The present disclosure describes an exemplary replacement gate process that forms spacer layers in a gate stack to mitigate time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failures. For example, the method can include a partially fabricated gate structure with a first recess. A spacer layer is deposited into the first recess and etched with an anisotropic etchback (EB) process to form a second recess that has a smaller aperture than the first recess. A metal fill layer is deposited into the second recess.

A FinFET device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate and forming a dummy gate electrode over a middle portion of the fin structure. The method also includes forming a spacer layer on the dummy gate electrode and on the fin structure and performing a plasma doping process on the dummy gate electrode and on the spacer layer. The method further includes performing an annealing process, wherein the annealing process is performed by using a gas comprising oxygen, such that a doped region is formed in a portion of the fin structure, and the spacer layer is doped with oxygen after the annealing process.

Semiconductor devices include a first dielectric layer formed over a source and drain region. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has an internal structure that is the result of a thermal oxidation process and has a higher quality than an internal structure of the first dielectric layer. A gate stack is positioned through the first and second dielectric layers.

A tunable breakdown voltage RF MESFET and/or MOSFET and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a first line and a second line on an underlying gate dielectric material. The second line has a width tuned to a breakdown voltage. The method further includes forming sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the first and second line such that the space between first and second line is pinched-off by the dielectric spacers. The method further includes forming source and drain regions adjacent outer edges of the first line and the second line, and removing at least the second line to form an opening between the sidewall spacers of the second line and to expose the underlying gate dielectric material. The method further includes depositing a layer of material on the underlying gate dielectric material within the opening, and forming contacts to a gate structure and the source and drain regions.

Semiconductor devices include a first dielectric layer formed over a source and drain region. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having a flat, non-recessed top surface. A gate stack passes vertically through the first and second dielectric layers to contact the source and drain regions and an underlying substrate.

The present disclosure describes an exemplary replacement gate process that forms spacer layers in a gate stack to mitigate time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failures. For example, the method can include a partially fabricated gate structure with a first recess. A spacer layer is deposited into the first recess and etched with an anisotropic etchback (EB) process to form a second recess that has a smaller aperture than the first recess. A metal fill layer is deposited into the second recess.

A method of forming an integrated circuit with a metal-insulator-poly (MIP) capacitor formed in a high-k metal gate (HKMG) process and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include a device including a metal gate; a high-k dielectric layer formed around side walls of the metal gate, and a dummy polysilicon gate adjacent to at least one portion of the high-k dielectric layer. The device also includes a capacitor including the HK layer as an insulator, wherein the insulator is between a dummy as one electrode and the metal gate as another electrode.

A tunable breakdown voltage RF MESFET and/or MOSFET and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a first line and a second line on an underlying gate dielectric material. The second line has a width tuned to a breakdown voltage. The method further includes forming sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the first and second line such that the space between first and second line is pinched-off by the dielectric spacers. The method further includes forming source and drain regions adjacent outer edges of the first line and the second line, and removing at least the second line to form an opening between the sidewall spacers of the second line and to expose the underlying gate dielectric material. The method further includes depositing a layer of material on the underlying gate dielectric material within the opening, and forming contacts to a gate structure and the source and drain regions.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices include forming a lower dielectric layer, to a height below a height of a dummy gate hardmask disposed across multiple device regions, by forming a dielectric fill to the height of a dummy gate and etching the dielectric fill back. A dummy gate structure includes the dummy gate and the dummy gate hardmask. A protective layer is formed on the dielectric layer to the height of the dummy gate hardmask. The dummy gate hardmask is etched back to expose the dummy gate.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices include forming a lower dielectric layer to a height below a height of a dummy gate hardmask disposed across multiple device regions. The dummy gate structure includes a dummy gate and a dummy gate hardmask. A protective layer is formed on the dielectric layer to the height of the dummy gate hardmask. The dummy gate hardmask is etched back to expose the dummy gate.