Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming one or more fins extending in a first direction over a substrate. The one or more fins include a first region along the first direction and second regions on both sides of the first region along the first direction. A dopant is implanted in the first region of the fins but not in the second regions. A gate structure overlies the first region of the fins and source/drains are formed on the second regions of the fins.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming charge storage transistor gates and standard FET gates in which common processing is utilized for fabrication of at least some portions of the different types of gates. FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks may be formed. The gate stacks may each include a gate material, an insulative material, and a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed from the FET and charge storage transistor gate stacks. The insulative material of the FET gate stacks is etched through. A conductive material is formed over the FET gate stacks and over the charge storage transistor gate stacks. The conductive material physically contacts the gate material of the FET gate stacks, and is separated from the gate material of the charge storage transistor gate stacks by the insulative material remaining in the charge storage transistor gate stacks. Some embodiments include gate structures.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first inter metal dielectric (IMD) layer, a second inter metal dielectric layer and a third inter metal dielectric layer sequentially arranged on the substrate. The first inter metal dielectric layer includes at least one first wire, the second inter metal dielectric layer includes at least one mask layer, and the third inter metal dielectric layer includes at least one third wire and a super via. The super via penetrates through the second inter metal dielectric layer, and electrically connect to the first wire and the third wire, and part of the super via directly contacts the mask layer in the second inter metal dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming contacts disposed in a dielectric layer. The method of forming the contacts includes forming contact holes and then filling with a conductive material. The method of forming the contact holes includes steps of forming openings in the dielectric layer to expose active regions, introducing a first oxygen plasma and a first fluorine plasma to remove by-products and oxidize inner surfaces of the openings, introducing a second oxygen plasma and a second fluorine plasma to remove the oxidized inner surfaces and repair the active regions, introducing a third oxygen plasma to oxidize inner surfaces again to form an oxide layer, and removing the oxide layer. The cross-sectional structure of two adjacent contact holes includes a capital, a base, and a shaft between the capital and the base, wherein the shaft has a smaller width than the base and the capital.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming one or more layers including at least one of a liner and a barrier along surfaces of a first interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer within a trench, after forming the one or more liners, performing a via etch to form a via opening exposing a first conductive line corresponding to a first metallization level, and forming, within the via opening and on the first conductive line, a barrier-less prefilled via including first conductive material.

Abstract: Provided is a memory device including a substrate, a stack structure, a plurality of pads, and a protective layer. The substrate has an array region and a staircase region. The stack structure is disposed on the substrate. The stack structure includes a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of conductive layers stacked alternately. The pads are disposed on the substrate in the staircase region. The pads are respectively connected to the conductive layers, so as to form a staircase structure. The protective layer is disposed on the stack structure to contact a topmost conductive layer. A top surface of the protective layer adjacent to a topmost pad has a curved profile.

Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor device having a landing pad with spacers. The semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, a conductive pillar and spacers. The first insulating layer is disposed on a substrate. The second insulating layer is disposed on the first insulating layer. The conductive pillars are disposed in the first insulating layer and penetrates through the second insulating layer. The spacers are disposed on sidewalls of the conductive pillars.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming liner-free or barrier-free conductive structures. The method includes forming a liner-free conductive structure on a cobalt conductive structure disposed on a substrate, depositing a cobalt layer on the liner-free conductive structure and exposing the liner-free conductive structure to a heat treatment. The method further includes removing the cobalt layer from the liner-free conductive structure.

Abstract: A memory stack including interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers is formed by replacing, through a slit opening, sacrificial layers with conductive layers. A first source contact portion is formed in the slit opening. Simultaneously, a channel local contact opening is formed through a local dielectric layer to expose a channel structure, and a staircase local contact opening is formed through the local dielectric layer to expose one of the conductive layers at a staircase structure on an edge of the memory stack. Also, simultaneously, a channel local contact, a second source contact portion above a first source contact portion in the slit opening, and a staircase local contact are formed, respectively, in the channel local contact opening, the slit opening, and the staircase local contact opening.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, and associated systems and devices, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an opening in an insulative material at least partially over an electrically conductive feature. The method can further include forming a ring of electrically non-conductive material extending at least partially about a sidewall of the insulative material that defines the opening. The method can further include removing a portion of the ring to form an opening over the electrically conductive feature, and then depositing an electrically conductive material into the opening in the ring to form a conductive via electrically coupled to the electrically conductive feature.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to printed circuit boards or printed circuit board assemblies for fiber optic communications. In one example, an optoelectronic assembly may include a printed circuit board including a laser-roughened area, at least one optoelectronic component coupled to a surface of the printed circuit board, and an optical component attached to the printed circuit board. The coupling area may be defined by the optical component contacting the printed circuit board, and the laser-roughened area may be positioned entirely within the coupling area defined by the optical component contacting the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) interconnect lines having improved electromigration resistance. Multi-patterning may be employed to define a first mask pattern. The first mask pattern may be backfilled and further patterned based on a second mask layer through a process-based selective occlusion of openings defined in the second mask layer that are below a threshold minimum lateral width. Portions of material underlying openings defined in the second mask layer that exceed the threshold are removed. First trenches in an underlying dielectric material layer may be etched based on a union of the remainder of the first mask layer and the partially occluded second mask layer. The first trenches may then be backfilled with a first conductive material to form first line segments. Additional trenches in the underlayer may then be etched and backfilled with a second conductive material to form second line segments that are coupled together by the first line segments.

Abstract: Representative implementations of techniques and methods include chemical mechanical polishing for hybrid bonding. The disclosed methods include depositing and patterning a dielectric layer on a substrate to form openings in the dielectric layer, depositing a barrier layer over the dielectric layer and within a first portion of the openings, and depositing a conductive structure over the barrier layer and within a second portion of the openings not occupied by the barrier layer, at least a portion of the conductive structure in the second portion of the openings coupled or contacting electrical circuitry within the substrate. Additionally, the conductive structure is polished to reveal portions of the barrier layer deposited over the dielectric layer and not in the second portion of the openings. Further, the barrier layer is polished with a selective polish to reveal a bonding surface on or at the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) including an IC cell arranged in a row of IC cells, wherein the IC cells in the row have substantially the same height, wherein the IC cell includes a portion of an intercell metal interconnect terminating at the IC cell at a metal layer or extending entirely through the IC cell on the metal layer and electrically connecting together a pair of nodes of a pair of IC cells, respectively.

Abstract: Vias, along with methods for fabricating vias, are disclosed that exhibit reduced capacitance and resistance. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact disposed in a dielectric layer. The first source/drain contact physically contacts a first source/drain feature and the second source/drain contact physically contacts a second source/drain feature. A first via having a first via layer configuration, a second via having a second via layer configuration, and a third via having a third via layer configuration are disposed in the dielectric layer. The first via and the second via extend into and physically contact the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, respectively. A first thickness of the first via and a second thickness of the second via are the same. The third via physically contacts a gate structure, which is disposed between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor region, recessing the gate electrode to generate a recess, performing a first deposition process to form a first metallic layer on the gate electrode and in the recess, wherein the first deposition process is performed using a first precursor, and performing a second deposition process to form a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer using a second precursor different from the first precursor. The first metallic layer and the second metallic layer comprise a same metal. The method further incudes forming a dielectric hard mask over the second metallic layer, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the dielectric hard mask. The gate contact plug contacts a top surface of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, a cobalt-containing conductive feature, a non-cobalt conductive feature, a second dielectric layer, a first tungsten contact feature, a second tungsten contact feature, and a tungsten barrier layer. The cobalt-containing conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer. The non-cobalt conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer, and is spaced apart from the cobalt-containing conductive feature. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer. The first tungsten contact feature is disposed in the second dielectric layer, and is electrically connected to the cobalt-containing conductive feature. The second tungsten contact feature is disposed in the second dielectric layer, and is electrically connected to the non-cobalt conductive feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a conductor including tungsten (W) or molybdenum (Mo); a first film provided between the conductor and the semiconductor substrate and including titanium (Ti) and silicon (Si); an insulating layer surrounding the conductor; and a second film provided between the conductor and the insulating layer, surrounding the conductor, and including titanium (Ti) and nitrogen (N). A first distance between the semiconductor substrate and an end portion of the second film on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate is smaller than a second distance between the semiconductor substrate and an end portion of the conductor on a side opposite to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A switching device including a GaN substrate; an unintentionally doped GaN layer on a first surface of the GaN substrate; a regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer on the unintentionally doped GaN layer; a regrowth interface between the unintentionally doped GaN layer and the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a p-GaN layer on the regrown unintentionally doped GaN layer; a first electrode on the p-GaN layer; and a second electrode on a second surface of the GaN substrate.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a stacked structure, and a contact. The substrate includes a memory array region and a staircase region. The stacked structure is located on the substrate in the memory array region and the staircase region. The stacked structure includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked on each other. Each of the plurality of conductive layers includes a main body and an end part. The main body is located in the memory array region and extends to the staircase region. The end part is connected to the main body and is located in the staircase region. A thickness of the end part is greater than a thickness of the main body. The contact lands on and is connected to the end part.