A semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures over a substrate, the first gate structure has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate structure, in which a lower portion of the first gate structure having a first work-function material (WFM) layer, the first WFM layer having a top surface, a lower portion of the second gate structure having a second WFM layer, the second WFM layer having a top surface. A first gate electrode is disposed over the first WFM layer and a second gate electrode has a lower portion disposed in the second WFM layer, in which the first gate electrode has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate electrode, and wherein the top surface of the second WFM layer is at a level below a top surface of the second gate electrode.

A semiconductor device includes a first fin, a second fin, a first gate electrode having a first portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the first fin and a second portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the second fin, a second gate electrode having a portion that at least partially wraps around the upper portion of the first fin, and a gate-cut feature having a first portion in the first gate electrode between the first and second portions of the first gate electrode. The gate-cut feature is at least partially filled with one or more dielectric materials. In a direction of a longitudinal axis of the first fin, the gate-cut feature has a second portion extending to a sidewall of the second gate electrode.

Unidirectional self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-orthogonal walls, and methods of fabricating unidirectional self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-orthogonal walls, are described. In an example, integrated circuit structure includes a first semiconductor fin having a cut along a length of the first semiconductor fin. A second semiconductor fin has a cut along a length of the second semiconductor fin. A gate endcap isolation structure is between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin. The gate endcap isolation structure has a substantially uniform width along the lengths of the first and second semiconductor fins.

Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first silicon fin having a longest dimension along a first direction. A second silicon fin having a longest dimension is along the first direction. An insulator material is between the first silicon fin and the second silicon fin. A gate line is over the first silicon fin and over the second silicon fin along a second direction, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the gate line having a first side and a second side, wherein the gate line has a discontinuity over the insulator material, the discontinuity filled by a dielectric plug.

Discussed herein is gate spacing in integrated circuit (IC) structures, as well as related methods and components. For example, in some embodiments, an IC structure may include: a first gate metal having a longitudinal axis; a second gate metal, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first gate metal is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second gate metal; a first dielectric material continuously around the first gate metal; and a second dielectric material continuously around the second gate metal, wherein the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material are present between the first gate metal and the second gate metal.

A semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain feature comprising a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface. The structure also includes a dielectric layer having a continuous surface in contact with the entire second surface of the source/drain feature, a semiconductor layer having a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and a sidewall connecting the first surface to the second surface, wherein the sidewall of the semiconductor layer is in contact with the sidewall of the source/drain feature. The structure also includes a gate dielectric layer in contact with the continuous surface of the dielectric layer and the second surface of the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of the semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first channel layer over a first region of a substrate, a first gate dielectric layer over the first channel layer, and a first gate electrode structure over the first gate dielectric layer. The first gate electrode structure includes a barrier layer over the first gate dielectric layer, a barrier oxide over and in contact with the barrier layer, and a metal fill layer over the barrier oxide. The barrier layer is made of a nitride of a metal, and the barrier oxide is made of an oxide of the metal.

Fin shaping, and integrated circuit structures resulting therefrom, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin having a protruding fin portion above an isolation structure above a substrate. The protruding fin portion has substantially vertical upper sidewalls and outwardly tapered lower sidewalls. A gate stack is over and conformal with the protruding fin portion of the semiconductor fin. A first source or drain region is at a first side of the gate stack, and a second source or drain region is at a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side of the gate stack.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first shallow trench isolation structure in a first region of a substrate and second shallow trench isolation structures in a second region of the substrate. The method also includes forming a mask layer over the substrate, the first shallow trench isolation structure, and the second shallow trench isolation structures. The method further includes etching the mask layer and second shallow trench isolation structures in the second region sequentially to form a semiconductor protrusion between the second shallow trench isolation structures.

Techniques are provided herein to form a forksheet transistor device with a dielectric overhang structure. The dielectric overhang structure includes a dielectric layer that at least partially hangs over the nanoribbons of each semiconductor device in the forksheet transistor and is directly coupled to, or is an integral part of, the dielectric spine between the semiconductor devices. The overhang structure allows for a higher alignment tolerance when forming different work function metals over each of the different semiconductor devices, which in turn allows for narrower dielectric spines to be used. A first gate structure that includes a first work function metal may be formed around the nanoribbons of the n-channel device and a second gate structure that includes a second work function metal may be formed around the nanoribbons of the p-channel device in the forksheet arrangement.