Techniques and methods related to strained NMOS and PMOS devices without relaxed substrates, systems incorporating such semiconductor devices, and methods therefor may include a semiconductor device that may have both n-type and p-type semiconductor bodies. Both types of semiconductor bodies may be formed from an initially strained semiconductor material such as silicon germanium. A silicon cladding layer may then be provided at least over or on the n-type semiconductor body. In one example, a lower portion of the semiconductor bodies is formed by a Si extension of the wafer or substrate. By one approach, an upper portion of the semiconductor bodies, formed of the strained SiGe, may be formed by blanket depositing the strained SiGe layer on the Si wafer, and then etching through the SiGe layer and into the Si wafer to form the semiconductor bodies or fins with the lower and upper portions.

A method and apparatus include an n-doped layer having a first applied charge, and a p.sup.−-doped layer having a second applied charge. The p.sup.−-doped layer may be positioned below the n-doped layer. A p.sup.+-doped buffer layer may have a third applied charge and be positioned below the p.sup.−-doped layer. The respective charges at each layer may be determined based on a dopant level and a physical dimension of the layer. In one example, the n-doped layer, the p.sup.−-doped layer, and the p.sup.+-doped buffer layer comprise a lateral semiconductor manufactured from silicon carbide (SiC).

Integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The methods may include sequentially forming an underlying mask layer and a preliminary first mask layer on a substrate, forming a first mask structure by removing a portion of the preliminary first mask layer, and then forming a preliminary second mask layer. The preliminary second mask layer may enclose the first mask structure in a plan view. The methods may also include forming a second mask structure by removing a portion of the preliminary second mask layer and forming a vertical channel region including a portion of the substrate by sequentially etching the underlying mask layer and the substrate. The second mask structure may be connected to the first mask structure, and etching the underlying mask layer may be performed using the first and the second mask structures as an etch mask.

A structure includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, a fin extending from the substrate and adjacent to the isolation structure, two source/drain (S/D) features over the fin, channel layers suspended over the substrate and connecting the S/D features, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the channel layers in the stack, two outer spacers disposed on two opposing sidewalls of the first gate structure that are on outer surfaces of the stack, inner spacers disposed between the S/D features and the channel layers, and a gate-end dielectric feature over the isolation structure and directly contacting an end of the gate structure. The gate-end dielectric feature includes a first material of a dielectric constant that is higher than dielectric constants of materials included in the outer spacers and the inner spacers.

A method of forming a semiconductor transistor device. The method comprises forming a fin-shaped channel structure over a substrate and forming a first source/drain epitaxial structure and a second source/drain epitaxial structure on opposite endings of the fin structure. The method further comprises forming a metal gate structure surrounding the fin structure. The method further comprises flipping and partially removing the substrate to form a back-side capping trench while leaving a lower portion of the substrate along upper sidewalls of the first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure as a protective spacer. The method further comprises forming a back-side dielectric cap in the back-side capping trench.

An IC structure includes a semiconductor fin, first and second gate structures, and an isolation structure. The semiconductor fin extends from a substrate. The first gate structure extends above a top surface of the semiconductor fin by a first gate height. The second gate structure is over the semiconductor fin. The isolation structure is between the first and second gate structures, and has a lower dielectric portion embedded in the semiconductor fin and an upper dielectric portion extending above the top surface of the semiconductor fin by a height that is the same as the first gate height. When viewed in a cross section taken along a longitudinal direction of the semiconductor fin, the upper dielectric portion of the isolation structure has a rectangular profile with a width greater than a bottom width of the lower dielectric portion of the isolation structure.

A capacitor is provided which comprises: a first structure comprising metal; a second structure comprising metal; and a third structure between the first and second structures, wherein the third structure comprises an improper ferroelectric material. In some embodiments, a field effect transistor (FET) is provided which comprises: a substrate; a source and drain adjacent to the substrate; and a gate stack between the source and drain, wherein the gate stack includes: a dielectric; a first structure comprising improper ferroelectric material, wherein the first structure is adjacent to the dielectric; and a second structure comprising metal, wherein the second structure is adjacent to the first structure.

Contact over active gate (COAG) structures with conductive gate taps are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate structures above a substrate, each of the gate structures including a gate insulating layer thereon. Each of the plurality of gate structures includes a conductive tap structure protruding through the corresponding gate insulating layer. A plurality of conductive trench contact structures is alternating with the plurality of gate structures, each of the conductive trench contact structures including a trench insulating layer thereon. An interlayer dielectric material is above the trench insulating layers and the gate insulating layers. An opening is in the interlayer dielectric material and exposes the conductive tap structure of one of the plurality of gate structures. A conductive structure is in the opening and is in direct contact with the conductive tap structure of one of the plurality of gate structures.

The object is to provide a semiconductor device that prevents a snapback operation and has excellent heat dissipation. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, transistor portions, diode portions, a surface electrode, and external wiring. The transistor portions and the diode portions are provided in the semiconductor substrate and are arranged in one direction parallel with the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bonding portion of the external wiring is connected to the surface electrode. The transistor portions and the diode portions are provided in a first region and a second region and alternately arranged in the one direction. A first transistor width and a first diode width in the first region are smaller than a width of the bonding portion. A second transistor width and a second diode width in the second region are larger than the width of the bonding portion.

An integrated circuit includes a first diffusion area for a first type transistor. The first type transistor includes a first drain region and a first source region. A second diffusion area for a second type transistor is separated from the first diffusion area. The second type transistor includes a second drain region and a second source region. A gate electrode continuously extends across the first diffusion area and the second diffusion area in a routing direction. A first metallic structure is electrically coupled with the first source region. A second metallic structure is electrically coupled with the second drain region. A third metallic structure is disposed over and electrically coupled with the first and second metallic structures. A width of the first metallic structure is substantially equal to or larger than a width of the third metallic structure.