Abstract: Disclosed herein are a semiconductor processing chamber, semiconductor processing equipment and vapor epitaxy equipment, solving technical problems of process gas uniformity, infrared radiation transmittance and pressure-bearing capacity in the field of semiconductor processing. Mainly, an upper cover of a processing chamber is covered by a pressure-bearing shell and a confined space is formed, a pressure-regulating device is configured to regulate air pressure of the confined space and further regulate air pressure borne by upper and lower surfaces of the upper cover of the semiconductor processing chamber, the structural design of the upper cover is optimized, such that, in a semiconductor processing process, in order to realize processing with higher uniformity and higher quality on a surface of a substrate, the upper cover can be improved in a larger range to obtain a more optimized processing space.

Abstract: The present application discloses a chemical vapor deposition equipment and method therefor, the equipment including: a reaction chamber; an outer housing provided outside the reaction chamber, an accommodation space being formed between the outer housing and the reaction chamber; a plurality of radiant heat sources provided in the accommodation space; and pressure adjusting device used for independently regulating the pressure in the reaction chamber and the accommodation space. Advantages thereof are as follows: the pressure of the accommodation space of the equipment is smaller than the atmospheric pressure, which helps to reduce the pressure on the wall of the reaction chamber while not affecting the heat transfer efficiency of the radiant heat sources, thereby contributing to the uniform heating of the reaction area in the reaction chamber, and improving the yield rate of substrate process production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a waterborne polyurethane-epoxy resin-based primer composition and its preparation method. Further disclosed herein is a primer layer obtained from curing the waterborne polyurethane-epoxy resin-based primer composition on substrates as well as a method of curing the primer composition on substrates.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device. A two-terminal device element includes a device stack coupled between first and second terminals. The first terminal contacts a metal line in an underlying interconnect level, and the second terminal is formed over the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers exposed side surfaces of the device stack of the two-terminal device element. A dual damascene interconnect is coupled to the two-terminal device element.

Abstract: A reliable metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor is disclosed. The MIM capacitor is disposed over at least an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer of a plurality of ILD layers with interconnects disposed over a substrate. The MIM capacitor includes a capacitor dielectric disposed between top and bottom metal capacitor electrodes. The edges of the top metal electrode at the interface with the capacitor dielectric are rounded. The rounded edges of the top capacitor electrode at the interface with the capacitor dielectric reduce edge electric field, thereby improves time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) reliability of the capacitor.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device. A two-terminal device element includes a device stack coupled between first and second terminals. The first terminal contacts a metal line in an underlying interconnect level, and the second terminal is formed over the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers exposed side surfaces of the device stack of the two-terminal device element. A dual damascene interconnect is coupled to the two-terminal device element.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first and second regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the regions. A two-terminal device element which includes a device layer coupled in between first and second terminals is formed over the first upper dielectric layer in the second region. The first terminal contacts the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region and the second terminal is formed on the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers at least exposed side surfaces of the device layer of the two-terminal device element. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with dual damascene interconnects is provided in the regions.

Abstract: A reliable metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor is disclosed. The MIM capacitor is disposed over at least an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer of a plurality of ILD layers with interconnects disposed over a substrate. The MIM capacitor includes a capacitor dielectric disposed between top and bottom metal capacitor electrodes. The edges of the top metal electrode at the interface with the capacitor dielectric are rounded. The rounded edges of the top capacitor electrode at the interface with the capacitor dielectric reduce edge electric field, thereby improves time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) reliability of the capacitor.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of processing semiconductor devices are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with isolation regions having a non-planar surface topology. The substrate includes at least first and second regions. The first region includes a memory region and the second region includes a logic region. A hard mask layer is formed covering the substrate and the isolation regions with non-planar surface topology. The method includes selectively processing an exposed portion of the hard mask layer over a select region while protecting a portion of the hard mask layer over a non-select region. The top substrate area and isolation regions of the non-select region are not exposed during processing of the portion of the hard mask layer over the select region. Hard mask residue is completely removed over the select region during processing of the exposed portion of the hard mask layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate with a patterned second layer over a first layer. The second layer includes a second layer opening having a first CD equal to the CD produced by a lithographic system (CDL). CDL is larger than a desired CD (CDD). A third layer is formed to fill the opening, leaving a top surface of the second layer exposed. The second layer is removed to produce a mesa formed by the third layer. The CD of the mesa is equal to about the first CD. The mesa is trimmed to produce a mesa with a second CD equal to about CDD. A fourth layer is formed to cover the first layer, leaving a top of the mesa exposed. The substrate is etched to remove the mesa and a portion of the first layer below the mesa to form an opening in the first layer with CDD.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of processing semiconductor devices are presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with isolation regions having a non-planar surface topology. The substrate includes at least first and second regions. The first region includes a memory region and the second region includes a logic region. A hard mask layer is formed covering the substrate and the isolation regions with non-planar surface topology. The method includes selectively processing an exposed portion of the hard mask layer over a select region while protecting a portion of the hard mask layer over a non-select region. The top substrate area and isolation regions of the non-select region are not exposed during processing of the portion of the hard mask layer over the select region. Hard mask residue is completely removed over the select region during processing of the exposed portion of the hard mask layer.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first and second regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the regions. A two-terminal device element which includes a device layer coupled in between first and second terminals is formed over the first upper dielectric layer in the second region. The first terminal contacts the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region and the second terminal is formed on the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers at least exposed side surfaces of the device layer of the two-terminal device element. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with dual damascene interconnects is provided in the regions.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a device component with a contact region. A contact dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. The contact dielectric layer covers the substrate and device component. At least one contact opening is formed through the contact dielectric layer. Upper portion of the contact opening includes wider opening with tapered sidewall profile while lower portion of the contact opening includes narrower opening with vertical sidewall profile.

Abstract: Integrated circuits with magnetic random access memory (MRAM) and dual encapsulation for double magnesium oxide tunnel barrier structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed herein. As an illustration, an integrated circuit includes a magnetic random access memory structure that includes a bottom electrode that has a bottom electrode width and has bottom electrode sidewalls and a fixed layer overlying the bottom electrode that has a fixed layer width that is substantially equal to the bottom electrode width and has fixed layer sidewalls. The MRAM structure of the integrated circuit further includes a free layer overlying a central area of the fixed layer. Still further, the MRAM structure of the integrated circuit includes a first encapsulation layer disposed along the free layer sidewalls and a second encapsulation layer disposed along the bottom electrode sidewalls and the fixed layer sidewalls.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a patterned reticle having a pattern perimeter defined by active and dummy patterns. The dummy patterns include dummy structures modified according to a density equation. The patterned reticle is used to pattern a resist layer on a substrate with a device layer. An etch is performed to pattern the device layer using the patterned resist layer. Additional processing is performed to complete formation of the device.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and method for forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a device component with a contact region. A contact dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. The contact dielectric layer covers the substrate and device component. At least one contact opening is formed through the contact dielectric layer. Upper portion of the contact opening includes wider opening with tapered sidewall profile while lower portion of the contact opening includes narrower opening with vertical sidewall profile.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.