Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical apparatus comprises forming a first waveguide on a dielectric substrate. The first waveguide extends in a direction of an optical path. The first waveguide comprises a monocrystalline semiconductor material and is doped with a first conductivity type. The method further comprises depositing a first dielectric layer on the first waveguide, etching a first opening that extends at least partly through the first dielectric layer, and forming a second waveguide at least partly overlapping the first waveguide along the direction. The second waveguide is doped with a different, second conductivity type. Forming the second waveguide comprises depositing a monocrystalline semiconductor material on the first dielectric layer, whereby the first opening is filled with the deposited monocrystalline semiconductor material.

Abstract: Aspects described herein include a method of fabricating an optical apparatus. The method comprises etching a plurality of trenches partly through a first optical waveguide formed in a first semiconductor layer, wherein a first ridge is formed in the first optical waveguide between adjacent trenches of the plurality of trenches. The method further comprises conformally depositing a spacer layer above the first optical waveguide, wherein spacers are formed on sidewalls of each trench of the plurality of trenches. The method further comprises etching through the spacer layer to expose a respective bottom of each trench, wherein, for each respective bottom, a width of the respective bottom is defined by the spacers formed on the sidewalls of the trench corresponding to the respective bottom. The method further comprises depositing a first dielectric layer above the first optical waveguide, wherein dielectric material extends to the respective bottom of each trench.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for an optical modulator, comprising: a lower guide, comprising: a lower hub, made of monocrystalline silicon; and a lower ridge, made of monocrystalline silicon that extends in a first direction from the lower hub; an upper guide, including: an upper hub; and an upper ridge, made of monocrystalline silicon that extends in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, from the upper hub and is aligned with the lower ridge; and a gate oxide layer separating the lower ridge from the upper ridge and defining a waveguide region with the lower guide and the upper guide.

Abstract: Devices and methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices for forming low resistivity interconnects are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor interconnect device having a substrate, a cap layer, and a dielectric matrix including a set of trenches and a set of vias; depositing a barrier layer along a top surface of the semiconductor interconnect device; depositing and annealing a metal interconnect material over a top surface of the barrier layer, wherein the metal interconnect material fills the set of trenches and the set of vias; planarizing a top surface of the intermediate semiconductor interconnect device; exposing a portion of the barrier layer between the set of trenches and the set of vias; and depositing a dielectric cap. Also disclosed is an intermediate device formed by the method.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical apparatus comprises forming a first waveguide on a dielectric substrate. The first waveguide extends in a direction of an optical path. The first waveguide comprises a monocrystalline semiconductor material and is doped with a first conductivity type. The method further comprises depositing a first dielectric layer on the first waveguide, etching a first opening that extends at least partly through the first dielectric layer, and forming a second waveguide at least partly overlapping the first waveguide along the direction. The second waveguide is doped with a different, second conductivity type. Forming the second waveguide comprises depositing a monocrystalline semiconductor material on the first dielectric layer, whereby the first opening is filled with the deposited monocrystalline semiconductor material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to cut margin structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a plurality of patterned hardmask stacks containing at least a semiconductor layer and a capping layer; removing a portion of a first patterned hardmask stack and a margin of an adjacent hardmask stack of the plurality of the patterned hardmask stacks; and selectively growing material on the margin of the adjacent hardmask stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to skip via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first wiring layer with one or more wiring structures; a second wiring layer with one or more wiring structures, located above the first wiring layer; a skip via with metallization, which passes through upper wiring levels including the second wiring layer and which makes contact with the one or more wiring structures of the first wiring layer; and a via structure which comprises a protective material and contacts at least one of the one or more wiring structures at the upper wiring level.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of protecting a structure of an integrated circuit (IC) from rework, and more particularly, to methods of protecting a structure of an IC without impacting the critical dimension or the profile of the structure. For example, a method of protecting a structure of an IC from rework may include forming a first layer on a second layer; forming one or more first openings in the first layer, the first openings exposing a top surface of the second layer; selectively growing a Group VIII metal within the one or more first openings, thereby forming one or more first plugs; forming one or more final openings in the first layer; and removing the one or more first plugs.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to overlay mark structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming an overlay mark within a layer of a stack of layers; increasing a density of an upper layer of the stack of layers, above the layer, the increased density protecting the overlay mark; and polishing the upper layer or one or more layers above the upper layer of the stack of layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to metal insulator metal capacitor devices and methods of manufacture. The method includes: depositing a bottom plate; depositing a dielectric film over the bottom plate; exposing the dielectric film to a gas; curing the dielectric film; and depositing a top plate over the dielectric film.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to metal interconnect structures for super (skip) via integration and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first wiring layer with one or more wiring structures; a second wiring layer including an interconnect and wiring structure; and at least one upper wiring layer with one or more via interconnect and wiring structures located above the second wiring layer. The one or more via interconnect and wiring structures partially including a first metal material and remaining portions with a conductive material over the first metal material. A skip via passes through the second wiring layer and extends to the one or more wiring structures of the first wiring layer. The skip via partially includes the metal material and remaining portions of the skip via includes the conductive material over the first metal material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure, the method including: forming a doped metal layer within a contact opening in an inter-level dielectric (ILD) material on a conductive region, such that the doped metal layer overlies the conductive region, the doped metal layer including a first metal doped with a second metal; and forming a contact to the conductive region within the contact opening of the ILD material by annealing the doped metal layer such that the second metal diffuses into the ILD material to form an interface liner directly between the annealed doped metal layer and the ILD material, the interface liner formed only on sidewalls of the contact opening and in direct contact with the ILD material and only at an interface of the doped metal layer and the ILD material.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a source/drain contact structure between two spaced-apart transistor gate structures, forming a non-uniform thickness layer of material on the upper surface of the gate cap layers and on the upper surface of the source/drain contact structure, wherein the non-uniform thickness layer of material is thicker above the gate cap layers than it is above the source/drain contact structure, forming an opening in the non-uniform thickness layer of material so as to expose at least a portion of the source/drain contact structure, and forming a V0 via that is conductively coupled to the exposed portion of the source/drain contact structure, the V0 via being at least partially positioned in the opening in the non-uniform thickness layer of material.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to via and skip via structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a first metallization layer with a first capping layer over the first metallization layer; forming a second metallization layer with a second capping layer over the second metallization layer; forming a partial skip via structure to the first metallization layer by removing a portion of the first capping layer and the second capping and depositing conductive material in an opening formed in the second metallization layer; forming a third capping layer over the filled partial skip via and the second capping layer; and forming a remaining portion of a skip via structure in alignment with the partial skip via structure by opening the third capping layer to expose the conductive material of the partial skip via.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of protecting a structure of an integrated circuit (IC) from rework, and more particularly, to methods of protecting a structure of an IC without impacting the critical dimension or the profile of the structure. For example, a method of protecting a structure of an IC from rework may include forming a first layer on a second layer; forming one or more first openings in the first layer, the first openings exposing a top surface of the second layer; selectively growing a Group VIII metal within the one or more first openings, thereby forming one or more first plugs; forming one or more final openings in the first layer; and removing the one or more first plugs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to fully aligned via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures formed in a dielectric material each of which comprises a recessed conductive material therein; at least one conductive structure formed in the dielectric material which is wider than the plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures; an etch stop layer over a surface of the dielectric layer with openings to expose the conductive material of the least one conductive structure and the recessed conductive material of a selected minimum ground rule conductive structure; and an upper conductive material fully aligned with and in direct electrical contact with the at least one conductive structure and the selected minimum ground rule conductive structure, through the openings of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to metal insulator metal capacitor devices and methods of manufacture. The method includes: depositing a bottom plate; depositing a dielectric film over the bottom plate; exposing the dielectric film to a gas; curing the dielectric film; and depositing a top plate over the dielectric film.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to fully aligned via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures formed in a dielectric material each of which comprises a recessed conductive material therein; at least one conductive structure formed in the dielectric material which is wider than the plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures; an etch stop layer over a surface of the dielectric layer with openings to expose the conductive material of the least one conductive structure and the recessed conductive material of a selected minimum ground rule conductive structure; and an upper conductive material fully aligned with and in direct electrical contact with the at least one conductive structure and the selected minimum ground rule conductive structure, through the openings of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to skip via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first wiring layer with one or more wiring structures; a second wiring layer with one or more wiring structures, located above the first wiring layer; a skip via with metallization, which passes through upper wiring levels including the second wiring layer and which makes contact with the one or more wiring structures of the first wiring layer; and a via structure which comprises a protective material and contacts at least one of the one or more wiring structures at the upper wiring level.

Abstract: An approach for forming a semiconductor device is provided. In general, the device is formed by providing a metal layer, a cap layer over the metal layer, and an ultra low k layer over the cap layer. A via is then formed through the ultra low k layer and the cap layer. Once the via is formed, a barrier layer (e.g., cobalt (Co), tantalum (Ta), cobalt-tungsten-phosphide (CoWP), or other metal capable of acting as a copper (CU) diffusion barrier) is selectively applied to a bottom surface of the via. A liner layer (e.g., manganese (MN) or aluminum (AL)) is then applied to a set of sidewalls of the via. The via may then be filled with a subsequent metal layer (with or without a seed layer), and the device may the then be further processed (e.g., annealed).