Abstract: A memory cell with an etch stop layer is provided. The memory cell comprises a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A switching dielectric is disposed over the bottom electrode and having a variable resistance. A top electrode is disposed over the switching dielectric. A sidewall spacer layer extends upwardly along sidewalls of the bottom electrode, the switching dielectric, and the top electrode. A lower etch stop layer is disposed over the lower dielectric layer and lining an outer sidewall of the sidewall spacer layer. The lower etch stop layer is made of a material different from the sidewall spacer layer and protects the top electrode from damaging during manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface facing opposite to the front surface; a filling material extending from the front surface into the semiconductor substrate without penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, the filling material including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being in contact with the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial layer lined between the lower portion of the filling material and the semiconductor substrate. An associated manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a lower electrode over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first oxide layer over the lower electrode, a second oxide layer over the first oxide layer, and a third oxide layer over the second oxide layer. Oxygen ions are bonded more tightly in the second oxide layer than those in the first oxide layer, and oxygen ions are bonded more tightly in the second oxide layer than those in the third oxide layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes an upper electrode over the third oxide layer.

Abstract: A bump structure with a barrier layer, and a method for manufacturing the bump structure, are provided. In some embodiments, the bump structure comprises a conductive pad, a conductive bump, and a barrier layer. The conductive pad comprises a pad material. The conductive bump overlies the conductive pad, and comprises a lower bump layer and an upper bump layer covering the lower bump layer. The barrier layer is configured to block movement of the pad material from the conductive pad to the upper bump layer along sidewalls of the lower bump layer. In some embodiments, the barrier layer is a spacer lining the sidewalls of the lower bump layer. In other embodiments, the barrier layer is between the barrier layer and the conductive pad, and spaces the sidewalls of the lower bump layer from the conductive pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a first passivation layer over the substrate; a second passivation layer over the first passivation layer; and a magnetic core in the second passivation layer; wherein the magnetic core includes a first magnetic material layer and a second magnetic material layer over the first magnetic material layer, the first magnetic material layer and the second magnetic material layer are separated by a high resistance isolation layer, and the high resistance isolation layer has a resistivity greater than about 1.3 ohm-cm.

Abstract: A gas shower head includes a plate, a plurality of central holes disposed in a central region of the plate, and a plurality of peripheral holes disposed in a peripheral region of the plate. The central holes are configured to form a first portion of a material film, and the peripheral holes are configured to form a second portion of the material film. A hole density in the peripheral region is greater than a hole density in the central region. The first portion of the material film includes a first thickness corresponding to the hole density in central region, and the second portion of the material film includes a second thickness corresponding to the hole density in peripheral region and greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductive substrate and an interconnect structure over the semiconductive substrate. The semiconductor structure also comprises a bond pad in the semiconductive substrate and coupled to the metal layer. The bond pad comprises two conductive layers.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a memory cell overlying a substrate, the memory cell includes a data storage structure disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. An upper interconnect wire overlying the upper electrode. A first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the memory cell and the upper interconnect wire. A second ILD layer overlying the first ILD layer and surrounding the upper interconnect wire. A sidewall spacer laterally surrounding the memory cell. The sidewall spacer has a first sidewall abutting the first ILD layer and a second sidewall abutting the second ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a compound semiconductor layer, an oxide layer over and contacting the compound semiconductor layer, a nitride layer over and contacting the oxide layer, and a dielectric layer over and contacting the nitride layer. At least a portion of the oxide layer comprises a first crystalline structure. At least a portion of the nitride layer comprises a second crystalline structure.

Abstract: A structure includes first and second substrates, first and second stress buffer layers, and a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) structure. The first and second substrates include first and second semiconductor substrates and first and second interconnect structures on the first and second semiconductor substrates, respectively. The second interconnect structure is on a first side of the second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate is bonded to the second substrate at a bonding interface. A via extends at least through the second semiconductor substrate into the second interconnect structure. The first stress buffer layer is on a second side of the second semiconductor substrate opposite from the first side of the second semiconductor substrate. The PPI structure is on the first stress buffer layer and is electrically coupled to the via. The second stress buffer layer is on the PPI structure and the first stress buffer layer.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a HEMT. The HEMT includes a heterojunction structure having a second III/V semiconductor layer arranged over a first III/V semiconductor layer. Source and drain regions are arranged over the substrate and spaced apart laterally from one another. A gate structure is arranged over the heterojunction structure and arranged between the source and drain regions. A first passivation layer is disposed about sidewalls of the gate structure and extending over an upper surface of the gate structure, wherein the first passivation layer is made of a III-V material. A second passivation layer overlies the first passivation layer and made of a material composition different from a material composition of the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer has a thickness greater than that of the first passivation layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an image sensor having a reflector. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a substrate, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure, an etch stop layer, a wire, and the reflector. The substrate comprises a photodetector. The ILD structure is over the substrate, and the etch stop layer is over the ILD structure. The wire is in the etch stop layer. The reflector is directly over the photodetector and is in the etch stop layer. An upper surface of the wire is elevated above an upper surface of the reflector. By forming the reflector directly over the photodetector, the reflector may reflect radiation that passes through the photodetector without being absorbed back to the photodetector. This gives the photodetector a second chance to absorb the radiation and enhances the quantum efficiency (QE) of the photodetector.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device. The RRAM device includes a first electrode over a substrate and a second electrode over the substrate. A data storage structure is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The data storage structure has a plurality of sub-layers including one or more metals having non-zero concentrations that change as a distance from the first electrode increases.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a first passivation layer over the substrate; a second passivation layer over the first passivation layer; and a magnetic core in the second passivation layer; wherein the magnetic core includes a first magnetic material layer and a second magnetic material layer over the first magnetic material layer, the first magnetic material layer and the second magnetic material layer are separated by a high resistance isolation layer, and the high resistance isolation layer has a resistivity greater than about 1.3 ohm-cm.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including a semiconductor substrate including a multi-voltage device region. A first pair of source/drain regions are spaced apart from one another by a first channel region. A dielectric layer is disposed over the first channel region. A barrier layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. A fully silicided gate is disposed over the first channel region and is vertically separated from the semiconductor substrate by a work function tuning layer. The work function tuning layer separates the fully silicided gate from the barrier layer.

Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes a reaction chamber, a pedestal disposed inside the reaction chamber and configured to support a substrate, and a gas shower head over the pedestal. The gas shower head includes a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second hole disposed between a circumference of the gas shower head and the first holes. The first holes are arranged to form a first pattern and configured to form a first portion of a material film on the substrate. The second holes are arranged to form a second pattern and configured to form a second portion of the material film on the substrate. A hole density of the second pattern is greater than a hole density of the first pattern.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell disposed on a substrate, the MRAM cell comprises a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. A sidewall spacer arranged along opposite sidewalls of the MRAM cell. An upper interconnect wire directly contacting an upper surface of the upper electrode along an interface continuously extending from a first outer edge of the sidewall spacer to a second outer edge of the sidewall spacer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for bonding semiconductor wafers is provided. The method includes forming a first integrated circuit (IC) over a central region of a first semiconductor wafer. A first ring-shaped bonding support structure is formed over a ring-shaped peripheral region of the first semiconductor wafer, where the ring-shaped peripheral region of the first semiconductor wafer encircles the central region of the first semiconductor wafer. A second semiconductor wafer is bonded to the first semiconductor wafer, such that a second IC arranged on the second semiconductor wafer is electrically coupled to the first IC.

Abstract: A system and method for forming pixels in an image sensor is provided. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an image sensor including a first pixel region and a second pixel region in a substrate, the first pixel region being adjacent to the second pixel region. A first anti-reflection coating is over the first pixel region, the first anti-reflection coating reducing reflection for a first wavelength range of incident light. A second anti-reflection coating is over the second pixel region, the second anti-reflection coating reducing reflection for a second wavelength range of incident light that is different from the first wavelength range.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell disposed on a substrate, the MRAM cell comprises a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. A sidewall spacer arranged along opposite sidewalls of the MRAM cell. An upper interconnect wire directly contacting an upper surface of the upper electrode along an interface continuously extending from a first outer edge of the sidewall spacer to a second outer edge of the sidewall spacer.