Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure over a fin structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a source/drain structure in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a first contact plug over the source/drain structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a first via plug over the first contact plug. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric layer surrounding the first via plug. The first via plug includes a first group IV element and the dielectric layer includes the first group IV element and a second group IV element.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming an ultra-shallow junction having high dopant concentration and low contact resistance in a p-type source/drain region. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain region in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain region comprising germanium, performing an ion implantation process using gallium (Ga) to form an amorphous region in the source/drain region, performing an ion implantation process using a dopant into the amorphous region, and subjecting the amorphous region to a thermal process.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using an implantation process and a melting anneal process performed on a nanosecond scale to achieve a high surface concentration (surface pile up) dopant profile and a retrograde dopant profile simultaneously. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain structure in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain structure including a first region comprising germanium, implanting a first dopant into the first region of the source/drain structure to form an amorphous region in at least the first region of the source/drain structure, implanting a second dopant into the amorphous region containing the first dopant, and heating the source/drain structure to liquidize and convert at least the amorphous region into a crystalline region, the crystalline region containing the first dopant and the second dopant.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure, a source/drain structure, a first contact plug and a first via plug. The gate structure is positioned over a fin structure. The source/drain structure is positioned in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The first contact plug is positioned over the source/drain structure. The first via plug is positioned over the first contact plug. The first via plug includes a first group IV element.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method also includes generating and applying plasma on an entire exposed surface of the epitaxial structure to form a modified region in the epitaxial structure. The plasma is directly applied on the source/drain structure without being filtered out, and the plasma includes ions with different charges. The method further includes forming a metal layer on the modified region and heating the metal layer and the modified region to form a metal-semiconductor compound region.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using an implantation process and a melting anneal process performed on a nanosecond scale to achieve a high surface concentration (surface pile up) dopant profile and a retrograde dopant profile simultaneously. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain structure in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain structure including a first region comprising germanium, implanting a first dopant into the first region of the source/drain structure to form an amorphous region in at least the first region of the source/drain structure, implanting a second dopant into the amorphous region containing the first dopant, and heating the source/drain structure to liquidize and convert at least the amorphous region into a crystalline region, the crystalline region containing the first dopant and the second dopant.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate stack over the fin structure. The method also includes forming an epitaxial structure over the fin structure. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer over the epitaxial structure and forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the epitaxial structure. In addition, the method includes forming a modified region in the epitaxial structure. The modified region has lower crystallinity than an inner portion of the epitaxial structure and extends along an entirety of an exposed surface of the epitaxial structure. The method also includes forming a semiconductor-metal compound region on the epitaxial structure. All or some of the modified region is transformed into the semiconductor-metal compound region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming an ultra-shallow junction having high dopant concentration and low contact resistance in a p-type source/drain region. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain region in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain region comprising germanium, performing an ion implantation process using gallium (Ga) to form an amorphous region in the source/drain region, performing an ion implantation process using a dopant into the amorphous region, and subjecting the amorphous region to a thermal process.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using an implantation process and a melting anneal process performed on a nanosecond scale to achieve a high surface concentration (surface pile up) dopant profile and a retrograde dopant profile simultaneously. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain structure in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain structure including a first region comprising germanium, implanting a first dopant into the first region of the source/drain structure to form an amorphous region in at least the first region of the source/drain structure, implanting a second dopant into the amorphous region containing the first dopant, and heating the source/drain structure to liquidize and convert at least the amorphous region into a crystalline region, the crystalline region containing the first dopant and the second dopant.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming an ultra-shallow junction having high dopant concentration and low contact resistance in a p-type source/drain region. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain region in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain region comprising germanium, performing an ion implantation process using gallium (Ga) to form an amorphous region in the source/drain region, performing an ion implantation process using a dopant into the amorphous region, and subjecting the amorphous region to a thermal process.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming an ultra-shallow junction having high dopant concentration and low contact resistance in a p-type source/drain region. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain region in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain region comprising germanium, performing an ion implantation process using gallium (Ga) to form an amorphous region in the source/drain region, performing an ion implantation process using a dopant into the amorphous region, and subjecting the amorphous region to a thermal process.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure, a source/drain structure, a dielectric layer, a contact plug. The gate structure is positioned over a fin structure. The source/drain structure is positioned in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The dielectric layer is positioned over the gate structure and the source/drain structure. The contact plug is positioned passing through the dielectric layer. The contact plug includes a first metal compound including one of group III elements, group IV elements, group V elements or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to doping for conductive features in a semiconductor device. In an example, a structure includes an active region of a transistor. The active region includes a source/drain region, and the source/drain region is defined at least in part by a first dopant having a first dopant concentration. The source/drain region further includes a second dopant with a concentration profile having a consistent concentration from a surface of the source/drain region into a depth of the source/drain region. The consistent concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration. The structure further includes a conductive feature contacting the source/drain region at the surface of the source/drain region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to doping for conductive features in a semiconductor device. In an example, a structure includes an active region of a transistor. The active region includes a source/drain region, and the source/drain region is defined at least in part by a first dopant having a first dopant concentration. The source/drain region further includes a second dopant with a concentration profile having a consistent concentration from a surface of the source/drain region into a depth of the source/drain region. The consistent concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration. The structure further includes a conductive feature contacting the source/drain region at the surface of the source/drain region.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming an ultra-shallow junction having high dopant concentration and low contact resistance in a p-type source/drain region. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain region in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain region comprising germanium, performing an ion implantation process using gallium (Ga) to form an amorphous region in the source/drain region, performing an ion implantation process using a dopant into the amorphous region, and subjecting the amorphous region to a thermal process.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate stack over the fin structure. The method also includes forming an epitaxial structure over the fin structure. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer over the epitaxial structure and forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the epitaxial structure. In addition, the method includes forming a modified region in the epitaxial structure. The modified region has lower crystallinity than an inner portion of the epitaxial structure and extends along an entirety of an exposed surface of the epitaxial structure. The method also includes forming a semiconductor-metal compound region on the epitaxial structure. All or some of the modified region is transformed into the semiconductor-metal compound region.