Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of producing an integrated circuit includes forming a lower conductor element overlying a substrate, and forming a magnetic stack layer overlying the lower conductor element. A waste portion of the magnetic stack layer is removed with a wet etchant to produce a magnetic core. The wet etchant includes hydrofluoric acid, a second acid different than the hydrofluoric acid, an oxidizer, and a solvent.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device. A two-terminal device element includes a device stack coupled between first and second terminals. The first terminal contacts a metal line in an underlying interconnect level, and the second terminal is formed over the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers exposed side surfaces of the device stack of the two-terminal device element. A dual damascene interconnect is coupled to the two-terminal device element.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer, such as SiCOH, with high and stable chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) removal rate (RR) is disclosed. The polishing rate enhancer (PRE) is disposed on the low-k dielectric layer. The PRE increases the CMP RR during CMP. Furthermore, the PRE stabilizes the increases CMP RR. This is particularly useful, for example, for memory applications in which the storage unit is formed in a low-k back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric layer. For example, the topography created can be quickly planarized by CMP while producing a uniform polished surface of the low-k dielectric layer due to the shortened processing time.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a magnetic tunnel junction stack. The magnetic tunnel junction stack includes a first free layer that is magnetic, a second free layer that is magnetic, and an insertion layer positioned between the first and second free layers. The insertion layer is non-magnetic, and the insertion layer includes terbium.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a magnetic tunnel junction stack. The magnetic tunnel junction stack includes a seed layer, first and second pinned layers, and a coupling layer. The seed layer includes holmium. The first pinned layer overlies the seed layer, where the first pinned layer is magnetic, and the non-magnetic coupling layer overlies the first pinned layer. The second pinned layer overlies the coupling layer, where the second pinned layer is also magnetic.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device. A two-terminal device element includes a device stack coupled between first and second terminals. The first terminal contacts a metal line in an underlying interconnect level, and the second terminal is formed over the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers exposed side surfaces of the device stack of the two-terminal device element. A dual damascene interconnect is coupled to the two-terminal device element.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first and second regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the regions. A two-terminal device element which includes a device layer coupled in between first and second terminals is formed over the first upper dielectric layer in the second region. The first terminal contacts the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region and the second terminal is formed on the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers at least exposed side surfaces of the device layer of the two-terminal device element. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with dual damascene interconnects is provided in the regions.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of producing an integrated circuit includes forming a lower conductor element overlying a substrate, and forming a magnetic stack layer overlying the lower conductor element. A waste portion of the magnetic stack layer is removed with a wet etchant to produce a magnetic core. The wet etchant includes hydrofluoric acid, a second acid different than the hydrofluoric acid, an oxidizer, and a solvent.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for cleaning the backside of a wafer. A wet cleaning method may be used by stripping off the uppermost spacer layers on the backside of the wafer using a cleaning solution. In one embodiment, hydrogen fluoride (HF) solution may be employed to remove the nitride/oxide spacer layer. In another embodiment, a dry cleaning method may be employed to etch the wafer at the bevel region. Residues are completely removed from the wafer backside. This method improves the yield and storage life of the semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a magnetic tunnel junction stack. The magnetic tunnel junction stack includes a first free layer that is magnetic, a second free layer that is magnetic, and an insertion layer positioned between the first and second free layers. The insertion layer is non-magnetic, and the insertion layer includes terbium.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for cleaning the backside of a wafer. A wet cleaning method may be used by stripping off the uppermost spacer layers on the backside of the wafer using a cleaning solution. In one embodiment, hydrogen fluoride (HF) solution may be employed to remove the nitride/oxide spacer layer. In another embodiment, a dry cleaning method may be employed to etch the wafer at the bevel region. Residues are completely removed from the wafer backside. This method improves the yield and storage life of the semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of processing semiconductor devices are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with isolation regions having a non-planar surface topology. The substrate includes at least first and second regions. The first region includes a memory region and the second region includes a logic region. A hard mask layer is formed covering the substrate and the isolation regions with non-planar surface topology. The method includes selectively processing an exposed portion of the hard mask layer over a select region while protecting a portion of the hard mask layer over a non-select region. The top substrate area and isolation regions of the non-select region are not exposed during processing of the portion of the hard mask layer over the select region. Hard mask residue is completely removed over the select region during processing of the exposed portion of the hard mask layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate with a patterned second layer over a first layer. The second layer includes a second layer opening having a first CD equal to the CD produced by a lithographic system (CDL). CDL is larger than a desired CD (CDD). A third layer is formed to fill the opening, leaving a top surface of the second layer exposed. The second layer is removed to produce a mesa formed by the third layer. The CD of the mesa is equal to about the first CD. The mesa is trimmed to produce a mesa with a second CD equal to about CDD. A fourth layer is formed to cover the first layer, leaving a top of the mesa exposed. The substrate is etched to remove the mesa and a portion of the first layer below the mesa to form an opening in the first layer with CDD.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer, such as SiCOH, with high and stable chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) removal rate (RR) is disclosed. The polishing rate enhancer (PRE) is disposed on the low-k dielectric layer. The PRE increases the CMP RR during CMP. Furthermore, the PRE stabilizes the increases CMP RR. This is particularly useful, for example, for memory applications in which the storage unit is formed in a low-k back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric layer. For example, the topography created can be quickly planarized by CMP while producing a uniform polished surface of the low-k dielectric layer due to the shortened processing time.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of processing semiconductor devices are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with isolation regions having a non-planar surface topology. The substrate includes at least first and second regions. The first region includes a memory region and the second region includes a logic region. A hard mask layer is formed covering the substrate and the isolation regions with non-planar surface topology. The method includes selectively processing an exposed portion of the hard mask layer over a select region while protecting a portion of the hard mask layer over a non-select region. The top substrate area and isolation regions of the non-select region are not exposed during processing of the portion of the hard mask layer over the select region. Hard mask residue is completely removed over the select region during processing of the exposed portion of the hard mask layer.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first and second regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the regions. A two-terminal device element which includes a device layer coupled in between first and second terminals is formed over the first upper dielectric layer in the second region. The first terminal contacts the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region and the second terminal is formed on the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers at least exposed side surfaces of the device layer of the two-terminal device element. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with dual damascene interconnects is provided in the regions.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer, such as SiCOH, with high and stable chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) removal rate (RR) is disclosed. The polishing rate enhancer (PRE) is disposed on the low-k dielectric layer. The PRE increases the CMP RR during CMP. Furthermore, the PRE stabilizes the increases CMP RR. This is particularly useful, for example, for memory applications in which the storage unit is formed in a low-k back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric layer. For example, the topography created can be quickly planarized by CMP while producing a uniform polished surface of the low-k dielectric layer due to the shortened processing time.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a circuit component formed on a substrate surface. Back-end-of-line (BEOL) processing is performed to form a plurality of inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers over the substrate. A storage unit in the memory region of the via level of an ILD level. A cell dielectric layer is formed over the storage unit. The cell dielectric layer comprises a step structure created by an elevated topography of the memory region relative to the non-memory region of the via level. The elevated topography is defined by the storage unit. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed on the cell dielectric layer to remove the step structure of the cell dielectric layer and form a planar cell dielectric top surface extending uniformly across the memory region and the non-memory region of the via level.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. An integrated circuit includes a base dielectric layer, a first dielectric layer overlying the base dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer. A first overlay mark is positioned within the first dielectric layer, and a second overlay mark is positioned within the second dielectric layer, where the second overlay mark is offset from the first overlay mark. First and second blocks are positioned within the base dielectric layer, where the first overlay mark directly overlays the first block and the second overlay mark directly overlays the second block.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a wafer with top and bottom wafer surfaces. The wafer includes edge and non-edge regions. A dielectric layer having a desired concave top surface is provided on the top wafer surface. The method includes planarizing the dielectric layer to form a planar top surface of the dielectric layer. The desired concave top surface of the dielectric layer thicknesses compensates for different planarizing rates at the edge and non-edge regions of the wafer.