Abstract: A disclosed method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a first conductive pattern over a substrate, with the first conductive pattern including a first conductive line and a second conductive line. A barrier layer may be conformally formed over the first conductive line and the second conductive line of the first conductive pattern. An insulating layer may be formed over the barrier layer. The insulating layer may be patterned to form openings between conductive lines of the first conductive pattern a second conductive pattern may be formed in the openings. The second conductive pattern may include a third conductive line is physically separated from the first conductive pattern by the barrier layer. The presence of the barrier layer reduces the risk of a short circuit forming between the first and second conductive patterns. In this sense, the second conductive pattern may be self-aligned relative to the first conductive pattern.

Abstract: A disclosed semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode formed on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer formed over the gate electrode, a source electrode located adjacent to a first side of the gate electrode, and a drain electrode located adjacent to a second side of the gate electrode. A gate dielectric formed from an etch-stop layer and/or high-k dielectric layer separates the source electrode from the gate electrode and substrate and separates the drain electrode from the gate electrode and the substrate. First and second oxide layers are formed over the gate dielectric and are located adjacent to the source electrode on the first side of the gate electrode and located adjacent to the drain electrode on the second side of the gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed over the first oxide layer, the second oxide layer, the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A planar insulating spacer layer can be formed over a substrate, and a combination of a semiconducting material layer, a thin film transistor (TFT) gate dielectric layer, and a gate electrode can be formed over the planar insulating spacer layer. A dielectric matrix layer is formed thereabove. A source-side via cavity and a drain-side via cavity can be formed through the dielectric matrix layer over end portions of the semiconducting material layer. Mechanical stress can be generated between the end portions of the semiconducting material layer by changing a lattice constant of end portions of the semiconducting material layer. The mechanical stress can enhance the mobility of charge carriers in a channel portion of the semiconducting material layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, an integrated circuit, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT) over the substrate, and a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell electrically coupled to the TFT. The TFT includes a gate electrode; a gate dielectric layer disposed over the gate electrode; source/drain electrodes disposed above the gate electrode; and an active layer disposed above the gate electrode. A protection layer is disposed between the TFT and the MRAM cell and electrically connects the MRAM cell to the TFT.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, a gate electrode embedded within the first dielectric layer, a layer stack including a gate dielectric layer, a channel layer including a semiconducting metal oxide material, and a second dielectric layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode embedded in the second dielectric layer and contacting a respective portion of a top surface of the channel layer. A combination of the gate electrode, the gate dielectric layer, the channel layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode forms a transistor. The total length of the periphery of a bottom surface of the channel layer that overlies the gate electrode is equal to the width of the gate electrode or twice the width of the gate electrode, and resputtering of the gate electrode material on sidewalls of the channel layer is minimized.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, a gate electrode embedded within the first dielectric layer, a layer stack including a gate dielectric layer, a channel layer including a semiconducting metal oxide material, and a second dielectric layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode embedded in the second dielectric layer and contacting a respective portion of a top surface of the channel layer. A combination of the gate electrode, the gate dielectric layer, the channel layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode forms a transistor. The total length of the periphery of a bottom surface of the channel layer that overlies the gate electrode is equal to the width of the gate electrode or twice the width of the gate electrode, and resputtering of the gate electrode material on sidewalls of the channel layer is minimized.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconducting metal oxide fin located over a lower-level dielectric material layer, a gate dielectric layer located on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconducting metal oxide fin, a gate electrode located on the gate dielectric layer and straddling the semiconducting metal oxide fin, an access-level dielectric material layer embedding the gate electrode and the semiconducting metal oxide fin, a memory cell embedded in a memory-level dielectric material layer and including a first electrode, a memory element, and a second electrode, and a bit line overlying the memory cell. The first electrode may be electrically connected to a drain region within the semiconducting metal oxide fin through a first electrically conductive path, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the bit line.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, an integrated circuit, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT) over the substrate, and a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell electrically coupled to the TFT. The TFT includes a gate electrode; a gate dielectric layer disposed over the gate electrode; source/drain electrodes disposed above the gate electrode; and an active layer disposed above the gate electrode. A protection layer is disposed between the TFT and the MRAM cell and electrically connects the MRAM cell to the TFT.

Abstract: A disclosed semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode formed on the substrate, a gate dielectric layer formed over the gate electrode, a source electrode located adjacent to a first side of the gate electrode, and a drain electrode located adjacent to a second side of the gate electrode. A gate dielectric formed from an etch-stop layer and/or high-k dielectric layer separates the source electrode from the gate electrode and substrate and separates the drain electrode from the gate electrode and the substrate. First and second oxide layers are formed over the gate dielectric and are located adjacent to the source electrode on the first side of the gate electrode and located adjacent to the drain electrode on the second side of the gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed over the first oxide layer, the second oxide layer, the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconducting metal oxide fin located over a lower-level dielectric material layer, a gate dielectric layer located on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconducting metal oxide fin, a gate electrode located on the gate dielectric layer and straddling the semiconducting metal oxide fin, an access-level dielectric material layer embedding the gate electrode and the semiconducting metal oxide fin, a memory cell embedded in a memory-level dielectric material layer and including a first electrode, a memory element, and a second electrode, and a bit line overlying the memory cell. The first electrode may be electrically connected to a drain region within the semiconducting metal oxide fin through a first electrically conductive path, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the bit line.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: A high voltage transistor may include a stepped dielectric layer between a field plate structure and a channel region of the high voltage transistor in a substrate. The stepped dielectric layer may increase the breakdown voltage of the high voltage transistor by reducing the electric field strength near the drain region of the high voltage transistor. In particular, a portion of the stepped dielectric layer near the drain region includes a thickness that is greater relative to a thickness of another portion of the stepped dielectric layer near the gate structure. The increased thickness near the drain region provides increased electric field suppression near the drain region (which operates at high voltages). In this way, the stepped dielectric layer enables the high voltage transistor described herein to achieve higher breakdown voltages without increasing the distance between the gate structure and the drain region of a high voltage transistor.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy pattern over test region of a substrate; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer laterally surrounding the dummy pattern; removing the dummy pattern to form an opening; forming a dielectric layer in the opening; performing a first testing process on the dielectric layer; performing an annealing process to the dielectric layer; and performing a second testing process on the annealed dielectric layer.

Abstract: A Schottky diode includes a substrate, a first drift region in the substrate, a second drift region in the substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, a first doped region in the first drift region, a second doped region in the second drift region, a third doped region in the first drift region, and a metal field plate disposed over the first dielectric layer. The first drift region and the first doped region include a first conductivity type. The second drift region, the second doped region and third doped region include a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type. The first dielectric layer overlaps a portion of the first drift region and a portion of the second drift region. The second doped region is separated from the first doped region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a field plate. A gate structure overlies a substrate between a source region and a drain region. A drift region is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the drain region. A first dielectric layer overlies the substrate. A field plate is disposed within the first dielectric layer between the gate structure and the drain region. A conductive wire overlies the first dielectric layer and contacts the field plate. At least a portion of the conductive wire directly overlies a first sidewall of the drift region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a deep trench isolation (DTI), an interconnect structure, and a conductive pillar. The DTI is disposed in the substrate and the interconnect structure is disposed over the substrate. The conductive pillar extends from the interconnect structure toward the substrate and penetrates the DTI. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A ferroelectric semiconductor device and method are described herein. The method includes performing a diffusion anneal process to drive elements of a dopant film through an amorphous silicon layer and into a gate dielectric layer over a fin to form a doped gate dielectric layer with a gradient depth profile of dopant concentrations. The doped gate dielectric layer is crystallized during a post-cap anneal process to form a gradient depth profile of ferroelectric properties within the crystallized gate dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed over the crystallized gate dielectric layer to obtain a ferroelectric transistor with multi-ferroelectric properties between the gate electrode and the channel. The ferroelectric transistor may be used in deep neural network (DNN) applications.

Abstract: A ferroelectric semiconductor device and method are described herein. The method includes performing a diffusion anneal process to drive elements of a dopant film through an amorphous silicon layer and into a gate dielectric layer over a fin to form a doped gate dielectric layer with a gradient depth profile of dopant concentrations. The doped gate dielectric layer is crystallized during a post-cap anneal process to form a gradient depth profile of ferroelectric properties within the crystallized gate dielectric layer. A metal gate electrode is formed over the crystallized gate dielectric layer to obtain a ferroelectric transistor with multi-ferroelectric properties between the gate electrode and the channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a field plate. A gate structure overlies a substrate between a source region and a drain region. A drift region is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the drain region. A first dielectric layer overlies the substrate. A field plate is disposed within the first dielectric layer between the gate structure and the drain region. A conductive wire overlies the first dielectric layer and contacts the field plate. At least a portion of the conductive wire directly overlies a first sidewall of the drift region.