And because the gate and the insulation layer are formed right at the end of the chip-making process, after the high-temperature steps have been completed, it is possible to choose from a wider range of materials for the insulation layer.

ECONOMIST: Transistors: A tall story | The

Only when all the masking and etching is complete is the sacrificial gate layer dissolved away, allowing the gates (and the insulation layers between the gate and channel of each transistor) to be filled in.

ECONOMIST: Transistors: A tall story | The