A method includes: forming a barrier layer in a substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer over the substrate; forming a patterned mask layer over the first dielectric layer; patterning the first dielectric layer into a first sublayer of a gate dielectric layer; converting at least part of the patterned mask layer into a second sublayer of the gate dielectric layer; depositing a second dielectric layer adjacent to the first and second sublayers to serve as a third sublayer of the gate dielectric layer; and depositing a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer.

Described herein is a method of using a composition for selectively etching a silicon layer in the presence of a layer including a silicon germanium alloy, the composition including: (a) 4 to 15% by weight of an amine of formula (E1), and (b) water, where X.sup.E1, X.sup.E2, and X.sup.E3 are independently selected from a chemical bond and C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkanediyl; Y.sup.E is selected from N, CR.sup.E1, and P; R.sup.E1 is selected from H and C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a mark. The method includes: providing a substrate including a device region and a peripheral region adjacent to the device region; forming an interconnect layer over the substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer on the interconnect layer; forming a redistribution layer (RDL) over the first dielectric layer in the device region; depositing a second dielectric layer on the RDL in the device region and the first dielectric layer in the device region and the peripheral region; and removing portions of the second dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer and the interconnect structure in the peripheral region to form the mark in the peripheral region.

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 plurality of semiconductor fins having a longest dimension along a first direction. Adjacent individual semiconductor fins of the first plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart from one another by a first amount in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A second plurality of semiconductor fins has a longest dimension along the first direction. Adjacent individual semiconductor fins of the second plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart from one another by the first amount in the second direction, and closest semiconductor fins of the first plurality of semiconductor fins and the second plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart by a second amount in the second direction.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer including a source area, a drain area and a channel area, a first insulating layer, an etching stopper layer located immediately above the channel area and being thinner than the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer provided on the etching stopper layer and being thicker than the first insulating layer, a gate electrode, a third insulating layer which covers the etching stopper layer, the second insulating layer and the gate electrode and covers the first insulating layer immediately above the source area and immediately above the drain area, a source electrode in contact with the source area, and a drain electrode in contact with the drain area.

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 plurality of semiconductor fins having a longest dimension along a first direction. Adjacent individual semiconductor fins of the first plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart from one another by a first amount in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A second plurality of semiconductor fins has a longest dimension along the first direction. Adjacent individual semiconductor fins of the second plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart from one another by the first amount in the second direction, and closest semiconductor fins of the first plurality of semiconductor fins and the second plurality of semiconductor fins are spaced apart by a second amount in the second direction.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a photoresist pattern on an anti-reflective layer on a wafer; forming an oxide layer on the anti-reflective layer and the photoresist pattern, wherein the oxide layer has a protruding portion overlapping the photoresist pattern; forming a polish stop layer along a top surface of the oxide layer; forming a buffer layer on the polish stop layer; polishing the buffer layer such that at least a portion of the buffer layer is removed and the polish stop layer is exposed; and etching the buffer layer, the polish stop layer and the oxide layer such that the photoresist pattern is exposed.

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 insulating structure is directly adjacent sidewalls of the lower fin portion of the fin. A first gate electrode is over the upper fin portion and over a first portion of the insulating structure. A second gate electrode is over the upper fin portion and over a second portion of the insulating structure. A first dielectric spacer is along a sidewall of the first gate electrode. A second dielectric spacer is along a sidewall of the second gate electrode, the second dielectric spacer continuous with the first dielectric spacer over a third portion of the insulating structure between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a fin over a substrate, the fin comprising alternately stacking first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers, removing the first semiconductor layers to form spaces each between the second semiconductor layers, forming a gate dielectric layer wrapping around each of the second semiconductor layers, forming a fluorine-containing layer on the gate dielectric layer, performing an anneal process to drive fluorine atoms from the fluorine-containing layer into the gate dielectric layer, removing the fluorine-containing layer, and forming a metal gate on the gate dielectric layer.

Devices and methods are disclosed, including transistors, semiconductor devices and systems. Example semiconductor devices and methods include interconnect structures with lateral isolation structures around a vertical conductor. Devices and methods are shown where the isolation structures are located with a staircase configuration in a memory device with an array of vertical memory strings.