Abstract: A conductive layer is formed between a metal gate structure, which includes a high-k gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, and a contact feature. The conductive layer can be selectively deposited on a top surface of the gate electrode or, alternatively, non-selectively formed on the top surface of the gate electrode and the gate dielectric layer by controlling, for example, time of deposition. The conductive layer can have a bottom portion embedded into the gate electrode. The conductive layer and the contact feature can include the same composition, though they may be formed using different deposition techniques.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, the gate electrode including at least a first metal; a conductive layer formed above the gate electrode, the conductive layer including an alloy layer, the alloy layer including at least the first metal and a second metal different from the first metal, the alloy layer extending from a position below a top surface of the metal gate structure to a position above the top surface of the metal gate structure; and a contact feature disposed above the metal gate structure, wherein the contact feature is in direct contact with a top surface of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure disposed over a substrate, and a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, including and over the gate structure. A first metal feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer, including an upper portion having a first width and a lower portion having a second width that is different than the first width. A dielectric spacer is disposed along the lower portion of the first metal feature, wherein the upper portion of the first metal feature is disposed over the dielectric spacer. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer, including over the first metal feature and a second metal feature extends through the second dielectric layer to physically contact with the first metal feature. A third metal feature extends through the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer to physically contact the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a third metal connect in contact with a first metal connect in a first active region and a second metal connect in a second active region, and over a shallow trench isolation region located between the first active region and a second active region. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a first opening over the first metal connect, the STI region, and the second metal connect, and forming the third metal connect in the first opening. Forming the third metal connect over the first metal connect and the second metal connect mitigates RC coupling.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate structure, wherein the metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode; performing a surface treatment to a top surface of the metal gate structure, wherein the surface treatment converts a top portion of the gate electrode to an oxidation layer; forming a conductive layer above the gate electrode, wherein the forming of the conductive layer includes substituting oxygen in the oxidation layer with a metallic element; and forming a contact feature above the metal gate structure, wherein the contact feature is in direct contact with the conductive layer.

Abstract: Vertical interconnect structures and methods of forming are provided. The vertical interconnect structures may be formed by partially filling a first opening through one or more dielectric layers with layers of conductive materials. A second opening is formed in a dielectric layer such that a depth of the first opening after partially filling with the layers of conductive materials is close to a depth of the second opening. The remaining portion of the first opening and the second opening may then be simultaneously filled.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a via-first metal gate contact includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a substrate having a gate structure with a metal gate layer. An opening is formed within the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the substrate, and a first metal layer is deposited within the opening. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the first dielectric layer and over the first metal layer. The first and second dielectric layers are etched to form a gate via opening. The gate via opening exposes the metal gate layer. A portion of the second dielectric layer is removed to form a contact opening that exposes the first metal layer. The gate via and contact openings merge to form a composite opening. A second metal layer is deposited within the composite opening, thus connecting the metal gate layer to the first metal layer.

Abstract: Methods to form vertically conducting and laterally conducting low-cost resistor structures utilizing dual-resistivity conductive materials are provided. The dual-resistivity conductive materials are deposited in openings in a dielectric layer using a single deposition process step. A high-resistivity ?-phase of tungsten is stabilized by pre-treating portions of the dielectric material with impurities. The portions of the dielectric material in which impurities are incorporated encompass regions laterally adjacent to where high-resistivity ?-W is desired. During a subsequent tungsten deposition step the impurities may out-diffuse and get incorporated in the tungsten, thereby stabilizing the metal in the high-resistivity ?-W phase. The ?-W converts to a low-resistivity ?-phase of tungsten in the regions not pre-treated with impurities.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a via-first metal gate contact includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a substrate having a gate structure with a metal gate layer. An opening is formed within the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the substrate, and a first metal layer is deposited within the opening. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the first dielectric layer and over the first metal layer. The first and second dielectric layers are etched to form a gate via opening. The gate via opening exposes the metal gate layer. A portion of the second dielectric layer is removed to form a contact opening that exposes the first metal layer. The gate via and contact openings merge to form a composite opening. A second metal layer is deposited within the composite opening, thus connecting the metal gate layer to the first metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a third metal connect in contact with a first metal connect in a first active region and a second metal connect in a second active region, and over a shallow trench isolation region located between the first active region and a second active region. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a first opening over the first metal connect, the STI region, and the second metal connect, and forming the third metal connect in the first opening. Forming the third metal connect over the first metal connect and the second metal connect mitigates RC coupling.

Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate and forming a gate dielectric layer over the fin structure. The method also includes forming a gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer and forming a source/drain (S/D) structure adjacent to the gate electrode layer. In addition, the method includes forming an S/D contact structure over the S/D structure. The method also includes forming a first conductive layer in direct with the gate electrode layer. A bottom surface of the first conductive layer is lower than a top surface of the gate dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer. The gate electrode layer is electrically connected to the second conductive layer by the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal gate structure, wherein the metal gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode; performing a surface treatment to a top surface of the metal gate structure, wherein the surface treatment converts a top portion of the gate electrode to an oxidation layer; forming a conductive layer above the gate electrode, wherein the forming of the conductive layer includes substituting oxygen in the oxidation layer with a metallic element; and forming a contact feature above the metal gate structure, wherein the contact feature is in direct contact with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor including forming a source/drain region on a side of a dummy gate stack, forming a first Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) covering the source/drain region, and replacing the dummy gate stack with a replacement gate stack. The method further includes forming a second ILD over the first ILD and the replacement gate stack, and forming a lower source/drain contact plug electrically coupling to the source/drain region. The lower source/drain contact plug penetrates through both the first ILD and the second ILD. A third ILD is formed over the second ILD. A gate contact plug is formed in the second ILD and the third ILD. An upper source/drain contact plug is formed overlapping and contacting the lower source/drain contact plug. The upper source/drain contact plug penetrates through the third ILD. The upper source/drain contact plug and the gate contact plug are formed of different materials.

Abstract: A conductive layer is formed between a metal gate structure, which includes a high-k gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, and a contact feature. The conductive layer can be selectively deposited on a top surface of the gate electrode or, alternatively, non-selectively formed on the top surface of the gate electrode and the gate dielectric layer by controlling, for example, time of deposition. The conductive layer can have a bottom portion embedded into the gate electrode. The conductive layer and the contact feature can include the same composition, though they may be formed using different deposition techniques.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a third metal connect in contact with a first metal connect in a first active region and a second metal connect in a second active region, and over a shallow trench isolation region located between the first active region and a second active region. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a first opening over the first metal connect, the STI region, and the second metal connect, and forming the third metal connect in the first opening. Forming the third metal connect over the first metal connect and the second metal connect mitigates RC coupling.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a gate dielectric layer formed over the fin structure. The FinFET device structure includes a gate electrode layer formed over the gate dielectric later and a gate contact structure formed over the gate electrode layer. The gate contact structure includes a first conductive layer formed over the gate electrode layer, a barrier layer formed over the first conductive layer and a second conductive layer over the barrier layer. The second conductive layer is electrically connected to the gate electrode layer by the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A conductive layer is formed between a metal gate structure, which includes a high-k gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, and a contact feature. The conductive layer can be selectively deposited on a top surface of the gate electrode or, alternatively, non-selectively formed on the top surface of the gate electrode and the gate dielectric layer by controlling, for example, time of deposition. The conductive layer can have a bottom portion embedded into the gate electrode. The conductive layer and the contact feature can include the same composition, though they may be formed using different deposition techniques.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure disposed over a substrate, and a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, including and over the gate structure. A first metal feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer, including an upper portion having a first width and a lower portion having a second width that is different than the first width. A dielectric spacer is disposed along the lower portion of the first metal feature, wherein the upper portion of the first metal feature is disposed over the dielectric spacer. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer, including over the first metal feature and a second metal feature extends through the second dielectric layer to physically contact with the first metal feature. A third metal feature extends through the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer to physically contact the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a third metal connect in contact with a first metal connect in a first active region and a second metal connect in a second active region, and over a shallow trench isolation region located between the first active region and a second active region. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a first opening over the first metal connect, the STI region, and the second metal connect, and forming the third metal connect in the first opening. Forming the third metal connect over the first metal connect and the second metal connect mitigates RC coupling.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a via-first metal gate contact includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a substrate having a gate structure with a metal gate layer. An opening is formed within the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the substrate, and a first metal layer is deposited within the opening. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the first dielectric layer and over the first metal layer. The first and second dielectric layers are etched to form a gate via opening. The gate via opening exposes the metal gate layer. A portion of the second dielectric layer is removed to form a contact opening that exposes the first metal layer. The gate via and contact openings merge to form a composite opening. A second metal layer is deposited within the composite opening, thus connecting the metal gate layer to the first metal layer.