Generally, the present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to formation of a gate structure of a device, such as in a replacement gate process, and the device formed thereby. In an example method, a gate dielectric layer is formed over an active area on a substrate. A dummy layer that contains a passivating species (such as fluorine) is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A thermal process is performed to drive the passivating species from the dummy layer into the gate dielectric layer. The dummy layer is removed. A metal gate electrode is formed over the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes the passivating species before the metal gate electrode is formed.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises a source region and a drain region in a substrate and laterally spaced. A gate stack is over the substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The drain region includes two or more first doped regions having a first doping type in the substrate. The drain region further includes one or more second doped regions in the substrate. The first doped regions have a greater concentration of first doping type dopants than the second doped regions, and each of the second doped regions is disposed laterally between two neighboring first doped regions.

A method used in forming an electronic component comprising conductive material and ferroelectric material comprises forming a non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material over a substrate. A composite stack comprising at least two different composition non-ferroelectric metal oxides is formed over the substrate. The composite stack has an overall conductivity of at least 1×10.sup.2 Siemens/cm. The composite stack is used to render the non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material to be ferroelectric. Conductive material is formed over the composite stack and the insulator material. Ferroelectric capacitors and ferroelectric field effect transistors independent of method of manufacture are also disclosed.

A method for fabricating a MOS transistor includes: forming a gate dielectric material layer over a substrate; forming a lower gate electrode material layer over the gate dielectric material layer; performing a first ion bombardment process of bombarding the lower gate electrode material layer with first ions; forming an intermediate gate electrode material layer including an amorphous silicon layer over the lower gate electrode material layer; forming an upper gate electrode material layer over the intermediate gate electrode material layer; performing a second ion bombardment process for bombarding the upper gate electrode material layer with second ions; and forming silicide layers in the lower gate electrode material layer and the upper gate electrode material layer to form a lower gate electrode layer and an upper gate electrode layer.

An integrated circuit having a transistor architecture includes a first semiconductor body and a second semiconductor body. The first and second semiconductor bodies are arranged vertically (e.g., stacked configuration) or horizontally (e.g., forksheet configuration) with respect to each other, and separated from one another by insulator material, and each can be configured for planar or non-planar transistor topology. A first gate structure is on the first semiconductor body, and includes a first gate electrode and a first high-k gate dielectric. A second gate structure is on the second semiconductor body, and includes a second gate electrode and a second high-k gate dielectric. In an example, the first gate electrode includes a layer comprising a compound of silicon and one or more metals; the second gate structure may include a silicide workfunction layer, or not. In one example, the first gate electrode is n-type, and the second gate electrode is p-type.

Techniques and mechanisms for providing functionality of a transistor which comprises a conformal layer of a gate work function silicide. In an embodiment, the transistor comprises a channel region and a gate dielectric which extends and adjoins the channel region. The gate dielectric also adjoins a layer structure of the transistor, the layer structure comprising a silicide. The silicide includes silicon and a component D which comprises a non-metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va. In another embodiment, the silicide further comprises a component M which includes a transition metal element from one of Groups IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIB, or VIIIb and/or which includes a metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va.

A method used in forming an electronic component comprising conductive material and ferroelectric material comprises forming a non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material over a substrate. A composite stack comprising at least two different composition non-ferroelectric metal oxides is formed over the substrate. The composite stack has an overall conductivity of at least 1×10.sup.2 Siemens/cm. The composite stack is used to render the non-ferroelectric metal oxide-comprising insulator material to be ferroelectric. Conductive material is formed over the composite stack and the insulator material. Ferroelectric capacitors and ferroelectric field effect transistors independent of method of manufacture are also disclosed.

A method for producing a transistor includes producing on a substrate provided with a semiconductor surface layer in which an active area can be formed, a gate block arranged on the active area. Lateral protection areas are formed against lateral faces of the gate block. Source and drain regions based on a metal material-semiconductor material compound are formed on either side of the gate and in the continuation of a portion located facing the gate block. Insulating spacers are formed on either side of the gate resting on the regions based on a metal material-semiconductor material compound.

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments a treatment process is utilized to treat a work function layer. The treatment prevents excessive oxidation of the work function layer during subsequent processing steps, such as application of a subsequent photoresist material, thereby allowing the work function layer to be thinner than otherwise.

A method for providing a pre-deposition treatment (e.g., of a work-function layer) to accomplish work function tuning. In various embodiments, a gate dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, and a work-function metal layer is deposited over the gate dielectric layer. In some embodiments, a first in-situ process including a pre-treatment process of the work-function metal layer is performed. By way of example, the pre-treatment process removes an oxidized layer of the work-function metal layer to form a treated work-function metal layer. In some embodiments, after performing the first in-situ process, a second in-situ process including a deposition process of another metal layer over the treated work-function metal layer is performed.