As integrated circuit (IC) technologies progress towards smaller technology nodes, the complex patterning process of forming the metal gates and the metal gate boundary diffusion between different types of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFETs) may have serious bearings on the overall performance of an IC device. In some examples, metal gate boundary diffusion may lead to unstable threshold voltage (Vt) when separation distances between the active device regions are reduced to meet design requirements of smaller technology nodes. While methods of reducing parasitic capacitance in IC devices have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all aspects.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale and are used for illustration purposes only. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.