Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a transistor and a dummy gate disposed on the transistor, removing the dummy gate on the transistor, performing treatment using hydrogen (H2) on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, so as to remove residue materials left behind from the removal of the dummy gate, and forming a metal gate on the transistor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate, a dielectric layer on the substrate, a first hard mask layer on the substrate, and a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask layer. The method also includes removing the first hard mask layer using a reactive gas that does not cause damage to the dielectric layer to improve the performance and yield of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can contain a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a fuse region. A protective layer can be provided on the high-K dielectric layer, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate. A portion of each of the protective layer and the high-K dielectric layer can be removed from the fuse region to expose the STI structure. A fuse layer can be formed on the exposed surface of the STI structure. A portion of the fuse layer, the remaining portion of the protective layer, and a remaining portion of the high-K dielectric layer outside of the fuse region can be removed from the semiconductor substrate to form a fuse structure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a first dielectric layer on a surface of the semiconductor substrate based on a first-type oxidation, and forming a high-K dielectric layer on a surface of the first dielectric layer. The method also includes performing a first thermal annealing process to remove the first dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the high-K dielectric layer such that the high-K dielectric layer is on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, the method includes performing a second thermal annealing process to form a second dielectric layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the semiconductor substrate and the high-K dielectric layer, based on a second-type oxidation different from the first-type oxidation, such that high-K dielectric layer is on the second dielectric layer instead of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can contain a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a fuse region. A protective layer can be provided on the high-K dielectric layer, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate. A portion of each of the protective layer and the high-K dielectric layer can be removed from the fuse region to expose the STI structure. A fuse layer can be formed on the exposed surface of the STI structure. A portion of the fuse layer, the remaining portion of the protective layer, and a remaining portion of the high-K dielectric layer outside of the fuse region can be removed from the semiconductor substrate to form a fuse structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide transistors and their fabrication methods. An exemplary method for forming a transistor includes removing a dummy gate to form a trench over a semiconductor substrate. A high-k dielectric layer can be conformally formed on surface of the trench and then be fluorinated to form a fluorinated high-k dielectric layer. A functional layer can be formed on the fluorinated high-k dielectric layer and a metal layer can be formed on the functional layer to fill the trench with the metal layer. Due to fluorination of the high-k dielectric layer, negative bias temperature instability of the formed transistor can be reduced and oxygen vacancies can be passivated to reduce positive bias temperature instability of the transistor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a transistor and a dummy gate disposed on the transistor, removing the dummy gate on the transistor, performing treatment using hydrogen (H2) on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, so as to remove residue materials left behind from the removal of the dummy gate, and forming a metal gate on the transistor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gate structure may include the following steps: providing a stack on a substrate, the first stack including (from top to bottom) a dummy layer, a first TiN layer, a TaN layer, a second TiN layer, a high-k first dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer; etching the stack to result in a remaining stack that includes at least a remaining dummy layer, a first remaining TiN layer, and a remaining TaN layer; providing an etching stop layer on the substrate; providing a second dielectric layer on the etching stop layer; performing planarization according to the remaining dummy layer; removing the remaining dummy layer and a first portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a dry etching process; removing a second portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a wet etching process; and providing a metal gate layer on the remaining TaN layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an MOS transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a ploy silicon dummy gate structure having a high-K gate dielectric layer, a high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen and a poly silicon dummy gate on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the poly silicon dummy gate structure. Further, the method includes removing the poly silicon dummy gate to form a trench exposing the high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen and performing a nitrogen treatment process to repair defects in the high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen caused by removing the poly silicon dummy gate. Further, the method also includes forming a metal gate structure in the trench.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an MOS transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a ploy silicon dummy gate structure having a high-K gate dielectric layer, a high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen and a poly silicon dummy gate on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the poly silicon dummy gate structure. Further, the method includes removing the poly silicon dummy gate to form a trench exposing the high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen and performing a nitrogen treatment process to repair defects in the high-K gate dielectric protection layer containing nitrogen caused by removing the poly silicon dummy gate. Further, the method also includes forming a metal gate structure in the trench.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a through silicon via packaging structure. The method includes providing a first type substrate, and forming a second type substrate deferent from the first type substrate on the first type substrate. The method also includes forming a semiconductor device on a first surface of the second type substrate, and forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the first surface of the second type substrate. Further, the method includes forming a metal interconnection structure in the interlayer dielectric layer, and forming a through silicon via structure perforating the second type substrate and electrically connecting with the metal interconnection structure. Further, the method also includes removing the first type substrate using a gas etching process or a wet etching process to expose a second surface of the second type substrate and a bottom surface of the through silicon via structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can contain a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a fuse region. A protective layer can be provided on the high-K dielectric layer, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate. A portion of each of the protective layer and the high-K dielectric layer can be removed from the fuse region to expose the STI structure. A fuse layer can be formed on the exposed surface of the STI structure. A portion of the fuse layer, the remaining portion of the protective layer, and a remaining portion of the high-K dielectric layer outside of the fuse region can be removed from the semiconductor substrate to form a fuse structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gate structure may include the following steps: providing a stack on a substrate, the first stack including (from top to bottom) a dummy layer, a first TiN layer, a TaN layer, a second TiN layer, a high-k first dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer; etching the stack to result in a remaining stack that includes at least a remaining dummy layer, a first remaining TiN layer, and a remaining TaN layer; providing an etching stop layer on the substrate; providing a second dielectric layer on the etching stop layer; performing planarization according to the remaining dummy layer; removing the remaining dummy layer and a first portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a dry etching process; removing a second portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a wet etching process; and providing a metal gate layer on the remaining TaN layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide transistors and their fabrication methods. An exemplary method for forming a transistor includes removing a dummy gate to form a trench over a semiconductor substrate. A high-k dielectric layer can be conformally formed on surface of the trench and then be fluorinated to form a fluorinated high-k dielectric layer. A functional layer can be formed on the fluorinated high-k dielectric layer and a metal layer can be formed on the functional layer to fill the trench with the metal layer. Due to fluorination of the high-k dielectric layer, negative bias temperature instability of the formed transistor can be reduced and oxygen vacancies can be passivated to reduce positive bias temperature instability of the transistor.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a through silicon via packaging structure. The method includes providing a first type substrate, and forming a second type substrate deferent from the first type substrate on the first type substrate. The method also includes forming a semiconductor device on a first surface of the second type substrate, and forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the first surface of the second type substrate. Further, the method includes forming a metal interconnection structure in the interlayer dielectric layer, and forming a through silicon via structure perforating the second type substrate and electrically connecting with the metal interconnection structure. Further, the method also includes removing the first type substrate using a gas etching process or a wet etching process to expose a second surface of the second type substrate and a bottom surface of the through silicon via structure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a first dielectric layer on a surface of the semiconductor substrate based on a first-type oxidation, and forming a high-K dielectric layer on a surface of the first dielectric layer. The method also includes performing a first thermal annealing process to remove the first dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the high-K dielectric layer such that the high-K dielectric layer is on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Further, the method includes performing a second thermal annealing process to form a second dielectric layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the semiconductor substrate and the high-K dielectric layer, based on a second-type oxidation different from the first-type oxidation, such that high-K dielectric layer is on the second dielectric layer instead of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method and system for processing commonality of semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a first plurality of semiconductor devices, providing a second plurality of semiconductor devices, obtaining a first plurality of measured values corresponding to a characteristic associated with the first plurality of semiconductor devices, obtaining a second plurality of measured values corresponding to the characteristic associated with the second plurality of semiconductor devices, performing a first statistical analysis for the first plurality of measured values, determining a first statistical distribution, performing a second statistical analysis for the second plurality of measured values, and determining a second statistical distribution. Moreover, the method includes processing information associated with the first statistical distribution and the second statistical distribution, and determining an indicator.

Abstract: A method and system for processing commonality of semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a first plurality of semiconductor devices, providing a second plurality of semiconductor devices, obtaining a first plurality of measured values corresponding to a characteristic associated with the first plurality of semiconductor devices, and obtaining a second plurality of measured values corresponding to the characteristic associated with the second plurality of semiconductor devices. Additionally, the method includes performing a first statistical analysis, determining a first statistical distribution, performing a second statistical analysis, and determining a second statistical distribution. Moreover, the method includes processing information associated with the first statistical distribution and the second statistical distribution, and determining an indicator.

Abstract: A method and system for processing commonality of semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a first plurality of semiconductor devices, providing a second plurality of semiconductor devices, obtaining a first plurality of measured values corresponding to a characteristic associated with the first plurality of semiconductor devices, and obtaining a second plurality of measured values corresponding to the characteristic associated with the second plurality of semiconductor devices. Additionally, the method includes performing a first statistical analysis, determining a first statistical distribution, performing a second statistical analysis, and determining a second statistical distribution. Moreover, the method includes processing information associated with the first statistical distribution and the second statistical distribution, and determining an indicator.

Abstract: A method and system for processing commonality of semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a first plurality of semiconductor devices, providing a second plurality of semiconductor devices, obtaining a first plurality of measured values corresponding to a characteristic associated with the first plurality of semiconductor devices, and obtaining a second plurality of measured values corresponding to the characteristic associated with the second plurality of semiconductor devices. Additionally, the method includes performing a first statistical analysis, determining a first statistical distribution, performing a second statistical analysis, and determining a second statistical distribution. Moreover, the method includes processing information associated with the first statistical distribution and the second statistical distribution, and determining an indicator.