Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern, a photo resist layer is formed over an underlying layer, the photo resist layer is exposed to an actinic radiation carrying pattern information, the exposed photo resist layer is developed to form a developed resist pattern, a directional etching operation is applied to the developed resist pattern to form a trimmed resist pattern, and the underlying layer is patterned using the trimmed resist pattern as an etching mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, a conductive layer disposed on the gate electrode, and a gate contact disposed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer extends from a position below a top surface of the metal gate structure to a position above the top surface of the metal gate structure. The gate electrode includes at least a first metal, and the conductive layer includes at least the first metal and a second metal different from the first metal. Laterally the conductive layer is fully between opposing sidewalls of the metal gate structure.

Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

Abstract: An IC structure comprises a substrate, a first dielectric structure, a second dielectric structure, a first via structure, and a memory cell structure. The substrate comprises a memory region and a logic region. The first dielectric structure is over the memory region. The second dielectric structure laterally extends from the first dielectric structure to over the logic region. The second dielectric structure has a thickness less than a thickness of the first dielectric structure. The first via structure extends through the first dielectric structure. A top segment of the first via structure is higher than a top surface of the first dielectric structure. The first memory cell structure is over the first via structure.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a mandrel layer over a target layer to form first mandrels and second mandrels, the first mandrels having a larger width than the second mandrels. A spacer layer is formed over the first mandrels and the second mandrels, and altered so that a thickness of the spacer layer over the first mandrels is greater than a thickness of the spacer layer over the second mandrels. Spacers are formed from the spacer layer which have a greater width adjacent the first mandrels than the spacers which are adjacent the second mandrels. The spacers are used to etch a target layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a memory array over the substrate, the memory array including first magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), where the first MTJs are in a first dielectric layer over the substrate; and a resistor circuit over the substrate, the resistor circuit including second MTJs, where the second MTJs are in the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a memory array over the substrate, the memory array including first magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), where the first MTJs are in a first dielectric layer over the substrate; and a resistor circuit over the substrate, the resistor circuit including second MTJs, where the second MTJs are in the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes an insulation layer. A bottom electrode via is disposed in the insulation layer. The bottom electrode via includes a conductive portion and a capping layer over the conductive portion. A barrier layer surrounds the bottom electrode via. A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) is disposed over the bottom electrode via.

Abstract: A method includes forming Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) stack layers, which includes depositing a bottom electrode layer; depositing a bottom magnetic electrode layer over the bottom electrode layer; depositing a tunnel barrier layer over the bottom magnetic electrode layer; depositing a top magnetic electrode layer over the tunnel barrier layer; and depositing a top electrode layer over the top magnetic electrode layer. The method further includes patterning the MTJ stack layers to form a MTJ; and performing a passivation process on a sidewall of the MTJ to form a protection layer. The passivation process includes reacting sidewall surface portions of the MTJ with a process gas comprising elements selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure includes a substrate and a hard mask over the substrate. The hard mask has sidewalls that form a first opening and a second opening exposing an upper surface of the substrate. A block mask is arranged on the hard mask and is set back from the sidewalls of the hard mask. Spacers are disposed over the block mask and have sidewalls that define a spacer opening exposing an upper surface of the block mask. The block mask extends from directly below the spacers to laterally past the sidewalls of the spacers.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to plasma processes. A plasma process includes generating a plasma containing negatively charged oxygen ions. A substrate is exposed to the plasma. The substrate is disposed on a pedestal while being exposed to the plasma. While exposing the substrate to the plasma, a negative direct current (DC) bias voltage is applied to the pedestal to repel the negatively charged oxygen ions from the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a metallization pattern having first and second conductive features, an etch stop layer over the metallization pattern, a memory device, a bottom electrode via, a third conductive feature, and a dielectric feature. The etch stop layer has first and second portions over the first and second conductive features, respectively. The bottom electrode via is in the first portion of the etch stop layer and electrically connecting the memory device over the first portion of the etch stop layer to the first conductive feature. The third conductive feature is in the second portion of the etch stop layer and electrically connected to the second conductive feature. The dielectric feature is between the first and second portions of the etch stop layer and in contact with sidewalls of the first and second portions of the etch stop layer.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern, a photo resist layer is formed over an underlying layer, the photo resist layer is exposed to an actinic radiation carrying pattern information, the exposed photo resist layer is developed to form a developed resist pattern, a directional etching operation is applied to the developed resist pattern to form a trimmed resist pattern, and the underlying layer is patterned using the trimmed resist pattern as an etching mask.

Abstract: A method includes forming Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) stack layers, which includes depositing a bottom electrode layer; depositing a bottom magnetic electrode layer over the bottom electrode layer; depositing a tunnel barrier layer over the bottom magnetic electrode layer; depositing a top magnetic electrode layer over the tunnel barrier layer; and depositing a top electrode layer over the top magnetic electrode layer. The method further includes patterning the MTJ stack layers to form a MTJ; and performing a passivation process on a sidewall of the MTJ to form a protection layer. The passivation process includes reacting sidewall surface portions of the MTJ with a process gas comprising elements selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first layer on a substrate; forming a first plurality of trenches in the first layer by a patterning process; and forming a second plurality of trenches in the first layer by another patterning process, resulting in combined trench patterns in the first layer. A first trench of the second plurality connects two trenches of the first plurality. The method further includes forming dielectric spacer features on sidewalls of the combined trench patterns. A space between two opposing sidewalls of the first trench is completely filled by the dielectric spacer features and another space between two opposing sidewalls of one of the two trenches is partially filled by the dielectric spacer features.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to plasma processes. A plasma process includes generating a plasma containing negatively charged oxygen ions. A substrate is exposed to the plasma. The substrate is disposed on a pedestal while being exposed to the plasma. While exposing the substrate to the plasma, a negative direct current (DC) bias voltage is applied to the pedestal to repel the negatively charged oxygen ions from the substrate.

Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

Abstract: A method includes depositing a second dielectric layer over a first dielectric layer, depositing a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, patterning a plurality of first openings in the third dielectric layer, etching the second dielectric layer through the first openings to form second openings in the second dielectric layer, performing a plasma etching process directed at the second dielectric layer from a first direction, the plasma etching process extending the second openings in the first direction, and etching the first dielectric layer through the second openings to form third openings in the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern, a photo resist layer is formed over an underlying layer, the photo resist layer is exposed to an actinic radiation carrying pattern information, the exposed photo resist layer is developed to form a developed resist pattern, a directional etching operation is applied to the developed resist pattern to form a trimmed resist pattern, and the underlying layer is patterned using the trimmed resist pattern as an etching mask.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a dielectric layer, a memory device, and a resistor. The memory device includes a bottom electrode via, a bottom electrode, a resistance switching element, and a top electrode. The bottom electrode via is in the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a first portion extending along sidewalls of the bottom electrode via, a second portion extending laterally from the first portion, and a third portion. The bottom electrode is over the bottom electrode via. The resistance switching element is over the bottom electrode. The top electrode is over the resistance switching element. The resistor is over the third portion of the dielectric layer. A thickness of the third portion of the dielectric layer is greater than a thickness of the second portion of the dielectric layer.