US Patent 11329167 Fishbone long channel nanosheet device

A method is presented for reducing sagging effects in nanosheet devices. The method includes forming at least two nanosheet structures over a substrate, wherein each nanosheet structure includes alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, depositing a dielectric layer over the at least two nanosheet structures, depositing a dummy gate over the dielectric layer, etching the first semiconductor material to create voids filled with inner spacers, removing the dummy gate and the dielectric layer such that a supporting dielectric section remains between the at least two nanosheet structures, and removing the etched first semiconductor material such that a supporting structure is defined including the supporting dielectric section and the second semiconductor material.