An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a stripe of material perpendicular to, and spanning between, semiconductor structures with multiple widths, and the stripe is between transistors with channel regions of differing widths in the semiconductor structures. The material stripes cover transition portions between different widths of the semiconductor structures. The semiconductor structures may be channel structures of different types, including groups of fins or nanoribbons. Channel regions of differing widths may include more or fewer fins or narrower or wider nanoribbons. The channel regions may have alternating conductivity types, n- and p-type.

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 silicon fin having a longest dimension along a first direction. A second silicon fin having a longest dimension is along the first direction. An insulator material is between the first silicon fin and the second silicon fin. A gate line is over the first silicon fin and over the second silicon fin along a second direction, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the gate line having a first side and a second side, wherein the gate line has a discontinuity over the insulator material, the discontinuity filled by a dielectric plug.

A gate insulating film and a gate electrode of non-single crystalline silicon for forming an nMOS transistor are provided on a silicon substrate. Using the gate electrode as a mask, n-type dopants having a relatively large mass number (70 or more) such as As ions or Sb ions are implanted, to form a source/drain region of the nMOS transistor, whereby the gate electrode is amorphized. Subsequently, a silicon oxide film is provided to cover the gate electrode, at a temperature which is less than the one at which recrystallization of the gate electrode occurs. Thereafter, thermal processing is performed at a temperature of about 1000 C., whereby high compressive residual stress is exerted on the gate electrode, and high tensile stress is applied to a channel region under the gate electrode. As a result, carrier mobility of the nMOS transistor is enhanced.

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 isolation structure surrounds a lower fin portion, the isolation structure comprising an insulating material having a top surface, and a semiconductor material on a portion of the top surface of the insulating material, wherein the semiconductor material is separated from the fin. A gate dielectric layer is over the top of an upper fin portion and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the upper fin portion, the gate dielectric layer further on the semiconductor material on the portion of the top surface of the insulating material. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric 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 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.

A semiconductor device includes an active fin extending in a first direction on a substrate, a gate electrode intersecting the active fin and extending in a second direction, source/drain regions disposed on the active fin on both sides of the gate electrode, and a contact plug disposed on the source/drain regions. The contact plug has at least one side extending in the second direction which has a step portion having a step shape.

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 includes a transistor configuration including first and second gate electrodes, each of the first and second gate electrodes having at least a bottom layer and an upper layer including polycrystalline silicon grains, wherein the first gate electrode is a nMOS gate electrode formed in an nMOS region of the transistor configuration, wherein the polycrystalline silicon grains included in the bottom layer of the first gate electrode have a greater particle diameter than the polycrystalline grains included in the upper layer of the second gate electrode.

A gate insulating film and a gate electrode of non-single crystalline silicon for forming an nMOS transistor are provided on a silicon substrate. Using the gate electrode as a mask, n-type dopants having a relatively large mass number (70 or more) such as As ions or Sb ions are implanted, to form a source/drain region of the nMOS transistor, whereby the gate electrode is amorphized. Subsequently, a silicon oxide film is provided to cover the gate electrode, at a temperature which is less than the one at which recrystallization of the gate electrode occurs. Thereafter, thermal processing is performed at a temperature of about 1000 C., whereby high compressive residual stress is exerted on the gate electrode, and high tensile stress is applied to a channel region under the gate electrode. As a result, carrier mobility of the nMOS transistor is enhanced.

Aspects of the present disclosure include fabricating integrated circuit (IC) structures using a boron etch-stop layer, and IC structures with a boron-rich region therein. Methods of forming an IC structure according to the present disclosure can include: growing a conductive epitaxial layer on an upper surface of a semiconductor element; forming a boron etch-stop layer directly on an upper surface of the conductive epitaxial layer; forming an insulator on the boron etch-stop layer; forming an opening within the insulator to expose an upper surface of the boron etch-stop layer; annealing the boron etch-stop layer to drive boron into the conductive epitaxial layer, such that the boron etch-stop layer becomes a boron-rich region; and forming a contact to the boron-rich region within the opening, such that the contact is electrically connected to the semiconductor element through at least the conductive epitaxial layer.