Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport fin field effect transistor device is provided. The method includes forming vertical fins on a substrate, depositing a protective liner on the sidewalls of the vertical fins, and removing a portion of the substrate to form a support pillar beneath at least one of the vertical fins. The method further includes etching a cavity in the support pillar of the at least one of the vertical fins, and removing an additional portion of the substrate to form a plinth beneath the support pillar of the vertical fin. The method further includes growing a bottom source/drain layer on the substrate adjacent to the plinth, and forming a diffusion plug in the cavity, wherein the diffusion plug is configured to block diffusion of dopants from the bottom source/drain layer above a necked region in the support pillar.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure disposed on the substrate, a gate structure disposed on the fin structure, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed adjacent to the gate structure, a contact structure disposed on the S/D region, and a dipole layer disposed at an interface between the ternary compound layer and the S/D region. The contact structure includes a ternary compound layer disposed on the S/D region, a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer disposed on the ternary compound layer, and a contact plug disposed on the WFM silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure on the substrate, a source/drain pattern on the substrate, the source/drain pattern being at a side of the gate structure, a source/drain contact filling on and connected to the source/drain pattern, an entire top surface of the source/drain contact filling being lower than a top surface of the gate structure, and a connection contact directly on and connected to the source/drain contact filling, a top surface of the connection contact being higher than the top surface of the gate structure.

Abstract: A method is presented for reducing parasitic capacitance. The method includes forming a p-type epitaxial region and an n-type epitaxial region over a substrate, depositing an epitaxial growth over the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region, depositing a first dielectric between the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region such that an airgap is defined therebetween, and selectively removing the epitaxial growth to expose top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric in direct contact with the exposed top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions, selectively etching the first and second dielectrics to form a strapped contact, and applying a metallization layer over the strapped contact.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises conductive segments comprising an uneven topography comprising upper surfaces of the conductive segments protruding above an upper surface of underlying materials, a first passivation material substantially conformally overlying the conductive segments, and a second passivation material overlying the first passivation material. The second passivation material is relatively thicker than the first passivation material. The apparatus also comprises structural elements overlying the second passivation material. The second passivation material has a thickness sufficient to provide a substantially flat surface above the uneven topography of the underlying conductive segments at least in regions supporting the structural elements. Microelectronic devices, memory devices, and related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having depopulated channel structures, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having depopulated channel structures using multiple bottom-up oxidation approaches, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a vertical arrangement of nanowires. All nanowires of the vertical arrangement of nanowires are oxide nanowires. A gate stack is over the vertical arrangement of nanowires, around each of the oxide nanowires. The gate stack includes a conductive gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes separating an interlayer dielectric (ILD) into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions of ILD, separated from each other along a first lateral direction and a second lateral direction, overlay a plurality of groups of epitaxial regions, respectively. The method includes performing an etching process to expose the plurality of groups of epitaxial regions, wherein the etching process comprises a plurality of stages, each of the stages comprising a respective etchant. The method includes forming a plurality of conductive contacts electrically coupled to the plurality of epitaxial regions, respectively.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a source/drain contact over a source/drain region; forming an etch stop layer over the source/drain contact and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the etch stop layer; performing a first etching process to form a via opening extending through the ILD layer and a recess in the etch stop layer; oxidizing a sidewall of the recess in the etch stop layer; after oxidizing the sidewall of the recess in the etch stop layer, performing a second etching process to extend the via opening down to the source/drain contact; and after performing the second etching process, forming a source/drain via in the via opening.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes a pad, a diode, a gate ground NMOS (GGNMOS) transistor and a thyristor. The diode includes an anode connected with the pad. The GGNMOS transistor is connected between a cathode of the diode and a ground terminal. The thyristor is formed between the diode and the ground terminal when an ESD current may flow from the pad.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate space is formed by removing a sacrificial gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space, conductive layers are formed on the gate dielectric layer to fully fill the gate space, the gate dielectric layer and the conducive layers are recessed to form a recessed gate electrode, and a contact metal layer is formed on the recessed gate electrode. The recessed gate electrode does not includes tungsten, and the contact metal layer includes tungsten.

Abstract: A digital isolator according to an embodiment includes a first electrode, a first insulating part, a second electrode, a second insulating part, and a first dielectric part. The first insulating part is located under the first electrode. The second electrode is located under the first insulating part. The second insulating part is located around the first electrode along a first plane perpendicular to a first direction. The first direction is from the second electrode toward the first electrode. The first dielectric part is located between the first electrode and the second insulating part in a second direction along the first plane. The first dielectric part contacts the first electrode. A relative dielectric constant of the first dielectric part is greater than a relative dielectric constant of the first insulating part.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate. The structure also includes a gate structure formed across the fin structure. The structure also includes source/drain epitaxial structures formed on opposite sides of the gate structure. The structure also includes an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) structure formed over the gate structure. The structure also includes a contact blocking structure formed through the ILD structure over the source/drain epitaxial structure. A lower portion of the contact blocking structure is surrounded by an air gap, and the air gap is covered by a portion of the ILD structure.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a dielectric cap over a gate structure. A source/drain contact is formed over a source/drain region after forming the dielectric cap. A top of the dielectric cap is doped to form a doped region in the dielectric cap. After doping the top of the dielectric cap, a etch stop layer and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer are deposited over the dielectric cap. A via opening is formed to extend though the ILD layer and the etch stop layer to expose the source/drain contact. A source/drain via is filled in the via opening.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photodetector device is provided. The method includes providing a photodetector array comprising an array of photodetectors and a plurality of metal structures arranged laterally between photodetectors of the array of photodetectors, wherein the photodetectors are co-planar with the plurality of metal structures, and wherein the plurality of metal structures are arranged in a first pattern; applying an antireflective coating to a surface of a transparent substrate, the antireflective coating being patterned according to a second pattern that matches the first pattern; aligning the transparent substrate over the photodetector array such that the first pattern is aligned with the second pattern; and coupling the transparent substrate to the photodetector array such that the antireflective coating covers the plurality of metal structures.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first diffusion region of a first conductivity type and a second diffusion region of the first conductivity type; a first plug that is connected to the first diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; a second plug that is connected to the second diffusion region and that contains a semiconductor; and a photoelectric converter that is electrically connected to the first plug. An area of the second plug is larger than an area of the first plug in a plan view.

Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a fin, a gate structure positioned on the fin, impurity regions positioned on two sides of the fin, contacts positioned on the impurity regions, and conductive covering layers positioned on the contacts. The conductive covering layers are formed of copper germanide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, first and second fins protruding from the substrate, and first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the first and second fins respectively. The semiconductor device further includes an isolation feature over the substrate and disposed between the first and second S/D features, and a dielectric layer disposed on sidewalls of the first and second S/D features and on sidewalls of the isolation feature. A top portion of the isolation feature extends above the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor component for a memory device is provided. The semiconductor component comprises a first active region extending in a first direction; a second active region extending in the first direction; a first conductive layer disposed across the first active region and the second active region, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; a second conductive layer extending in the first direction; and a first conductive via connecting the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a gate structure over a substrate. The structure also includes source/drain epitaxial structures formed on opposite sides of the gate structure. The structure also includes a contact structure formed over the source/drain epitaxial structure. The structure also includes a first via structure formed over the contact structure. The structure also includes a metal line electrically connected to the first via structure. The structure also includes a spacer layer formed over the sidewall and over a portion of a top surface of the metal line. The structure also includes a second via structure formed over the metal line through the spacer layer.