor surface from a first-type gate cavity. The silicon oxide layer can be removed while preserving an underlying silicon-oxide-based gate dielectric portion in a second-type gate cavity. A stack of a silicon oxynitride layer and an underlying silicon-oxide-based gate dielectric can be protected by a patterned masking material layer in a third-type gate cavity during removal of the silicon oxide layer in the second-type gate cavity. A high dielectric constant gate dielectric layer can be formed in the gate cavities to provide gate dielectrics of different types.

Multiple thickness gate dielectrics for replacement gate field effect transistors

Disposable gate structures are formed over semiconductor material portions, and source and drain regions can be formed in the semiconductor material portions. After formation of a planarization dielectric layer, one type of disposable gate structure can be removed selective to at least another type of disposable gate structure employing a patterned hard dielectric mask layer. After recessing a surface portion of a body portion, a heteroepitaxial channel portion is formed on the remaining physically exposed portion of the body portion by selective epitaxy of a semiconductor material different from the semiconductor material of the remaining body portion. A plurality of types of heteroepitaxial channel portions can be formed in different types of semiconductor devices. Replacement gate structures can be formed in the gate cavities to provide field effect transistors having different threshold voltages.

Fin field effect transistors having heteroepitaxial channels

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure by forming an oxide layer above a substrate; optionally annealing the oxide layer to densify the oxide layer; forming a first sacrificial gate above the substrate; removing the first dummy gate; optionally annealing the first gate oxide layer; and forming a first replacement metal gate above the gate oxide layer. In some embodiments selective nitridation may be performed during the annealing step.

Annealing oxide gate dielectric layers for replacement metal gate field effect transistors

A method for semiconductor fabrication includes forming at least one of a diffusion barrier layer and a metal containing layer over a dielectric layer in a gate cavity. A first anneal is performed to diffuse elements from the at least one of the diffusion barrier layer and the metal containing layer into the dielectric layer. The metal containing layer and the diffusion barrier layer are removed. A second anneal is performed to adjust diffusion of the elements in the dielectric layer to provide a gate dielectric region.

Enabling enhanced reliability and mobility for replacement gate planar and FinFET structures

A method of modeling yield for semiconductor products includes determining expected faults for each of a plurality of library elements by running a critical area analysis on each of the library elements, and assessing, from the critical area analysis, an expected number of faults per unit area, and comparing the same to actual observed faults on previously manufactured semiconductor products. Thereafter, the expected number of faults for each library element is updated in response to observed yield. A database is established, which includes the die size and expected faults for each of the library elements. Integrated circuit product die size is estimated, and library elements to be used to create the integrated circuit die are selected. Fault and size data for each of the selected library elements are obtained, the adjusted estimated faults for each of the library elements are summed, and estimated yield is calculated.

Equivalent gate count yield estimation for integrated circuit devices

Disclosed is a method and structure for altering an integrated circuit design having silicon over insulator (SOI) transistors. The method/structure prevents damage from charging during processing to the gate of SOI transistors by tracing electrical nets in the integrated circuit design, identifying SOI transistors that may have a voltage differential between the source/drain and gate as potentially damaged SOI transistors (based on the tracing of the electrical nets), and connecting a shunt device across the source/drain and the gate of each of the potentially damaged SOI transistors. Alternatively, the method/structure provides for connecting compensating conductors through a series device.

Method of assessing potential for charging damage in SOI designs and structures for eliminating potential for damage

A method and structure alters an integrated circuit design having silicon over insulator (SOI) transistors. The method/structure prevents damage from charging during processing to the gate of SOI transistors by tracing electrical nets in the integrated circuit design, identifying SOI transistors that have a voltage differential between the source/drain and gate as potentially damaged SOI transistors (based on the tracing of the electrical nets), and connecting a shunt device across the source/drain and the gate of each of the potentially damaged SOI transistors. Alternatively, the method/structure provides for connecting compensating conductors through a series device.

Growing community of inventors

Williston, VT, United States of America

Wing L Lai