# Patent

## Title
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

## Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one active region, at least one gate structure, and an insulating structure. The active region is present at least partially in the substrate. The gate structure is present on the active region. The gate structure has at least one end sidewall and a top surface intersecting to form a top interior angle. The top interior angle is an acute angle. The insulating structure is present adjacent to the end sidewall of the gate structure and on the substrate.

## Background
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/288,238, filed Jan. 28, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.


BACKGROUND
As the semiconductor industry has progressed into nanometer technology process nodes in pursuit of higher device density, higher performance, and lower costs, challenges from both fabrication and design issues have resulted in the development of three dimensional designs, such as a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET). A FinFET includes an extended semiconductor fin that is elevated above a substrate in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the substrate. The channel of the FET is formed in this fin. A gate is provided over (e.g., wrapping) the fin. The FinFETs can reduce the short channel effect.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
FIGS. 1A to 9A are top views of a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device at various stages in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIGS. 1B to 9B are cross-sectional views respectively taking along line B-B of FIGS. 1A to 9A.
FIG. 10A is a top view of a semiconductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taking along line B-B of FIG. 10A.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide some improved methods for the formation of semiconductor devices and the resulting structures. These embodiments are discussed below in the context of forming finFET transistors having a single fin or multiple fins on a bulk silicon substrate. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with other configurations.
FIGS. 1A to 9A are top views of a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device at various stages in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 1B to 9B are cross-sectional views respectively taking along line B-B of FIGS. 1A to 9A. Reference is made to FIGS. 1A and 1B. A substrate 110 is provided. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 includes silicon. Alternatively, the substrate 110 may include germanium, silicon germanium, gallium arsenide or other appropriate semiconductor materials. Also alternatively, the substrate 110 may include an epitaxial layer. For example, the substrate 110 may have an epitaxial layer overlying a bulk semiconductor. Further, the substrate 110 may be strained for performance enhancement. For example, the epitaxial layer may include a semiconductor material different from that of the bulk semiconductor, such as a layer of silicon germanium overlying bulk silicon or a layer of silicon overlying bulk silicon germanium. Such strained substrate may be formed by selective epitaxial growth (SEG). Furthermore, the substrate 110 may include a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure. Also alternatively, the substrate 110 may include a buried dielectric layer, such as a buried oxide (BOX) layer, such as that formed by separation by implantation of oxygen (SIMOX) technology, wafer bonding, SEG, or other appropriate method.
At least one semiconductor fin 112 is formed on the substrate 110. For example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, there are two semiconductor fins 112. In some embodiments, the semiconductor fins 112 include silicon. The semiconductor fins 112 may be formed, for example, by patterning and etching the substrate 110 using photolithography techniques. In some embodiments, a layer of photoresist material (not shown) is sequentially deposited over the substrate 110. The layer of photoresist material is irradiated (exposed) in accordance with a desired pattern (the semiconductor fins 112 in this case) and developed to remove portions of the photoresist material. The remaining photoresist material protects the underlying material from subsequent processing steps, such as etching. It should be noted that other masks, such as an oxide or silicon nitride mask, may also be used in the etching process. In some other embodiments, the semiconductor fins 112 may be epitaxially grown. For example, exposed portions of an underlying material, such as an exposed portion of the substrate 110, may be used in an epitaxial process to form the semiconductor fins 112. A mask may be used to control the shape of the semiconductor fins 112 during the epitaxial growth process. Moreover, it is note that the numbers of the semiconductor fins 112 in FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrative, and should not limit the claimed scope of the present disclosure. A person having ordinary skill in the art may select suitable numbers for the semiconductor fins 112 according to actual situations.
A plurality of isolation structures 105 are formed on the substrate 110. The isolation structures 105, which act as a shallow trench isolation (STI) around the semiconductor fins 112, may be formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques using tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS) and oxygen as a precursor. In some other embodiments, the isolation structures 105 may be formed by implanting ions, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, or the like, into the substrate 110. In yet some other embodiments, the isolation structures 105 are insulator layers of a SOI wafer.
An interlayer dielectric 120 is formed to cover the semiconductor fins 112. The interlayer dielectric 120 may be formed by thermal oxidation, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, or other methods known and used in the art for forming a gate dielectric. Depending on the technique of dielectric layer formation, the thickness of the interlayer dielectric 120 on the top of the semiconductor fins 112 may be different from the thickness of the interlayer dielectric 120 on the sidewall of the semiconductor fins 112. The interlayer dielectric 120 may include, for example, a high-k dielectric material such as metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transition metal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates, oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconium aluminate, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments may include hafnium oxide (HfO2), hafnium silicon oxide (HfSiO), hafnium silicon oxynitride (HfSiON), hafnium tantalum oxide (HfTaO), hafnium titanium oxide (HfTiO), hafnium zirconium oxide (HfZrO), lanthanum oxide (LaO), zirconium oxide (ZrO), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), yttrium oxide (Y2O3), strontium titanium oxide (SrTiO3, STO), barium titanium oxide (BaTiO3, BTO), barium zirconium oxide (BaZrO), hafnium lanthanum oxide (HfLaO), lanthanum silicon oxide (LaSiO), aluminum silicon oxide (AlSiO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon nitride (Si3N4), oxynitrides (SiON), and combinations thereof. The interlayer dielectric 120 may have a multilayer structure such as one layer of silicon oxide (e.g., interfacial layer) and another layer of high-k material. The interlayer dielectric 120 may be formed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), thermal oxide, ozone oxidation, other suitable processes, or combinations thereof.
A dummy gate layer 130 is formed on the interlayer dielectric 120 and the substrate 110. The dummy gate layer 130 may be deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), by sputter deposition, or by other techniques known and used in the art for depositing conductive materials. The dummy gate layer 130 may include polycrystalline-silicon (poly-Si) or poly-crystalline silicon-germanium (poly-SiGe).
Reference is made to FIGS. 2A and 2B. A mask layer 210 is formed on the dummy gate layer 130 by suitable process(es) to a suitable thickness. The mask layer 210 covers a portion of the dummy gate layer 130 while leaves other portions of the dummy gate layer 130 uncovered. The mask layer 210, in some embodiments, is a hard mask layer which includes silicon oxide. The mask layer 210, in some other embodiments, may include silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon carbide (SiC), SiOC, spin-on glass (SOG), a low-κ film, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), plasma enhanced CVD oxide (PE-oxide), high-aspect-ratio-process (HARP) formed oxide, amorphous carbon material, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), other suitable materials, and/or combinations thereof. The silicon oxide layer may be formed using methods such as CVD, PVD, or ALD and may have a thickness ranging from about 100 Angstroms to about 500 Angstroms. In some other embodiments, the mask layer 210 may be a photo-resist layer. The photo-resist layer is deposited on the dummy gate layer 130, for example, by spin coating, and is used to form an intended pattern by way of irradiating, developing, drying, etching, and other suitable processes. In some embodiments, the mask layer 210 includes a silicon nitride layer disposed on the dummy gate layer 130 and an oxide layer disposed on the silicon nitride layer.
Reference is made to FIGS. 3A and 3B. A removing (or etch) process is performed to remove portions other than the intended pattern of the dummy gate layer 130 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) (i.e., the portions uncovered by the mask layer 210) to form a dummy gate strip 132 by using the mask layer 210 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) as a mask. In some embodiments, such an etch process may be performed multiple times. However, the patterning process is not limited to a photolithography process using photo-resists, and may be performed by an immersion lithography, electron beam lithography, or other suitable processes. As a result, the pattern of the dummy gate strip 132 as shown in FIG. 3A is obtained. In some embodiments, the mask layer 210 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) is removed by an ashing, stripping, or other suitable technique.
A plurality of gate spacers 140 are formed on opposite sides 133 of the dummy gate strip 132. In some embodiments, at least one of the gate spacers 140 includes single or multiple layers. The gate spacers 140 can be formed by blanket depositing one or more dielectric layer(s) (not shown) on the previously formed structure. The dielectric layer(s) may include silicon nitride (SiN), oxynitride, silicion carbon (SiC), silicon oxynitride (SiON), oxide, and the like and may be formed by methods utilized to form such a layer, such as CVD, plasma enhanced CVD, sputter, and other methods known in the art. The gate spacers 140 may include different materials with different etch characteristics than the dummy gate strip 132 so that the gate spacers 140 may be used as masks for the removing of portions of the dummy gate strip 132 (described below with references to FIGS. 4A and 4B). The gate spacers 140 may then be patterned, such as by one or more etches to remove the portions of the gate spacers 140 from the horizontal surfaces of the structure.
Reference is made to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Another mask layer 220 is formed on the structure of FIGS. 3A and 3B and is patterned to define at least one dummy gate structure 134. For example, the dummy gate strip 132 of FIGS. 3A and 3B is patterned to be two dummy gate structures 134, and a recess R is formed between the two dummy gate structures 134. The dummy gate structures 134 are present between the gate spacers 140. Moreover, the dummy gate structures 134 and the gate spacers 140 together define the recess R. The recess R exposes end sidewalls 135 of the dummy gate structures 134 and the isolation structure 105. In some embodiments, the mask layer 220 is a photoresist mask formed by depositing, exposing, and developing a layer of photoresist material. The mask layer 220 is patterned to form an insulation area (i.e., the recess R) between the dummy gate structures 134.
In FIG. 4B, at least one of the dummy gate structures 134 has a top surface 134t, a bottom surface 134b, and at least one end sidewall 135. The top surface 134t and the bottom surface 134b are opposite to each other, and the bottom surface 134b faces (or is adjacent to) the substrate 110 (and the interlayer dielectric 120 and/or the isolation structure 105). The top surface 134t and the end sidewall 135 intersect to form a top interior angle θt1. The term “interior angle” is an angle inside the dummy gate structure 134. The top interior angle θt1 is an acute angle. That is, the top interior angle θt1 is less than 90 degrees. Moreover, the bottom surface 134b and the end sidewall 135 intersect to form a bottom interior angle θb1. The bottom interior angle θb1 is an obtuse angle. That is, the bottom interior angle θb1 is greater than 90 degrees. Hence, the recess R gets wider toward the isolation structures 105 and the substrate 110.
Reference is made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. A dielectric material 150 is deposited on the structure of FIGS. 5A and 5B and in the recess R. The dielectric material 150 may be various suitable dielectrics used as interlevel dielectrics (ILDs) or inter-metal dielectrics. In some embodiments, the dielectric material 150 may include an oxide material, such as silicon oxide. Depositing the dielectric material 150 includes using a CVD or PVD process. Depositing the dielectric material 150 may also include using a spin-on, such as a coating process.
Reference is made to FIGS. 6A and 6B. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed on the dielectric material 150 of FIGS. 5A and 5B to etch back and planarize the dielectric material 150 until the dummy gate structures 134 are reached and exposed. The remaining dielectric material 150 in the recess R is referred as an insulating structure 155. In some embodiments, portions of the dummy gate structures 134 are removed during the CMP process. The insulating structure 155 has a top surface 155t. After the CMP process, the top surface 155t of the insulating structure 155 and the top surfaces 134t of the dummy gate structures 134 are substantially coplanar. The terms “substantially” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. For example, the top surface 155t of the insulating structure 155 and the top surfaces 134t of the dummy gate structures 134 as disclosed herein being substantially coplanar may permissibly vary within the scope of the disclosure if the top surface 155t of the insulating structure 155 and the top surfaces 134t of the dummy gate structures 134 are not structurally altered.
In FIG. 6B, the insulating structure 155 may be a plug which is surrounded by two adjacent gate spacers 140 and the two dummy gate structures 134. The insulating structure 155 has the top surface 155t and a bottom surface 155b opposite to each other. The bottom surface 155b faces the substrate 110 and the isolation structure 105. That is, the bottom surface 155b is adjacent to the isolation structure 105. In some embodiments, if the interlayer dielectric 120 is present on the isolation structure 105, the insulating structure 155 can be adjacent to the interlayer dielectric 120. In FIG. 6A, the top surface 155t of the insulating structure 155 has two opposite edges 156 respectively facing the dummy gate structures 134. Both of the edges 156 are curved outwardly. Furthermore, in FIG. 6B, an area of the bottom surface 155b is greater than an area of the top surface 155t. The insulating structure 155 has two opposite sidewalls 157 respectively facing the dummy gate structures 134. That is, one of the sidewalls 157 of the insulating structure 155 is adjacent to the end sidewall 135 (see FIG. 4B) of one of the dummy gate structures 134. The top surface 155t and the sidewall 157 of the insulating structure 155 intersect to form a top interior angle φ1. The term of “interior angle” herein is an angle inside the insulating structure 155. The top interior angle φ1 is substantially greater than 90 degrees, i.e., the top interior angle φ1 is an obtuse angle. Moreover, the bottom surface 155b and the sidewall 157 of the insulating structure 155 intersect to form a bottom interior angle φ2. The bottom interior angle φ2 is substantially smaller than 90 degrees, i.e., the bottom interior angle φ2 is an acute angle. Hence, the insulating structure 155 gets narrower toward the top surface 155t thereof, and gets wider toward the bottom surface 155b thereof. That is, the insulating structure 155 is tapered toward the top surface 155t thereof. In some embodiments, the insulating structure 155 has a width in a range of about 5 nm to about 500 nm, and the claimed scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
Reference is made to FIGS. 7A and 7B. In the present disclosure, a replacement gate (RPG) process scheme is employed. In some embodiments, in a RPG process scheme, a dummy polysilicon gate is formed first and is replaced later by a metal gate after high thermal budget processes are performed. The dummy gate structures 134 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) are removed to form two openings 138 with the gate spacers 140 as their sidewalls. In some embodiments, portions of the interlayer dielectrics 120 exposed by the openings 138 are removed as well. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dummy gate structures 134 are removed while the interlayer dielectric 120 retains as shown in FIG. 7B. For clarity, the interlayer dielectric 120 is depicted in FIG. 7B and is omitted in FIG. 7A. The dummy gate structures 134 (and the interlayer dielectric 120) may be removed by dry etch, wet etch, or a combination of dry and wet etch. For example, a wet etch process may include exposure to a hydroxide containing solution (e.g., ammonium hydroxide), deionized water, and/or other suitable etchant solutions.
In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the insulating structure 155 is tapered toward the top surface 155t thereof. Hence, the aperture of the opening 138 near the top surface 155t of the insulating structure 155 is larger than the aperture of the opening 138 near the bottom surface 155b of the insulating structure 155. With this configuration, metal gate structures 180 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) are easy to be filled in the openings 138 without leaving spaces between the metal gate structures 180 and the insulating structure 155. Hence, the electrical performance of the metal gate structures 180 can be improved.
Reference is made to FIGS. 8A and 8B. A high dielectric constant (high-κ) dielectric layer 160 is conformally formed in the openings 138. Therefore, the high-κ dielectric layer 160 covers the semiconductor fins 112 and the sidewalls 157 of the insulating structure 155. In some embodiments, another interfacial layer is deposited first if the interfacial layer 120 of FIG. 7B is removed in a previous process step. The high-κ dielectric layer 160 has a dielectric constant (κ) higher than the dielectric constant of SiO2, i.e. κ>3.9. The high-κ dielectric layer 160 may include LaO, AlO, ZrO, TiO, Ta2O5, Y2O3, SrTiO3 (STO), BaTiO3 (BTO), BaZrO, HfZrO, HfLaO, HfSiO, LaSiO, AlSiO, HfTaO, HfTiO, (Ba,Sr)TiO3 (BST), Al2O3, Si3N4, oxynitrides (SiON), or other suitable materials. The high-κ dielectric layer 160 is deposited by suitable techniques, such as ALD, CVD, PVD, thermal oxidation, combinations thereof, or other suitable techniques.
Reference is made to FIGS. 9A and 9B. At least one layer is formed in the openings 138 and on the high-κ dielectric layer 160. Subsequently, a metal chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process is performed to etch back and planarize the layers to form two metal gate structures 180 respectively in the openings 138. One of the metal gate structures 180 includes the high-κ dielectric layer 160 and metal gate electrodes 170 present on the high-κ dielectric layer 160. The metal gate electrodes 170 formed may include capping layer(s), fill layer(s), and/or other suitable layers that are desirable in a metal gate stack. A work function metal layer included in the metal gate electrodes 170 may be an n-type or p-type work function layer. Exemplary p-type work function metals include TiN, TaN, Ru, Mo, Al, WN, ZrSi2, MoSi2, TaSi2, NiSi2, WN, other suitable p-type work function materials, or combinations thereof. Exemplary n-type work function metals include Ti, Ag, TaAl, TaAlC, TiAlN, TaC, TaCN, TaSiN, Mn, Zr, other suitable n-type work function materials, or combinations thereof. The work function layer may include a plurality of layers. The work function layer(s) may be deposited by CVD, PVD, electroplating and/or other suitable process. In some embodiments, the metal gate electrodes 170 formed is a p-type metal gate including a p-type work function layer. In some embodiments, the capping layer included in the metal gate electrodes 170 may include refractory metals and their nitrides (e.g. TiN, TaN, W2N, TiSiN, TaSiN). The cap layer may be deposited by PVD, CVD, Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and ALD. In some embodiments, the fill layer included in the metal gate electrodes 170 may include tungsten (W). The metal layer may be deposited by ALD, PVD, CVD, or other suitable process.
In FIG. 9A, one of the metal gate structures 180 is surrounded by the gate spacers 140 and the insulating structure 155. The metal gate structures 180 are present between the gate spacers 140, and the insulating structure 155 is present between the gate spacers 140 and the metal gate structures 180. That is, the insulating structure 155 is surrounded by the metal gate structures 180 and the gate spacers 140. In FIG. 9B, at least one of the metal gate structures 180 has a top surface 180t, a bottom surface 180b, and at least one end sidewall 182. The top surface 180t and the bottom surface 180b are opposite to each other, and the bottom surface 180b faces (or is adjacent to) the substrate 110 and the interlayer dielectric 120 and/or the isolation structure 105. The end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 is adjacent to the insulating structure 155. The top surface 180t and the end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 intersect to form a top interior angle θt2. The term “interior angle” is an angle inside the metal gate structure 180. The top interior angle θt2 is an acute angle. That is, the top interior angle θt2 is less than 90 degrees. Moreover, the bottom surface 180b and the end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 intersect to form a bottom interior angle θb2. The bottom interior angle θb2 is an obtuse angle. That is, the bottom interior angle θb2 is greater than 90 degrees.
Thereafter, additional processes may be performed to manufacture the semiconductor device. For example, the metal gate structures 180 may be doped, portions of the metal gate structures 180 may be silicided, inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layers/and inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers may be formed, metallization layers may be formed, and the like.
According to the aforementioned embodiments, the insulating structure is tapered toward the top surface thereof. Hence, the aperture of the opening near the top surface of the insulating structure is larger than the aperture of the opening near the bottom surface of the insulating structure. With this configuration, the metal gate structures are easy to be filled in the openings without leaving spaces between the metal gate structures and the insulating structure. Hence, the electrical performance of the metal gate structures can be improved.
FIG. 10A is a top view of a semiconductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taking along line B-B of FIG. 10A. The difference between FIGS. 10A, 10B and 9A, 9B pertains to the configuration of active regions of the semiconductor device. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the active regions are semiconductor fins 112, while in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the active regions are oxide defined (OD) regions 112′. The oxide defined regions 112′ are surrounded by or at least adjacent to the isolation structures 105. The oxide defined regions 112′ can be formed in the substrate 110. The oxide defined regions 112′ can be doped regions, and the claimed scope is not limited in this respect. In FIG. 10A, one of the metal gate structures 180 is surrounded by the gate spacers 140 and the insulating structure 155. The metal gate structures 180 are present between the gate spacers 140, and the insulating structure 155 is present between the gate spacers 140 and the metal gate structures 180. That is, the insulating structure 155 is surrounded by the metal gate structures 180 and the gate spacers 140. In FIG. 10B, at least one of the metal gate structures 180 has a top surface 180t, a bottom surface 180b, and at least one end sidewall 182. The top surface 180t and the bottom surface 180b are opposite to each other, and the bottom surface 180b faces (or is adjacent to) the substrate 110 and the interlayer dielectric 120 and/or the isolation structure 105. The end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 is adjacent to the insulating structure 155. The top surface 180t and the end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 intersect to form a top interior angle θt2. The term “interior angle” is an angle inside the metal gate structure 180. The top interior angle θt2 is an acute angle. That is, the top interior angle θt2 is less than 90 degrees. Moreover, the bottom surface 180b and the end sidewall 182 of the metal gate structure 180 intersect to form a bottom interior angle θb2. The bottom interior angle θb2 is an obtuse angle. That is, the bottom interior angle θb2 is greater than 90 degrees. The manufacturing processes and other structural details of FIGS. 10A and 10B are similar to FIGS. 9A and 9B, and therefore, a description in this regard will not be provided hereinafter.
According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one active region, at least one gate structure, and an insulating structure. The active region is present at least partially in the substrate. The gate structure is present on the active region. The gate structure has at least one end sidewall and a top surface intersecting to form a top interior angle. The top interior angle is an acute angle. The insulating structure is present adjacent to the end sidewall of the gate structure and on the substrate.
According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least two active regions, at least two gate structures, and an insulating structure. The active regions are present at least partially in the substrate. The gate structures are respectively present on the active regions. The insulating structure is present between the gate structures. The insulating structure has a top surface. The insulating structure gets narrower toward the top surface of the insulating structure.
According to some embodiments, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming at least one active region at least partially in a substrate. A gate layer is formed on the substrate and the active region. The gate layer is patterned to form at least one gate structure and a recess adjacent to the gate structure. The gate structure has a top surface and an end sidewall adjacent to the recess. The end sidewall and the top surface intersect to form a top interior angle, and the top interior angle is an acute angle.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

## Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:
a substrate;
at least one active region present at least partially in the substrate;
at least one gate structure present on the active region, wherein:
the gate structure has at least one end sidewall and a top surface intersecting to form a top interior angle,
the top interior angle is an acute angle, and
the gate structure comprises a dielectric layer and a gate electrode;

an insulating structure present adjacent to the end sidewall of the gate structure and on the substrate, wherein:
the insulating structure has a first sidewall facing the active region, and
the dielectric layer is disposed between the first sidewall of the insulating structure and the gate electrode; and

at least one gate spacer adjacent another sidewall of the gate structure and interfacing with a second sidewall of the insulating structure.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the active region is a semiconductor fin.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the insulating structure has a top surface, and the insulating structure is tapered toward the top surface.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the gate structure further has a bottom surface, the bottom surface and the end sidewall of the gate structure intersect to form a bottom interior angle, and the bottom interior angle is an obtuse angle.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the insulating structure has a top surface and a bottom surface, and an area of the top surface is smaller than an area of the bottom surface.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the insulating structure has a top surface, and an edge of the top surface adjacent to the gate structure is curved outwardly.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the insulating structure is spaced from the active region.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer is in contact with the gate spacer and the insulating structure.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising an isolation structure, wherein the dielectric layer and the insulating structure interface with the isolation structure.

10. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a substrate;
at least two active regions present at least partially in the substrate;
at least two gate structures respectively present on the active regions; and
an insulating structure present between the gate structures, wherein:
the insulating structure has a top surface,
the insulating structure has a tapered sidewall such that the insulating structure gets narrower toward the top surface of the insulating structure, and
a dielectric layer of one of the gate structures is in contact with the tapered sidewall of the insulating structure.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 10, wherein the tapered sidewall and the top surface of the insulating structure intersect to form a top interior angle, and the top interior angle is an obtuse angle.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 10, wherein the insulating structure further has a bottom surface, the tapered sidewall and the bottom surface of the insulating structure intersect to form a bottom interior angle, and the bottom interior angle is an acute angle.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 10, further comprising:
at least two gate spacers present on opposite sides of at least one of the gate structures.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 13, wherein the gate spacers and the gate structures surround the insulating structure.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the gate structures comprises a dielectric layer and a gate electrode, the tapered sidewall of the insulating structure faces at least one of the active regions, and the dielectric layer is disposed between the tapered sidewall of the insulating structure and the gate electrode.

16. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:
forming at least one active region at least partially in a substrate;
forming a gate strip on the substrate and the active region;
forming at least one gate spacer adjacent to the gate strip;
forming a mask layer over a portion of the gate strip and a portion of the gate spacer, wherein a second portion of the gate strip and a second portion of the gate spacer are exposed through the mask layer; and
patterning the gate strip to form at least one gate structure and a recess adjacent to the gate structure, wherein:
the second portion of the gate strip is removed to form the recess,
the recess is defined by a sidewall of the gate structure and a sidewall of the gate spacer,
the gate structure has a top surface and an end sidewall adjacent to the recess,
the end sidewall and the top surface intersect to form a top interior angle, and
the top interior angle is an acute angle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming an insulating structure in the recess.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming the insulating structure comprises:
depositing a dielectric material at least in the recess; and
planarizing the dielectric material and the gate structure.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
removing the gate structure to form an opening adjacent to the insulating structure; and
forming a metal gate structure in the opening.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the gate strip comprises:
forming a gate layer on the substrate and the active region; and
patterning the gate layer to form the gate strip.