Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a method for processing semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes loading a semiconductor wafer into a chamber. The method also includes creating an exhaust flow from the chamber. The method further includes depositing a film on the semiconductor wafer by supplying a processing gas into the chamber. In addition, the method includes detecting, with a use of a gas sensor, a concentration of the processing gas in the exhaust flow and generating a detection signal according to a result of the detection. The method further includes supplying a cleaning gas into the processing chamber for a time period after the film is formed on the semiconductor wafer. The time period is determined based on the detection signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a packaging method, including: providing a first semiconductor substrate; forming a bonding region on the first semiconductor substrate, wherein the bonding region of the first semiconductor substrate includes a first bonding metal layer and a second bonding metal layer; providing a second semiconductor substrate having a bonding region, wherein the bonding region of the second semiconductor substrate includes a third bonding layer; and bonding the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate by bringing the bonding region of the first semiconductor substrate in contact with the bonding region of the second semiconductor substrate; wherein the first and third bonding metal layers include copper (Cu), and the second bonding metal layer includes Tin (Sn). An associated packaging structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a semiconductor device that is inverted and that overlies a dielectric region inset into a top of a semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure overlies the semiconductor substrate and the dielectric region and further comprises an intermetal dielectric (IMD) layer. The IMD layer is bonded to the top of the semiconductor substrate and accommodates a pad. A semiconductor layer overlies the interconnect structure, and the semiconductor device is in the semiconductor layer, between the semiconductor layer and the interconnect structure. The semiconductor device comprises a first source/drain electrode overlying the dielectric region and further overlying and electrically coupled to the pad. The dielectric region reduces substrate capacitance to decrease substrate power loss and may, for example, be a cavity or a dielectric layer. A contact extends through the semiconductor layer to the pad.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a three-dimensional (3D) trench capacitor, as well as methods for forming the same. In some embodiments, a first substrate overlies a second substrate so a front side of the first substrate faces a front side of the second substrate. A first trench capacitor and a second trench capacitor extend respectively into the front sides of the first and second substrates. A plurality of wires and a plurality of vias are stacked between and electrically coupled to the first and second trench capacitors. A first through substrate via (TSV) extends through the first substrate from a back side of the first substrate, and the wires and the vias electrically couple the first TSV to the first and second trench capacitors. The first and second trench capacitors and the electrical coupling therebetween collectively define the 3D trench capacitor.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate structure over a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate comprising: a base semiconductor layer; an insulator layer over the base semiconductor layer; and a top semiconductor layer over the insulator layer. The method further includes depositing a gate spacer layer over a top surface and along a sidewall of the gate structure; etching the gate spacer layer to define a gate spacer on the sidewall of the gate structure; after etching the gate spacer layer, etching a recess into the top semiconductor layer using a first etch process; and after the first etch process, extending the recess further into the top semiconductor layer using a second etch process. The first etch process is different from the second etch process. The method further includes forming a source/drain region in the recess after the second etch process.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a plurality of upper alignment marks on a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of lower alignment marks is formed on a handle wafer and correspond to the upper alignment marks. The semiconductor wafer is bonded to the handle wafer such that centers of the upper alignment marks are laterally offset from centers of corresponding lower alignment marks. An overlay (OVL) shift is measured between the handle wafer and the semiconductor wafer by detecting the plurality of upper alignment marks and the plurality of lower alignment marks. A photolithography process is performed by a photolithography tool to partially form an integrated circuit (IC) structure over the semiconductor wafer. During the photolithography process the photolithography tool is compensatively aligned according to the OVL shift.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate includes a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure. The multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The multi-layered polycrystalline silicon structure includes a plurality of doped polycrystalline silicon layers stacked over one another, and an oxide layer between each adjacent pair of doped polycrystalline silicon layers. A number of the doped polycrystalline silicon layer is ranging from 2 to 6.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor device including a gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial source/drain layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and is laterally adjacent to the gate electrode. The epitaxial source/drain layer comprises a first dopant. A diffusion barrier layer is between the epitaxial source/drain layer and the semiconductor substrate. The diffusion barrier layer comprises a barrier dopant that is different from the first dopant.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a semiconductor device that is inverted and that overlies a dielectric region inset into a top of a semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure overlies the semiconductor substrate and the dielectric region and further comprises an intermetal dielectric (IMD) layer. The IMD layer is bonded to the top of the semiconductor substrate and accommodates a pad. A semiconductor layer overlies the interconnect structure, and the semiconductor device is in the semiconductor layer, between the semiconductor layer and the interconnect structure. The semiconductor device comprises a first source/drain electrode overlying the dielectric region and further overlying and electrically coupled to the pad. The dielectric region reduces substrate capacitance to decrease substrate power loss and may, for example, be a cavity or a dielectric layer. A contact extends through the semiconductor layer to the pad.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a three-dimensional (3D) trench capacitor, as well as methods for forming the same. In some embodiments, a first substrate overlies a second substrate so a front side of the first substrate faces a front side of the second substrate. A first trench capacitor and a second trench capacitor extend respectively into the front sides of the first and second substrates. A plurality of wires and a plurality of vias are stacked between and electrically coupled to the first and second trench capacitors. A first through substrate via (TSV) extends through the first substrate from a back side of the first substrate, and the wires and the vias electrically couple the first TSV to the first and second trench capacitors. The first and second trench capacitors and the electrical coupling therebetween collectively define the 3D trench capacitor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor fabrication tool is provided. The semiconductor fabrication tool includes a first processing zone having a first ambient environment and a second processing zone having a second ambient environment disposed at different location inside a processing chamber. A first exhaust port and a second exhaust port are disposed in the first and second processing zones, respectively. A first exhaust pipe couples the first exhaust port to a first individual exhaust output. A second exhaust pipe couples the second exhaust port to a second individual exhaust output, where the second exhaust pipe is separate from the first exhaust pipe. A first adjustable fluid control element controls the first ambient environment. A second adjustable fluid control element controls the second ambient environment, where the first adjustable fluid control element and the second adjustable fluid control element are independently adjustable.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a group III-V device including a rough buffer layer. The rough buffer layer overlies a silicon substrate, a buffer structure overlies the rough buffer layer, and a heterojunction structure overlies the buffer structure. The buffer structure causes band bending and formation of a two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) in the rough buffer layer. The rough buffer layer includes silicon or some other suitable semiconductor material and, in some embodiments, is doped. A top surface of the rough buffer layer and/or a bottom surface of the rough buffer layer is/are rough to promote carrier scattering along the top and bottom surfaces. The carrier scattering reduces carrier mobility and increases resistance at the 2DHG. The increased resistance increases an overall resistance of the silicon substrate, which reduces substrate loses and increases a power added efficiency (PAE).

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a method for processing semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes loading a semiconductor wafer into a chamber. The method also includes creating an exhaust flow from the chamber. The method further includes depositing a film on the semiconductor wafer by supplying a processing gas into the chamber. In addition, the method includes detecting, with a use of a gas sensor, a concentration of the processing gas in the exhaust flow and generating a detection signal according to a result of the detection. The method further includes supplying a cleaning gas into the processing chamber for a time period after the film is formed on the semiconductor wafer. The time period is determined based on the detection signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a packaging method, including: providing a first semiconductor substrate; forming a bonding region on the first semiconductor substrate, wherein the bonding region of the first semiconductor substrate includes a first bonding metal layer and a second bonding metal layer; providing a second semiconductor substrate having a bonding region, wherein the bonding region of the second semiconductor substrate includes a third bonding layer; and bonding the first semiconductor substrate to the second semiconductor substrate by bringing the bonding region of the first semiconductor substrate in contact with the bonding region of the second semiconductor substrate; wherein the first and third bonding metal layers include copper (Cu), and the second bonding metal layer includes Tin (Sn). An associated packaging structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor fabrication tool is provided. The semiconductor fabrication tool includes a first processing zone having a first ambient environment and a second processing zone having a second ambient environment disposed at different location inside a processing chamber. A first exhaust port and a second exhaust port are disposed in the first and second processing zones, respectively. A first exhaust pipe couples the first exhaust port to a first individual exhaust output. A second exhaust pipe couples the second exhaust port to a second individual exhaust output, where the second exhaust pipe is separate from the first exhaust pipe. A first adjustable fluid control element controls the first ambient environment. A second adjustable fluid control element controls the second ambient environment, where the first adjustable fluid control element and the second adjustable fluid control element are independently adjustable.

Abstract: A method including forming a III-V compound layer on a substrate and implanting a main dopant in the III-V compound layer to form source and drain regions. The method further includes implanting a group V species into the source and drain regions. A semiconductor device including a substrate and a III-V compound layer over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes source and drain regions in the III-V layer, wherein the source and drain regions comprises a first dopants and a second dopant, and the second dopant comprises a group V material.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method that achieves a substantially uniform pattern of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells with a minimum dimension below the lower resolution limit of some optical lithography techniques. A copolymer solution comprising first and second polymer species is spin-coated over a heterostructure which resides over a surface of a substrate. The heterostructure comprises first and second ferromagnetic layers which are separated by an insulating layer. The copolymer solution is subjected to self-assembly into a phase-separated material comprising a pattern of micro-domains of the second polymer species within a polymer matrix comprising the first polymer species. The first polymer species is then removed, leaving a pattern of micro-domains of the second polymer species. A pattern of magnetic memory cells within the heterostructure is formed by etching through the heterostructure while utilizing the pattern of micro-domains as a hardmask.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a transistor device. The transistor device includes a layer of GaN over a substrate. A mobility-enhancing layer of AlzGa(1-z)N is over the layer of GaN and has a first molar fraction z in a first range of between approximately 0.25 and approximately 0.4. A resistance-reducing layer of AlxGa(1-x)N is over the mobility-enhancing layer and has a second molar fraction x in a second range of between approximately 0.1 and approximately 0.15. A source has a source contact and an underlying source region. A drain has a drain contact and an underlying drain region. The source and drain regions extend through the resistance-reducing layer of AlxGa(1-x)N and into the mobility-enhancing layer of AlzGa(1-z)N. The source and drain regions have bottoms over a bottom of the mobility-enhancing layer of AlzGa(1-z)N. A gate structure is laterally between the source and drain contacts.