A method includes forming a first high-k dielectric layer over a first semiconductor region, forming a second high-k dielectric layer over a second semiconductor region, forming a first metal layer comprising a first portion over the first high-k dielectric layer and a second portion over the second high-k dielectric layer, forming an etching mask over the second portion of the first metal layer, and etching the first portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask protects the second portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask is ashed using meta stable plasma. A second metal layer is then formed over the first high-k dielectric layer.

An integrated circuit includes a gate structure in contact with a portion of semiconductor material between a source region and a drain region. The gate structure includes gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The gate dielectric includes at least two hybrid stacks of dielectric material. Each hybrid stack includes a layer of low-κ dielectric and a layer of high-κ dielectric on the layer of low-κ dielectric, where the layer of high-κ dielectric has a thickness at least two times the thickness of the layer of low-κ dielectric. In some cases, the layer of low-κ dielectric has a thickness no greater than 1.5 nm. The layer of high-κ dielectric may be a composite layer that includes two or more layers of compositionally-distinct materials. The gate structure can be used with any number of transistor configurations but is particularly useful with respect to group III-V transistors.

A semiconductor device is provided including a fin active region on a substrate. The fin active region includes a lower region, a middle region, and an upper region. The middle region has lateral surfaces with a slope less steep than the lateral surfaces of the upper region. An isolation region is on a lateral surface of the lower region of the fin active region. A gate electrode structure is provided. A gate dielectric structure having an oxidation oxide layer and a deposition oxide layer, while having a thickness greater than half a width of the upper region of the fin active region is provided. The deposition oxide layer is between the gate electrode structure and the fin active region and the gate electrode structure and the isolation region, and the oxidation oxide layer is between the fin active region and the deposition oxide layer.

Semiconductor devices and methods which utilize a passivation dopant to passivate a gate dielectric layer are provided. The passivation dopant is introduced to the gate dielectric layer through a work function layer using a process such as a soaking method. The passivation dopant is an atom which may help to passivate electrical trapping defects, such as fluorine.

Methods for forming a metal silicate film on a substrate in a reaction chamber by a cyclical deposition process are provided. The methods may include: regulating the temperature of a hydrogen peroxide precursor below a temperature of 70° C. prior to introduction into the reaction chamber, and depositing the metal silicate film on the substrate by performing at least one unit deposition cycle of a cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor device structures including a metal silicate film formed by the methods of the disclosure are also provided.

The present disclosure describes a method for forming gate stack layers with a fluorine concentration up to about 35 at. %. The method includes forming dielectric stack, barrier layer and soaking the dielectric stack and/or barrier layer in a fluorine-based gas. The method further includes depositing one or more work function layers on the high-k dielectric layer, and soaking at least one of the one or more work function layers in the fluorine-based gas. The method also includes optional fluorine drive in annealing process, together with sacrificial blocking layer to avoid fluorine out diffusion and loss into atmosphere.

A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same are described. A first hafnium oxide (HfO.sub.2) layer is formed on a substrate. A titanium (Ti) layer is formed over the first hafnium oxide layer. A second hafnium oxide layer is formed over the titanium layer. The composite device structure is thermally annealed to produce a high-k dielectric structure having a hafnium titanium oxide (Hf.sub.xTi.sub.1-xO.sub.2) layer interposed between the first hafnium oxide layer and the second hafnium oxide layer.

A method of forming a high k gate stack on a surface of a III-V compound semiconductor, such GaAs, is provided. The method includes subjecting a III-V compound semiconductor material to a precleaning process which removes native oxides from a surface of the III-V compound semiconductor material; forming a semiconductor, e.g., amorphous Si, layer in-situ on the cleaned surface of the III-V compound semiconductor material; and forming a dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is greater than silicon dioxide on the semiconducting layer. In some embodiments, the semiconducting layer is partially or completely converted into a layer including at least a surface layer that is comprised of AO.sub.xN.sub.y prior to forming the dielectric material. In accordance with the present invention, A is a semiconducting material, preferably Si, x is 0 to 1, y is 0 to 1 and x and y are both not zero.

Provided is a technology for efficiently obtaining a metal oxide film having good adhesiveness. A method of producing a metal oxide film includes: an application step of applying a solution containing an organic metal complex onto a substrate; an ozone exposure step of exposing the resultant coating film to ozone; and a heating step of heating the coating film.

A method for producing an SGT-including semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating layer on an outer periphery of a Si pillar, forming a gate conductor layer on the gate insulating layer, and forming an oxide layer on the gate conductor layer. Then a hydrogen fluoride ion diffusion layer containing hydrogen fluoride ions is formed so as to make contact with the oxide layer and lie at an intermediate position of the Si pillar. A part of the oxide film in contact with the hydrogen fluoride ion diffusion layer is etched and an opening is thereby formed on the outer periphery of the Si pillar.