Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure. A source/drain region is formed on the fin structure. A first gate structure is disposed over the fin structure. A source/drain contact is disposed over the source/drain region. The source/drain contact has a protruding segment that protrudes at least partially over the first gate structure. The source/drain contact electrically couples together the source/drain region and the first gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layer having a semiconductive material. The layer includes an outwardly-protruding fin structure. An isolation structure is disposed over the layer but not over the fin structure. A first spacer and a second spacer are each disposed over the isolation structure and on sidewalls of the fin structure. The first spacer is disposed on a first sidewall of the fin structure. The second spacer is disposed on a second sidewall of the fin structure opposite the first sidewall. The second spacer is substantially taller than the first spacer. An epi-layer is grown on the fin structure. The epi-layer protrudes laterally. A lateral protrusion of the epi-layer is asymmetrical with respect to the first side and the second side.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a differential contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a first portion over a source/drain region and a second portion along a gate stack, the source/drain region being in a substrate, the gate stack being over the substrate proximate the source/drain region, a first thickness of the first portion being greater than a second thickness of the second portion; depositing a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the differential CESL; forming a source/drain contact opening in the first ILD; forming a contact spacer along sidewalls of the source/drain contact opening; after forming the contact spacer, extending the source/drain contact opening through the differential CESL; and forming a first source/drain contact in the extended source/drain contact opening, the first source/drain contact physically and electrically coupling the source/drain region, the contact spacer physically separating the first source/drain contact from the first ILD.

Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with an interconnect structure and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, the method includes receiving a workpiece that includes an inter-level dielectric layer. A first contact that includes a fill material is formed that extends through the inter-level dielectric layer. The inter-level dielectric layer is recessed such that the fill material extends above a top surface of the inter-level dielectric layer. An etch-stop layer is formed on the inter-level dielectric layer such that the fill material of the first contact extends into the etch-stop layer. A second contact is formed extending through the etch-stop layer to couple to the first contact. In some such examples, the second contact physically contacts a top surface and a side surface of the first contact.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having first and second fins over a substrate and oriented lengthwise generally along a first direction and source/drain (S/D) features over the first and second fins; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer covering the S/D features; performing a first etching process at least to an area between the S/D features, thereby forming a trench in the ILD layer; depositing a dielectric material in the trench; performing a second etching process to selectively recess the dielectric material; and performing a third etching process to selectively recess the ILD layer, thereby forming a contact hole that exposes the S/D features.

Abstract: A method for semiconductor fabrication includes providing a device structure having an isolation structure, a fin adjacent the isolation structure, gate structures over the fin and the isolation structure, one or more dielectric layers over the isolation structure and the fin and between the gate structures, a first contact hole over the fin, and a second contact hole over the isolation structure. The method further includes depositing a protection layer and treating it with a plasma so that the protection layer in the first contact hole and the protection layer in the second contact hole have different etch selectivity in an etching process; and etching the protection layer to etch through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the first contact hole without etching through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the second contact hole.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a first gate stack, a second gate stack, a first source/drain feature disposed between the first and second gate stacks, and a source/drain contact over and electrically coupled to the first source/drain feature. The source/drain contact is spaced apart from each of the first and second gate stacks by an inner spacer disposed on sidewalls of the source/drain contact, a first air gap, a first gate spacer, and a second air gap separated from the first air gap by the first gate spacer.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a first gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a conductive layer formed over the first gate structure. The FinFET device structure includes a first capping layer formed over the conductive layer, and a top surface of the conductive layer is in direct contact with a bottom surface of the first capping layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an isolation insulating layer; fin structures protruding from the isolation insulating layer; gate structures, each having a metal gate and a cap insulating layer disposed over the metal gate; a first source/drain epitaxial layer and a second source/drain epitaxial layer disposed between two adjacent gate structures; and a first conductive contact disposed on the first source/drain epitaxial layer, and a second conductive contact disposed on the second source/drain epitaxial layer; a separation isolation region disposed between the first and second conductive contact; and an insulating layer disposed between the separation isolation region and the isolation insulating layer. The separation isolation region is made of a different material than the insulating layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a substrate, at least two gate structures disposed over the substrate, each of the at least two gate structures including a gate electrode and a spacer disposed along sidewalls of the gate electrode, wherein the spacer includes a refill portion and a bottom portion, the refill portion of the spacer has a funnel shape such that a top surface of the refill portion of the spacer is larger than a bottom surface of the refill portion of the spacer, and a source/drain contact disposed over the substrate and between the spacers of the at least two gate structures.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a substrate, at least two gate structures disposed over the substrate, each of the at least two gate structures including a gate electrode and a spacer disposed along sidewalls of the gate electrode, wherein the spacer includes a refill portion and a bottom portion, the refill portion of the spacer has a funnel shape such that a top surface of the refill portion of the spacer is larger than a bottom surface of the refill portion of the spacer, and a source/drain contact disposed over the substrate and between the spacers of the at least two gate structures.

Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a fin structure. The method also includes forming an S/D contact structure over a S/D structure and depositing a protection layer over the S/D contact structure. The protection layer and the S/D contact structure are made of different materials. The method further includes forming an etching stop layer over the protection layer and forming a dielectric layer over the etching stop layer. The method includes forming a first recess through the dielectric layer and the etching stop layer to expose the protection layer and forming an S/D conductive plug in the first recess. The S/D conductive plug includes a barrier layer directly on the protection layer, and the protection layer and the barrier layer are made of different materials.

Abstract: A method includes forming an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature over a semiconductor layer, where the epitaxial S/D feature includes silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), forming a trench to expose a portion of the epitaxial S/D feature, annealing the exposed portion of the epitaxial S/D feature, where the annealing forms at a top surface of the epitaxial S/D feature a first region having a first Ge concentration and a second region disposed below the first region having a second Ge concentration that is less than the first Ge concentration, oxidizing the first region, removing the oxidized first region, and forming an S/D contact in the trench over the second region.

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: Semiconductor structures are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a metal gate structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a sealing layer comprising an inner sidewall and an outermost sidewall. In addition, the inner sidewall is in direct contact with the metal gate structure and the outermost sidewall is away from the metal gate structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a mask structure formed over the metal gate structure. In addition, the mask structure has a straight sidewall over the metal gate structure and a sloped sidewall extending from the inner sidewall of the sealing layer and passing over the outmost sidewall of the sealing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layer having a semiconductive material. The layer includes an outwardly-protruding fin structure. An isolation structure is disposed over the layer but not over the fin structure. A first spacer and a second spacer are each disposed over the isolation structure and on sidewalls of the fin structure. The first spacer is disposed on a first sidewall of the fin structure. The second spacer is disposed on a second sidewall of the fin structure opposite the first sidewall. The second spacer is substantially taller than the first spacer. An epi-layer is grown on the fin structure. The epi-layer protrudes laterally. A lateral protrusion of the epi-layer is asymmetrical with respect to the first side and the second side.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first and a second contact opening to reveal a first and a second source/drain region, respectively, forming a mask layer having a first and a second portion in the first and the second contact openings, respectively, forming a first and a second sacrificial ILD in the first and the second contact openings, respectively, removing the first sacrificial ILD from the first contact opening, filling a filler in the first contact opening, and etching the second sacrificial ILD. The filler protects the first portion of the mask layer from being etched. An ILD is formed in the second contact opening and on the second portion of the mask layer. The filler and the first portion of the mask layer are removed using a wet etch to reveal the first contact opening. A contact plug is formed in the first contact opening.

Abstract: A method for semiconductor fabrication includes providing a device structure having an isolation structure, a fin adjacent the isolation structure, gate structures over the fin and the isolation structure, one or more dielectric layers over the isolation structure and the fin and between the gate structures, a first contact hole over the fin, and a second contact hole over the isolation structure. The method further includes depositing a protection layer and treating it with a plasma so that the protection layer in the first contact hole and the protection layer in the second contact hole have different etch selectivity in an etching process; and etching the protection layer to etch through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the first contact hole without etching through the protection layer on the bottom surface of the second contact hole.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure is provided. The FinFET device structure includes a first gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a first capping layer formed over the first gate structure. The FinFET device structure includes a first etching stop layer formed over the first capping layer and the first gate structure, and a top surface and a sidewall surface of the first capping layer are in direct contact with the first etching stop 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.