Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a gate insulating material layer on a substrate; forming a gate material layer on the gate insulating material layer; and performing an etching process on the gate material layer and the gate insulating material layer to form a gate layer and a gate insulating layer. The gate insulating layer and the gate layer each include a first end and a second end opposite to each other in a direction parallel to a channel length. The first end of the gate insulating layer is recessed inwards by a preset length relative to the first end of the gate layer, and the second end of the gate insulating layer is recessed inwards by the preset length relative to the second end of the gate layer.

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 conductive interconnect lines in and spaced apart by a first ILD layer, wherein individual ones of the first plurality of conductive interconnect lines comprise a first conductive barrier material along sidewalls and a bottom of a first conductive fill material. A second plurality of conductive interconnect lines is in and spaced apart by a second ILD layer above the first ILD layer, wherein individual ones of the second plurality of conductive interconnect lines comprise a second conductive barrier material along sidewalls and a bottom of a second conductive fill material, wherein the second conductive fill material is different in composition from the first conductive fill material.

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.

Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device comprises a gate electrode on a substrate, an upper capping pattern on the gate electrode, and a lower capping pattern between the gate electrode and the upper capping pattern. The lower capping pattern comprises a first portion between the gate electrode and the upper capping pattern, and a plurality of second portions extending from the first portion onto corresponding side surfaces of the upper capping pattern. The upper capping pattern covers a topmost surface of each of the second portions.

Methods of forming structures including a layer of metal carbon nitride (MCN) and of mitigating metal loss from and/or tuning the layer of metal carbon nitride are disclosed. Systems for forming the layers and mitigating metal loss and structures formed using the methods are also disclosed.

A method for processing an integrated circuit includes forming N-type and P-type gate all around transistors and core gate all around transistors. The method deposits a metal gate layer for the P-type transistors. The method forms a passivation layer in-situ with the metal gate layer of the P-type transistor.

A Laterally Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor with implant alignment spacers includes a gate stack comprising a first nitride layer. The first nitride layer is formed on a silicon layer. The gate stack is separated from a substrate by a first oxide layer. The gate stack includes a polysilicon layer formed from the silicon layer, and a second oxide layer is formed on a sidewall of the polysilicon layer. A drain region of the LDMOS transistor is implanted with a first implant aligned to a first edge formed by the second oxide layer. A second nitride layer conformingly covers the second oxide layer. A nitride etch-stop layer conformingly covers the second nitride layer.

A method for making a semiconductor device includes patterning at least one dielectric layer disposed over a conductive cap layer to form a via opening penetrating through the at least one dielectric layer to expose the conductive cap layer and to form a top portion of the conductive cap layer into a metal oxide layer; converting the metal oxide layer to a metal oxynitride layer by a soft ashing process using a processing gas containing nitrogen gas; removing the metal oxynitride layer from a remaining portion of the conductive cap layer; and forming a via contact in the via opening to electrically connect the remaining portion of the conductive cap layer.

A method includes forming a gate stack, which includes a gate dielectric and a metal gate electrode over the gate dielectric. An inter-layer dielectric is formed on opposite sides of the gate stack. The gate stack and the inter-layer dielectric are planarized. The method further includes forming an inhibitor film on the gate stack, with at least a portion of the inter-layer dielectric exposed, selectively depositing a dielectric hard mask on the inter-layer dielectric, with the inhibitor film preventing the dielectric hard mask from being formed thereon, and etching to remove a portion of the gate stack, with the dielectric hard mask acting as a portion of a corresponding etching mask.

Techniques related to forming selective gate spacers for semiconductor devices and transistor structures and devices formed using such techniques are discussed. Such techniques include forming a blocking material on a semiconductor fin, disposing a gate having a different surface chemistry than the blocking material on a portion of the blocking material, forming a selective conformal layer on the gate but not on a portion of the blocking material, and removing exposed portions of the blocking material.