Abstract: A semiconductor device with isolation structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second FETs, an isolation structure, and a conductive structure. The first FET includes a first fin structure, a first array of gate structures disposed on the first fin structure, and a first array of S/D regions disposed on the first fin structure. The second FET includes a second fin structure, a second array of gate structures disposed on the second fin structure, and a second array of S/D regions disposed on the second fin structure. The isolation structure includes a fill portion and a liner portion disposed between the first and second FETs and in physical contact with the first and second arrays of gate structures. The conductive structure is disposed in the liner portion and conductively coupled to a S/D region of the second array of S/D regions.

Abstract: A method includes loading a wafer into a sputtering chamber, followed by depositing a film over the wafer by performing a sputtering process in the sputtering chamber. In the sputtering process, a target is bombarded by ions that are applied with a magnetic field using a magnetron. The magnetron includes a magnetic element over the target, an arm assembly connected to the magnetic element, a hinge mechanism connecting the arm assembly and a rotational shaft. The arm assembly includes a first prong and a second prong at opposite sides of the hinge mechanism. The magnetron further includes a controller that controls motion of the first arm assembly, enabling the first prong to revolve in an orbital motion path about the first hinge mechanism while the second prong remains stationary.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that includes forming a first two-dimensional (2D) layer on a first substrate and attaching a second 2D layer to a carrier film. The method also includes bonding the second 2D layer to the first 2D layer to form a heterostack including the first and second 2D layers. The method further includes separating the first 2D layer of the heterostack from the first substrate and attaching the heterostack to a second substrate. The method further includes removing the carrier film from the second 2D layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a substrate, an interconnect structure, metal lines, a liner, a protecting layer, and a nitride-free passivation layer. The interconnect structure is over the substrate. The metal lines are over the interconnect structure. The liner is conformally formed on the metal lines. The protecting layer is over the liner. The nitride-free passivation layer continuously extends from the liner to the protecting layer and forms an interface with the liner.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer system includes: searching leakage current values of associated with cell abutment cases which are associated with terminal types of abutted cells of a semiconductor device; determining leakage probabilities according to the cell abutment cases; calculating expected boundary leakages between the abutted cells based on the leakage probabilities and the leakage current values; and generating a layout of the semiconductor device according to the expected boundary leakages. Two of the leakage probabilities correspond to two of the cell abutment cases, respectively, and the two of the leakage probabilities are different from each other when the two of the cell abutment cases are different from each other.

Abstract: A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a bias generator, an ESD driver, and a logic circuit. The bias generator includes a first transistor. The ESD driver includes a second transistor and a third transistor coupled to each other in series. The logic circuit is configured to generate a logic control signal. When the first transistor is turned on by a detection signal, the first transistor is turned off.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure, source/drain regions, source/drain contacts, a gate dielectric cap, an etch stop layer, and a gate contact. The gate structure is over a substrate. The source/drain regions are at opposite sides of the gate structure. The source/drain contacts are over the source/drain regions, respectively. The gate dielectric cap is over the gate structure and has opposite sidewalls interfacing the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for forming source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures with a hexagonal shape. The method includes forming a fin structure that includes a first portion and a second portion proximate to the first portion, forming a gate structure on the first portion of the fin structure, and recessing the second portion of the fin structure. The method further includes growing a S/D epitaxial structure on the recessed second portion of the fin structure, where growing the S/D epitaxial structure includes exposing the recessed second portion of the fin structure to a precursor and one or more reactant gases to form a portion of the S/D epitaxial structure. Growing the S/D epitaxial structure further includes exposing the portion of the S/D structure to an etching chemistry and exposing the portion of the S/D epitaxial structure to a hydrogen treatment to enhance growth of the S/D epitaxial structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that includes forming a fin protruding from a substrate, the fin including a first sidewall and a second sidewall formed opposite to the first sidewall. The method also includes depositing a shallow-trench isolation (STI) material on the substrate. Depositing the STI material includes depositing a first portion of the STI material in contact with the first sidewall and depositing a second portion of the STI material in contact with the second sidewall. The method also includes performing a first etching process on the STI material to etch the first portion of the STI material at a first etching rate and the second portion of the STI material at a second etching rate greater than the first etching rate. The method also includes performing a second etching process on the STI material to etch the first portion of the STI material at a third etching rate and the second portion of the STI material at a fourth etching rate less than the third etching rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a structure with front and back side power supply interconnects. The structure includes a transistor structure disposed in a substrate, where the transistor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) region. The structure also includes a front side power supply line above a top surface of the substrate, wherein the front side power supply line is electrically connected to a power supply metal line. The structure further includes a back side power supply line below a bottom surface of the substrate. A front side metal via electrically connects the front side power supply line to a front surface of the S/D region. A back side metal via electrically connects the back side power supply line to a back surface of the S/D region.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a structure with passivation layers with rounded corners and a method for forming such a structure. The method includes forming a first insulating layer on a substrate, where the substrate includes a first conductive structure. The method further includes forming an opening in the first insulating layer to expose the first conductive structure and forming a second conductive structure on the first insulating layer, where the second conductive structure is in contact with the first conductive structure through the opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a power supply switch that includes a voltage generator, a switch circuit, and a confirmation circuit. The voltage generator is configured to compare a first power supply voltage to a second power supply voltage and to output the first power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage as a bulk voltage (Vbulk). The switch circuit includes one or more transistors and is configured to (i) bias bulk terminals of the one or more transistors with the Vbulk and (ii) output either the first power supply voltage or the second power supply voltage as a voltage output signal. The confirmation circuit is configured to output a confirmation signal that indicates whether the voltage output signal transitioned from the first power supply voltage to the second power supply voltage.

Abstract: A sensor array includes a semiconductor substrate, a first plurality of FET sensors and a second plurality of FET sensors. Each of the FET sensors includes a channel region between a source and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate and underlying a gate structure disposed on a first side of the channel region, and a dielectric layer disposed on a second side of the channel region opposite from the first side of the channel region. A first plurality of capture reagents is coupled to the dielectric layer over the channel region of the first plurality of FET sensors, and a second plurality of capture reagents is coupled to the dielectric layer over the channel region of the second plurality of FET sensors. The second plurality of capture reagents is different from the first plurality of capture reagents.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with doped shallow trench isolation (STI) structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a superlattice structure with first and second nanostructured layers arranged in an alternating configuration on the fin structure, depositing an oxide liner surrounding the superlattice structure and the fin structure in a first deposition process, forming a dopant source liner on the oxide liner, depositing an oxide fill layer on the dopant source liner in a second deposition process different from the first deposition process, performing a doping process to form a doped oxide liner and a doped oxide fill layer, removing portions of the doped oxide liner, the doped oxide fill layer, and the dopant source liner from sidewalls of the superlattice structure, and forming a gate structure on the fin structure and surrounding the first nanostructured layers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes integrated circuit includes a memory bank, a first group of word lines, a second group of word lines, an access circuit, a converter circuit and a decoder circuit. The first group of word lines is coupled to the memory bank. The second group of word lines is coupled to the memory bank, and arranged in order with the first group of word lines. The access circuit is configured to read the memory bank. The converter circuit is configured to control the access circuit at least based on a first control signal. The decoder circuit is configured to generate the first control signal at least according to a first bit and a second bit of an address signal. The first bit and the second bit indicates one group of the first group of word lines and the second group of word lines.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with fin structures having different top surface crystal orientations and/or different materials. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure including n-type FinFET devices and p-type FinFET devices with different top surface crystal orientations and with fin structures having different materials. The present disclosure provides a method to fabricate a semiconductor structure including n-type FinFET devices and p-type FinFET devices with different top surface crystal orientations and different materials to achieve optimized electron transport and hole transport. The present disclosure also provides a diode structure and a bipolar junction transistor structure that includes SiGe in the fin structures.

Abstract: A method of using a polishing system includes securing a wafer in a carrier head, the carrier head including a housing enclosing the wafer, in which the housing includes a retainer ring recess and a retainer ring positioned in the retainer ring recess, the retainer ring surrounding the wafer, in which the retainer ring includes a main body portion and a bottom portion connected to the main body portion, and a bottom surface of the bottom portion includes at least one first engraved region and a first non-engraved region adjacent to the first engraved region; pressing the wafer against a polishing pad; and moving the carrier head or the polishing pad relative to the other.

Abstract: A memory device includes a transistor, an anti-fuse element, a source/drain contact, a first gate via, and a second gate via. The transistor is over a substrate. The anti-fuse element is over the substrate and is connected to the transistor in series. The source/drain contact is connected to a source/drain region of the transistor. The first gate via is connected to a first gate structure of the transistor. The first gate structure of the transistor extends along a first direction in a top view. The second gate via is connected to a second gate structure of the anti-fuse element. The second gate via is between the first gate via and the source/drain contact along the first direction in the top view.

Abstract: A method includes forming a SiGe layer over a substrate. A silicon layer is formed over the SiGe layer. The silicon layer and the SiGe layer are patterned to form a fin structure over the substrate. The fin structure includes a remaining portion of the SiGe layer and a remaining portion of the silicon layer over the remaining portion of the SiGe layer. A semiconductive capping layer is formed to cover the fin structure. A top portion of the semiconductive capping layer and the remaining portion of the silicon layer are oxidized to form an oxide layer covering the fin structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon germanium channel, a germanium-free interfacial layer, a high-k dielectric layer, and a metal gate electrode. The silicon germanium channel is over a substrate. The germanium-free interfacial layer is over the silicon germanium channel. The germanium-free interfacial layer is nitridated. The high-k dielectric layer is over the germanium-free interfacial layer. The metal gate electrode is over the high-k dielectric layer.