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: In an embodiment, a device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first fin extending from the semiconductor substrate; a second fin extending from the semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial source/drain region including: a main layer in the first fin and the second fin, the main layer including a first semiconductor material, the main layer having a upper faceted surface and a lower faceted surface, the upper faceted surface and the lower faceted surface each being raised from respective surfaces of the first fin and the second fin; and a semiconductor contact etch stop layer (CESL) contacting the upper faceted surface and the lower faceted surface of the main layer, the semiconductor CESL including a second semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material being different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: A device includes a gate stack; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack; a silicide; and a source/drain contact electrically connected to the source/drain region through the silicide. The silicide includes a conformal first portion in the source/drain region, the conformal first portion comprising a metal and silicon; and a conformal second portion over the conformal first portion, the conformal second portion further disposed on a sidewall of the gate spacer, the conformal second portion comprising the metal, silicon, and nitrogen.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure includes forming a gate structure over a substrate and forming a mask layer covering the gate structure. The method also includes forming a source/drain structure adjacent to the gate structure over the substrate and forming a contact over the source/drain structure. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer over the contact and the mask layer and forming a first trench through the dielectric layer and the mask layer over the gate structure. The method also includes forming a first conductive structure in the first trench and removing an upper portion of the first conductive structure. The method also includes forming a second conductive structure through the dielectric layer and covering the contact and the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first and a second dummy gate stack crossing over a semiconductor region, forming an ILD to embed the first and the second dummy gate stacks therein, replacing the first and the second dummy gate stacks with a first and a second replacement gate stack, respectively, performing a first etching process to form a first opening. A portion of the first replacement gate stack and a portion of the second replacement gate stack are removed. The method further includes filling the first opening to form a dielectric isolation region, performing a second etching process to form a second opening, with the ILD being etched, and the dielectric isolation region being exposed to the second opening, forming a contact spacer in the second opening, and filling a contact plug in the second opening. The contact plug is between opposite portions of the contact spacer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate, forming an ILD layer over the first conductive feature, patterning the ILD layer to form a trench, and forming a conductive layer over the patterned ILD layer to fill the trench. The method further includes polishing the conductive layer to form a via contact configured to interconnect the first conductive feature with a second conductive feature, where polishing the conductive layer exposes a top surface of the ILD layer, polishing the exposed top surface of the ILD layer, such that a top portion of the via contact protrudes from the exposed top surface of the ILD layer, and forming the second conductive feature over the via contact, such that the top portion of the via contact extends into the second conductive feature.

Abstract: Epitaxial source/drain structures for enhancing performance of multigate devices, such as fin-like field-effect transistors (FETs) or gate-all-around (GAA) FETs, and methods of fabricating the epitaxial source/drain structures, are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a dielectric substrate. The device further includes a channel layer, a gate disposed over the channel layer, and an epitaxial source/drain structure disposed adjacent to the channel layer. The channel layer, the gate, and the epitaxial source/drain structure are disposed over the dielectric substrate. The epitaxial source/drain structure includes an inner portion having a first dopant concentration and an outer portion having a second dopant concentration that is less than the first dopant concentration. The inner portion physically contacts the dielectric substrate, and the outer portion is disposed between the inner portion and the channel layer. In some embodiments, the outer portion physically contacts the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first fin-shaped structure extending lengthwise along a first direction over a substrate, a first epitaxial feature over a source/drain region of the first fin-shaped structure, a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the first fin-shaped structure and extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a source/drain contact over the first epitaxial feature. The bottom surface of the gate structure is closer to the substrate than a bottom surface of the source/drain contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, an exemplary method of forming the semiconductor structure includes forming a fin structure extending from a front side of a substrate, recessing a source region of the fin structure to form a source opening, forming a semiconductor plug under the source opening, planarizing the substrate to expose the semiconductor plug from a back side of the substrate, performing a pre-amorphous implantation (PAI) process to amorphize the substrate, replacing the amorphized substrate with a dielectric layer, and replacing the semiconductor plug with a backside source contact. By performing the PAI process, crystalline semiconductor is amorphized and may be substantially removed. Thus, the performance and reliability of the semiconductor structure may be advantageously improved.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact spaced apart by a gate structure, an etch stop layer (ESL) over the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, a conductive feature disposed in the etch stop layer and in direct contact with the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and a contact via extending through the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the conductive feature. By providing the conductive feature, a number of metal lines in an interconnect structure of the semiconductor structure may be advantageously reduced.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. A semiconductor structure according to the present disclosure includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate, a first source/drain feature disposed over the first fin structure and a second source/drain feature disposed over the second fin structure, a dielectric feature disposed over the first source/drain feature, and a contact structure formed over the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature. The contact structure is electrically coupled to the second source/drain feature and is separated from the first source/drain feature by the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes receiving a workpiece that includes a gate structure, a first gate spacer feature, a second gate spacer feature, a gate-top dielectric feature over the gate structure, the first gate spacer feature and the second gate spacer feature, a first source/drain feature over a first source/drain region, a second source/drain feature over a second source/drain region, a first dielectric layer over the first source/drain feature, and a second dielectric layer over the second source/drain feature. The method further includes replacing a top portion of the first dielectric layer with a first hard mask layer, forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer while the second dielectric layer is exposed, etching the second dielectric layer to form a source/drain contact opening and to expose the second source/drain feature, and forming a source/drain contact over the second source/drain feature.

Abstract: An embodiment method includes: forming fins extending from a semiconductor substrate; depositing an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer on the fins; forming masking layers on the ILD layer; forming a cut mask on the masking layers, the cut mask including a first dielectric material, the cut mask having first openings exposing the masking layers, each of the first openings surrounded on all sides by the first dielectric material; forming a line mask on the cut mask and in the first openings, the line mask having slot openings, the slot openings exposing portions of the cut mask and portions of the masking layers, the slot openings being strips extending perpendicular to the fins; patterning the masking layers by etching the portions of the masking layers exposed by the first openings and the slot openings; and etching contact openings in the ILD layer using the patterned masking layers as an etching mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a fin protruding from a substrate, a first and a second metal gate stacks disposed over the fin, and a dielectric feature defining a sidewall of each of the first and the second metal gate stacks. Furthermore, the dielectric feature includes a two-layer structure, where sidewalls of the first layer are defined by the second layer, and where the first and the second layers have different compositions.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a dielectric layer formed over a power rail; a bottom semiconductor layer formed over the dielectric layer; a backside spacer formed along a sidewall of the bottom semiconductor layer; a conductive feature contacting a sidewall of the dielectric layer and a sidewall of the backside spacer; channel semiconductor layers over the bottom semiconductor layer, wherein the channel semiconductor layers are stacked up and separated from each other; a metal gate structure wrapping each of the channel semiconductor layers; and an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature contacting a sidewall of each of the channel semiconductor layers, wherein the epitaxial S/D feature contacts the conductive feature, and the conductive feature contacts the power rail.

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 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 device includes a gate stack; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack; a silicide; and a source/drain contact electrically connected to the source/drain region through the silicide. The silicide includes a conformal first portion in the source/drain region, the conformal first portion comprising a metal and silicon; and a conformal second portion over the conformal first portion, the conformal second portion further disposed on a sidewall of the gate spacer, the conformal second portion comprising the metal, silicon, and nitrogen.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes a first plurality of channel members over a backside dielectric layer, a second plurality of channel members over the backside dielectric layer, a silicide feature disposed in the backside dielectric layer, and a source/drain feature disposed over the silicide feature and extending between the first plurality of channel members and the second plurality of channel members. The silicide feature extends through an entire depth of the backside dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first and a second dummy gate stack crossing over a semiconductor region, forming an ILD to embed the first and the second dummy gate stacks therein, replacing the first and the second dummy gate stacks with a first and a second replacement gate stack, respectively, performing a first etching process to form a first opening. A portion of the first replacement gate stack and a portion of the second replacement gate stack are removed. The method further includes filling the first opening to form a dielectric isolation region, performing a second etching process to form a second opening, with the ILD being etched, and the dielectric isolation region being exposed to the second opening, forming a contact spacer in the second opening, and filling a contact plug in the second opening. The contact plug is between opposite portions of the contact spacer.