Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device including a self-aligned air spacer including the operations of forming a dummy gate, forming a sidewall on the dummy gate, forming a dummy layer on the sidewall, constructing a gate structure within an opening defined by the sidewall, removing at least a portion of the first dummy layer to form a first recess between the sidewall layer and the dummy gate, and capping the first recess to form a first air spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active area extending in a first direction over a substrate, the active area including at least one conductive path extending from a source region, through a channel region, to a drain region; and a gate dielectric on a surface of the at least one conductive path in the channel region. The semiconductor device also includes an isolating fin at a first side of the active area, the isolating fin having a first fin region having a first fin width adjacent to the source region, a second fin region having a second fin width adjacent to the channel region, and a third fin region having the first fin width adjacent to the drain region; and a gate electrode against the gate dielectric in the channel region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first nanostructure transistor having a first gate electrode and a second nanostructure transistor having a second gate electrode. A dielectric isolation structure is between the first and second gate electrodes. A gate connection metal is on a portion of the top surface of the first gate electrode and on a portion of a top surface of the second gate electrode. The gate connection metal is patterned to expose other portions of the top surfaces of the first and second gate electrodes adjacent to the dielectric isolation structure. A conductive via contacts the exposed portion of the top surface of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a nanosheet transistor having a plurality of stacked channels, a gate electrode surrounding the stacked channels, a source/drain region, and a source/drain contact. The integrated circuit includes a first dielectric layer between the gate metal and the source/drain contact, a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, and a cap metal on the first gate metal and on a hybrid fin structure. The second dielectric layer is on the hybrid fin structure between the cap metal and the source/drain contact.

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: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and nanostructures formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure also includes a gate structure wrapping around the nanostructures and a first dielectric feature separating the gate structure into a first portion and a second portion. The semiconductor structure also includes a metal layer formed over the gate structure. In addition, top surfaces of the first portion and the second portion of the gate structure and a top surface of the first dielectric feature are covered by the metal layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes an isolation layer formed around the first fin structure and covering a sidewall of the first fin structure and a gate stack formed over the first fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure and spaced apart from the gate stack and a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, the contact structure and the dielectric structure has a first slope interface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the contact structure to a top surface of the isolation layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack formed across the first fin structure and a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure adjacent to the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure and a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, a bottom surface of the contact structure is wider than a top surface of the contact structure.

Abstract: In forming a semiconductor structure, a two-step breakthrough etching method is employed in which a glue layer and dielectric liner are broken-through sequentially in order to successfully gain device performance and avoid drain or gate metal damage.

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.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first gate structure and a second gate structure aligned along a direction, a first metal layer disposed over the first gate structure, a second metal layer disposed over the second gate structure, and a gate isolation structure extending between the first gate structure and the second gate structure as well as between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode, a source/drain contact, a conductive structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, an etch stop layer, and a dielectric liner. The semiconductor substrate has a channel region and a source/drain region. The gate electrode is over the channel region. The source/drain contact is over the source/drain region. The conductive structure is over a top surface of the source/drain contact. The ILD layer surrounds the conductive structure and over the gate electrode. The etch stop layer is over the conductive structure and the ILD layer. The etch stop layer comprises a material different from that of the ILD layer. A dielectric liner at a sidewall the conductive structure. The dielectric liner extends from the top surface of the source/drain contact to a bottom surface of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first channel structure and a second channel structure over a substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first gate stack over the first channel structure, and the first gate stack has a first width. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second gate stack over the second channel structure. The second gate stack has a protruding portion extending away from the second channel structures. The protruding portion of the second gate stack has a second width, and half of the first width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduced contact resistance is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region and a source/drain region, a source/drain contact structure over the source/drain region, a conductive structure over the source/drain contact structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the conductive structure and source/drain contact structure, a dielectric liner between the ILD layer and the conductive structure, and a diffusion barrier between the dielectric liner and the conductive structure.

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.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first gate structure and a second gate structure aligned along a direction, a first metal layer disposed over the first gate structure, a second metal layer disposed over the second gate structure, and a gate isolation structure extending between the first gate structure and the second gate structure as well as between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate and a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; forming a source/drain region in the substrate and adjacent to the gate spacer; forming a first interlayer dielectric layer over the source/drain region; forming a protective layer over the gate stack and in contact with a top surface of the gate spacer; removing the first interlayer dielectric layer after forming the protective layer; forming an etch stop layer over the protective layer; forming a second interlayer dielectric layer over the etch stop layer; etching the second interlayer dielectric layer and the etch stop layer to form an opening that exposes a top surface of the protective layer; and forming a contact plug in the opening.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary manufacturing method includes providing a workpiece that includes a substrate, first channel members and second channel members over the substrate, a first gate structure engaging the first channel members, a second gate structure engaging the second channel members, a dielectric fin disposed between the first and second gate structures, an isolation feature disposed under the dielectric fin. The method also includes forming a metal cap layer at the frontside of the workpiece and depositing a dielectric feature on the dielectric fin. The dielectric feature dividing the metal cap layer into a first segment and a second segment. The method also includes etching the isolation feature to form a trench at the backside of the substrate, depositing a spacer on sidewalls of the trench, etching the dielectric fin from the trench, and depositing a seal layer in the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a transistor, a conductive feature on the transistor, a dielectric layer over the conductive feature, and an electrical connection structure in the dielectric layer and on the conductive feature. The electrical connection structure includes a first grain of a first metal material and a first inhibition layer extending along a grain boundary of the first grain of the first metal material, the first inhibition layer is made of a second metal material, and the first metal material and the second metal material have different oxidation/reduction potentials.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature on a substrate, forming a via that contacts the first conductive feature, the via comprising a conductive material, performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process to a top surface of the via, depositing an Interlayer Dielectric (ILD) layer on the via, forming a trench within the ILD layer to expose the via, and filling the trench with a second conductive feature that contacts the via, the second conductive feature comprising a same material as the conductive material.