Preventing strained fin relaxation
A semiconductor structure includes a stained fin, a gate upon the strain fin, and a spacer upon a sidewall of the gate and upon an end surface of the strained fin. The end surface of the strained fin is coplanar with a sidewall of the gate. The spacer limits relaxation of the strained fin.
1. A semiconductor structure fabrication method comprising:
forming an insulator layer upon a base substrate;
forming a strained layer upon the insulator layer;
forming a strained fin from the strained layer;
forming a first inactive gate upon the insulator layer and upon the strained fin;
forming a second inactive gate upon insulator layer and upon the strained fin;
separating the strained fin into a first strained fin and second strained fin by forming a trench between and self-aligned to the first inactive gate and to the second inactive gate, the trench planarizing a sidewall of the first inactive gate with a first end surface of the first strained fin, planarizing a sidewall of the second inactive gate with a second end surface of the second strained fin, and exposing a portion of the insulator layer between the first end surface and the second end surface;
forming a first spacer upon the sidewall of the first inactive gate and upon the first end surface of the first strained fin; and
forming a second spacer upon the sidewall of the second inactive gate and upon the second end surface of the second strained fin.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer and the second spacer limit relaxation of the strained fin.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer prevents epitaxial nodule growth from the first end surface of the first strained fin and the second spacer prevents epitaxial nodule growth from the second end surface of the second strained fin.