The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a stack of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, etching the stack to form a source/drain (S/D) recess in exposing the substrate, and forming an S/D formation assistance region in the S/D recess. The S/D formation assistance region is partially embedded in the substrate and includes a semiconductor seed layer embedded in an isolation layer. The isolation layer electrically isolates the semiconductor seed layer from the substrate. The method also includes epitaxially growing an S/D feature in the S/D recess from the semiconductor seed layer. The S/D feature is in physical contact with the second semiconductor layers.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, first active fins that extend in a first direction in the first region, second active fins that extend in the first direction in the second region, a first field insulating layer between the first active fins and that extend in a second direction, a second field insulating layer between the second active fins and extending in the second direction, a gate line that extends in the second direction on the second field insulating layer, the gate line linearly along with the first field insulating layer, a gate isolation layer between the first field insulating layer and the gate line, and gate spacers that extend in the second direction, the gate spacers in contact with both sidewalls of each of the first field insulating layer, the gate line, and the gate isolation layer.

Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a removed substrate, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a removed substrate, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A gate stack surrounds a channel region of the vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A pair of non-discrete epitaxial source or drain structures is at first and second ends of the vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A pair of dielectric spacers is between the pair of non-discrete epitaxial source or drain structures and the gate stack. The pair of dielectric spacers and the gate stack have co-planar top surfaces. The pair of dielectric spacers, the gate stack and the pair of non-discrete epitaxial source or drain structures have co-planar bottom surfaces.

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 a first silicon fin having a longest dimension along a first direction. A second silicon fin having a longest dimension is along the first direction. An insulator material is between the first silicon fin and the second silicon fin. A gate line is over the first silicon fin and over the second silicon fin along a second direction, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the gate line having a first side and a second side, wherein the gate line has a discontinuity over the insulator material, the discontinuity filled by a dielectric plug.

The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of gate structures, a plurality of isolation fins, and at least one bit line. The gate structures are disposed in the substrate, with each of the gate structures being parallel with each other and extending along a first direction. The isolation fins are disposed on the substrate, with each of the isolation fins being parallel with each other and extending along the first direction, over each of the gate structures respectively. The at least one bit line is disposed on the substrate to extend along a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The at least one bit line comprises a plurality of pins extending toward the substrate, and each of the pins is alternately arranged with each of the isolation fins along the second direction.

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 a fin. An isolation structure surrounds a lower fin portion, the isolation structure comprising an insulating material having a top surface, and a semiconductor material on a portion of the top surface of the insulating material, wherein the semiconductor material is separated from the fin. A gate dielectric layer is over the top of an upper fin portion and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the upper fin portion, the gate dielectric layer further on the semiconductor material on the portion of the top surface of the insulating material. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric layer.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor layers vertically separated from one another. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure that comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion wraps around each of the plurality of semiconductor layers. The semiconductor device includes a gate spacer that extends along a sidewall of the upper portion of the gate structure and has a bottom surface. A portion of the bottom surface of the gate spacer and a top surface of a topmost one of the plurality of semiconductor layers form an angle that is less than 90 degrees.

The present disclosure describes forming a semiconductor structure having an isolation layer surrounding a portion of a gate structure. The semiconductor structure includes a channel structure on a substrate, a first isolation layer on the substrate and surrounding the channel structure, and a gate structure on the channel structure and the first isolation layer. The gate structure includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width less than the first width. The semiconductor structure further includes a second isolation layer on the first isolation layer and surrounding the first portion of the gate structure.

A method of etching for a semiconductor structure having a substrate, and a first structure located on part of a top surface of the substrate, where two side surfaces of the first structure are configured as sidewalls, can include: forming an insulation layer to cover the substrate, the first structure, and the sidewalls; performing a dry etching process to etch a first portion of the insulation layer; and performing a wet etching process to etch a remaining portion of the insulation layer, in order to expose the top surface of the substrate, where a thickness of the first portion of the insulation layer etched by the dry etching process is greater than a thickness of the remaining portion of insulation layer etched by the wet etching process, in order to decrease formation of cavity in the substrate and/or sidewalls.

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.