Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) with through-circuit vias (TCVs) and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The IC includes a semiconductor device, first and second interconnect structures disposed on first and second surfaces of the semiconductor device, respectively, first and second inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layers disposed on front and back surfaces of the substrate, respectively, and a TCV disposed within the first and second interconnect structures, the first and second ILD layers, and the substrate. The TCV is spaced apart from the semiconductor device by a portion of the substrate and portions of the first and second ILD layers. A first end of the TCV, disposed over the front surface of the substrate, is connected to a conductive line of the first interconnect structure and a second end of the TCV, disposed over the back surface of the substrate, is connected to a conductive line of the second interconnect structure.

Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to a repellent electrode used in a source arc chamber of an ion implanter. The repellent electrode includes a shaft and a repellent body having a repellent surface. The repellent surface has a surface shape that substantially fits the shape of the inner chamber space of the source arc chamber where the repellent body is positioned. A gap between the edge of the repellent body and the inner sidewall of the source arc chamber is minimized to a threshold level that is maintained to avoid a short between the conductive repellent body and the conductive inner sidewall of the source arc chamber.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of semiconductor regions on a wafer, placing the wafer in an etching chamber, globally heating the wafer using a heating source, and projecting a laser beam on the wafer. When the wafer is heated by both of the heating source and the laser beam, the plurality of semiconductor regions on the wafer are etched.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature disposed in a semiconductor layer, a metal gate stack (MG) disposed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer and adjacent to the S/D feature, a second ILD layer disposed over the MG, and an S/D contact disposed over the S/D feature. The semiconductor structure further includes an air gap disposed between a sidewall of a bottom portion of the S/D contact and the first ILD layer, where a sidewall of a top portion of the S/D contact is in direct contact with the second ILD layer.

Abstract: A pad conditioner for conditioning a polishing surface of a polishing pad includes a conditioning disk, a disk holder, and a disk arm. The conditioning disk includes a substrate plate and at least two abrasive segments. The conditioning disk includes at least one channel by which debris and spent slurry may be evacuated. The abrasive segments are on a surface of the substrate plate, and form at least one channel segment therebetween. Each channel segment extends from about the center of the surface to substantially the outer rim of the substrate plate. The disk holder to which the conditioning disk is mounted includes a through hole. The disk arm to which the conditioning disk is mounted includes an opening in fluid communication with the at least one channel segment via the through hole for evacuating the debris and spent slurry by a vacuum module.

Abstract: A device includes a first package connected to an interconnect substrate, wherein the interconnect substrate includes conductive routing; and a second package connected to the interconnect substrate, wherein the second package includes a photonic layer on a substrate, the photonic layer including a silicon waveguide coupled to a grating coupler and to a photodetector; a via extending through the substrate; an interconnect structure over the photonic layer, wherein the interconnect structure is connected to the photodetector and to the via; and an electronic die bonded to the interconnect structure, wherein the electronic die is connected to the interconnect structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate at a front side of the integrated circuit. A first gate all around transistor is disposed on the substrate. The first gate all around transistor includes a channel region including at least one semiconductor nanostructure, source/drain regions arranged at opposite sides of the channel region, and a gate electrode. A shallow trench isolation region extends into the integrated circuit from the backside. A backside gate plug extends into the integrated circuit from the backside and contacts the gate electrode of the first gate all around transistor. The backside gate plug laterally contacts the shallow trench isolation region at the backside of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of photodiode regions within a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of transistors, a plurality of deep trench isolation (DTI) structures, and a plurality of isolation structures. The transistors are over a front-side surface of the semiconductor substrate. The DTI structures extend a first depth from a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The isolation structures extend a second depth from the backside surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The second depth is less than the first depth. From a plan view, each of the plurality of isolation structures has a triangular profile at the backside surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A package includes a package substrate including an insulating layer having a trench and a package component bonded to the package substrate. The package component includes a redistribution structure, an optical die bonded to the redistribution structure, the optical die including an edge coupler near a first sidewall of the optical die, a dam structure on the redistribution structure near the first sidewall of the optical die, a first underfill between the optical die and the redistribution structure, an encapsulant encapsulating the optical die, and an optical glue in physical contact with the first sidewall of the optical die. The first underfill does not extend along the first sidewall of the optical die. The optical glue separates the dam structure from the encapsulant. The package further includes a second underfill between the insulating layer and the package component. The second underfill is partially disposed in the trench.

Abstract: A method includes: coupling a first gate to a first word line through a first gate via, wherein the first gate extends along a first direction; coupling the first gate to a second word line through a second gate via, wherein each of the first gate, a second gate, the first gate via and the second gate via is disposed on a first active area which extends along the second direction, wherein the second gate extends along the first direction and is separated from the first gate along a second direction; coupling the first active area to a first bit line through a first conductive via; and aligning the first gate via, the second gate via and the a first conductive via with each other along the second direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture are provided. In embodiments the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first interposer bonded to the substrate, a second interposer bonded to the substrate, a bridge component electrically connecting the first interposer to the second interposer, two or more first dies bonded to the first interposer; and two or more second dies bonded to the second interposer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures with a gate structure having different profiles at different portions of the gate structure may include a fin structure on a substrate, a source/drain structure on the fin structure, and a gate structure over the fin structure and along a sidewall of the fin. The source/drain structure is proximate the gate structure. The gate structure has a top portion having a first sidewall profile and a bottom portion having a second sidewall profile different from the first sidewall profile.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a first passivation layer over the contact feature, a bottom conductor plate layer disposed over the first passivation layer and including a first plurality of sublayers, a second dielectric layer over the bottom conductor plate layer, a middle conductor plate layer disposed over the second dielectric layer and including a second plurality of sublayers, a third dielectric layer over the middle conductor plate layer, a top conductor plate layer disposed over the third dielectric layer and including a third plurality of sublayers, and a second passivation layer over the top conductor plate layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a capacitor, with a memory film isolating a first electrode from a contact, formed over a transistor and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate; a capacitor over the gate stack, the capacitor including a first electrode extending along a top surface of the gate stack, the first electrode being U-shaped; a first ferroelectric layer over the first electrode; and a second electrode over the first ferroelectric layer, a top surface of the second electrode being level with a top surface of the first ferroelectric layer, and the top surface of the first ferroelectric layer and the top surface of the second electrode being disposed further from the semiconductor substrate than a topmost surface of the first electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides source/drain epitaxial structures and source/drain contacts wrapped with graphene layers in fin structures of field effect transistors, and fabricating methods thereof. In some embodiments, a disclosed semiconductor device includes a fin structure on a substrate. The fin structure includes an epitaxial region. The semiconductor device further includes a metal contact above the epitaxial region, and a graphene film covering a top surface and sidewalls of the epitaxial region and covering a bottom surface and sidewalls of the metal contact.

Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises: a first p-type work function metal; a barrier material over the first p-type work function metal; and a second p-type work function metal over the barrier material, the barrier material physically separating the first p-type work function metal from the second p-type work function metal.

Abstract: A phase change random access memory (PCRAM) device includes a memory cell overlying an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer, a protection coating, and a first sidewall spacer. The memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode and a phase change element between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The protection coating is on an outer sidewall of the phase change element. The first sidewall spacer is on an outer sidewall of the protection coating. The first sidewall spacer has a greater nitrogen atomic concentration than the protection coating. The protection coating forms a first interface with the phase change element. The first interface has a first slope at a first position and a second slope at a second position higher than the first position, the second slope is different from the first slope.

Abstract: A method includes etching a first recess adjacent a first dummy gate stack and a first fin; etching a second recess adjacent a second dummy gate stack and a second fin; and epitaxially growing a first epitaxy region in the first recess. The method further includes depositing a first metal-comprising mask over the first dummy gate stack, over the second dummy gate stack, over the first epitaxy region in the first recess, and in the second recess; patterning the first metal-comprising mask to expose the first dummy gate stack and the first epitaxy region; epitaxially growing a second epitaxy region in the first recess over the first epitaxy region; and after epitaxially growing the second epitaxy region, removing remaining portions of the first metal-comprising mask.

Abstract: A device includes first and second gate electrodes, a word line and a first metal island. The first gate electrode corresponds to transistors of a memory cell. The second gate electrode is separated from the first gate electrode and corresponds to the transistors. The word line is coupled to the memory cell and located between the first and the second gate electrodes. The first metal island is configured to couple a first power supply to the memory cell. A first boundary of the first metal island is located between first and second boundaries of the first gate electrode and is located between first and second boundaries of the word line, and each of the first boundary of the first gate electrode and the first boundary of the word line is located between first and second boundaries of the first metal island.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor channel over the substrate. The first semiconductor channel includes a first nanosheet of a first semiconductor material, a second nanosheet of a second semiconductor material in physical contact with a topside surface of the first nanosheet, and a third nanosheet of the second semiconductor material in physical contact with an underside surface of the first nanosheet. The first gate structure is over and laterally surrounding the first semiconductor channel, and in physical contact with the second nanosheet and the third nanosheet.