Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a semiconductor structure including a metal gate feature; forming an etch stop layer on the semiconductor structure; forming a dielectric layer on the etch stop layer opposite to the semiconductor structure, the etch stop layer being made of a dielectric material different from a dielectric material of the dielectric layer; forming a trench that penetrates the dielectric layer and the etch stop layer so as to expose an upper surface of the metal gate feature; conformally forming a liner material film on the dielectric layer, a trench-defining wall that defines the trench, and the upper surface of the metal gate feature; and forming a via contact material on the liner material film, such that the trench is filled by the liner material film and the via contact material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate structure across a channel region from a top view, the gate structure comprising a work function metal and a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the work function metal, the gate dielectric layer having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile; performing a first plasma etching process, by using a chlorine-containing reactant, on the gate structure; performing a second plasma etching process, by using a bromine-containing, reactant on the gate structure.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes: receiving a semiconductor structure having a first material and a second material; performing a first etch on the first material for a first duration under a first etching chemistry; and performing a second etch on the second material for a second duration under a second etching chemistry, wherein the first material includes a first incubation time and the second material includes a second incubation time greater than the first incubation time under the first etching chemistry. The first material includes a third incubation time and the second material includes a fourth incubation time less than the third incubation time under the second etching chemistry.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a metal gate stack over the substrate. The metal gate stack has a gate dielectric layer and a work function layer over the gate dielectric layer, and the gate dielectric layer has a curved sidewall and a vertical sidewall. The semiconductor device structure also includes a protection element over the metal gate stack, and the protection element extends conformally along the curved sidewall and the vertical sidewall to reach a topmost surface of the work function layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a spacer structure over a sidewall of the metal gate stack. A topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is lower than a topmost surface of the spacer structure, and the topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is closer to the topmost surface of the spacer structure than the topmost surface of the work function layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The method can include forming a fin structure over a substrate. The fin structure can include first and second sacrificial layers. The method can further include forming a recess structure in a first portion of the fin structure, selectively etching the first sacrificial layer of a second portion of the fin structure over the second sacrificial layer of the second portion of the fin structure, and forming an inner spacer layer over the etched first sacrificial layer with the second sacrificial layer of the second portion of the fin structure being exposed.

Abstract: A technique for semiconductor manufacturing is provided. The technique includes the operations as follows. A semiconductor structure having a first material is received. A plurality of first main etches are performed to the semiconductor structure for a plurality of first durations under the first etching chemistry. A plurality of pumping operations are performed for a plurality of pumping durations, each of the pumping operations being prior to each of the first main etches. Each of the first durations is in a range of from about 1 second to about 2.5 seconds.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that has two transistors and a source/drain contact. The first transistor has a layer of semiconductor material that acts as a channel, a structure that serves as a gate and wraps around the semiconductor channel layer, and two epitaxy structures on either end of the semiconductor channel layer that function as the source and drain. The second transistor is situated above the first transistor and has similar components, including a semiconductor channel layer, gate structure, and source/drain epitaxy structures. The connection between the first and second source/drain epitaxy structures is made by a source/drain contact that passes through one of the second source/drain epitaxy structures. This contact is made up of a metal plug and a metal liner that lines the plug.

Abstract: A micro electromechanical system (MEMS) includes a substrate and a rear surface opposite to the surface, a semiconductor device and a protection wall. The substrate has a surface. The semiconductor device is disposed on the surface. The protection wall surrounds the semiconductor device and passes through the surface but not electrically contacts to the semiconductor device; wherein there is no electronic element disposed between the surface and the rear surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a metal gate stack over the substrate. The metal gate stack has a gate dielectric layer and a work function layer over the gate dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a spacer structure over a sidewall of the metal gate stack. A topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is lower than a topmost surface of the spacer structure. The topmost surface of the gate dielectric layer is closer to the topmost surface of the spacer structure than a topmost surface of the work function layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The method can include forming a fin structure over a substrate. The fin structure can include first and second sacrificial layers. The method can further include forming a recess structure in a first portion of the fin structure, selectively etching the first sacrificial layer of a second portion of the fin structure over the second sacrificial layer of the second portion of the fin structure, and forming an inner spacer layer over the etched first sacrificial layer with the second sacrificial layer of the second portion of the fin structure being exposed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing system. The semiconductor device manufacturing system can include a chamber and an ion source in the chamber. The ion source can include an outlet. The ion source can be configured to generate a particle beam. The semiconductor device manufacturing system can further include a grid structure proximate to the outlet of the ion source and configured to manipulate the particle beam. A first portion of the grid structure can be electrically insulated from a second portion of the grid structure.

Abstract: A micro electromechanical system (MEMS) includes a substrate, a semiconductor device and a protection wall. The substrate has a surface. The semiconductor device is disposed on the surface. The protection wall has a poly-silicon layer surrounding the semiconductor device and connecting to the surface.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a first semiconductor substrate, an insulator layer over the first semiconductor substrate, and a second semiconductor substrate over the insulator layer; patterning the second semiconductor substrate to form a top fin portion over the insulator layer; conformally depositing a protection layer to cover the top fin portion, wherein a first portion of the protection layer is in contact with a top surface of the insulator layer; etching the protection layer to remove a second portion of the protection layer directly over the top fin portion while a third portion of the protection layer still covers a sidewall of the top fin portion; etching the insulator layer by using the third portion of the protection layer as an etch mask; and after etching the insulator layer, removing the third portion of the protection layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing system. The semiconductor device manufacturing system can include a chamber and an ion source in the chamber. The ion source can include an outlet. The ion source can be configured to generate a particle beam. The semiconductor device manufacturing system can further include a grid structure proximate to the outlet of the ion source and configured to manipulate the particle beam. A first portion of the grid structure can be electrically insulated from a second portion of the grid structure.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a first semiconductor substrate, an insulator layer over the first semiconductor substrate, and a second semiconductor substrate over the insulator layer; patterning the second semiconductor substrate to form a top fin portion over the insulator layer; conformally depositing a protection layer to cover the top fin portion, wherein a first portion of the protection layer is in contact with a top surface of the insulator layer; etching the protection layer to remove a second portion of the protection layer directly over the top fin portion while a third portion of the protection layer still covers a sidewall of the top fin portion; etching the insulator layer by using the third portion of the protection layer as an etch mask; and after etching the insulator layer, removing the third portion of the protection layer.

Abstract: A micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate, a polymer film on the substrate and having a lower surface facing toward the substrate, a cavity passing through the substrate, and coil structures on the substrate and in the polymer film. The polymer film includes a corrugation pattern on the lower surface of the polymer film. A portion of the polymer film is exposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures over a substrate, the first gate structure has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate structure, in which a lower portion of the first gate structure having a first work-function material (WFM) layer, the first WFM layer having a top surface, a lower portion of the second gate structure having a second WFM layer, the second WFM layer having a top surface. A first gate electrode is disposed over the first WFM layer and a second gate electrode has a lower portion disposed in the second WFM layer, in which the first gate electrode has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate electrode, and wherein the top surface of the second WFM layer is at a level below a top surface of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate structure across a channel region from a top view, the gate structure comprising a work function metal and a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the work function metal, the gate dielectric layer having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile; performing a first plasma etching process, by using a chlorine-containing reactant, on the gate structure; performing a second plasma etching process, by using a bromine-containing, reactant on the gate structure.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone includes a substrate, a membrane supported relative to the substrate, an opening extending through the entire thickness of the membrane, and a spacer disposed on the sidewall of the opening. The spacer protrudes beyond the top surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures over a substrate, the first gate structure has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate structure, in which a lower portion of the first gate structure having a first work-function material (WFM) layer, the first WFM layer having a top surface, a lower portion of the second gate structure having a second WFM layer, the second WFM layer having a top surface. A first gate electrode is disposed over the first WFM layer and a second gate electrode has a lower portion disposed in the second WFM layer, in which the first gate electrode has a first width that is smaller than a second width of the second gate electrode, and wherein the top surface of the second WFM layer is at a level below a top surface of the second gate electrode.