A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a gate dielectric on a wafer, forming a work function layer over the gate dielectric, depositing a capping layer over the work function layer, soaking the capping layer in a silicon-containing gas to form a silicon-containing layer, forming a blocking layer after the silicon-containing layer is formed, and forming a metal-filling region over the blocking layer.

A memory device includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin over the substrate and extending in a first direction, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode over the substrate and extending in a second direction, the semiconductor fin extending through the second gate electrode and terminating on the first gate electrode at one end of the semiconductor fin, and a first gate spacer and a second gate spacer laterally surrounding the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode, respectively. The one end of the semiconductor fin is surrounded by the first gate electrode. The first gate spacer includes a top substantially at a same height of a top of the second gate spacer.

Among other things, one or semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. An etch sequence is performed to form a first etched region over a planar region of a semiconductor arrangement. The first etched region exposes a planar structure, such as an alignment mark used for alignment during semiconductor fabrication. The etch sequence forms a second etched region over a semiconductor fin region of the semiconductor arrangement. In an embodiment, the etch sequence forms a first trench, a first fin nub and a first pillar in the semiconductor fin region, where the first trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor fin region. A multi-depth STI structure is formed over at least one of the first trench, the first fin nub, or the first pillar.

A semiconductor device may include a first active fin, a plurality of second active fins, a first source/drain layer structure, and a second source/drain layer structure. The first active fin may be on a first region of a substrate. The second active fins may be on a second region of the substrate. The first and second gate structures may be on the first and second active fins, respectively. The first source/drain layer structure may be on a portion of the first active fin that is adjacent to the first gate structure. The second source/drain layer structure may commonly contact upper surfaces of the second active fins adjacent to the second gate structure. A top surface of the second source/drain layer structure may be further from the surface of the substrate than a top surface of the first source/drain layer structure is to the surface of the substrate.

A semiconductor device includes a first fin field effect transistor (FinFET) and a contact bar (source/drain (S/D) contact layer). The first FinFET includes a first fin structure extending in a first direction, a first gate structure extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a first S/D structure. The contact bar is disposed over the first S/D structure and extends in the second direction crossing the first S/D structure in plan view. The contact bar includes a first portion disposed over the first S/D structure and a second portion. The second portion overlaps no fin structure and no S/D structure. A width of the second portion in the first direction is smaller than a width of the first portion in the first direction in plan view.

A semiconductor device includes first and second active patterns extending in a first direction, a first epitaxial pattern on the first active pattern and adjacent to the second active pattern, a second epitaxial pattern on the second active pattern and adjacent to the first active pattern, an element separation structure separating the first and second active patterns between the first and second epitaxial patterns, and including a core separation pattern, and a separation side wall pattern on a side wall of the core separation pattern, and a gate structure extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, on the first active pattern. An upper surface of the gate structure is on the same plane as an upper surface of the core separation pattern. The separation side wall pattern includes a high dielectric constant liner, which includes a high dielectric constant dielectric film including a metal.

A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a field effect transistor disposed on the substrate. The field effect transistor includes a vertical fin, source and drain regions separated by a gate region, a gate structure disposed over the gate region and a gate airgap spacer at least partially disposed about the gate structure.

A method includes forming an isolation region around a semiconductor fin; forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin; forming a source/drain region in the semiconductor fin adjacent the gate structure; depositing a metal material covering the isolation region, the gate structure, the semiconductor fin, and the source/drain region; etching openings in the metal material, wherein each opening exposes the isolation region, wherein the metal material remains on a top surface of the source/drain region remains after etching the openings; and depositing an insulating material, wherein the insulating material fills the openings.

A method includes forming a first dummy gate stack on a protruding semiconductor fin, etching the first dummy gate stack to form a trench, extending the trench downwardly to penetrate through a portion of the protruding semiconductor fin, and filling the trench with a dielectric material to form a fin isolation region. A seam is formed in the fin isolation region, and the seam extends to a level lower than a top surface level of the protruding semiconductor fin. The seam has a top width smaller than about 1 nm. A second dummy gate stack on the protruding semiconductor fin is replaced with a replacement gate stack.

One illustrative integrated circuit (IC) product disclosed herein includes a first conductive source/drain contact structure of a first transistor with an insulating source/drain cap positioned above at least a portion of an upper surface of the first conductive source/drain contact structure and a gate-to-source/drain (GSD) contact structure that is conductively coupled to the first conductive source/drain contact structure and a first gate structure of a second transistor. In this example, the product also includes a gate contact structure that is conductively coupled to a second gate structure of a third transistor, wherein an upper surface of each of the GSD contact structure and the gate contact structure is positioned at a first level that is at a level that is above a level of an upper surface of the insulating source/drain cap.