Partial gate cut structures in an integrated circuit

Abstract

Techniques are provided herein to form an integrated circuit having any number of partial gate cut structures between adjacent semiconductor devices. Neighboring semiconductor devices each include a semiconductor region extending between a source region and a drain region, and a gate structure extending over the semiconductor regions of the neighboring semiconductor devices. In some such examples, a partial gate cut structure is present between a given pair of neighboring semiconductor devices. The partial gate cut structure acts as a dielectric pillar between the semiconductor structures that allows the conductive gate layer (from the gate structure) to extend above and/or below it such that the gates of each of the semiconductor devices remain electrically coupled together. The gate cut structure itself removes a portion of the gate layer from between the semiconductor devices, thus reducing parasitic capacitance.