Abstract: A method includes depositing a dielectric cap over a gate structure. A source/drain contact is formed over a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure. A top of the dielectric cap is oxidized. After oxidizing the top of the dielectric cap, an etch stop layer is deposited over the dielectric cap and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the etch stop layer. The ILD layer and the etch stop layer are etched to form a via opening extending though the ILD layer and the etch stop layer. A source/drain via is filled in the via opening.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate over a semiconductor fin; forming a source/drain epitaxial structure over the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the dummy gate; depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to cover the source/drain epitaxial structure; replacing the dummy gate with a gate structure; forming a dielectric structure to cut the gate structure, wherein a portion of the dielectric structure is embedded in the ILD layer; recessing the portion of the dielectric structure embedded in the ILD layer; after recessing the portion of the dielectric structure, removing a portion of the ILD layer over the source/drain epitaxial structure; and forming a source/drain contact in the ILD layer and in contact with the portion of the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a gate dielectric cap over a gate structure; forming source/drain contacts over the semiconductor substrate, with the gate dielectric cap laterally between the source/drain contacts; depositing an etch-resistant layer over the gate dielectric cap; depositing a contact etch stop layer over the etch-resistant layer and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the contact etch stop layer; performing a first etching process to form a via opening extending through the ILD layer and terminating prior to reaching the etch-resistant layer; performing a second etching process to deepen the via opening such that one of the source/drain contacts is exposed, wherein the second etching process etches the etch-resistant layer at a slower etch rate than etching the contact etch stop layer; and depositing a metal material to fill the deepened via opening.

Abstract: A method may include forming a mask layer on top of a first dielectric layer formed on a first source/drain and a second source/drain, and creating an opening in the mask layer and the first dielectric layer that exposes portions of the first source/drain and the second source/drain. The method may include filling the opening with a metal layer that covers the exposed portions of the first source/drain and the second source/drain, and forming a gap in the metal layer to create a first metal contact and a second metal contact. The first metal contact may electrically couple to the first source/drain and the second metal contact may electrically couple to the second source/drain. The gap may separate the first metal contact from the second metal contact by less than nineteen nanometers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain structure over the first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer over the first source/drain structure and the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive contact structure in the first dielectric layer and over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive contact structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive via structure passing through the second dielectric layer and connected to the first conductive contact structure. A first width direction of the first conductive contact structure is substantially parallel to a second width direction of the first conductive via structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor fin. The method includes forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The method includes exposing a portion of the first dielectric layer. The method includes oxidizing a surface of the second dielectric layer while limiting oxidation on the exposed portion of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a vertical device is provided. The method includes: providing a protrusion over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the protrusion; laterally etching a sidewall of the etch stop layer; forming an insulating layer over the etch stop layer; forming a film layer over the insulating layer and the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the film layer and exposing the etch stop layer; etching a portion of the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the protrusion; forming an oxide layer over the protrusion and the film layer; and performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and exposing the film layer.

Abstract: A device includes source/drain epitaxial structures over a substrate, source/drain contacts over the source/drain epitaxial structures, respectively, a gate structure laterally between the source/drain contacts, a gate dielectric cap over the gate structure, an oxide-based etch-resistant layer over the gate dielectric cap, a nitride-based etch stop layer over the oxide-based etch-resistant layer, and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the nitride-based etch stop layer. The device further includes a via structure extending through the ILD layer, the nitride-based etch stop layer, and the oxide-based etch-resistant layer to electrically connect with the one of the source/drain contacts.

Abstract: A method may include forming a mask layer on top of a first dielectric layer formed on a first source/drain and a second source/drain, and creating an opening in the mask layer and the first dielectric layer that exposes portions of the first source/drain and the second source/drain. The method may include filling the opening with a metal layer that covers the exposed portions of the first source/drain and the second source/drain, and forming a gap in the metal layer to create a first metal contact and a second metal contact. The first metal contact may electrically couple to the first source/drain and the second metal contact may electrically couple to the second source/drain. The gap may separate the first metal contact from the second metal contact by less than nineteen nanometers.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a first conductive feature in a first dielectric layer disposed over a substrate; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; etching the second dielectric layer using a patterned mask layer to form an opening in the second dielectric layer, where the opening exposes the first conductive feature; performing an ashing process to remove the patterned mask layer after the etching; wet cleaning the opening after the ashing process, where the wet cleaning enlarges a bottom portion of the opening; and filling the opening with a first electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin, a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure, an air spacer, and a gate structure. The semiconductor fin extends upwardly from the substrate. The STI structure laterally surrounds a lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The air spacer is interposed the STI structure and the semiconductor fin. The gate structure extends across the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method for fabricating magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) pillars is provided. The method includes following operations. A MTJ stack of layers including a first magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer overlying the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer overlying the tunnel barrier layer is provided. A first patterning step is carried out by using a reactive ion etching. In the first patterning step, the second magnetic layer and the tunnel barrier layer are etched to form one or more pillar structures and a protection layer is formed and covers sidewalls of the pillar structures.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit device. A transistor structure is disposed over a substrate and includes a pair of source/drain regions and a gate electrode between the pair of source/drain regions. A lower inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer is disposed over the pair of source/drain regions and surrounds the gate electrode. The gate electrode is recessed from top of the lower ILD layer. A gate capping layer is disposed on the gate electrode. The gate capping layer has a top surface aligned or coplanar with that of the lower ILD layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: depositing a protective layer on a source/drain region and a gate mask, the gate mask disposed on a gate structure, the gate structure disposed on a channel region of a substrate, the channel region adjoining the source/drain region; etching an opening through the protective layer, the opening exposing the source/drain region; depositing a metal in the opening and on the protective layer; annealing the metal to form a metal-semiconductor alloy region on the source/drain region; and removing residue of the metal from the opening with a cleaning process, the protective layer covering the gate mask during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A device comprises a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of a transistor, an etch stop layer above the source/drain contact, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer above the etch stop layer, and a source/drain via extending through the ILD layer and the etch stop layer to the source/drain contact. The etch stop layer has an oxidized region in contact with the source/drain via and separated from the source/drain contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain structure over the first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer over the first source/drain structure and the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive contact structure in the first dielectric layer and over the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive contact structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive via structure passing through the second dielectric layer and connected to the first conductive contact structure. The first conductive via structure has a first substantially strip shape in a top view of the first conductive via structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer over source and drain regions of a semiconductor structure; forming a first mask material over the first ILD layer; etching first openings in the first mask material; filling the first openings with a fill material; etching second openings in the fill material; filling the second openings with a second mask material; removing the fill material; and etching the first ILD layer using the first mask material and the second mask material as an etching mask to form openings in the first ILD layer that expose portions of the source and drain regions of the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: An improved work function layer and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes forming a semiconductor fin extending from a substrate; depositing a dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin; depositing a first work function layer over the dielectric layer; and exposing the first work function layer to a metastable plasma of a first reaction gas, a metastable plasma of a generation gas, and a metastable plasma of a second reaction gas, the first reaction gas being different from the second reaction gas.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: depositing a protective layer on a source/drain region and a gate mask, the gate mask disposed on a gate structure, the gate structure disposed on a channel region of a substrate, the channel region adjoining the source/drain region; etching an opening through the protective layer, the opening exposing the source/drain region; depositing a metal in the opening and on the protective layer; annealing the metal to form a metal-semiconductor alloy region on the source/drain region; and removing residue of the metal from the opening with a cleaning process, the protective layer covering the gate mask during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A method includes forming a source/drain contact over a source/drain region. An ion implantation process is performed to form a doped region in a top of the source/drain contact. After the ion implantation process is performed, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is deposited to cover the doped region of the source/drain contact. The ILD layer is etched to form a via opening exposing the source/drain contact. A source/drain via is filled in the via opening.