Examples of the present technology include semiconductor processing methods to form boron-containing materials on substrates. Exemplary processing methods may include delivering a deposition precursor that includes a boron-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A plasma may be formed from the deposition precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may further include depositing a boron-containing material on a substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber, where the substrate is characterized by a temperature of less than or about 50° C. The as-deposited boron-containing material may be characterized by a surface roughness of less than or about 2 nm, and a stress level of less-than or about −500 MPa. In some embodiments, a layer of the boron-containing material may function as a hardmask.

In one aspect, a method of fabricating a transistor includes depositing a first epitaxial layer, depositing a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, implanting the second epitaxial layer to form a p-field termination region, depositing a third epitaxial layer on the p-field termination layer and forming trenches in the third epitaxial layer. The trenches include a trench gate of the transistor and a termination trench.

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided in which a passivation layer is patterned. In embodiments, by-products from the patterning process are removed using the same etching chamber and at the same time as the removal of a photoresist utilized in the patterning process. Such processes may be used during the manufacturing of FinFET devices.

Examples of the present technology include semiconductor processing methods to form boron-containing materials on substrates. Exemplary processing methods may include delivering a deposition precursor that includes a boron-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A plasma may be formed from the deposition precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may further include depositing a boron-containing material on a substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber, where the substrate is characterized by a temperature of less than or about 50° C. The as-deposited boron-containing material may be characterized by a surface roughness of less than or about 2 nm, and a stress level of less-than or about −500 MPa. In some embodiments, a layer of the boron-containing material may function as a hardmask.

A semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device having stable electrical characteristics is provided. A highly reliable semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a first insulating layer, and a first conductive layer. The semiconductor layer includes an island-shaped top surface. The first insulating layer is provided in contact with a top surface and a side surface of the semiconductor layer. The first conductive layer is positioned over the first insulating layer and includes a portion overlapping with the semiconductor layer. In addition, the semiconductor layer includes a metal oxide, and the first insulating layer includes an oxide. The semiconductor layer includes a first region overlapping with the first conductive layer and a second region not overlapping with the first conductive layer. The first insulating layer includes a third region overlapping with the first conductive layer and a fourth region not overlapping with the first conductive layer. Furthermore, the second region and the fourth region contain phosphorus or boron.

A method and structure for forming a barrier-free interconnect layer includes patterning a metal layer disposed over a substrate to form a patterned metal layer including one or more trenches. In some embodiments, the method further includes selectively depositing a barrier layer on metal surfaces of the patterned metal layer within the one or more trenches. In some examples, and after selectively depositing the barrier layer, a dielectric layer is deposited within the one or more trenches. Thereafter, the selectively deposited barrier layer may be removed to form air gaps between the patterned metal layer and the dielectric layer.

A semiconductor device includes etch stop films formed on the first gate electrode, the first source region, the first drain region, and the shallow trench isolation regions, respectively. First interlayer insulating films are formed on the etch stop film, respectively. Deep trenches are formed in the substrate between adjacent ones of the first interlayer insulating films to overlap the shallow trench isolation regions. Sidewall insulating films are formed in the deep trenches, respectively. A gap-fill insulating film is formed on the sidewall insulating film. A second interlayer insulating film is formed on the gap-fill insulating film. A top surface of the second interlayer insulating film is substantially planar and a bottom surface of the second interlayer insulating film is undulating.

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged along a common semiconductor layer. Each of the plurality of memory cell transistors comprises a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region formed in the common semiconductor layer; a gate stack formed on a portion of the common semiconductor layer between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region; and an electrical floating portion in the portion of the common semiconductor layer, a charge state of the electrical floating portion being adapted to adjust a threshold voltage and a channel conductance of the memory cell transistor. The plurality of memory cell transistors connected in series with each other along the common semiconductor layer provide a memory string.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an oxide film removing step where an oxide film formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is partially removed, the oxide film removing step includes: a first step where a resist glass layer is selectively formed on an upper surface of the oxide film without using an exposure step; a second step where the resist glass layer is densified by baking the resist glass layer; and a third step where the oxide film is partially removed using the resist glass layer as a mask, wherein the resist glass layer is made of resist glass which contains at least SiO.sub.2, B.sub.2O.sub.3, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least two oxides of alkaline earth metals selected from a group consisting of CaO, MgO and BaO, and substantially contains none of Pb, As, Sb, Li, Na, K, and Zn.

A method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate, etching the semiconductor fin to form a recess, wherein the recess extends into the substrate, and forming a source/drain region in the recess, wherein forming the source/drain region includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material on sidewalls of the recess, wherein the first semiconductor material includes silicon germanium, wherein the first semiconductor material has a first germanium concentration from 10 to 40 atomic percent, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the second semiconductor material has a second germanium concentration that is greater than the first germanium concentration, and epitaxially growing a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material, the third semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the third semiconductor material has a third germanium concentration that is smaller than the second germanium concentration.