Method to increase effective gate height

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a composite spacer architecture over sidewalls of a sacrificial gate disposed over a semiconductor layer, and the subsequent deposition of a supplemental sacrificial gate over the sacrificial gate. A recess etch of the composite spacer architecture is followed by the formation within the recess of a sacrificial capping layer. The supplemental sacrificial gate and the sacrificial gate are removed to expose the composite spacer architecture, which is selectively etched to form a T-shaped cavity overlying a channel region of the semiconductor layer. A replacement metal gate is formed within a lower region of the T-shaped cavity, and a self-aligned contact (SAC) capping layer is formed within an upper region of the T-shaped cavity prior to metallization of the device.