Techniques related to III-N transistors having self aligned gates, systems incorporating such transistors, and methods for forming them are discussed. Such transistors include a polarization layer between a raised source and a raised drain, a gate between the source and drain and over the polarization layer, and lateral epitaxial overgrowths over the source and drain and having and opening therebetween such that at least a portion of the gate adjacent to the polarization layer is aligned with the opening.

A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor substrate and forming spacer elements over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method also includes removing the dummy gate stack to form a recess between the spacer elements and partially removing the spacer elements such that an upper portion of the recess becomes wider. The method further includes forming a metal gate stack in the recess and forming a protection element in the recess to cover the metal gate stack.

An integrated circuit product includes two laterally spaced-apart transistors, wherein each of the two laterally spaced-apart transistors includes a gate structure, a gate cap layer positioned above the gate structure, and a sidewall spacer positioned adjacent to sidewalls of the gate structure. A source/drain region is positioned between the two laterally spaced-apart transistors, and a conformal etch stop layer is positioned on and in contact with an upper surface of the source/drain region and on and in contact with a sidewall surface of the sidewall spacer of each of the two laterally spaced-apart transistors. A self-aligned conductive contact extends through an opening in the conformal etch stop layer and is conductively coupled to the source/drain region.

A method to form a semiconductor structure with an active region and a compatible dielectric layer is described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure has a dielectric layer comprised of an oxide of a first semiconductor material, wherein a second (and compositionally different) semiconductor material is formed between the dielectric layer and the first semiconductor material. In another embodiment, a portion of the second semiconductor material is replaced with a third semiconductor material in order to impart uniaxial strain to the lattice structure of the second semiconductor material.

Metal quantum dots are incorporated into doped source and drain regions of a MOSFET array to assist in controlling transistor performance by altering the energy gap of the semiconductor crystal. In a first example, the quantum dots are incorporated into ion-doped source and drain regions. In a second example, the quantum dots are incorporated into epitaxially doped source and drain regions.

Semiconductor devices, having dual silicides, include a first fin, having N-type impurities, and a second fin, having P-type impurities, on a substrate. A first gate electrode and a first source/drain area are on the first fin. A second gate electrode and a second source/drain area are on the second fin. An etch stop layer is on the first source/drain area and the second source/drain area. An insulating layer is on the etch stop layer. A first plug connected to the first source/drain area and a second plug connected to the second source/drain area are formed through the insulating layer and the etch stop layer. A first metal silicide layer is in the first source/drain area. A second metal silicide layer having a material different from the first metal silicide layer and having a thickness smaller than the first metal silicide layer is in the second source/drain area.

A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure, a second gate structure, a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure. The first gate structure includes a first gate electrode and a first cap insulating layer disposed on the first gate electrode. The second gate structure includes a second gate electrode and a first conductive contact layer disposed on the first gate electrode. The first source/drain structure includes a first source/drain conductive layer and a second cap insulating layer disposed over the first source/drain conductive layer. The second source/drain structure includes a second source/drain conductive layer and a second conductive contact layer disposed over the second source/drain conductive layer.

A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region on a substrate; disposing a gate stack on the substrate and adjacent to the source/drain region, the gate stack including a gate spacer along a sidewall of the gate stack; disposing an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer on the source/drain region and the gate stack; removing a portion of the ILD layer on the source/drain region to form a source/drain contact pattern; filling the source/drain contact pattern with a layer of silicon material, the layer of silicon material being in contact with the source/drain region and in contact with the gate spacer; depositing a metallic layer over the first layer of silicon material; and performing a silicidation process to form a source/drain contact including a silicide.

A semiconductor device and method of forming the same is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, two fins over the substrate and protruding out of the isolation structure, and an epitaxial feature over the two fins. The epitaxial feature includes two lower portions and one upper portion. The two lower portions are over the two fins respectively. The upper portion is over the two lower portions and connects the two lower portions. The upper portion has a different dopant concentration than the two lower portions. A top surface of the upper portion is substantially flat.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising a trench; a gate dielectric layer formed over a surface of the trench; a gate electrode positioned at a level lower than a top surface of the substrate, and comprising a lower buried portion embedded in a lower portion of the trench over the gate dielectric layer and an upper buried portion positioned over the lower buried portion; and a dielectric work function adjusting liner positioned between the lower buried portion and the gate dielectric layer; and a dipole formed between the dielectric work function adjusting liner and the gate dielectric layer.