Vertical field effect transistor replacement metal gate fabrication

Abstract

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first vertical fin and a second vertical fin longitudinally spaced from the first vertical fin with each of the first and second vertical fin having a hardmask cap, and a bottom spacer layer on the substrate. The method further includes forming first and second bottom source/drains within the substrate respectively beneath the first and second vertical fins, forming first and second top source/drains respectively on the first and second vertical fins, forming a vertical oxide pillar between the first and second vertical fins, removing a portion of the oxide pillar to reduce a cross-sectional dimension to define a lower recessed region, and depositing a metal gate material about the first and second vertical fins wherein portions of the metal gate material are disposed within the recessed region of the oxide pillar.