Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of fin structures extending along a first direction, a plurality of gate structure segments positioned along a line extending in a second direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the gate structure segments are separated by dummy fin structures. The semiconductor structure further includes a conductive layer disposed over both the gate structure segments and the dummy fin structures to electrically connect at least some of the gate structure segments, and a cut feature aligned with one of the dummy fin structures and positioned to electrically isolate gate structure segments on both sides of the one of the dummy fin structures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a dummy structure having a plurality of channel layers, an inner spacer disposed between adjacent channels of the plurality of channel layers and at a lateral end of the channel layers, and a gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a metal layer interposing the plurality of channel layers. The dummy structure is disposed at an active edge adjacent to an active region. A metal gate etching process is performed to remove the metal layer from the gate structure while the gate dielectric layer remains disposed at a channel layer-inner spacer interface. After performing the metal gate etching process, a dry etching process is performed to form a cut region along the active edge. The gate dielectric layer disposed at the channel layer-inner spacer interface prevents the dry etching process from damaging a source/drain feature within the adjacent active region.

Abstract: A device includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric surrounding the gate electrode. The gate electrode surrounds a nanostructure. The nanostructure includes stacked nanosheets. The gate dielectric is formed by a high-k (HK) material. The HK material covers sidewalls of the gate electrode in a direction aligned to adjacent devices. Portions of the HK material are recessed from the sidewalls and refilled by a dielectric material with a dielectric constant less than the HK material and an electrical isolation capability greater than the HK material. Replacing the HK material over the sidewalls of the gate electrode with the dielectric material enhances electrical isolation between the gate electrode with adjacent contacts. Consequently, it can reduce electrical leakage between metal gate (MG) contacts and metal-to-device (MD) contacts in scaled transistors of an integrated circuit (IC).

Abstract: A device includes: a first vertical stack of nanostructures over a substrate; a second vertical stack of nanostructures over the substrate; a first source/drain region abutting the first vertical stack of nanostructures; a second source/drain region abutting the second vertical stack of nanostructures; a first gate structure wrapping around the nanostructures of the first vertical stack; a second gate structure wrapping around the nanostructures of the second vertical stack; a dielectric layer over the first and second source/drain regions; and an isolation structure that extends from an upper surface of the dielectric layer to a level below upper surfaces of the first and second source/drain regions, the isolation structure being between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first metal feature over the substrate, first and second spacers, a first dielectric layer, and a second metal feature. The first and second spacers are on opposite sidewalls of the conductive feature, respectively. The first dielectric layer is in contact with the first spacer, in which a top surface of the protection layer is higher than a top surface of the first spacer. The second metal feature is electrically connected to the first metal structure and in contact with a top surface and a sidewall of the protection layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first, second, and third gate electrode layers, a first dielectric feature disposed between the first and second gate electrode layers, a second dielectric feature disposed between the second and third gate electrode layers, a first seed layer in contact with the first gate electrode layer, the first dielectric feature, and the second gate electrode layer, a first conductive layer disposed on the first seed layer, a second seed layer in contact with the third gate electrode layer, a second conductive layer disposed on the second seed layer, and a dielectric material disposed on the second dielectric feature, the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer. The dielectric material is between the first seed layer and the second seed layer and between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a gate cut feature adjacent the gate structure, a source/drain contact isolation feature adjacent the source/drain contact, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate cut feature and a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact isolation feature and a sidewall of the source/drain contact; and an air gap sandwiched between the spacer and the liner. The gate cut feature and the source/drain contact isolation feature are separated by the spacer, the air gap and the liner.

Abstract: A method includes a gate structure, gate spacers, a gate helmet, a metal cap, and a gate contact. The gate structure is over a substrate. The gate spacers are on either side of the gate structure. The gate helmet is over the gate structure and the gate spacers. The metal cap is in the gate helmet over the gate structure. The gate contact is over the metal cap. The gate contact forms an interface with the metal cap at a different level height than top segments of the gate spacers.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having two fins extending from a substrate; an isolation structure isolating bottom portions of the fins; source/drain (S/D) features over each of the fins; a dielectric fin oriented lengthwise parallel to the fins and disposed between the two fins and over the isolation structure; a dummy gate stack over the isolation structure, the fins, and the dielectric fin; and one or more dielectric layers over sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The method further includes removing the dummy gate stack to result in a gate trench within the one or more dielectric layers, wherein the dielectric fin is exposed in the gate trench; trimming the dielectric fin to reduce a width of the dielectric fin; and after the trimming, forming a high-k metal gate in the gate trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a contact over a source/drain region of a fin structure, a gate stack over a channel region of the fin structure, a first mask layer covering the gate stack, and a second mask layer covering the contact. A side surface of the first mask layer is direct contact with a side surface of the second mask layer, and the first mask layer includes a portion directly below the second mask layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate over a substrate. A first gate spacer is formed on a sidewall of the dummy gate. The dummy gate is replaced with a gate structure. A top portion of the first spacer is removed. After the top portion of the first spacer is removed, a second spacer is over the first spacer. The second spacer has a stepped bottom surface with an upper step in contact with a top surface of the first spacer and a lower step lower than the top surface of the first spacer. A contact plug is formed contacting the gate structure and the second spacer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact, a gate contact via over and electrically coupled to the gate structure, and a source/drain contact via over and electrically coupled to the source/drain contact. The gate contact via extends through a first dielectric layer such that a portion of the first dielectric layer interposes between the gate contact via and the spacer. The source/drain contact via extends through a second dielectric layer such that a portion of the second dielectric layer interposes between the source/drain contact via and the liner.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a dummy structure having a plurality of channel layers, an inner spacer disposed between adjacent channels of the plurality of channel layers and at a lateral end of the channel layers, and a gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a metal layer interposing the plurality of channel layers. The dummy structure is disposed at an active edge adjacent to an active region. A metal gate etching process is performed to remove the metal layer from the gate structure while the gate dielectric layer remains disposed at a channel layer-inner spacer interface. After performing the metal gate etching process, a dry etching process is performed to form a cut region along the active edge. The gate dielectric layer disposed at the channel layer-inner spacer interface prevents the dry etching process from damaging a source/drain feature within the adjacent active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack and a contact over a fin structure, a gate spacer layer between the gate stack and the contact, a first mask layer over the gate stack, and a second mask layer over the contact. The first mask layer includes a protruding portion sandwiched between an upper portion of the second mask layer and the gate spacer layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a gate cut feature adjacent the gate structure, a source/drain contact isolation feature adjacent the source/drain contact, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate cut feature and a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact isolation feature and a sidewall of the source/drain contact; and an air gap sandwiched between the spacer and the liner. The gate cut feature and the source/drain contact isolation feature are separated by the spacer, the air gap and the liner.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a first source/drain contact plug over and electrically coupling to a source/drain region of a transistor, forming a first dielectric hard mask overlapping a gate stack, recessing the first source/drain contact plug to form a first recess, forming a second dielectric hard mask in the first recess, recessing an inter-layer dielectric layer to form a second recess, and forming a third dielectric hard mask in the second recess. The third dielectric hard mask contacts both the first dielectric hard mask and the second dielectric hard mask.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate over a substrate. A first gate spacer is formed on a side of the dummy gate. The dummy gate is replaced with a gate structure, such that that first gate spacer is on a side of the gate structure. The gate structure is etched back. After etching back the gate structure, a top portion of the first gate spacer is removed. A second gate spacer is formed over a remaining portion of the first gate spacer. After forming the second gate spacer, a dielectric cap is formed over the gate structure.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a gate structure over a substrate; forming a gate helmet to cap the gate structure; forming a source/drain contact on the substrate; depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate helmet and the source/drain contacts, and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the CESL; performing a first etching process to form a gate contact opening extending through the ILD layer, the CESL and the gate helmet to the gate structure; forming a metal cap in the gate contact opening; with the metal cap in the gate contact opening, performing a second etching process to form a source/drain via opening extending through the ILD layer, the CESL to the source/drain contact; and after forming the source/drain via opening, forming a gate contact over the metal cap and a source/drain via over the source/drain contact.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact, a gate contact via over and electrically coupled to the gate structure, and a source/drain contact via over and electrically coupled to the source/drain contact. The gate contact via extends through a first dielectric layer such that a portion of the first dielectric layer interposes between the gate contact via and the spacer. The source/drain contact via extends through a second dielectric layer such that a portion of the second dielectric layer interposes between the source/drain contact via and the liner.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a fin disposed over a substrate, a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the fin, such that the gate structure traverses source/drain regions of the fin, a device-level interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer of a multi-layer interconnect structure disposed over the substrate, wherein the device-level ILD layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer disposed over the second dielectric layer, wherein a material of the third dielectric layer is different than a material of the second dielectric layer and a material of the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further comprises a gate contact to the gate structure disposed in the device-level ILD layer and a source/drain contact to the source/drain regions disposed in the device-level ILD layer.