Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnect structure includes a first metallization level including a first metal line having a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending a length in a first direction. A second metal line is adjacent to the first metal line and a dielectric is between the first metal line and the second metal line. A second metallization level is above the first metallization level where the second metallization level includes a third metal line extending a length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The third metal line extends over the first metal line and the second metal line but not beyond the first sidewall. A conductive via is between the first metal line and the third metal line where the conductive via does not extend beyond the first sidewall or beyond the second sidewall.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a trench may be formed in a dielectric surface, and the trenched may be lined with a liner. The trench may be filled with a metal, and the metal may be recessed below an opening of the trench. The liner may be converted into a dielectric, and a hard mask may be deposited into the trench.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maskless gap (for example, air gap) integration into multilayer interconnects having one or more interconnect lines (for example, metal interconnect lines) embedded in a dielectric layer of the interconnects are described. In various embodiments, the described systems and methods may serve to reduce electrical shorting between adjacent vias in the interconnects. In one embodiment, a spacer layer may be provided to mask portions of an interlayer dielectric (ILD) in the interconnect. These masked portions of the ILD can protect regions between adjacent interconnect lines (for example, metal interconnect lines) from electrical shorting during subsequent metal layer depositions, for example, during a fabrication sequence of the interconnects. Further, the vias may enclose a gap (for example, an air gap) without the need for additional masking steps. Further, such gaps may be inherently self-aligned to the vias and/or spacer layers.

Abstract: Advanced lithography techniques including sub-10 nm pitch patterning and structures resulting therefrom are described. Self-assembled devices and their methods of fabrication are described.

Abstract: Selective hardmask-based approaches for conductive via fabrication are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. The plurality of conductive lines includes alternating non-recessed conductive lines and recessed conductive lines. The non-recessed conductive lines are substantially co-planar with the ILD layer, and the recessed conductive lines are recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A dielectric capping layer is in recess regions above the recessed conductive lines. A hardmask layer is over the non-recessed conductive lines but not over the dielectric capping layer of the recessed conductive lines. The hardmask layer differs in composition from the dielectric capping layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the dielectric capping layer and on one of the recessed conductive lines. A portion of the conductive via is on a portion of the hardmask layer.

Abstract: An interconnect structure is disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a first line of interconnects and a second line of interconnects. The first line of interconnects and the second line of interconnects are staggered. The individual interconnects of the second line of interconnects are laterally offset from individual interconnects of the first line of interconnects. A dielectric material is adjacent to at least a portion of the individual interconnects of at least one of the first line of interconnects and the second line of interconnects.

Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) interconnect lines having improved electromigration resistance. Multi-patterning may be employed to define a first mask pattern. The first mask pattern may be backfilled and further patterned based on a second mask layer through a process-based selective occlusion of openings defined in the second mask layer that are below a threshold minimum lateral width. Portions of material underlying openings defined in the second mask layer that exceed the threshold are removed. First trenches in an underlying dielectric material layer may be etched based on a union of the remainder of the first mask layer and the partially occluded second mask layer. The first trenches may then be backfilled with a first conductive material to form first line segments. Additional trenches in the underlayer may then be etched and backfilled with a second conductive material to form second line segments that are coupled together by the first line segments.

Abstract: Techniques for selectively removing a metal or conductive material during processing of a semiconductor die for high-voltage applications are provided. In some embodiments, the techniques treat a metallized semiconductor die to transfer a feature from a patterned photoresist layer deposited on the metallized semiconductor die. In addition, the patterned metallized semiconductor die can be subjected to an etch process to remove an amount of metal according to the feature in the pattern, resulting in a treated metallized semiconductor die that defines an opening adjacent to at least a pair of neighboring metal interconnects in the die. The treated metallized semiconductor die can be further treated to backfill the opening with a dielectric material, resulting in a metallized semiconductor die having a backfilled dielectric member.

Abstract: Techniques related to multi-pass patterning lithography, device structures, and devices formed using such techniques are discussed. Such techniques include exposing a resist layer disposed over a grating pattern with non-reflecting radiation to generate an enhanced exposure portion within a trench of the grating pattern and developing the resist layer to form a pattern layer having a pattern structure within the trench of the grating pattern.

Abstract: An embodiment includes first, second, and third metal layers; first, second, and third metal lines included in the second metal layer; a layer including airgaps, the first metal layer being between the layer including airgaps and the second metal layer; a first void between the first and second metal lines and a second void between the second and third metal lines; a conformal layer between the first and second metal lines; an additional layer between the first and second metal layers; wherein the first void includes air and the second void includes air; wherein a first axis intersects the first, second, and third metal lines and the first and second voids; wherein a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis, intersects the conformal layer and the additional layer; wherein a third axis, orthogonal to the first axis, intersects the second metal line and the additional layer.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a dielectric material; a trench included in the dielectric material, the trench having first and second opposing sidewalls; wherein the trench includes: (a)(i) a first trench portion extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, (a)(ii) a second trench portion extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, and (a)(iii) a third trench portion extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall; wherein the second trench portion is between the first trench portion and the third trench portion; wherein the first trench portion is substantially filled with a first material, the second trench portion is substantially filled with a second material, and the third trench portion is substantially filled with a third material; wherein (b)(i) the first material includes nitrogen, and (b)(ii) the first material includes more nitrogen than the third material. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) structures, computing devices, and related methods are disclosed. An IC structure includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD), an interconnect, and a liner material separating the interconnect from the ILD. The interconnect includes a first end extending to or into the ILD and a second end opposite the first end. A second portion of the interconnect extending from the second end to a first portion of the interconnect proximate to the first end does not include the liner material thereon. A method of manufacturing an IC structure includes removing an ILD from between interconnects, applying a conformal hermetic liner, applying a carbon hard mask (CHM) between the interconnects, removing a portion of the CHM, removing the conformal hermetic liner to a remaining CHM, and removing the exposed portion of the liner material to the remaining CHM to expose the second portion of the interconnects.

Abstract: Passivating silicide-based approaches for conductive via fabrication is described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. Each of the plurality of conductive lines is recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A metal silicide layer is on the plurality of conductive lines, in recess regions above each of the plurality of conductive lines. A hardmask layer is on the metal silicide layer and on the uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the hardmask layer and on a portion of the metal silicide layer on one of the plurality of conductive lines.

Abstract: A computing device including tight pitch features and a method of fabricating a computing device using colored spacer formation is disclosed. The computing device includes a memory and an integrated circuit coupled to the memory. The integrated circuit includes a first multitude of features above a substrate. The integrated circuit die includes a second multitude of features above the substrate. The first multitude of features and the second multitude of features are same features disposed in a first direction. The first multitude of features interleave with the second multitude of features. The first multitude of features has a first size and the second multitude of features has a second size.

Abstract: Advanced lithography techniques including sub-10 nm pitch patterning and structures resulting therefrom are described. Self-assembled devices and their methods of fabrication are described.

Abstract: Selective hardmask-based approaches for conductive via fabrication are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. The plurality of conductive lines includes alternating non-recessed conductive lines and recessed conductive lines. The non-recessed conductive lines are substantially co-planar with the ILD layer, and the recessed conductive lines are recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A dielectric capping layer is in recess regions above the recessed conductive lines. A hardmask layer is over the non-recessed conductive lines but not over the dielectric capping layer of the recessed conductive lines. The hardmask layer differs in composition from the dielectric capping layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the dielectric capping layer and on one of the recessed conductive lines. A portion of the conductive via is on a portion of the hardmask layer.

Abstract: Pitch division patterning approaches with increased overlay margin for back end of line (BEOL) interconnect fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, a method includes forming a first plurality of conductive lines in a first sacrificial material formed above a substrate. The first plurality of conductive lines is formed along a direction of a BEOL metallization layer and is spaced apart by a pitch. The method also includes removing the first sacrificial material, forming a second sacrificial material adjacent to sidewalls of the first plurality of conductive lines, and then forming a second plurality of conductive lines adjacent the second sacrificial material. The second plurality of conductive lines is formed along the direction of the BEOL metallization layer, is spaced apart by the pitch, and is alternating with the first plurality of conductive lines. The method also includes removing the second sacrificial layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include interconnect structures with overhead vias and through vias that are self-aligned with interconnect lines and methods of forming such structures. In an embodiment, an interconnect structure is formed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD). One or more first interconnect lines may be formed in the ILD. The interconnect structure may also include one or more second interconnect lines in the ILD that arranged in an alternating pattern with the first interconnect lines. Top surfaces of each of the first and second interconnect lines may be recessed below a top surface of the ILD. The interconnect structure may include a self-aligned overhead via formed over one or more of the first interconnect lines or over one or more of the second interconnect lines. In an embodiment, a top surface of the self-aligned overhead via is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the ILD.

Abstract: A plurality of interconnect features are formed in an interconnect layer on a first insulating layer on a substrate. An opening in the first insulating layer is formed through at least one of the interconnect features. A gap fill layer is deposited in the opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maskless gap (for example, air gap) integration into multilayer interconnects having one or more interconnect lines (for example, metal interconnect lines) embedded in a dielectric layer of the interconnects are described. In various embodiments, the described systems and methods may serve to reduce electrical shorting between adjacent vias in the interconnects. In one embodiment, a spacer layer may be provided to mask portions of an interlayer dielectric (ILD) in the interconnect. These masked portions of the ILD can protect regions between adjacent interconnect lines (for example, metal interconnect lines) from electrical shorting during subsequent metal layer depositions, for example, during a fabrication sequence of the interconnects. Further, the vias may enclose a gap (for example, an air gap) without the need for additional masking steps. Further, such gaps may be inherently self-aligned to the vias and/or spacer layers.