The present disclosure describes a method that mitigates the formation of facets in source/drain silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layers. The method includes forming an isolation region around a semiconductor layer and a gate structure partially over the semiconductor layer and the isolation region. Disposing first photoresist structures over the gate structure, a portion of the isolation region, and a portion of the semiconductor layer and doping, with germanium (Ge), exposed portions of the semiconductor layer and exposed portions of the isolation region to form Ge-doped regions that extend from the semiconductor layer to the isolation region. The method further includes disposing second photoresist structures over the isolation region and etching exposed Ge-doped regions in the semiconductor layer to form openings, where the openings include at least one common sidewall with the Ge-doped regions in the isolation region. Finally the method includes growing a SiGe epitaxial stack in the openings.

A method for manufacturing raised strip-shaped active areas is disclosed, including: step 1: performing etching on a semiconductor substrate to form patterning raised strip-shaped structures and shallow trenches; step 2: forming a second dielectric layer which fills the shallow trenches and extends to a surface of the first hard mask layer on top surfaces of the raised strip-shaped structures; step 3: performing the first CMP on second dielectric layer, the first CMP stops at a surface of a first hard mask layer; step 4: performing planarization adjustment on a top surface of the second dielectric layer through second wet etching to reduce a height difference of the top surface of the second dielectric layer in different areas; step 5: removing the first hard mask layer; and step 6: performing third dry etching to reduce the top surface of the second dielectric layer to below the top surface of each raised strip-shaped structure.

A semiconductor device includes: a channel having layers of silicon separated from each other; a metal gate in contact with the layers of silicon; source/drain regions adjacent to the metal gate; a frontside power rail extending through the layers of silicon; a dielectric separating the frontside power rail from the metal gate; a via-connect buried power rail extending through the dielectric and coupling the frontside power rail to the source/drain regions; and a backside power rail coupled to the frontside power rail. The layers of silicon are wrapped on three sides by the metal gate.

A method includes: providing a passivation layer with an embedded MIM capacitor; forming a redistribution layer (RDL) above the passivation layer; and forming an opening in the RDL above the MIM capacitor, wherein the opening separates the RDL into first and second RDL structures, wherein each of the first and second RDL structures has a convex-shaped profile on a sidewall that defines the opening that separates the first RDL structure from the second RDL structure, and wherein the convex-shaped profile on the sidewalls resists stress migration from the RDL to the MIM capacitor to resist stress migration induced cracks forming in the MIM capacitor. The forming an opening includes: removing a portion of the RDL to a first depth using first etching operations; and removing a portion of the RDL to a second depth by laterally etching sidewalls of the first and second RDL structures.

A device includes a semiconductor fin, a gate structure, gate spacers, and a dielectric feature. The semiconductor fin is over a substrate. The gate structure is over the semiconductor fin and includes a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin and a gate metal covering the gate dielectric layer. The gate spacers are on opposite sides of the gate structure. The dielectric feature is over the substrate. The dielectric feature is in contact with the gate metal, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate spacers, and an interface between the gate metal and the dielectric feature is substantially aligned with an interface between the dielectric feature and one of the gate spacers.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to single diffusion cut for gate structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes a single diffusion break extending into a substrate between diffusion regions of adjacent gate structures, the single diffusion break filled with an insulator material and further comprising an undercut region lined with a liner material which is between the insulator material and the diffusion regions.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an electronic element and laterally separated trench isolation structures. The semiconductor layer includes an element region having an inner region, an outer region on opposite sides of the inner region, and a transition region that laterally separates the inner region and the outer region. The electronic element includes a first doped region formed in the inner region and a second doped region formed in the outer region. The trench isolation structures are formed at least in the transition region. Each trench isolation structure extends from a first surface of the semiconductor layer into the semiconductor layer.

Transistors with improved saturation drain current and methods for making such transistors are disclosed. The gate is formed in the shape of a longitudinal trench and a plurality of lateral trenches below the longitudinal trench. The resulting dual-recess structure increases the surface area of the gate, which permits additional charge carriers and increases the saturation drain current of the transistor. Such transistors can be useful in high voltage and medium voltage applications such as in display driver integrated circuits.

Methods for forming a CPODE structure with reduced leakage current are disclosed herein. The CPODE structure is formed by etching away a pair of fins and forming a pair of trenches in the substrate where the pair of fins was originally located. A leakage path may be present in the area between the pair of fins. The etching is performed by cycling continuously plasma etch until the trenches are formed. The plasma etch removes any byproducts that may be formed during the fin etch which could reduce or stop the etching of the fins, the area between the pair of fins, and the substrate.

A method for forming an isolation structure includes following operations. A trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating layer covering a bottom and sidewalls of the trench is formed. A charge-trapping layer is formed on the first insulating layer. The trench is filled with a second insulating layer. The charge-trapping layer include a material different from those of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer.