Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.

Abstract: An IC structure includes a source epitaxial structure, a drain epitaxial structure, a first silicide region, a second silicide region, a source contact, a backside via rail, a drain contact, and a front-side interconnection structure. The first silicide region is on a front-side surface and a first sidewall of the source epitaxial structure. The second silicide region is on a front-side surface of the drain epitaxial structure. The source contact is in contact with the first silicide region and has a protrusion extending past a backside surface of the source epitaxial structure. The backside via rail is in contact with the protrusion of the source contact. The drain contact is in contact with the second silicide region. The front-side interconnection structure is on a front-side surface of the source contact and a front-side surface of the drain contact.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region and extending along a first direction, and a source/drain contact structure over the source/drain region. The source/drain contact structure includes a base portion extending lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a via portion over the base portion. The via portion tapers away from the base portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having transistors, an isolation structure over the transistors, metal plugs through the isolation structure and connecting to the transistors, and a trench with the isolation structure and the metal plugs as sidewalls. The method further includes forming a dielectric liner on the sidewalls of the trench and over the isolation structure and the metal plugs. The dielectric liner is thicker at an opening portion of the trench than at another portion of the trench so that an air gap is formed inside the trench and the air gap is surrounded by the dielectric liner. The method further includes depositing a sacrificial layer over the dielectric liner and over the air gap and performing CMP to remove the sacrificial layer and to recess the dielectric liner until the isolation structure and the metal plugs are exposed. The air gap remains inside the trench.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a substrate, a first contact layer, and a gate electrode. The first contact layer overlies the substrate and the gate electrode overlies the substrate and is laterally spaced from the first contact layer. A first spacer structure surrounds outermost sidewalls of the first contact layer and separates the gate electrode from the first contact layer. A first hard mask structure is arranged over the first contact layer and is between portions of the first spacer structure. A first contact via extends through the first hard mask structure and contacts the first contact layer. A first liner layer is arranged directly between the first hard mask structure and the first spacer structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature; one or more channel semiconductor layers connected to the S/D feature; a gate structure engaging the one or more channel semiconductor layers; a first silicide feature at a frontside of the S/D feature; a second silicide feature at a backside of the S/D feature; and a dielectric liner layer at the backside of the S/D feature, below the second silicide feature, and spaced away from the second silicide feature by a first gap.

Abstract: During a front side process of a wafer, a hard mask layer is formed under a metal portion of a semiconductor device, and an epitaxial layer is deposited to form epitaxial portions of the semiconductor device. In a back side process of the wafer to cut the epitaxial layer, the metal portion is covered and protected by the hard mask layer from damages during etching of the epitaxial layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming backside vias connected to source/drain regions of long-channel semiconductor devices and short-channel semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a base layer, an isolating layer over the base layer, and a stack of channel layers and first sacrificial layers alternately stacked over the isolating layer. The method further includes forming an isolation structure adjacent to sidewalls of the fin structure, wherein a top surface of the isolation structure is above a bottom surface of the isolating layer and below a top surface of the isolating layer. The method further includes depositing a second sacrificial layer over the isolation structure and over the sidewalls of the fin structure; etching the second sacrificial layer and the fin structure to form two source/drain trenches, wherein the source/drain trenches expose the base layer; partially removing the first and the second sacrificial layers through the source/drain trenches to form gaps; and depositing a dielectric spacer in the gaps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide semiconductor device structures. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode layer in contact with the gate dielectric layer, a first self-aligned contact (SAC) layer disposed over the gate electrode layer, an isolation layer disposed between the gate electrode layer and the first SAC layer, and a first sidewall spacer in contact with the gate dielectric layer, the isolation layer, and the first SAC layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes nanostructures vertically arranged and spaced apart from one another along a first direction. The semiconductor device also includes a dielectric fin structure of a dielectric material of uniform composition and an isolation structure on opposite sides of the nanostructures. Moreover, the semiconductor device also includes a gate structure wrapping around the nanostructures. The gate structure extends between the nanostructure and the dielectric fin structure, and extends between the nanostructures and the isolation structure. Furthermore, the nanostructures are spaced apart from the dielectric fin structure along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by a first distance, and from the isolation structure along the second direction by a second distance, where the first distance is greater than the second distance. Additionally, the gate structure interfaces with the dielectric fin structure on a surface extending perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: During a front side process of a wafer, a hard mask layer is formed under a metal portion of a semiconductor device, and an epitaxial layer is deposited to form epitaxial portions of the semiconductor device. In a back side process of the wafer to cut the epitaxial layer, the metal portion is covered and protected by the hard mask layer from damages during etching of the epitaxial layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor according to one embodiment includes first nanostructures, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the first nanostructures and disposed over an isolation structure, and a backside gate contact disposed below the first nanostructures and adjacent to the isolation structure. A bottom surface of the first gate structure is in direct contact with the backside gate contact.

Abstract: Methods of performing backside etching processes on source/drain regions and gate structures of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first transistor structure; a first interconnect structure on a front-side of the first transistor structure; and a second interconnect structure on a backside of the first transistor structure, the second interconnect structure including a first dielectric layer on the backside of the first transistor structure; a contact extending through the first dielectric layer to a source/drain region of the first transistor structure; and first spacers along sidewalls of the contact between the contact and the first dielectric layer, sidewalls of the first spacers facing the first dielectric layer being aligned with sidewalls of the source/drain region of the first transistor structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first insulating layer over a substrate. A first metal feature is formed in the first insulating layer and a second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A first metal via is formed through the second insulating layer to connect the first metal feature. A second metal feature is formed over the second insulating layer. The second metal feature has a convex top surface and a plane bottom surface, and the plane bottom is electrically connected to the first metal feature through the first metal via.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece that has a substrate, a first plurality of channel members, a second plurality of channel members, a first gate structure engaging the first plurality of channel members, a second gate structure engaging the second plurality of channel members, a hybrid fin disposed between the first and second gate structures, and an isolation feature disposed under the hybrid fin. The method also includes forming a metal cap layer at a frontside of the workpiece. The metal cap layer electrically connects the first and second gate structures. The method also includes etching the isolation feature, etching the hybrid fin, etching the metal cap layer, and depositing a dielectric material to form a gate isolation feature disposed between the first and second gate structures.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a substrate, a first dielectric layer over the substrate, one or more semiconductor channel layers over the first dielectric layer and connecting a first source/drain (S/D) feature and a second S/D feature, and a gate structure engaging the one or more semiconductor channel layers; etching the substrate from the backside of the structure to form a first trench exposing the first S/D feature and a second trench exposing the second S/D feature; forming an S/D contact in the first trench; etching at least a portion of the first dielectric layer resulting in a portion of the S/D contact protruding from the first dielectric layer at the backside of the structure; and depositing a seal layer over the S/D contact, wherein the seal layer caps an air gap between the gate structure and the seal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a first structure over the substrate and having a first gate stack and two first gate spacers on two opposing sidewalls of the first gate stack; a second structure over the substrate and having a second gate stack and two second gate spacers on two opposing sidewalls of the second gate stack; a source/drain (S/D) feature over the substrate and adjacent to the first and the second gate stacks; an S/D contact over the S/D feature and between one of the first gate spacers and one of the second gate spacers; a conductive via disposed over and electrically connected to the S/D contact; and a dielectric liner layer. A first portion of the dielectric liner layer is disposed on a sidewall of the one of the first gate spacers and is directly above the S/D contact and spaced from the S/D contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a device, a first conductive structure disposed over the device, and the first conductive structure includes a first sidewall having a first portion and a second portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first spacer layer disposed on the first portion, a second conductive structure disposed adjacent the first conductive structure, and the second conductive structure includes a second sidewall having a third portion and a fourth portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second spacer layer disposed on the third portion, and an air gap is formed between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure. The second portion, the first spacer layer, the fourth portion, and the second spacer layer are exposed to the air gap.