Abstract: A lithography method in semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of first drops of a target material through a first nozzle group selected from a plurality of nozzles to form a first elongated droplet; generating a first laser pulse to convert the first elongated droplet into plasma that generates a first extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation; reflecting the first EUV radiation by a collector mirror having an optical axis; generating a plurality of second drops of the target material through a second nozzle group selected from the plurality of nozzles to form a second elongated droplet, the second elongated droplet being oblique with the optical axis of the collector mirror at a different angle than the first elongated droplet.

Abstract: Various magnetic thin film inductor structures are disclosed that include one or more magnetic thin film (MTF) materials. During operation, an electric field passes through one or more conductive windings which, in turn, generates a magnetic field for storing energy within these magnetic thin film inductor structures. The magnetic thin film (MTF) materials within these magnetic thin film inductor structures effectively attract magnetic flux lines of this magnetic field. As a result, any magnetic leakage resulting from the magnetic field generated by these magnetic thin film inductor structures onto nearby electrical, mechanical, and/or electro-mechanical devices is lessened when compared to magnetic leakage resulting from the magnetic field generated by other inductor structures not having the one or more MTF materials.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for cleaning an exhaust path of a semiconductor process tool. One embodiment provides an exhaust pipe section and a pipe cleaning assembly connected between a semiconductor process tool and a factory exhaust. The pipe cleaning assembly includes a residue remover disposed in the exhaust pipe section. The residue remover is operable to move in the exhaust pipe section to dislodge accumulated materials from an inner surface of the exhaust pipe section.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first epitaxial feature having a first semiconductor material over the semiconductor substrate, and a second epitaxial feature having a second semiconductor material over the semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor material being different from the first semiconductor material. The semiconductor device further includes a first silicide layer on the first epitaxial feature, a second silicide layer on the second epitaxial feature, a metal layer on the first silicide layer, a first contact feature over the metal layer, and a second contact feature over the second silicide layer. A first number of layers between the first contact feature and the first epitaxial feature is greater than a second number of layers between the second contact feature and the second epitaxial feature.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductive fin, an isolation structure, a gate structure, dielectric spacers, and source/drain epitaxial structures. The isolation structure surrounds a bottom portion of the semiconductive fin. The gate structure is over the semiconductive fin. The dielectric spacers are on opposite sides of the semiconductive fin and over the isolation structure. The dielectric spacers include nitride. The source/drain epitaxial structures are on opposite sides of the gate structure and over the dielectric spacers. The source/drain epitaxial structures have hexagon shapes.

Abstract: Structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A structure according to the present disclosure includes an interconnect structure, an aluminum oxide layer over the interconnect structure, and a transistor formed over the aluminum oxide layer. The transistor includes cuprous oxide.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a substrate; forming a front-side interconnection structure over the transistor; after forming the front-side interconnection structure, removing the substrate; after removing the substrate, forming a backside via to be electrically connected to the transistor; depositing a dielectric layer to cover the backside via; forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the backside via; forming a spacer structure on a sidewall of the opening; after forming a spacer structure, forming a conductive feature in the opening to be electrically connected to the backside via; and after forming the conductive feature, forming an air gap in the spacer structure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a dielectric layer having an opening exposing a top surface of a metal layer. A bottom via is selectively deposited in the opening and over the metal layer. A barrier layer is deposited over the bottom via and in contact with the dielectric layer at a sidewall of the opening. A top via is formed in the opening, in contact with the barrier layer, and over the bottom via. The top via is separated from the dielectric layer by the barrier layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first portion of a spacer layer over a first fin and a second portion of the spacer layer over a second fin, performing a first etching process to recess the first portion of the spacer layer with respect to the second portion of the spacer layer to form first spacers on sidewalls of the first fin, subsequently performing a second etching process to recess the second portion of the spacer layer with respect to the first spacers to form second spacers on sidewalls of the second fin, where the second spacers are formed to a height greater than that of the first spacers, and forming a first epitaxial source/drain feature and a second epitaxial source/drain feature between the first spacers and the second spacers, respectively, where the first epitaxial source/drain feature is larger than that of the second epitaxial source/drain feature.

Abstract: An SRAM device and method of forming include pass gate (PG), pull-down (PD), and pull-up (PU) transistors. A first gate line of the PG and a second gate line of the PD and the PU extend in a first direction. A common source/drain of the PG, PD, and PU transistors interposes the first and second gate lines and another source/drain of the PG transistor. A first contact extends from the common source/drain and a second contact extends from the another source/drain. A third contact is disposed above the second contact with a first width in the first direction and a first length in a second direction, first length being greater than the first width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with liner-free contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming first and second source/drain (S/D) regions on first and second fin structures, forming a first dielectric layer between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second gate-all-around (GAA) structures on the first and second fin structures, forming a second dielectric layer on the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer, forming a tapered trench opening in the second dielectric layer and on the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer, selectively forming a seed layer on top surfaces of the first and second GAA structures and the first dielectric layer that are exposed in the tapered trench opening, and selectively depositing a conductive layer on the seed layer to fill the tapered trench opening.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first pair of power rails and a second pair of power rails that are disposed in a first layer, conductive lines disposed in a second layer above the first layer, and a first active area disposed in a third layer above the second layer. The first active area is arranged to overlap the first pair of power rails. The first active area is coupled to the first pair of power rails through a first line of the conductive lines and a first group of vias, and the first active area is coupled to the second pair of power rails through at least one second line of the conductive lines and a second group of vias different from the first group of vias.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first device and a second device. The first device includes: a first gate structure formed over an active region and a first air spacer disposed adjacent to the first gate structure. The second device includes: a second gate structure formed over an isolation structure and a second air spacer disposed adjacent to the second gate structure. The first air spacer and the second air spacer have different sizes.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for preventing glitch in a circuit are disclosed. In one example, a circuit coupled to an input/output pad is disclosed. The circuit includes: a first level shifter, a second level shifter, and a control logic circuit. The first level shifter is configured for generating a data signal. The second level shifter is configured for generating an output enable signal. The first and second level shifters are controlled by first and second power-on-control signals, respectively. The control logic circuit is coupled to the first level shifter and the second level shifter.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a memory array is formed by manufacturing portions of a word line during different and separate processes, thereby allowing the portions formed first to act as a structural support during later processes that would otherwise cause undesired damage to the structures.

Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with isolation structures between FET devices and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming a fin structure on a substrate and forming polysilicon gate structures with a first threshold voltage on first fin portions of the fin structure. The method further includes forming doped fin regions with dopants of a first type conductivity on second fin portions of the fin structure, doping at least one of the polysilicon gate structures with dopants of a second type conductivity to adjust the first threshold voltage to a greater second threshold voltage, and replacing at least two of the polysilicon gate structures adjacent to the at least one of the polysilicon gate structures with metal gate structures having a third threshold voltage less than the first and second threshold voltages.

Abstract: Methods and devices that include a multigate device having a channel layer disposed between a source feature and a drain feature, a metal gate that surrounds the channel layer, and a first air gap spacer interposing the metal gate and the source feature and a second air gap spacer interposing the metal gate and the drain feature. A backside contact extends to the source feature. A power line metallization layer is connected to the backside contact.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first fin; a gate structure over the first fin; a first source/drain region adjacent the gate structure; an etch stop layer over the first source/drain region; a conductive line over the etch stop layer, the conductive line isolated from the first source/drain region by the etch stop layer, a top surface of the conductive line being coplanar with a top surface of the gate structure; and a power rail contact extending through the first fin, the power rail contact connected to the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A memory array device includes a stack of transistors over a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor of the stack being disposed over a second transistor of the stack. The first transistor includes a first memory film along a first word line and a first channel region along a source line and a bit line, the first memory film being disposed between the first channel region and the first word line. The second transistor includes a second memory film along a second word line and a second channel region along the source line and the bit line, the second memory film being disposed between the second channel region and the second word line. The memory array device includes a first via electrically connected to the first word line and a second via electrically connected to the second word line, the second staircase via and the first staircase via having different widths.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes attaching a first package component to a first carrier, the first package component comprising: an aluminum pad disposed adjacent to a substrate; a sacrificial pad disposed adjacent to the substrate, the sacrificial pad comprising a major surface opposite the substrate, a protrusion of the sacrificial pad extending from the major surface; and a dielectric bond layer disposed around the aluminum pad and the sacrificial pad; attaching a second carrier to the first package component and the first carrier, the first package component being interposed between the first carrier and the second carrier; removing the first carrier; planarizing the dielectric bond layer to comprise a top surface being coplanar with the protrusion; and etching a portion of the protrusion.