A process is disclosed of forming metal replacement gates for PMOS transistors with oxygen in the metal gates such that the PMOS gates have effective work functions above 4.85. Metal work function layers in the PMOS gates are oxidized at low temperature to increase their effective work functions to the desired PMOS range. Hydrogen may also be incorporated at an interface between the metal gates and underlying gate dielectrics. Materials for the metal work function layers and processes for the low temperature oxidation are disclosed.

A p-type field effect transistor includes a pair of spacers over a substrate top surface. The p-type field effect transistor includes a channel recess cavity in the substrate top surface between the pair of spacers. The p-type field effect transistor includes a gate stack with a bottom portion in the channel recess cavity. The p-type field effect transistor includes a source/drain (S/D) recess cavity including a bottom surface and sidewalls below the substrate top surface, wherein the S/D recess cavity includes a portion extending below the gate stack. The p-type field effect transistor includes a strained material filling the S/D recess cavity. The p-type field effect transistor further includes a source/drain (S/D) extension substantially conformably surrounding the bottom surface and sidewalls of the S/D recess cavity. The S/D extension includes a portion between the gate stack and the S/D recess cavity.

A semiconductor device according to embodiments described herein includes a p-type SiC layer, a gate electrode, and a gate insulating layer between the SiC layer and the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a first region, and a second region. The second layer is between the first layer and the gate electrode and has a higher oxygen density than the first layer. The first region is provided across the first layer and the second layer, includes a first element from F, D, and H, and has a first concentration peak of the first element. The second region is provided in the first layer, includes a second element from Ge, B, Al, Ga, In, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, and lanthanoid, and has a second concentration peak of the second element and a third concentration peak of C.

A semiconductor device is provided that includes a first plurality of fin structures having a first width in a first region of a substrate, and a second plurality of fin structures having a second width in a second region of the substrate, the second width being less than the first width. A first gate structure is formed on the first plurality of fin structures including a first high-k gate dielectric that is in direct contact with a channel region of the first plurality of fin structures and a first gate conductor. A second gate structure is formed on the second plurality of fin structures including a high voltage gate dielectric that is in direct contact with a channel region of the second plurality of fin structures, a second high-k gate dielectric and a second gate conductor.

High-voltage, gallium-nitride HEMTs are described that are capable of withstanding reverse-bias voltages of at least 900 V and, in some cases, in excess of 2000 V with low reverse-bias leakage current. A HEMT may comprise a lateral geometry having a gate, a thin insulating layer formed beneath the gate, a gate-connected field plate, and a source-connected field plate.

A semiconductor device that includes a gate structure on a channel region of a semiconductor device. Source and drain regions may be present on opposing sides of the channel region. The semiconductor device may further include a composite gate sidewall spacer present on a sidewall of the gate structure. The composite gate sidewall spacer may include a first composition portion having an air gap encapsulated therein, and a second composition portion that is entirely solid and present atop the first composition portion.

FinFET devices are formed on the same semiconductor structure wherein at least one finFET device has a gate dielectric structure that is different in thickness relative to a gate dielectric structure of at least one other finFET device. The finFET devices are formed as part of the same fabrication process.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least two gate spacers, and a gate stack. The substrate has at least one semiconductor fin. The gate spacers are disposed on the substrate. At least one of the gate spacers has a sidewall facing to another of the gate spacers. The gate stack is disposed between the gate spacers. The gate stack includes a high- dielectric layer and a gate electrode. The high- dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate and covers at least a portion of the semiconductor fin while leaving the sidewall of said at least one gate spacer uncovered. The gate electrode is disposed on the high- dielectric layer.

A transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. The transistor includes a first insulator over a substrate; first to third oxide insulators over the first insulator; a second insulator over the third oxide insulator; a first conductor over the second insulator; and a third insulator over the first conductor. An energy level of a conduction band minimum of each of the first and second oxide insulators is closer to a vacuum level than that of the oxide semiconductor is. An energy level of a conduction band minimum of the third oxide insulator is closer to the vacuum level than that of the second oxide insulator is. The first insulator contains oxygen. The number of oxygen molecules released from the first insulator measured by thermal desorption spectroscopy is greater than or equal to 1E14 molecules/cm.sup.2 and less than or equal to 1E16 molecules/cm.sup.2.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stacked body, a semiconductor pillar, a charge storage film, and at least one columnar member. The stacked body is provided on the substrate. In the stacked body, a plurality of insulating films and a plurality of electrode films are layered together alternately. The semiconductor pillar is provided in the stacked body and extends in a stacking direction of the stacked body. The charge storage film is provided between the semiconductor pillar and the stacked body. The columnar member is provided in the stacked body and extends in the stacking direction. A lower portion of the columnar member is provided in the substrate.