After semiconductor material portions and gate structures are formed on a substrate, a dielectric material layer is deposited on the semiconductor material portions and the gate structures. An anisotropic etch is performed on the dielectric material layer to form gate spacers, while a mask layer protects peripheral portions of the semiconductor material portions and the gate structures to avoid unwanted physical exposure of semiconductor surfaces. A selective epitaxy can be performed to form raised active regions on the semiconductor material portions. Formation of semiconductor growth defects during the selective epitaxy is prevented by the dielectric material layer. Alternately, a selective semiconductor deposition process can be performed after formation of dielectric gate spacers on gate structures overlying semiconductor material portions. Semiconductor growth defects can be removed by an etch while a mask layer protects raised active regions on the semiconductor material portions.

In a method of manufacturing an SRAM device, an insulating layer is formed over a substrate. First dummy patterns are formed over the insulating layer. Sidewall spacer layers, as second dummy patterns, are formed on sidewalls of the first dummy patterns. The first dummy patterns are removed, thereby leaving the second dummy patterns over the insulating layer. After removing the first dummy patterns, the second dummy patterns are divided. A mask layer is formed over the insulating layer and between the divided second dummy patterns. After forming the mask layer, the divided second dummy patterns are removed, thereby forming a hard mask layer having openings that correspond to the patterned second dummy patterns. The insulating layer is formed by using the hard mask layer as an etching mask, thereby forming via openings in the insulating layer. A conductive material is filled in the via openings, thereby forming contact bars.

A device includes a substrate and insulation regions over a portion of the substrate. A first semiconductor region is between the insulation regions and having a first conduction band. A second semiconductor region is over and adjoining the first semiconductor region, wherein the second semiconductor region includes an upper portion higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions to form a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor fin has a tensile strain and has a second conduction band lower than the first conduction band. A third semiconductor region is over and adjoining a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, wherein the third semiconductor region has a third conduction band higher than the second conduction band.

A semiconductor device including a first fin active area substantially parallel to a second fin active area, a first source/drain in the first fin active area, a second source/drain in the second fin active area, a first contact plug on the first source/drain, and a second contact plug on the second source/drain. The center of the second contact plug is offset from the center of the second source/drain.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming one or more fins extending in a first direction over a substrate. The one or more fins include a first region along the first direction and second regions on both sides of the first region along the first direction. A dopant is implanted in the first region of the fins but not in the second regions. A gate structure overlies the first region of the fins and source/drains are formed on the second regions of the fins.

A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a trench adjacent to a gate structure to expose a contact surface of one of a source region and a drain region. A sacrificial spacer may be formed on a sidewall of the trench and on a sidewall of the gate structure. A metal contact may then be formed in the trench to at least one of the source region and the drain region. The metal contact has a base width that is less than an upper surface width of the metal contact. The sacrificial spacer may be removed, and a substantially conformal dielectric material layer can be formed on sidewalls of the metal contact and the gate structure. Portions of the conformally dielectric material layer contact one another at a pinch off region to form an air gap between the metal contact and the gate structure.

A method of forming a fin field effect transistor (finFET), including forming a temporary gate structure having a sacrificial gate layer and a dummy gate layer on the sacrificial gate layer, forming a gate spacer layer on each sidewall of the temporary gate structure, forming a source/drain spacer layer on the outward-facing sidewall of each gate spacer layer, removing the dummy gate layer to expose the sacrificial gate layer, removing the sacrificial gate layer to form a plurality of recessed cavities, and forming a gate structure, where the gate structure occupies at least a portion of the plurality of recessed cavities.

A method for producing a semiconductor device includes forming a first fin-shaped semiconductor layer and a second fin-shaped semiconductor layer on a substrate using a sidewall formed around a dummy pattern on the substrate. A first insulating film is formed around the first fin-shaped semiconductor layer and the second fin-shaped semiconductor layer. A first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer is formed in an upper portion of the first fin-shaped semiconductor layer, and a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer is formed in an upper portion of the second fin-shaped semiconductor layer.

A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a recessed fin in a substrate, the recessed fin being substantially flush with a surface of the substrate; performing an epitaxial growth process over the recessed fin to form a source/drain over the recessed fin; and disposing a conductive metal around the source/drain.

A method for integrating a vertical transistor and a three-dimensional channel transistor includes forming narrow fins and wide fins in a substrate; forming a first source/drain (S/D) region at a base of the narrow fin and forming a gate dielectric layer and a gate conductor layer over the narrow fin and the wide fin. The gate conductor layer and the gate dielectric layer are patterned to form a vertical gate structure and a three-dimensional (3D) gate structure. Gate spacers are formed over sidewalls of the gate structures. A planarizing layer is deposited over the vertical gate structure and the 3D gate structure. A top portion of the narrow fin is exposed. S/D regions are formed on opposite sides of the 3D gate structure to form a 3D transistor, and a second S/D region is formed on the top portion of the narrow fin to form a vertical transistor.