A semiconductor device includes: a fin that is a portion of a semiconductor substrate, protrudes from a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, has a width in a first direction, and extends in a second direction; a control gate electrode that is arranged on the fin via a first gate insulating film and extends in the first direction; and a memory gate electrode that is arranged on the fin via a second gate insulating film and extends in the first direction. Further, a width of the fin in a region in which the memory gate electrode is arranged via the second gate insulating film having a film thickness larger than the first gate insulating film is smaller than a width of the fin in a region in which the control gate electrode is arranged via the first gate insulating film.

A semiconductor device may include one or more transistor structures that include a plurality of source/drain regions and a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The semiconductor device may further include one or more dielectric layers between a source/drain contact structure and a gate structure of the one or more of the transistor structures. The one or more dielectric layers may be manufactured using on oxidation treatment process to tune the dielectric constant of the one or more dielectric layers. The dielectric constant of the one or more dielectric layers may be tuned to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the source/drain contact structure and the gate structure (which are conductive structures). In particular, the dielectric constant of the one or more spacer dielectric may be tuned using the oxidation treatment process to lower the as-deposited dielectric constant of the one or more dielectric layers.

A method includes forming an epitaxial source/drain region in a substrate; forming a first inter-layer dielectric over the epitaxial source/drain region; forming a gate stack over the substrate and adjacent to the first inter-layer dielectric; forming a gate mask over the gate stack; forming a source/drain plug through the first inter-layer dielectric and electrically connected to the epitaxial source/drain region; depositing a dielectric layer over the gate mask and the first inter-layer dielectric, the dielectric layer having a different etch selectivity than the gate mask; forming a second inter-layer dielectric over the dielectric layer; etching an opening through the second inter-layer dielectric and the dielectric layer, the opening exposing the source/drain plug and the gate mask; and forming a conductive feature in the opening, the conductive feature being electrically connected to the source/drain plug.

A semiconductor device includes a first channel region disposed over a substrate, and a first gate structure disposed over the first channel region. The first gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the channel region, a lower conductive gate layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer, a ferroelectric material layer disposed over the lower conductive gate layer, and an upper conductive gate layer disposed over the ferroelectric material layer. The ferroelectric material layer is in direct contact with the gate dielectric layer and the lower gate conductive layer, and has a U-shape cross section.

A semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a source/drain feature formed over a substrate. A dielectric layer formed over the source/drain feature. A contact trench formed through the dielectric layer to expose the source/drain feature. A titanium nitride (TiN) layer deposited in the contact trench and a cobalt layer deposited over the TiN layer in the contact trench.

An exemplary method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming, in a substrate, an active region protruding vertically from a major surface of the substrate, the active region including a semiconductor source-drain (S/D) region and a first 3-D channel structure, the S/D region physically contacting the first 3-D channel structure, and forming an opening extending into the S/D region, the opening having a depth greater than half of a height of the first 3-D channel structure; and forming a metallic plug in the opening, the metallic plug making electrical contact with the S/D region.

A vertical field-effect transistor. The transistor includes: a drift region having a first conductivity type; a semiconductor fin on or over the drift region; and a source/drain electrode on or over the semiconductor fin, the semiconductor fin having an electrically conductive region that connects the source/drain electrode to the drift region in electrically conductive fashion, and having a limiting structure that is formed laterally next to the electrically conductive region and that extends from the source/drain electrode to the drift region, the limiting structure being set up to limit a conductive channel of the vertical field-effect transistor in the semiconductor fin to the area of the electrically conductive region.

Gates having air gaps therein, and methods of fabrication thereof, are disclosed herein. An exemplary gate includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric. A first air gap is between and/or separates a first sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric, and a second air gap is between and/or separates a second sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric. A dielectric cap may be disposed over the gate electrode, and the dielectric cap may wrap a top of the gate electrode. The dielectric cap may fill a top portion of the first air gap and a top portion of the second air gap. The gate may be disposed between a first epitaxial source/drain and a second epitaxial source/drain, and a width of the gate is about the same as a distance between the first epitaxial source/drain and the second epitaxial source/drain.

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided which help to support contacts while material is removed to form air gaps. In embodiments a contact is formed with an enlarged base to help support overlying portions of the contact. In other embodiments a scaffold material may also be placed prior to the formation of the air gaps in order to provide additional support.

A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain feature in the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric layer over the source/drain feature. The semiconductor structure includes a silicide layer over the source/drain feature. The semiconductor structure includes a barrier layer over the silicide layer. The semiconductor structure includes a seed layer over the barrier layer. The semiconductor structure includes a metal layer between a sidewall of the seed layer and a sidewall of the dielectric layer, a sidewall of each of the silicide layer, the barrier layer, and the metal layer directly contacting the sidewall of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure includes a source/drain contact over the seed layer.