A semiconductor device includes a gate isolation structure on a shallow trench isolation (STI), a first epitaxial layer on one side of the gate isolation structure, a second epitaxial layer on another side of the gate isolation structure, first fin-shaped structures directly under the first epitaxial layer, and second fin-shaped structures directly under the second epitaxial layer, in which the STI surrounds the first fin-shaped structures and the second fin-shaped structures.

A structure includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, a fin extending from the substrate and adjacent to the isolation structure, two source/drain (S/D) features over the fin, channel layers suspended over the substrate and connecting the S/D features, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the channel layers in the stack, two outer spacers disposed on two opposing sidewalls of the first gate structure that are on outer surfaces of the stack, inner spacers disposed between the S/D features and the channel layers, and a gate-end dielectric feature over the isolation structure and directly contacting an end of the gate structure. The gate-end dielectric feature includes a first material of a dielectric constant that is higher than dielectric constants of materials included in the outer spacers and the inner spacers.

A method of forming a semiconductor transistor device. The method comprises forming a fin-shaped channel structure over a substrate and forming a first source/drain epitaxial structure and a second source/drain epitaxial structure on opposite endings of the fin structure. The method further comprises forming a metal gate structure surrounding the fin structure. The method further comprises flipping and partially removing the substrate to form a back-side capping trench while leaving a lower portion of the substrate along upper sidewalls of the first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure as a protective spacer. The method further comprises forming a back-side dielectric cap in the back-side capping trench.

Contact over active gate (COAG) structures with conductive gate taps are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate structures above a substrate, each of the gate structures including a gate insulating layer thereon. Each of the plurality of gate structures includes a conductive tap structure protruding through the corresponding gate insulating layer. A plurality of conductive trench contact structures is alternating with the plurality of gate structures, each of the conductive trench contact structures including a trench insulating layer thereon. An interlayer dielectric material is above the trench insulating layers and the gate insulating layers. An opening is in the interlayer dielectric material and exposes the conductive tap structure of one of the plurality of gate structures. A conductive structure is in the opening and is in direct contact with the conductive tap structure of one of the plurality of gate structures.

A semiconductor device includes a fin-type pattern extending in a first direction, a device isolation film surrounding the fin-type pattern, while exposing an upper portion of the fin-type pattern, a gate electrode extending on the device isolation film and the fin-type pattern in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a gate isolation film isolating the gate electrode in the second direction, and including a first material and on the device isolation film, an interlayer insulating film filling a side surface of the fin-type pattern and including a second material different from the first material.

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 first and second gate dielectric layers over a fin. First and second gate electrodes are over the first and second gate dielectric layers, respectively, the first and second gate electrodes both having an insulating cap having a top surface. First dielectric spacer are adjacent the first side of the first gate electrode. A trench contact structure is over a semiconductor source or drain region adjacent first and second dielectric spacers, the trench contact structure comprising an insulating cap on a conductive structure, the insulating cap of the trench contact structure having a top surface substantially co-planar with the insulating caps of the first and second gate electrodes.

A semiconductor device may include first channels on a first region of a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate, second channels on a second region of the substrate and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, a first gate structure on the first region of the substrate and covering at least a portion of a surface of each of the first channels, and a second gate structure on the second region of the substrate and covering at least a portion of a surface of each of the second channels. The second channels may be disposed at heights substantially the same as those of corresponding ones of the first channels, and a height of a lowermost one of the second channels may be greater than a height of a lowermost one of the first channels.

Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having depopulated channel structures, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having depopulated channel structures, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires above a substrate, the first vertical arrangement of nanowires having a greater number of active nanowires than the second vertical arrangement of nanowires, and the first and second vertical arrangements of nanowires having co-planar uppermost nanowires. The integrated circuit structure also includes a first vertical arrangement of nanoribbons and a second vertical arrangement of nanoribbons above the substrate, the first vertical arrangement of nanoribbons having a greater number of active nanoribbons than the second vertical arrangement of nanoribbons, and the first and second vertical arrangements of nanoribbons having co-planar uppermost nanoribbons.

A method for smoothing a surface of a semiconductor portion is disclosed. In the method, an intentional oxide layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor portion, a treated layer is formed in the semiconductor portion and inwardly of the intentional oxide layer, and then, the intentional oxide layer and the treated layer are removed to obtain a smoothed surface. The method may also be used for widening a recess in a manufacturing process for a semiconductor structure.

A method for making a semiconductor structure includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate. The method includes forming one or more work function layers over the first and second fins. The method includes forming a nitride-based metal film over the one or more work function layers. The method includes covering the first fin with a patternable layer. The method includes removing a second portion of the nitride-based metal film from the second fin, while leaving a first portion of the nitride-based metal film over the first fin substantially intact.