A semiconductor structure includes a high-k metal gate structure (HKMG) disposed over a channel region of a semiconductor layer formed over a substrate, where the HKMG includes an interfacial layer disposed over the semiconductor layer, a high-k dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial layer, and a gate electrode disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, where a length of the high-k dielectric layer is greater than a length of the gate electrode and where outer edges of the interfacial layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the gate electrode form a step profile. The semiconductor structure further includes gate spacers having sidewall portions contacting sidewalls of the gate electrode and bottom portions contacting top portions of the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer, and source/drain features disposed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the HKMG.

A method includes forming a silicon layer on a wafer, forming an oxide layer in contact with the silicon layer, and, after the oxide layer is formed, annealing the wafer in an environment comprising ammonia (NH.sub.3) to form a dielectric barrier layer between, and in contact with, the silicon layer and the oxide layer. The dielectric barrier layer comprises silicon and nitrogen.

Fan-out panel level packages (FOPLPs) comprising warpage control structures and techniques of formation are described. An FOPLP may comprise one or more redistribution layers; a semiconductor die on the one or more redistribution layers; one or more warpage control structures adjacently located next to the semiconductor die; and a mold compound encapsulating the semiconductor die and the one or more warpage control structures on the one or more redistribution layers. The FOPLP can be coupled a board (e.g., a printed circuit board, etc.). The warpage control structures can assist with minimizing or eliminating unwanted warpage, which can occur during or after formation of an FOPLP or a packaged system. In this way, the warpage control structures can assist with reducing costs associated with semiconductor packaging and/or manufacturing of an FOPLP or a packaged system.

Method of doping a semiconductor sample in a uniform and carbon-free way, wherein said sample has a surface, comprising the following steps: A. removing oxides from at least part of the said surface; B. dip coating said at least part of the surface of the sample in a dopant based carbon-free solution of at least one dopant based carbon free substance diluted in water, wherein said at least one dopant based carbon free substance has a molecule comprising at least one dopant atom, wherein the dip coating is achieved by heating said dopant based carbon-free solution at a dip coating temperature from 65% to 100% of the boiling temperature of said dopant based carbon-free solution, thereby a self-assembled mono-layer including dopant atoms is formed; C. annealing said sample, wherein the annealing is configured to cause said dopant atoms included in said self-assembled mono-layer to be diffused into the sample.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to capping processes and structures formed thereby. In an embodiment, a conductive feature, formed in a dielectric layer, has a metallic surface, and the dielectric layer has a dielectric surface. The dielectric surface is modified to be hydrophobic by performing a surface modification treatment. After modifying the dielectric surface, a capping layer is formed on the metallic surface by performing a selective deposition process. In another embodiment, a surface of a gate structure is exposed through a dielectric layer. A capping layer is formed on the surface of the gate structure by performing a selective deposition process.

A semiconductor structure includes a high-k metal gate structure (HKMG) disposed over a channel region of a semiconductor layer formed over a substrate, where the HKMG includes an interfacial layer disposed over the semiconductor layer, a high-k dielectric layer disposed over the interfacial layer, and a gate electrode disposed over the high-k dielectric layer, where a length of the high-k dielectric layer is greater than a length of the gate electrode and where outer edges of the interfacial layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the gate electrode form a step profile. The semiconductor structure further includes gate spacers having sidewall portions contacting sidewalls of the gate electrode and bottom portions contacting top portions of the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer, and source/drain features disposed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the HKMG.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including a self-aligned top via includes subtractively etching a conductive layer to form at least a first conductive line on a substrate. After the subtractive etching, the method further includes forming a barrier layer along the substate and along the first conductive line, planarizing at least portions of the barrier layer to obtain at least an exposed first conductive line, recessing at least the exposed first conductive line to form a first recessed conductive line, and forming conductive material in a via opening on the first recessed conductive line.

This invention relates to a surface modifier for uniformly modifying the surface of a substrate such as an inorganic thin film, using atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition, and a method for modifying the surface of a substrate using the same.

A p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (pMOS) transistor including a gate stack which includes: a silicon oxide comprising dielectric interlayer on a substrate, wherein the dielectric interlayer has a thickness below 1 nm; a high-k dielectric layer having a higher dielectric constant compared to the dielectric interlayer; a first dipole-forming capping layer between the dielectric interlayer and the high-k dielectric layer and in direct contact with the dielectric interlayer, for shifting down a high-K bandgap of the high-k dielectric layer with relation to a valence band of the substrate, where the first dipole-forming capping layer has a thickness below 2 nm; at least one work function metal above the high-k dielectric layer. Advantageously, the pMOS transistor includes low negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and therefore high reliability without the use of a reliability anneal which makes the pMOS transistor suitable for use as back end of line (BEOL) devices.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including a self-aligned top via includes subtractively etching a conductive layer to form at least a first conductive line on a substrate. After the subtractive etching, the method further includes forming a barrier layer along the substate and along the first conductive line, planarizing at least portions of the barrier layer to obtain at least an exposed first conductive line, recessing at least the exposed first conductive line to form a first recessed conductive line, and forming conductive material in a via opening on the first recessed conductive line.