Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a memory including a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack on the bottom electrode, and an upper electrode on the MTJ stack. The semiconductor device also includes at least one dielectric layer formed around the memory, wherein a top metal layer contact hole is formed in the at least one dielectric layer, a dielectric liner layer formed in the top metal contact hole, and a top metal layer contact in the top metal layer contact hole.

Abstract: A method of via formation including forming a sacrificial mask over a conductive layer, forming a plurality of pillars in the sacrificial mask and the conductive layer, wherein each pillar of the plurality of pillars includes a sacrificial cap and a first conductive via, depositing a spacer between the plurality of pillars, masking at least one of the sacrificial caps, removing at least one of the sacrificial caps to create openings, forming second conductive vias in the openings, and depositing a dielectric coplanar to a top surface of the second conductive vias.

Abstract: A microelectronics structure including a skip level via extending from an upper level metal line in an upper level of the at least two interlevel dielectric levels through a first an interlevel dielectric level that is on the substrate level without contacting an interlevel metal line. The skip level via extends into electrical contact with a first element of electrical contact features in a lower level of the at least two interlevel dielectric levels. The skip level via includes a spacer that is present on sidewalls of the skip level via. The structure also includes a single level via, in which the dielectric material of the spacer of the skip level via is not present on the sidewalls of the single level via.

Abstract: A method of forming a pitch pattern is provided. The method includes forming two adjacent mandrels separated by a first distance, D1, on a substrate, and forming a first set of alternating sidewall spacers between the two adjacent mandrels. The method further includes removing the two adjacent mandrels, and forming a second set of alternating sidewall spacers and a third set of alternating sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the first set of sidewall spacers.

Abstract: A substrative patterning process is provided that forms an interconnect structure including a connector tab located between two adjacent electrically conductive line structures. The connector tab and the two adjacent electrically conductive line structures are of unitary construction and are located in a same metallization level.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a memory element disposed within an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. A contact is disposed within the ILD in contact with the memory element and includes a first metal. A logic element is disposed within the ILD and comprises a second metal that is different than the first metal. A method of forming the semiconductor structure includes forming at least one memory element within an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. A contact that includes a first metal is formed in contact with the memory element. At least one logic element is formed in the ILD layer, where the logic element includes a second metal that is different than the first metal.

Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a method of forming electrode to a magnetic-tunnel junction device. The method includes providing a supporting structure; depositing a layer of conductive material on top of the supporting structure; performing a first etching of the layer of conductive material to form a connection layer; and performing a second etching of a remaining portion of the layer of conductive material to form a micro-stud, the micro-stud being directly above the connection layer. In one embodiment the supporting structure includes a via opening and the conductive material fills the via opening to form a via.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming conductive lines in the same include forming a cut region in a first dielectric layer, the cut region having a first width. A second dielectric plug is formed in the cut region. A mask is formed, over the first dielectric layer, that defines at least one trench region that crosses the second dielectric plug, with the at least one trench region having a second width that is smaller than the first width. Material from the first dielectric layer in the trench regions is etched away, using a selective anisotropic etch that leaves the second dielectric plug in place, to form trenches in the first dielectric layer. Conductive material is deposited in the trenches to form conductive lines that are separated by the second dielectric plug.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure having at least first, second and third interconnect levels. Each interconnect level has a patterned metal conductor including a first metallic material. A via spans the second and third interconnect levels and electrically couples with the patterned metal conductor of the first interconnect level. At least a segment of the super via includes a second metallic material different from the first metallic material.

Abstract: Forming a vertically stacked interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes forming a first set of connecting vias within a first dielectric layer disposed above a semiconductor substrate followed by deposition of a first conductive material above the first dielectric layer, the first conductive material fills the first set of connecting vias. A top portion of the first conductive material is patterned to form a first set of interdigitated electrodes. A remaining portion of the first conductive material below the first set of interdigitated electrodes includes a first metal plate. An insulating layer is conformally deposited above the first conductive material for electrically separating the first set of interdigitated electrodes and the first metal plate.

Abstract: An interdigitated metal-insulator-metal capacitor structure is formed by a first unitary body of a first conductive material that includes a first metal plate, a first set of interdigitated electrodes protruding upwards from a top surface of the first metal plate, and a first set of connecting vias protruding downwards from a bottom surface of the first metal plate. A second unitary body of a second conductive material is disposed above the first unitary body and electrically separated from the first unitary body by an insulating layer. The second unitary body includes a second metal plate, a second set of interdigitated electrodes protruding downwards from a bottom surface of the second metal plate, and a second set of connecting vias protruding upwards from a top surface of the second metal plate. The first set of interdigitated electrodes are interleaved with the second set of interdigitated electrodes.

Abstract: An interconnect layer for a device and methods for fabricating the interconnect layer are provided. The interconnect layer includes first metal structures arranged in a first array in the interconnect layer and second metal structures, arranged in a second array in the interconnect layer. The second array includes at least one metal structure positioned between two metal structures of the first metal structures. The interconnect layer also includes a spacer material formed around each of the first metal structures and the second metal structures and air gaps formed in the spacer material on each side of the first metal structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive line disposed within a dielectric layer, a metal layer disposed over and in direct contact with the conductive line, and a metallization layer disposed over the metal layer such that a protruding segment of the metal layer acts as an interface between the conductive line and the metallization layer. The conductive line is copper (Cu) and the metal layer is ruthenium (Ru). The Ru metal layer includes an upper metal layer section and a lower metal layer section.

Abstract: An interconnect structure that in one embodiment can include a first metal line level having a first metal line, a second metal line level having a second metal line, and a via line level present between the first and second metal line levels. The via line level includes a via interlevel dielectric surrounding a via stack. The via stack may include an interface metal portion that is in contact with the first metal line, a via intralevel dielectric on the interface metal portion, and a cap metal portion in contact with the second metal line and extending through the via intralevel dielectric into contact with the interface metal portion. In some embodiments, the length of the interface metal portion of the via is greater than a width of the interface metal portion of the via stack.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe semiconductor devices that include semiconductor structures and methods of forming the semiconductor structures. The methods may include forming a subtractive line from a bottom metal layer and a sacrificial hard mask above the bottom metal layer, depositing a scaffolding material around the subtractive line, forming a via mask over a via portion of the sacrificial hard mask and the scaffolding material, etching the sacrificial hard mask that is not covered by the via mask, to form a sacrificial via, removing the via mask and the scaffolding material, depositing a low-? layer around the subtractive line and the sacrificial via, removing the sacrificial via to form a via hole within the low-? layer, and forming a top via by metallizing the via hole.

Abstract: Structures are provided that include a metal-insulator-metal capacitor (MIMCAP) present in the back-end-of-the-line (BEOL). The MIMCAP includes at least one of the bottom electrode and the top electrode having a via portion and a base portion that is formed utilizing a subtractive via etch process. Less via over etching occurs resulting in improved critical dimension control of the bottom and/or top electrodes that are formed by the subtractive via etch process. No bottom liner is present in the MIMCAP thus improving the resistance/capacitance of the device. Also, and in some embodiments, a reduced foot-print area is possible to bring the via portion of the bottom electrode closer to the top electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits and related method steps for forming an IC chip. The method steps result in semiconductor device structures that include redundant same via level formation using a top via subtractive etch and bottom via from dual damascene etch techniques. In embodiments, the same level redundancy via option is optional. Provision of redundant same via level connections using dual damascene processes improves device resistance and capacitive performance. Further method steps result in semiconductor device structures that include a direct super via connection bypassing subtractive etch metal level via formations. These highlighted method steps increase design flexibility—and reduce device footprint (by skipping a metal level) with the benefit of reduced via connection height and shorter metal connections.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of forming an integrated circuit having a single-damascene line-via interconnect. The method includes forming a via trench in a first dielectric layer. A first portion of a barrier layer is formed within the via trench, and a second portion of the barrier layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A conductive region is formed and includes a conductive via element and a conductive via overburden. The conductive via element is within the via trench; a first portion of the conductive via overburden is over the second portion of the barrier layer; and a second portion of the conductive via overburden is over the conductive via. Planarization is applied to the conductive region and stopped at the second portion of the barrier layer. The conductive via element is coupled at a line-via interface to a conductive line of the single-damascene line-via interconnect.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device and corresponding method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device comprises a plurality of bottom lines. One or more top vias are arranged on top of the plurality of bottom lines. One or more electronic fuses (eFuses) are also arranged on top of the plurality of bottom lines. Each eFuse of the one or more eFuses is a via having a smaller critical dimension that the one or more top vias. A plurality of top lines are arranged on top of the one or more top vias and the one or more eFuses.

Abstract: An interconnect structure is provided the includes a top electrically conductive via structure that is fully-aligned to a bottom electrically conductive line structure. The interconnect structure has a maximized contact area between the top electrically conductive via structure and the bottom electrically conductive line structure without metal fangs that are caused by over etching. The dielectric surface of the interconnect dielectric material layer that is adjacent to the top electrically conductive via structure is free of reactive ion etch (RIE) damage. Further, there is no line wiggling since the bottom electrically conductive line structure is formed by a substrative metal etch. Further, there is no via distortion since the via opening used to house the top electrically conductive via structure has a density and aspect ratio that are low enough to avoid via distortion.