Abstract: A back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) interconnect structure is provided that includes a top via structure located on a metal line. An air gap is located adjacent to, and around, the metal line and top via structure. This air gap includes a lower portion adjacent to the metal line and an upper portion adjacent to the top via structure. Such an air gap can extend BEOL interconnect scaling for 2 nm technology node and below. Methods of forming such an BEOL interconnect structure are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical fuse for an integrated circuit (IC). The electrical fuse includes a dielectric material substrate, and at least one line of conducting material located in the dielectric material substrate. Each of the at least one line of conducting material includes a first conductive structure, a second conductive structure, and a fuse element extending horizontally between the first and second conductive structures. The fuse element has a height that is less than the height of the first and second conductive structures.

Abstract: A memory device with modified top electrode contact includes a memory pillar composed of a bottom electrode, a magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) stack above the bottom electrode, and a top electrode above the MRAM stack. A first portion of an encapsulation layer is disposed along opposite sidewalls of the bottom electrode, on opposite sidewalls of the MRAM stack and on opposite sidewalls of a bottom portion of the top electrode, a second portion of the encapsulation layer is located above a second dielectric layer. A metal cap is located above an uppermost surface and opposite sidewalls of a top portion of the top electrode and above an uppermost surface of the first portion of the encapsulation layer. A second conductive interconnect is formed above a top surface of the metal cap wrapping around opposite sidewalls of the first portion of the encapsulation layer and opposite sidewalls of the metal cap.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) includes a pillar structure having a bottom electrode and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) having a reference layer, a free layer and a tunnel barrier disposed between the reference layer and the free layer. The MTJ is disposed on the bottom electrode. A top electrode is disposed on the MTJ. The top electrode includes two or more tiers wherein each tier successively includes a smaller footprint.

Abstract: A novel bevel etch sequence for embedded metal contamination removal from BEOL wafers is provided. In one aspect, a method of processing a wafer includes: performing a bevel dry etch to break up layers of contaminants with embedded metals which, post back-end-of line metallization, are deposited on a bevel of the wafer, which forms a damaged layer on surfaces of the wafer, and then performing a sequence of wet etches, following the bevel dry etch, to render the bevel of the wafer substantially free of contaminants, wherein the sequence of wet etches includes etching the damaged layer to undercut and lift-off any remaining contaminants. A wafer, processed in this manner, having a bevel that is substantially free of contaminants is also provided.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a dielectric layer forming a plane and a capacitor dielectric formed in a pattern having a width parallel to the plane and a height transverse to the plane. Electrodes are formed as sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the width of the capacitor dielectric. Each of the electrodes has a contact to make an electrical connection to the electrode, the contact being disposed within the height.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a three-dimensional resistor with at least two horizontal resistive metal elements connected by at least one vertical resistive metal element. Each of the vertical resistive metal elements surrounds a portion of a first dielectric material where the portion of resistive metal surrounding the dielectric material forms a tube of the resistive metal. More than one vertical resistive metal element with a thickness between one and five nanometers can be present between each of two adjacent horizontal resistive metal elements.

Abstract: A antifuse structure including a first metal sidewall spacer and a second metal sidewall spacer arranged on opposite sides of a tapered dielectric pedestal, and a fuse dielectric on top of the tapered dielectric pedestal and between the first metal sidewall spacer and the second metal sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A horizontal antifuse structure including a fuse dielectric layer, two slanted annular metal structures arranged adjacent to and opposite one another, wherein bottom portions of the two slanted annular metal structures are embedded in the fuse dielectric layer.

Abstract: An antifuse structure including a first fuse conductor, a second fuse conductor in the same metallization level as the second fuse conductor, and a tapered fuse dielectric between and separating the first fuse conductor from the second fuse conductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a metal sidewall spacer arranged on a vertical sidewall of a dielectric pedestal, a fuse dielectric layer on top of the dielectric pedestal, and a conductive element on top of the fuse dielectric layer and directly above the metal sidewall spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first metallization level comprising a first electrode and a second metallization level comprising a second electrode. A resistor structure is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The resistor structure comprises a first resistor element comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side has a larger area than an area of the second side, and a second resistor element stacked on the first resistor element, wherein the second resistor element contacts the second side of the first resistor element.

Abstract: A structure that includes a plurality of circular metal elements that are concentrically arranged and connected through a plurality of metal connectors, wherein the structure forms a circular resistor.

Abstract: Methods and structures for forming vias are provided. The method includes forming a structure that includes an odd line hardmask and an even line hardmask. The odd line hardmask and the even line hardmask include different hardmask materials that have different etch selectivity with respect to each other. The method includes patterning vias separately into the odd line hardmask and the even line hardmask based on the different etch selectivity of the different hardmask materials. The method also includes forming via plugs at the vias. The method includes cutting even line cuts and odd line cuts into the structure. The even line cuts and the odd line cuts are self-aligned with the vias. The vias are formed at line ends of the structure.

Abstract: A fuse structure including a first conductive line and a second conductive line, a first metal pillar extending vertically from a top surface of the first conductive line and a second metal pillar extending vertically from a top surface of the second conductive line, a conductive link electrically connecting a top surface of the first metal pillar with a top surface of the second metal pillar, where both the first conductive line and the second conductive line are a different material than both the first metal pillar and the second metal pillar, and where both the first metal pillar and the second metal pillar are a different metal than the conductive link.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a dual layer top contact upon a MTJ stack. The dual layer top contact includes lower contact and upper contact. The lower contact may be wider and/or shallower relative to the upper contact. This wide and/or shallow geometry of the lower contact may decrease the propensity for over etching, during the formation of the upper contact, opening downward into the MTJ stack and may therefore prevent undesired shorting of the MTJ stack. Further, the lower contact may further protect the MTJ stack even when the upper contact is misaligned to the MTJ stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack and an upper word line of the MTJ stack surrounding vertical side surfaces of the MTJ stack. A semiconductor device including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack and an upper word line for the MTJ stack surrounding vertical side surfaces and an upper surface of a reference layer of the MTJ stack. A method including forming a forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack and forming a dielectric encapsulation layer surrounding vertical side surfaces of a top electrode, a free layer, a tunneling barrier, a reference layer and a bottom electrode of the MTJ stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate has a metal via in the substrate, and has, on the substrate, a metal line that is less than 8 nanometers (nm) wide and at least 20 nm tall. A method for making a semiconductor structure includes forming a metal via in a substrate; forming a mandrel atop and offset from the via; depositing a metal-containing liner onto the mandrel; exposing the top of the mandrel by anisotropically etching the liner, thereby defining a separate portion of the liner at each side of the mandrel; and growing a metal line on each portion of the liner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a metal insulator metal capacitor (MIM capacitor) within back end of line circuitry, where a bottom electrode of the MIM capacitor includes a plurality of vertical pillars extending up from a bottom layer. A semiconductor device including a metal insulator metal capacitor (MIM capacitor), where a bottom electrode of the MIM capacitor includes a plurality of vertical pillars extending up from a bottom layer. Forming back end of line Mx-1 metal line layer, forming a plurality of Vx-1 via on the Mx-1 metal line layer, forming Mx metal line layer with subtractive patterning on the plurality of the Vx-1 via, forming a plurality of Vx via on the Mx metal line layer with subtractive patterning; and forming a block mask protecting a portion of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as an MRAM device, includes a stepped contact within a memory region that has a greater number of different contact structures (i.e., contact structures formed in different fabrication stages) relative to a logic region contact. The stepped contact includes a lower stepped contact and an upper stepped contact. The inclusion of the lower stepped contact allows for a relatively shorter upper stepped contact compared to the logic region contact. The stepped contact may allow the use of a multi-layer encapsulation spacer upon the sidewalls of a memory cell that fill out tight spacing therebetween, which may decrease the propensity of void formation and resulting shorting between neighboring memory cell features.