Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure and methods of forming the same for reducing the accumulation of external stress at the corners of the conductor layers are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a substrate that includes an active semiconductor device. A stack of dielectric layers is disposed over the substrate. A lower contact is disposed over the stack of dielectric layers. A passivation layer is disposed over the lower contact. A MIM structure is disposed over the passivation layer, the MIM structure including a first conductor layer, a second conductor layer disposed over the first conductor layer, and a third conductor layer disposed over the second conductor layer. A first insulator layer is disposed between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. A second insulator layer is disposed between the second conductor layer and the third conductor layer. One or more corners of the third conductor layer are rounded.

Abstract: Via array configurations for metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structures are disclosed herein. An exemplary MIM capacitor structure includes a capacitor bottom metal layer, a first dielectric layer over the capacitor bottom metal layer, a capacitor middle metal layer over the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the capacitor middle metal layer, and a capacitor top metal layer over the second dielectric layer. A metal via array, which has a first metal via and a second metal via, is connected to the capacitor top metal layer and the capacitor bottom metal layer. A portion of the capacitor top metal layer covers an area of the second dielectric layer extending from the first metal via to the second metal via. From a top view, the portion of the capacitor top metal layer surrounds the first metal via and the second metal via.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, a source region and a drain region, a conductive via and an isolation structure. The gate structure is disposed over the substrate. The source region and the drain region aside the gate structure. The conductive via is disposed in the substrate. The isolation structure is disposed in the substrate, wherein a first surface of the isolation structure is substantially flush with a first surface of the conductive via.

Abstract: A device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The device structure includes a structure, a first passivation layer disposed on the structure, a buffer layer disposed on the first passivation layer, a barrier layer disposed on a first portion of the buffer layer, a redistribution layer disposed over the barrier layer, an adhesion layer disposed on the barrier layer and on side surfaces of the redistribution layer, and a second passivation layer disposed on a second portion of the buffer layer. The second passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer, the adhesion layer, and the redistribution layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an opening is formed in a first dielectric layer so that a part of a lower conductive layer is exposed at a bottom of the opening, one or more liner conductive layers are formed over the part of the lower conductive layer, an inner sidewall of the opening and an upper surface of the first dielectric layer, a main conductive layer is formed over the one or more liner conductive layers, a patterned conductive layer is formed by patterning the main conductive layer and the one or more liner conductive layers, and a cover conductive layer is formed over the patterned conductive layer. The main conductive layer which is patterned is wrapped around by the cover conductive layer and one of the one or more liner conductive layers.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to an embodiment includes forming a conductive feature and a first conductive plate over a substrate, conformally depositing a dielectric layer over the conductive feature and the first conductive plate, conformally depositing a conductive layer over the conductive feature and the first conductive plate, and patterning the conductive layer to form a second conductive plate over the first conductive plate and a resistor, the resistor includes a conductive line extending along a sidewall of the conductive feature. By employing the method, a high-resistance resistor may be formed along with a capacitor regardless of the resolution limit of, for example, lithography.

Abstract: A device structure according to the present disclosure includes a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack. The MIM stack includes at least one lower conductor plate layer, a first insulator layer disposed over the at least one lower conductor plate layer, a first conductor plate layer disposed over the first insulator layer, a second insulator layer disposed over the first conductor plate layer, and a second conductor plate layer disposed over the second insulator layer. The device structure further includes a ground via extending through and electrically coupled to a first ground plate in the first conductor plate layer and a first via extending through and electrically coupled to a high voltage plate in the second conductor plate layer. The first ground plate vertically overlaps the high voltage plate and the second insulator layer is different from the first insulator layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device includes forming a via trench in a substrate and forming a via in the via trench. A lower portion of the via includes a first metal and an upper portion of the via includes a second metal that is different from the first metal. The method further includes forming a magnetic tunneling junction over the via and forming a top electrode over the magnetic tunneling junction.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a redistribution layer including a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature, a first contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature, a second contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the second conductive feature, and a passivation feature extending from between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature between the first contact feature and the second contact feature. The passivation feature includes a dielectric feature and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on a planar top surface of the dielectric feature and a composition of the dielectric feature is different from a composition of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided that include a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) element. A first spacer layer abuts sidewalls of the MTJ element. The first spacer layer has a low-dielectric constant (low-k) oxide composition. A second spacer layer is disposed on the first spacer layer and has a low-k nitride composition.

Abstract: A first metal layer extends across memory and logic device regions of a semiconductor structure. A dielectric barrier layer is disposed over the first metal layer. A first dielectric layer is disposed over the dielectric barrier layer in the memory device region and not in the logic device region. Multiple magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) devices are disposed in the memory device region. A second dielectric layer is disposed in the memory device region and not in the logic device region. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the MTJ devices. An extreme low-k dielectric layer is disposed over the dielectric barrier layer in the logic device region. A conductive feature in the logic device region penetrates the extreme low-k dielectric layer and the dielectric barrier layer to electrically connect to the first metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, a source region, a drain region, an interconnect structure, a memory cell and a conductive via. The semiconductor substrate has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The gate structure is disposed over the first side of the semiconductor substrate. The source region and the drain region are disposed in the semiconductor substrate aside the gate structure. The interconnect structure is disposed over the first side of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the source region. The memory cell is disposed over the second side of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the drain region. The conductive via is disposed in the semiconductor substrate between the drain region and the memory cell and electrically connects the drain region and the memory cell.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure and methods of forming the same for reducing the accumulation of external stress at the corners of the conductor layers are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a substrate that includes an active semiconductor device. A stack of dielectric layers is disposed over the substrate. A lower contact is disposed over the stack of dielectric layers. A passivation layer is disposed over the lower contact. A MIM structure is disposed over the passivation layer, the MIM structure including a first conductor layer, a second conductor layer disposed over the first conductor layer, and a third conductor layer disposed over the second conductor layer. A first insulator layer is disposed between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. A second insulator layer is disposed between the second conductor layer and the third conductor layer. One or more corners of the third conductor layer are rounded.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an opening is formed in a first dielectric layer so that a part of a lower conductive layer is exposed at a bottom of the opening, one or more liner conductive layers are formed over the part of the lower conductive layer, an inner sidewall of the opening and an upper surface of the first dielectric layer, a main conductive layer is formed over the one or more liner conductive layers, a patterned conductive layer is formed by patterning the main conductive layer and the one or more liner conductive layers, and a cover conductive layer is formed over the patterned conductive layer. The main conductive layer which is patterned is wrapped around by the cover conductive layer and one of the one or more liner conductive layers.

Abstract: Semiconductor device and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes a dielectric layer including a top surface, a plurality of magneto-resistive memory cells disposed in the dielectric layer and including top electrodes, a first etch stop layer disposed over the dielectric layer, a common electrode extending through the first etch stop layer to be in direct contact with the top electrodes, and a second etch slop layer disposed on the first etch stop layer and the common electrode. Top surfaces of the top electrodes are coplanar with the top surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The device structure includes a structure, a first passivation layer disposed on the structure, a buffer layer disposed on the first passivation layer, a barrier layer disposed on a first portion of the buffer layer, a redistribution layer disposed over the barrier layer, an adhesion layer disposed on the barrier layer and on side surfaces of the redistribution layer, and a second passivation layer disposed on a second portion of the buffer layer. The second passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer, the adhesion layer, and the redistribution layer.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure includes a bottom electrode, a first oxide layer adjacent the bottom electrode, and a first high-k dielectric layer over the bottom electrode and the first oxide layer. A middle electrode is over the first high-k dielectric layer and a second oxide layer is adjacent the middle electrode. A second high-k dielectric layer may be over the middle electrode and the second oxide layer, a top electrode may be over the second high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A device structure according to the present disclosure includes a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack that includes a plurality of conductor plate layers interleaved by a plurality of insulator layers. The MIM stack includes a first region and a second region and the first region and the second region overlaps in a third region. The MIM stack further includes a first via passing through the first region and electrically coupled to a first subset of the plurality of conductor plate layers, a second via passing through the second region and electrically coupled to a second subset of the plurality of conductor plate layers, and a ground via passing through the third region and electrically coupled to a third subset of the plurality of conductor plate layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer over a metal line and a redistribution layer (RDL) over the first dielectric layer. The RDL is electrically connected to the metal line. The RDL has a curved top surface and a footing feature, where the footing feature extends laterally from a side surface of the RDL. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the RDL, where the second dielectric layer also has a curved top surface.

Abstract: A device structure according to the present disclosure includes a passivation layer, a first conductor plate layer disposed on the passivation layer, a second conductor plate layer disposed over the first conductor layer, a third conductor plate layer disposed over the second conductor layer, and a fourth conductor plate layer disposed over the third conductor layer. The second conductor plate layer encloses the first conductor plate layer and the fourth conductor plate layer encloses the third conductor plate layer. The device structure, when used in a back-end-of-line passive device, reduces leakage and breakdown due to corner discharge effect.