Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, a dielectric structure and a contact structure. The substrate has source/drain (S/D) regions. The gate structure is on the substrate and between the S/D regions. The dielectric structure covers the gate structure. The contact structure penetrates through the dielectric structure to connect to the S/D region. A lower portion of a sidewall of the contact structure is spaced apart from the dielectric structure by an air gap therebetween, while an upper portion of the sidewall of the contact structure is in contact with the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate. The method includes forming a gate structure over the substrate. The gate structure has a first sidewall. The method includes forming a spacer element over the first sidewall of the gate structure. The method includes forming a source/drain portion adjacent to the spacer element and the gate structure. The source/drain portion has a first top surface. The method includes depositing an etch stop layer over the first top surface of the source/drain portion. The etch stop layer is made of nitride. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer. The dielectric layer has a second sidewall and a bottom surface, the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the bottom surface, and the spacer element is in direct contact with the second sidewall.

Abstract: A semiconductor device a method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device includes a gate stack over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is over the gate stack. The first dielectric layer includes a first material. A second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer includes a second material different from the first material. A first conductive feature is adjacent the gate stack. A second conductive feature is over and in physical contact with a topmost surface of the first conductive feature. A bottommost surface of the second conductive feature is in physical contact with a topmost surface of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Metal-comprising resist layers (for example, metal oxide resist layers), methods for forming the metal-comprising resist layers, and lithography methods that implement the metal-comprising resist layers are disclosed herein that can improve lithography resolution. An exemplary method includes forming a metal oxide resist layer over a workpiece by performing deposition processes to form metal oxide resist sublayers of the metal oxide resist layer over the workpiece and performing a densification process on at least one of the metal oxide resist sublayers. Each deposition process forms a respective one of the metal oxide resist sublayers. The densification process increases a density of the at least one of the metal oxide resist sublayers. Parameters of the deposition processes and/or parameters of the densification process can be tuned to achieve different density profiles, different density characteristics, and/or different absorption characteristics to optimize patterning of the metal oxide resist layer.

Abstract: An organometallic precursor for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is provided. An organometallic precursor includes an aromatic di-dentate ligand, a transition metal coordinated to the aromatic di-dentate ligand, and an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) cleavable ligand coordinated to the transition metal. The aromatic di-dentate ligand includes a plurality of pyrazine molecules.

Abstract: An organometallic precursor for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is provided. An organometallic precursor includes a chemical formula of MaXbLc, where M is a metal, X is a multidentate aromatic ligand that includes a pyrrole-like nitrogen and a pyridine-like nitrogen, L is an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) cleavable ligand, a is between 1 and 2, b is equal to or greater than 1, and c is equal to or greater than 1.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, a dielectric structure and a contact structure. The substrate has source/drain (S/D) regions. The gate structure is on the substrate and between the S/D regions. The dielectric structure covers the gate structure. The contact structure penetrates through the dielectric structure to connect to the S/D region. A lower portion of a sidewall of the contact structure is spaced apart from the dielectric structure by an air gap therebetween, while an upper portion of the sidewall of the contact structure is in contact with the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure on the substrate, a source/drain (S/D) region and a contact. The S/D region is located in the substrate and on a side of the gate structure. The contact lands on and connected to the S/D region. The contact wraps around the S/D region.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a first gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a conductive layer formed over the first gate structure. The FinFET device structure includes a first capping layer formed over the conductive layer, and a top surface of the conductive layer is in direct contact with a bottom surface of the first capping layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure each extending from a substrate; a first gate segment over the first fin structure and a second gate segment over the second fin structure; a first isolation feature separating the first and second gate segments; a first source/drain (S/D) feature over the first fin structure and adjacent to the first gate segment; a second S/D feature over the second fin structure and adjacent to the second gate segment; and a second isolation feature also disposed in the trench. The first and second S/D features are separated by the second isolation feature, and a composition of the second isolation feature is different from a composition of the first isolation feature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate and forming a dehydrated film over the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form an exposed portion and an unexposed portion of the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is developed to remove the unexposed portion of the photoresist layer and a first portion of the dehydrated film over the unexposed portion of the photoresist layer. In an embodiment, the method includes etching the substrate by using the exposed portion of the photoresist layer as a mask.

Abstract: In a pattern formation method, a photoresist layer is formed over a substrate by combining a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor state to form a photoresist material. The first precursor is an organometallic having a formula MaRbXc, where M is one or more selected from the group consisting of Sn, Bi, Sb, In, and Te, R is an alkyl group that is substituted by different EDG and/or EWG, X is a halide or sulfonate group, and 1?a?2, b?1, c?1, and b+c?4. The second precursor is water, an amine, a borane, and/or a phosphine. The photoresist material is deposited over the substrate, and selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form a latent pattern, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.

Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions, lower source and drain contacts, a metal gate, a first interlayer dielectric layer, a capping layer, and an etch stop layer. The source and drain regions are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The lower source and drain contacts are disposed on the source and drain regions. The metal gate is disposed in between the lower source and drain contacts. The first interlayer dielectric layer encircles the metal gate and the lower source and drain contacts. The capping layer is disposed on the metal gate. The etch stop layer extends on the first interlayer dielectric layer. An etching selectivity for the etch stop layer over the capping layer is greater than 10.

Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin protruding higher than top surfaces of isolation regions. The isolation regions extend into a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the semiconductor fin is etched to form a trench, which extends lower than bottom surfaces of the isolation regions, and extends into the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes filling the trench with a first dielectric material to form a first fin isolation region, recessing the first fin isolation region to form a first recess, and filling the first recess with a second dielectric material. The first dielectric material and the second dielectric material in combination form a second fin isolation region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes forming a multilayer photoresist structure including a metal-containing photoresist over a substrate. The multilayer photoresist structure includes two or more metal-containing photoresist layers having different physical parameters. The metal-containing photoresist is a reaction product of a first precursor and a second precursor, and each layer of the multilayer photoresist structure is formed using different photoresist layer formation parameters. The different photoresist layer formation parameters are one or more selected from the group consisting of the first precursor, an amount of the first precursor, the second precursor, an amount of the second precursor, a length of time each photoresist layer formation operation, and heating conditions of the photoresist layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, including combining a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor state to form a photoresist material, and depositing the photoresist material over the substrate. A protective layer is formed over the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation through the protective layer to form a latent pattern in the photoresist layer. The protective layer is removed, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern in a photoresist layer includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, and reducing moisture or oxygen absorption characteristics of the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form a latent pattern, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes forming photoresist layer over substrate. Forming photoresist layer includes combining first precursor and second precursor in vapor state to form photoresist material, wherein first precursor is organometallic having formula: MaRbXc, where M at least one of Sn, Bi, Sb, In, Te, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Co, Mo, W, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, P, As, Y, La, Ce, Lu; R is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, carboxylate group; X is halide or sulfonate group; and 1?a?2, b?1, c?1, and b+c?5. Second precursor is at least one of an amine, a borane, a phosphine. Forming photoresist layer includes depositing photoresist material over the substrate. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form latent pattern, and the latent pattern is developed by applying developer to selectively exposed photoresist layer to form pattern.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure each extending from a substrate; a first gate segment over the first fin structure and a second gate segment over the second fin structure; a first isolation feature separating the first and second gate segments; a first source/drain (S/D) feature over the first fin structure and adjacent to the first gate segment; a second S/D feature over the second fin structure and adjacent to the second gate segment; and a second isolation feature also disposed in the trench. The first and second S/D features are separated by the second isolation feature, and a composition of the second isolation feature is different from a composition of the first isolation feature.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a differential contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a first portion over a source/drain region and a second portion along a gate stack, the source/drain region being in a substrate, the gate stack being over the substrate proximate the source/drain region, a first thickness of the first portion being greater than a second thickness of the second portion; depositing a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the differential CESL; forming a source/drain contact opening in the first ILD; forming a contact spacer along sidewalls of the source/drain contact opening; after forming the contact spacer, extending the source/drain contact opening through the differential CESL; and forming a first source/drain contact in the extended source/drain contact opening, the first source/drain contact physically and electrically coupling the source/drain region, the contact spacer physically separating the first source/drain contact from the first ILD.