Formation of trench silicide source or drain contacts without gate damage

A method of fabricating at least two multi-fin finFETs, the method comprising:

• receiving a structure that includes a plurality of fins extending from a substrate and covered by a dummy gate, the fins including a first group of fins separated from a second group of fins, the fins including an exposed region not covered by the dummy gate and having an epitaxially grown material (S/D epitaxy) thereon, the dummy gate including a sacrificial gate material covered by a hardmask material and having sides covered by a gate spacer;
• forming an etch stop liner over the dummy gate and the S/D epitaxy formed of a first material;
• forming an etch stop layer of a second material that is different than the first material over the etch stop liner;
• forming an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD) over the etch stop layer;
• removing the hardmask material to expose the sacrificial gate material;
• partially removing the gate spacer and the sacrificial gate material to a level below a top of the ILD layer;
• removing the sacrificial gate material to form a gate recess within the gate spacer;
• forming a high-k metal gate (HKMG) in the gate trench by depositing a high-k dielectric layer and forming a metal gate over the high-k dielectric layer;
• removing the ILD layer to expose the etch stop layer, wherein the etch stop layer, the HKMG and the etch stop liner protect the gate spacer from being removed during removal of the ILD;
• removing the etch stop layer, wherein the etch stop liner and the HKMG protect the gate spacer from being removed during removal of the etch stop layer;
• removing exposed portions of the etch stop liner;
• depositing a metal liner over the S/D epitaxy and the HKMG;
• depositing an organic planarization layer (OPL) over the S/D epitaxy and the HKMG and etching the OPL to expose the metal liner over the HKMG;
• removing portions of the OPL to form a contact metal liner cut pattern opening through the OPL that exposes the metal liner over the ILD next to the fin;
• etching the metal liner to expose the ILD next to the fin and to expose the HKMG;
• filling the contact metal liner cut pattern opening with a source drain contact spacer and forming a self-aligned contact (SAC) cap over the HKMG;
• removing exposed OPL;
• and
• forming metal S/D contacts over the fin.