A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a nucleation layer, a buffer layer, first and second nitride-based semiconductor layers, a pair of S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode. The nucleation layer includes a compound which includes a first element. The buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first element. The buffer layer is disposed on and forms an interface with the nucleation layer. The buffer layer has a concentration of the first element cyclically oscillating with respect to first and second reference points within a buffer layer. The first and second reference points are respectively positioned at first and second distances from a top surface of the nucleation layer. The first nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the buffer layer. The second nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the first nitride-based semiconductor layer. The S/D electrodes and a gate electrode are disposed over the second nitride-based semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor device includes a nucleation layer, a buffer layer, a first nitride-based semiconductor layer, a second nitride-based semiconductor layer, S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode. The nucleation layer includes a composition that includes a first element. The buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first element. The buffer layer is disposed on and forms an interface with the nucleation layer. The buffer layer has a concentration of the first element oscillating within the buffer layer, such that the concentration of the first element varies as an oscillating function of a distance within a thickness of the buffer layer. An oscillation rate in the concentration of the first element per unit thickness of the buffer layer varies with respect to a first reference point within the buffer layer. The first and second nitride-based semiconductor layer, S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode are disposed on the buffer layer.

A semiconductor device includes a nucleation layer, a buffer layer, a first nitride-based semiconductor layer, a second nitride-based semiconductor layer, S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode. The nucleation layer includes a composition that includes a first element. The buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first element. The buffer layer has a concentration of the first element oscillating within the buffer layer, such that the concentration of the first element varies as an oscillating function of a distance within a thickness of the buffer layer. A first oscillation rate between a first reference point and a second reference point within the buffer layer is greater than a second oscillation rate between the second reference point and a third reference point within the buffer layer. The first and second nitride-based semiconductor layer, S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode are disposed on the buffer layer.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a nucleation layer, a buffer layer, first and second nitride-based semiconductor layers, a pair of S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode. The nucleation layer includes a compound which includes a first group III element and is devoid of a second group III element. The buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first and second group III elements. The buffer layer has an element ratio of the first group III element to the second group III element that decrementally decreases and then incrementally increases as a function of a distance within a thickness of the buffer layer. The first nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the buffer layer. The second nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the first nitride-based semiconductor layer. The S/D electrodes and a gate electrode are disposed over the second nitride-based semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a nucleation layer, a buffer layer, first and second nitride-based semiconductor layers, a pair of S/D electrodes, and a gate electrode. The nucleation layer includes a compound which includes a first group III element and is devoid of a second group III element. The buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first and second group III elements. The buffer layer has a variable concentration of the second group III element that incrementally increases and then decrementally decreases as a function of a distance within a thickness of the buffer layer. The first nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the buffer layer. The second nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the first nitride-based semiconductor layer. The S/D electrodes and a gate electrode are disposed over the second nitride-based semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor device includes a nucleation layer, a first buffer layer, a first nitride-based semiconductor layer, and a second buffer layer. The nucleation layer includes a compound which includes a first element. The first buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes the first element. A concentration of the first element varies with respect to a first reference point within the first buffer layer. The first nitride-based semiconductor layer is disposed on the first buffer layer. The second buffer layer includes a III-V compound which includes a second element different than the first element. The second buffer layer is disposed on and forms an interface with the first nitride-based semiconductor layer. A concentration of the second element varies to cyclically oscillate as a function of a distance within a thickness of the second buffer layer, which occurs with respect to a second reference point within the second buffer layer.

A multilayer semiconductor structure of the present disclosure includes a substrate a buffer layer disposed on the substrate and a semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer. A void is provided between the buffer layer and the semiconductor layer.

Methods and semiconductor structures are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming, over a substrate, a fin-shaped structure that includes a plurality of channel layers interleaved by a plurality of sacrificial layers, recessing a source/drain region of the fin-shaped structure to form a source/drain recess that extends into the substrate and exposes a portion of the substrate, selectively and partially recessing sidewalls of the plurality of sacrificial layers to form inner spacer recesses, forming inner spacers in the inner spacer recesses, selectively forming a buffer semiconductor layer on the exposed portion of the substrate, selectively depositing a first epitaxial layer on sidewalls of the plurality of channel layer and the buffer semiconductor layer such that a top surface of the buffer semiconductor layer is completely covered by the first epitaxial layer, and depositing a second epitaxial layer over the first epitaxial layer and the inner spacers.

A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate for use in RF applications, such as a silicon-on-insulator substrate, comprises a semiconductor top layer, a buried oxide layer and a passivation layer over a support substrate. In addition, a penetration layer is provided between the passivation layer and the silicon support substrate to ensure sufficient high resistivity below RF features and avoid increased migration of dislocations in the support substrate. RF devices may be fabricated on and/or in such a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate.

A method of performing heteroepitaxy comprises exposing a substrate to a carrier gas, a first precursor gas, a Group II/III element, and a second precursor gas, to form a heteroepitaxial growth of one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN on the substrate; wherein the substrate comprises one of GaAs, AlAs, InAs, GaP, InP, ZnSe, GaSe, CdSe, InSe, ZnTe, CdTe, GaTe, HgTe, GaSb, InSb, AlSb, CdS, GaN, and AlN; wherein the carrier gas is H.sub.2, wherein the first precursor is HCl, the Group II/III element comprises at least one of Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, and In; and wherein the second precursor is one of AsH.sub.3 (arsine), PH.sub.3 (phosphine), H.sub.2Se (hydrogen selenide), H.sub.2Te (hydrogen telluride), SbH.sub.3 (hydrogen antimonide), H.sub.2S (hydrogen sulfide), and NH.sub.3 (ammonia). The process may be an HVPE (hydride vapor phase epitaxy) process.