Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate through which a first through-hole extends, and an interlayer insulating film on the substrate, the interlayer insulating film having a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole. A Through-Silicon Via (TSV) structure is provided in the first through-hole and the second through-hole. The TSV structure extends to pass through the substrate and the interlayer insulating film. The TSV structure comprises a first through-electrode portion having a top surface located in the first through-hole, and a second through-electrode portion having a bottom surface contacting with the top surface of the first through-electrode portion and extending from the bottom surface to at least the second through-hole. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a photoresist pattern having a side recess on a seed metal layer and forming a plating layer having a hem using a plating process to fill the side recess.

Abstract: Optical input/output (I/O) devices, which include a substrate including a trench, a waveguide within the trench of the substrate; and a photodetector within the trench and optically connected to the waveguide. An upper surface of the photodetector is at a same level as an upper surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: A photo-electric integrated circuit device comprises an on-die optical input/output device. The on-die optical input/output device comprises a substrate having a trench, a lower cladding layer disposed in the trench and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the substrate, and a core disposed on the lower cladding layer at a distance from sidewalls of the trench and having an upper surface at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Provided are electrode-connecting structures or semiconductor devices, including a lower device including a lower substrate, a lower insulating layer formed on the lower substrate, and a lower electrode structure formed in the lower insulating layer, wherein the lower electrode structure includes a lower electrode barrier layer and a lower metal electrode formed on the lower electrode barrier layer, and an upper device including an upper substrate, an upper insulating layer formed under the upper substrate, and an upper electrode structure formed in the upper insulating layer, wherein the upper electrode structure includes an upper electrode barrier layer extending from the inside of the upper insulating layer under a bottom surface thereof and an upper metal electrode formed on the upper electrode barrier layer. The lower metal electrode is in direct contact with the upper metal electrode.

Abstract: For forming a semiconductor device, a via structure is formed through at least one dielectric layer and at least a portion of a substrate. In addition, a protective buffer layer is formed onto the via structure. Furthermore, a conductive structure for an integrated circuit is formed over the substrate after forming the via structure and the protective buffer layer, with the conductive structure not being formed over the via structure. Thus, deterioration of the conductive and via structures is minimized.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a conductive pattern, a side spacer, and an air gap. The substrate includes an interlayer insulating layer and a trench penetrating the interlayer insulating layer. The conductive pattern is disposed within the trench of the substrate. The side spacer is disposed within the trench. The side spacer covers an upper side surface of the conductive pattern. The air gap is disposed within the trench. The air gap is bounded by a sidewall of the trench, the side spacer, and a lower side surface of the conductive pattern. A level of a bottom surface of the conductive pattern is lower than a level of bottom surfaces of the side spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: According to example embodiments, a method of forming micropatterns includes forming dummy patterns having first widths on a dummy region of a substrate, and forming cell patterns having second widths on an active line region of the substrate. The active line region may be adjacent to the dummy region and the second widths may be less than the first widths. The method may further include forming damascene metallization by forming a seed layer on the active line region and the dummy region, forming a conductive material layer on a whole surface of the substrate, and planarizing the conductive material layer to form metal lines.

Abstract: A fabricating method for a semiconductor device is provided. The fabricating method includes providing a first wafer, forming a sacrificial layer on the first wafer, forming a release layer on the sacrificial layer, forming an adhesive layer on the release layer, and placing a second wafer on the adhesive layer and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a top surface having a first contact, a bottom surface having a second contact, a via hole penetrating a substrate, an insulation layer structure on a sidewall of the via hole, the insulation layer structure having an air gap therein, a through electrode having an upper surface and a lower surface on the insulation layer structure, the through electrode filling the via hole and the lower surface being the second contact, and a metal wiring electrically connected to the upper surface of the through electrode and electrically connected to the first contact.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon based optical waveguide can include forming a silicon-on-insulator structure including a non-crystalline silicon portion and a single crystalline silicon portion of an active silicon layer in the structure. The non-crystalline silicon portion can be replaced with an amorphous silicon portion and maintaining the single crystalline silicon portion and the amorphous portion can be crystallized using the single crystalline silicon portion as a seed to form a laterally grown single crystalline silicon portion including the amorphous and single crystalline silicon portions.

Abstract: According to example embodiments, a method of forming micropatterns includes forming dummy patterns having first widths on a dummy region of a substrate, and forming cell patterns having second widths on an active line region of the substrate. The active line region may be adjacent to the dummy region and the second widths may be less than the first widths. The method may further include forming damascene metallization by forming a seed layer on the active line region and the dummy region, forming a conductive material layer on a whole surface of the substrate, and planarizing the conductive material layer to form metal lines.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the present invention are an oxidation-promoting compositions, methods of forming oxide layers, and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices. In some embodiments of the invention, the oxidation-promoting composition includes an oxidation-promoting agent having a structure of A-M-L, wherein L is a functional group that is chemisorbed to a surface of silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or metal, A is a thermally decomposable oxidizing functional group, and M is a moiety that allows A and L to be covalently bonded to each other.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate is loaded to a process chamber having, unit process sections in which unit processes are performed, respectively. The unit processes are performed on the substrate independently from one another at the unit process sections under a respective process pressure. The substrate sequentially undergoes the unit processes at the respective unit process section of the process chamber. Cleaning processes are individually performed to the unit process sections, respectively, when the substrate is transferred from each of the unit process sections and no substrate is positioned at the unit process sections. Accordingly, the process defects of the process units may be sufficiently prevented and the operation period of the manufacturing apparatus is sufficiently elongated.

Abstract: Semiconductor device including through via structure and redistribution structures is provided. The semiconductor device may include internal circuits on a first side of a substrate, a through via structure vertically penetrating the substrate to be electrically connected to one of the internal circuits, a redistribution structure on a second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the through via structure, and an insulating layer between the second side of the substrate and the redistribution structure. The redistribution structure may include a redistribution barrier layer and a redistribution metal layer, and the redistribution barrier layer may extend on a bottom surface of the redistribution metal layer and may partially surround a side of the redistribution metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure having a top surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion that is surrounded by the planar portion, and includes a conductive structure including a plurality of conductive lines contacting at least a part of the top surface of the via structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device including a through-silicon-via (TSV) structure and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The integrated circuit device may include the TSV structure penetrating through a semiconductor structure. The TSV structure may include a first through electrode unit including impurities of a first concentration and a second through electrode unit including impurities of a second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of three-dimensional capacitors on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the plurality of three-dimensional capacitors may include a first three-dimensional electrode, a capacitor dielectric layer, and a second three-dimensional electrode with the first three-dimensional electrode between the capacitor dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate and with the capacitor dielectric layer between the first and second three-dimensional electrodes. A plurality of capacitor support pads may be provided with each capacitor support pad being arranged between adjacent first three-dimensional electrodes of adjacent three-dimensional capacitors with portions of the capacitor dielectric layers between the capacitor support pads and the semiconductor substrate. Related methods and apparatuses are also discussed.

Abstract: The methods include forming a semiconductor substrate pattern by etching a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor pattern has a first via hole that exposes side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern, and the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole have an impurity layer pattern. The methods further include treating upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern, the treated upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern being hydrophobic; removing the impurity layer pattern from the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; forming a first insulating layer pattern on the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; and filling a first conductive layer pattern into the first via hole and over the first insulating layer pattern.