IP Library Granted Patent US 12701757
Granted Patent B2
US 12701757 · App. 18/310,489 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Manufacturing method of integrated circuit structure

Inventors: Hsin-Cheng Lin (Taipei City, TW); Yi-Chun Liu (Taichung City, TW); Kung-Ying Chiu (Taoyuan City, TW); Chee-Wee Liu (Taipei City, TW)
Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.; NATIONAL YANG MING CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
H10D62/121H10D30/014H10D30/43H10D30/6735H10D30/6757H10D64/017H10D84/0167H10D84/017H10D84/038H10D84/85
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12701757
App. No.
18/310,489
Filed
May 1, 2023
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2818
USPC
257/288
Abstract

An integrated circuit structure includes a substrate, a bottom nanostructure transistor, and a top nanostructure transistor. The bottom nanostructure transistor is over the substrate and includes a first channel layer, a first gate structure, and first source/drain epitaxial structures. The first gate structure wraps around the first channel layer. The first source/drain epitaxial structures are on opposite sides of the first channel layer. The top nanostructure transistor is over the bottom nanostructure transistor and includes a second channel layer, a second gate structure, and second source/drain epitaxial structures. The second channel layer is over the first channel layer. The second gate structure wraps around the second channel layer. A bottom surface of the second gate structure is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface of the first gate structure. The second source/drain epitaxial structures are on opposite sides of the second channel layer.

Claims (56)

1 . A method comprising:

forming a fin structure over a substrate, wherein the fin structure comprises a first channel layer, a first sacrificial layer, a second sacrificial layer, and a second channel layer sequentially stacked from bottom to top;

forming a dummy gate structure to cover the fin structure;

forming a gate spacer to surround the dummy gate structure;

forming first source/drain epitaxial structures on opposite sides of the first channel layer and second source/drain epitaxial structures on opposite sides of the second channel layer;

removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench defined by the gate spacer;

removing the first sacrificial layer to release the first channel layer;

forming a first fork-sheet gate structure in the gate trench to surround the first channel layer, wherein the first fork-sheet gate structure is in contact with the second sacrificial layer;

removing the second sacrificial layer to release the second channel layer; and

forming a second fork-sheet gate structure in the gate trench to surround the second channel layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a dielectric blocking layer on an end surface of the second channel layer prior to forming the first fork-sheet gate structure.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming an inner spacer on an end surface of the first sacrificial layer prior to forming the dielectric blocking layer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first channel layer, the first sacrificial layer, the second sacrificial layer, and the second channel layer have different germanium concentrations.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fork-sheet gate structure is exposed after removing the second sacrificial layer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the second fork-sheet gate structure comprises:

depositing a gate dielectric layer in the gate trench and in contact with the first fork-sheet gate structure and the second channel layer; and

depositing a metal layer over the gate dielectric layer.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a bottom surface of the metal layer of the second fork-sheet gate structure is lower than a bottom surface of the first channel layer.

8 . A method comprising:

forming a stacking structure over a substrate, wherein the stacking structure comprises a first sacrificial layer, a first channel layer, a second sacrificial layer, and a second channel layer sequentially stacked from bottom to top;

forming a dummy gate structure across the stacking structure;

forming a gate spacer structure surrounding the dummy gate structure;

removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench defined by the gate spacer structure;

after forming the gate trench, recessing the second channel layer to form a first recess in the second channel layer;

forming a first dielectric structure in the first recess of the second channel layer;

after forming the first dielectric structure, removing the first sacrificial layer to release the first channel layer;

forming a first metal gate structure in the gate trench and surrounding the first channel layer;

removing the second sacrificial layer to release the second channel layer; and

forming a second metal gate structure in the gate trench and surrounding the second channel layer.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein after forming the second metal gate structure, the first dielectric structure is in contact with the first metal gate structure and the second metal gate structure.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

recessing the first channel layer to form a second recess in the first channel layer after forming the first metal gate structure and prior to removing the second sacrificial layer; and

forming a second dielectric structure in the second recess prior to removing the second sacrificial layer.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second recess is defined by the first metal gate structure and the first channel layer.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein after forming the second metal gate structure, the second dielectric structure is in contact with the first metal gate structure and the second metal gate structure.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the first metal gate structure and the second metal gate structure;

forming a first gate via in the ILD layer and connected to the first metal gate structure; and

forming a second gate via in the ILD layer and connected to the second metal gate structure.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a bottom of the first gate via is at a position substantially level with a bottom of the second gate via.

15 . A method comprising:

forming a stacking structure over a protruding portion of a substrate, wherein the stacking structure comprises a first sacrificial layer, a first channel layer, a second sacrificial layer, and a second channel layer sequentially stacked from bottom to top;

forming a first isolation structure and a second isolation structure on opposite sides of the protruding portion of the substrate;

forming a dummy gate structure across the stacking structure;

forming a gate spacer structure to surround the dummy gate structure;

removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench defined by the gate spacer structure;

removing the first sacrificial layer to release the first channel layer;

forming a first metal gate structure in the gate trench and in contact with the first channel layer and the first isolation structure;

forming a first dielectric structure on a sidewall of the first channel layer after forming the first metal gate structure;

after forming the first dielectric structure, removing the second sacrificial layer to release the second channel layer; and

forming a second metal gate structure in the gate trench and in contact with the second channel layer and the second isolation structure.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein after forming the second metal gate structure, a top surface of the first metal gate structure is higher than a top surface of the second channel layer.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein after forming the first metal gate structure, the second isolation structure is exposed in the gate trench.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first dielectric structure is in contact with the first metal gate structure.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a height of the first metal gate structure is substantially the same as a height of the second metal gate structure.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming a second dielectric structure on a sidewall of the second channel layer prior to forming the first metal gate structure.