Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first interconnect dielectric layer arranged over a substrate. An interconnect wire extends through the first interconnect dielectric layer, and a barrier structure is arranged directly over the interconnect wire. The integrated chip further includes an etch stop layer arranged over the barrier structure and surrounds outer sidewalls of the barrier structure. A second interconnect dielectric layer is arranged over the etch stop layer, and an interconnect via extends through the second interconnect dielectric layer, the etch stop layer, and the barrier structure to contact the interconnect wire.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a masking structure with first openings over a semiconductor substrate and correspondingly forming metal layers in the first openings. The method also includes recessing the masking structure to form second openings between the metal layers and forming a sacrificial layer surrounded by a first liner in each of the second openings. In addition, after forming a second liner over the sacrificial layer in each of the second openings, the method includes removing the sacrificial layer in each of the second openings to form a plurality of air gaps therefrom.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a semiconductor device structure. The method includes including forming one or more conductive features in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD), forming an etch stop layer on the first ILD, forming a second ILD over the etch stop layer, forming one or more openings through the second ILD and the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the one or more first conductive features, wherein the one or more openings are formed by a first etch process in a first process chamber, exposing the one or more openings to a second etch process in a second process chamber so that the shape of the or more openings is elongated, and filling the one or more openings with a conductive material.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary method of forming a semiconductor device comprises receiving a structure including a substrate and a first hard mask over the substrate, the first hard mask having at least two separate portions; forming spacers along sidewalls of the at least two portions of the first hard mask with a space between the spacers; forming a second hard mask in the space; forming a first cut in the at least two portions of the first hard mask; forming a second cut in the second hard mask; and depositing a cut hard mask in the first cut and the second cut.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an interconnect. The method includes forming an etch stop layer (ESL) over a lower conductive structure and forming one or more dielectric layers over the ESL. A first patterning process is performed on the one or more dielectric layers to form interconnect opening and a second patterning process is performed on the one or more dielectric layers to increase a depth of the interconnect opening and expose an upper surface of the ESL. A protective layer is selectively formed on sidewalls of the one or more dielectric layers forming the interconnect opening. A third patterning process is performed to remove portions of the ESL that are uncovered by the one or more dielectric layers and the protective layer and to expose the lower conductive structure. A conductive material is formed within the interconnect opening.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip including a plurality of conductive structures over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is disposed laterally between the conductive structures. A spacer structure is disposed between the first dielectric layer and the plurality of conductive structures. An etch stop layer overlies the plurality of conductive structures. The etch stop layer is disposed on upper surfaces of the spacer structure and the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a first interconnect dielectric layer arranged over a substrate. An interconnect wire extends through the first interconnect dielectric layer, and a barrier structure is arranged directly over the interconnect wire. The integrated chip further includes an etch stop layer arranged over the barrier structure and surrounds outer sidewalls of the barrier structure. A second interconnect dielectric layer is arranged over the etch stop layer, and an interconnect via extends through the second interconnect dielectric layer, the etch stop layer, and the barrier structure to contact the interconnect wire.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a conductive feature disposed over a semiconductor substrate, a via disposed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the conductive feature, and a metal-containing etch-stop layer (ESL) disposed on the via, where the metal-containing ESL includes a first metal and is resistant to etching by a fluorine-containing etchant. The semiconductor structure further includes a conductive line disposed over the metal-containing ESL, where the conductive line includes a second metal different from the first metal and is etchable by the fluorine-containing etchant, and where the via is configured to interconnect the conductive line to the conductive feature. Furthermore, the semiconductor structure includes a second ILD layer disposed over the first ILD layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a substrate. A first conductive wire is within a first dielectric layer that is over the substrate. A first etch-stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. A second etch-stop layer is over the first etch-stop layer. A conductive via is within a second dielectric layer that is over the second etch-stop layer. The conductive via extends through the second etch-stop layer and along the first etch-stop layer to the first conductive wire. A first lower surface of the second etch-stop layer is on a top surface of the first etch-stop layer. A second lower surface of the second etch-stop layer is on a top surface of the first conductive wire.

Abstract: A device includes a first dielectric layer, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), an oxide layer, a cap layer, and a second dielectric layer. The MTJ is over the first dielectric layer. The oxide layer is over the first dielectric layer. The cap layer is over the first dielectric layer. The cap layer is in contact with a sidewall of the MTJ and a sidewall of the oxide layer. The second dielectric layer is over the cap layer.

Abstract: An semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, an etch stop layer, an interconnect structure, and a second dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. The interconnect structure includes a conductive via in the first dielectric layer and the etch stop layer, a conductive line over the conductive via, an intermediate conductive layer over the conductive line, and a conductive pillar over the intermediate conductive layer. The interconnect structure is electrically conductive at least from a top of the conductive pillar to a bottom of the conductive via. The second dielectric layer surrounds the conductive line, the intermediate conductive layer, and the conductive pillar, wherein a bottom of the second dielectric layer is lower than a top of the conductive line, and a top of the second dielectric layer is higher than the top of the conductive line.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a bottom conductive line, a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), and a residue. The bottom conductive line is over the semiconductor substrate. The bottom electrode is over the bottom conductive line. The MTJ is over the bottom electrode. The residue of the MTJ is on the sidewall of the bottom electrode and is spaced apart from the bottom conductive line.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method for forming a semiconductor structure, the method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate. A first conductive wire is formed over the first dielectric layer. A spacer structure is formed over the first conductive wire. The spacer structure is disposed along sidewalls of the first conductive wire. A second dielectric layer is deposited over and around the first conductive wire. The spacer structure is spaced between the first conductive wire and the second dielectric layer. A removal process is performed on the spacer structure and the second dielectric layer. An upper surface of the spacer structure is disposed above an upper surface of the first conductive wire.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer, a metal-containing compound layer, a resistance switching element, and a top electrode. The bottom electrode is over the substrate, the bottom electrode having a bottom portion and a top portion over the bottom portion. The bottom portion of the bottom electrode has a sidewall slanted with respect to a sidewall of the top portion of the bottom electrode. The dielectric layer surrounds the bottom portion of the bottom electrode. The metal-containing compound layer surrounds the top portion of the bottom electrode. A top end of the sidewall of the bottom portion of the bottom electrode is higher than a bottom surface of the metal-containing compound layer. The resistance switching element is over the bottom electrode. The top electrode is over the resistance switching element.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary method of forming a semiconductor device comprises receiving a structure including a substrate and a first hard mask over the substrate, the first hard mask having at least two separate portions; forming spacers along sidewalls of the at least two portions of the first hard mask with a space between the spacers; forming a second hard mask in the space; forming a first cut in the at least two portions of the first hard mask; forming a second cut in the second hard mask; and depositing a cut hard mask in the first cut and the second cut.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a substrate. A first conductive wire is within a first dielectric layer that is over the substrate. A first etch-stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. A second etch-stop layer is over the first etch-stop layer. A conductive via is within a second dielectric layer that is over the second etch-stop layer. The conductive via extends through the second etch-stop layer and along the first etch-stop layer to the first conductive wire. A first lower surface of the second etch-stop layer is on a top surface of the first etch-stop layer. A second lower surface of the second etch-stop layer is on a top surface of the first conductive wire.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate. A first conductive wire is over the substrate. A second conductive wire is over the substrate and is adjacent to the first conductive wire. A first dielectric cap is laterally between the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The first dielectric cap laterally separates the first conductive wire from the second conductive wire. The first dielectric cap includes a first dielectric material. A first cavity is directly below the first dielectric cap and is laterally between the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The first cavity is defined by one or more surfaces of the first dielectric cap.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a pair of first metal lines over a substrate. A first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is laterally between the pair of first metal lines. The first ILD layer comprises a first dielectric material. A pair of spacers are on opposite sides of the first ILD layer and are laterally separated from the first ILD layer by a pair of cavities. The pair of spacers comprise a second dielectric material. Further, the pair of cavities are defined by opposing sidewalls of the first ILD layer and sidewalls of the pair of spacers that face the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an interconnect layer disposed over the substrate and including a metal line, and a dielectric layer disposed on the interconnect layer and including a via contact. The via contact is electrically connected to the metal line and has a first dimension in a first direction greater than a second dimension in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other, and are both perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the via contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure including an interconnect structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate. A lower metal line is disposed at a first height over the semiconductor substrate and extends through a first interlayer dielectric layer. A second interlayer dielectric layer is disposed at a second height over the semiconductor substrate and comprises a first dielectric material. An upper metal line is disposed at a third height over the semiconductor substrate. A via is disposed at the second height. The via extends between the lower metal line and the upper metal line. A protective dielectric structure is disposed at the second height. The protective dielectric structure comprises a protective dielectric material and is disposed along a first set of opposing sidewalls of the via, the protective dielectric material differing from the first dielectric material.