A method for forming an integrated circuit includes following operations. A substrate having a first region, a second region and an isolation structure is received. A portion of the substrate is removed such that the second region is recessed. A portion of the isolation structure is removed to obtain a first top surface, a second top surface lower than the first top surface, and a boundary between the first top surface and the second top surface. A first device is formed in the first region, a second device is formed in the second region, and a dummy structure is formed over the first top surface, the second top surface and the boundary. A dielectric structure is formed over the substrate. A top surface of the first device, a top surface of the second device and a top surface of the dummy structure are aligned with each other.

Structures for a photonics chip that include a fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator field-effect transistor and related methods. A first device region of a substrate includes a first device layer, a first portion of a second device layer, and a buried insulator layer separating the first device layer from the first portion of the second device layer. A second device region of the substrate includes a second portion of the second device layer. The first device layer, which has a thickness in a range of about 4 to about 20 nanometers, transitions in elevation to the second portion of the second device layer with a step height equal to a sum of the thicknesses of the first device layer and the buried insulator layer. A field-effect transistor includes a gate electrode on the top surface of the first device layer. An optical component includes the second portion of the second device layer.

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate processing for transistor enhancement is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a silicon substrate for an SOI process is separated into sub-regions or islands by dielectric. Thus, the substrate is changed from having one region and one shared contact into multiple substrate sub-regions with independent contacts. Since the substrate serves as a back gate to SOI transistors formed in an active silicon layer, breaking the substrate into independent or separate islands leads to a drop in the impact of each island on the drain-to-source voltage and/or gate-to-source voltage of the SOI transistors. Accordingly, reduced harmonics and improved linearity are achieved.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a plurality of bulk micro defects within a handle substrate. Sizes of the plurality of bulk micro defects are increased to form a plurality of bulk macro defects (BMDs) within the handle substrate. Some of the plurality of BMDs are removed from within a first denuded region and a second denuded region arranged along opposing surfaces of the handle substrate. An insulating layer is formed onto the handle substrate. A device layer comprising a semiconductor material is formed onto the insulating layer. The first denuded region and the second denuded region vertically surround a central region of the handle substrate that has a higher concentration of the plurality of BMDs than both the first denuded region and the second denuded region.

According to example embodiments, an integrated circuit includes a continuous active region extending in a first direction, a tie gate electrode extending in a second direction crossing the first direction on the continuous active region, a source/drain region provided adjacent the tie gate electrode, a tie gate contact extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction on the continuous active region and connected to the tie gate electrode, a source/drain contact extending in the third direction and connected to the source/drain region, and a wiring pattern connected to each of the tie gate contact and the source/drain contact and extending in a horizontal direction. A positive supply power is applied to the wiring pattern.

Transistors having reduced parasitics and enhanced performance. In some embodiments, a transistor can include a source and a drain each implemented as a first type active region, and a gate implemented relative to the source and the drain such that application of a voltage to the gate results in formation of a conductive channel between the source and the drain. The transistor can further include a body configured to provide the conductive channel upon the application of the voltage to the gate. The body can be implemented as a second type active region that butts with the first type active region on the source side at a respective area not covered by the gate, and does not butt with the first type active region on the drain side at a respective area not covered by the gate.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate includes a handle substrate; a device layer overlying the handle substrate; and an insulator layer separating the handle substrate from the device layer. The insulator layer meets the device layer at a first interface and meets the handle substrate at a second interface. The insulator layer comprises a getter material having a getter concentration profile. The handle substrate contains getter material and has a handle getter concentration profile. The handle getter concentration profile has a peak at the second interface and a gradual decline beneath the second interface until reaching a handle getter concentration.

A monolithic multi-FET transistor comprises an epitaxial layer disposed on a dielectric layer. The epitaxial layer comprises a crystalline semiconductor material and a multi-FET area. An isolation structure surrounds the multi-FET area and divides the multi-FET area into separate FET portions. A gate disposed on a gate dielectric extends over each FET portion. A source and a drain are each disposed on opposite sides of the gate on the epitaxial layer within each FET portion. Each gate, source, and drain comprise a separate electrical conductor and the gate, source, drain, and epitaxial layer within each FET portion form a field-effect transistor. Gate, source, and drain contacts electrically connect the gates, sources, and drains of the separate FET portions, respectively. At least the sources or drains of two neighboring FET portions are disposed in common over at least a portion of the isolation structure dividing the two neighboring FET portions.

Gate patterns are formed on a semiconductor layer and a conductive film is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to cover the gate patterns. By performing a polishing process to the conductive film and patterning the polished conductive film, pad layers are formed between the gate patterns via sidewall spacers.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip. The integrated chip comprises a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. An insulating structure is buried between the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor layer. The insulating structure has a first region and a second region. The insulating structure has a first thickness in the first region of the insulating structure, and the insulating structure has a second thickness different than the first thickness in the second region of the insulating structure.