Abstract: Methods of forming a slurry and methods of performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process utilized in manufacturing semiconductor devices, as described herein, may be performed on semiconductor devices including integrated contact structures with ruthenium (Ru) plug contacts down to a semiconductor substrate. The slurry may be formed by mixing a first abrasive, a second abrasive, and a reactant with a solvent. The first abrasive may include a first particulate including titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles and the second abrasive may include a second particulate that is different from the first particulate. The slurry may be used in a CMP process for removing ruthenium (Ru) materials and dielectric materials from a surface of a workpiece resulting in better WiD loading and planarization of the surface for a flat profile.

Abstract: A method includes cropping a plurality of images from a layout of an integrated circuit, generating a first plurality of hash values, each from one of the plurality of images, loading a second plurality of hash values stored in a hotspot library, and comparing each of the first plurality of hash values with each of the second plurality of hash values. The step of comparing includes calculating a similarity value between the each of the first plurality of hash values and the each of the second plurality of hash values. The method further includes comparing the similarity value with a pre-determined threshold similarity value, and in response to a result that the similarity value is greater than the pre-determined threshold similarity value, recording a position of a corresponding image that has the result. The position is the position of the corresponding image in the layout.

Abstract: A method for CMP includes following operations. A dielectric structure is received. The dielectric structure includes a metal layer stack formed therein. The metal layer stack includes at least a first metal layer and a second metal layer, and the first metal layer and the second metal layer are exposed through a surface of the dielectric structure. A first composition is provided to remove a portion of the first metal layer from the surface of the dielectric structure. A second composition is provided to form a protecting layer over the second metal layer. The protecting layer is removed from the second metal layer. A CMP operation is performed to remove a portion of the second metal layer. In some embodiments, the protecting layer protects the second metal layer during the removal of the portion of the first metal layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first metal layer over a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the first metal layer. The method includes forming a trench in the dielectric layer, and performing a surface treatment process on a sidewall surface of the trench to form a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer is formed on a sidewall surface of the dielectric layer. The method further includes depositing a metal material in the trench and over the hydrophobic layer to form a via structure.

Abstract: Provided herein are chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) systems and methods to reduce metal particle pollution on dressing disks and polishing pads. Such methods may include contacting a dressing disk and at least one conductive element with an electrolyte solution and applying direct current (DC) power to the dressing disk and the at least one conductive element.

Abstract: Present disclosure provides a FinFET structure, including a substrate, a fin protruding from the substrate, including a first portion and a second portion below the first portion, the second portion includes a lighter-doped region and a heavier-doped region adjacent to the lighter-doped region, wherein the first portion includes a first dopant concentration of a dopant, and the heavier-doped region includes a second dopant concentration of the dopant, the second dopant concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration, a gate over the fin, wherein the second portion of the fin is below a bottom surface of the gate, and an insulating layer over the substrate and proximal to the second portion of the fin, wherein at least a first portion of the insulating layer includes a third dopant concentration of the dopant, the third dopant concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor region extending from the substrate, the first semiconductor region including silicon; a second semiconductor region on the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region including silicon germanium, edge portions of the second semiconductor region having a first germanium concentration, a center portion of the second semiconductor region having a second germanium concentration less than the first germanium concentration; a gate stack on the second semiconductor region; and source and drain regions in the second semiconductor region, the source and drain regions being adjacent the gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the planarization of ruthenium metal layers in conductive structures. The method includes forming a first conductive structure on a second conductive structure, where forming the first conductive structure includes forming openings in a dielectric layer disposed on the second conductive structure and depositing a ruthenium metal in the openings to overfill the openings. The formation of the first conductive structure includes doping the ruthenium metal and polishing the doped ruthenium metal to form the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A tool and methods of removing films from bevel regions of wafers are disclosed. The bevel film removal tool includes an inner motor nested within an outer motor and a bevel brush secured to the outer motor. The bevel brush is adjustable radially outward to allow the wafer to be inserted in the bevel brush and to be secured to the inner motor. The bevel brush is adjustable radially inward to engage one or more sections of the bevel brush and to bring the bevel brush in contact with a bevel region of the wafer. Once engaged, a solution may be dispensed at the engaged sections of the bevel brush and the inner motor and the outer motor may be rotated such that the bevel brush is rotated against the wafer such that the bevel films of the wafer are both chemically and mechanically removed.

Abstract: Methods of forming a slurry and methods of performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process utilized in manufacturing semiconductor devices, as described herein, may be performed on semiconductor devices including integrated contact structures with ruthenium (Ru) plug contacts down to a semiconductor substrate. The slurry may be formed by mixing a first abrasive, a second abrasive, and a reactant with a solvent. The first abrasive may include a first particulate including titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles and the second abrasive may include a second particulate that is different from the first particulate. The slurry may be used in a CMP process for removing ruthenium (Ru) materials and dielectric materials from a surface of a workpiece resulting in better WiD loading and planarization of the surface for a flat profile.

Abstract: A device is manufactured by providing a semiconductor fin protruding from a major surface of a silicon substrate comprising silicon. A liner and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region are formed adjacent the semiconductor fin. A silicon cap is deposited over the semiconductor fin. The resulting cap consists of crystalline silicon in the portion over the semiconductor fin and consists of amorphous silicon in the portions over the liner and STI region. An HCl etch bake process is performed to remove the portions of amorphous silicon over the liner and the STI region.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a thickness of a film on a substrate includes detecting atomic force responses of the film to exposure of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The use of atomic force microscopy to evaluate thicknesses of thin films avoids underlayer noise commonly encountered when optical metrology techniques are utilized to evaluate film thicknesses. Such underlayer noise adversely impacts the accuracy of the thickness evaluation.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing tool includes a cleaning chamber configured to perform a post-chemical mechanical polishing/planarization (post-CMP) cleaning operation in an oxygen-free (or in a near oxygen-free) manner. An inert gas may be provided into the cleaning chamber to remove oxygen from the cleaning chamber such that the post-CMP cleaning operation may be performed in an oxygen-free (or in a near oxygen-free) environment. In this way, the post-CMP cleaning operation may be performed in an environment that may reduce oxygen-causing corrosion of metallization layers and/or metallization structures on and/or in the semiconductor wafer, which may increase semiconductor processing yield, may decrease semiconductor processing defects, and/or may increase semiconductor processing quality, among other examples.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the planarization of ruthenium metal layers in conductive structures. The method includes forming a first conductive structure on a second conductive structure, where forming the first conductive structure includes forming openings in a dielectric layer disposed on the second conductive structure and depositing a ruthenium metal in the openings to overfill the openings. The formation of the first conductive structure includes doping the ruthenium metal and polishing the doped ruthenium metal to form the first conductive structure.

Abstract: Provided herein are chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) systems and methods to reduce metal particle pollution on dressing disks and polishing pads. Such methods may include contacting a dressing disk and at least one conductive element with an electrolyte solution and applying direct current (DC) power to the dressing disk and the at least one conductive element.

Abstract: Present disclosure provides a FinFET structure, including a fin and a gate surrounding a first portion of the fin. A dopant concentration in the first portion of the fin is lower than about 1E17/cm3. The FinFET structure further includes an insulating layer surrounding a second portion of the fin. The dopant concentration of the second portion of the fin is greater than about 8E15/cm3. The insulating layer includes a lower layer and an upper layer, and the lower layer is disposed over a substrate connecting to the fin and has a dopant concentration greater than about 1E19/cm3.

Abstract: A method includes cropping a plurality of images from a layout of an integrated circuit, generating a first plurality of hash values, each from one of the plurality of images, loading a second plurality of hash values stored in a hotspot library, and comparing each of the first plurality of hash values with each of the second plurality of hash values. The step of comparing includes calculating a similarity value between the each of the first plurality of hash values and the each of the second plurality of hash values. The method further includes comparing the similarity value with a pre-determined threshold similarity value, and in response to a result that the similarity value is greater than the pre-determined threshold similarity value, recording a position of a corresponding image that has the result. The position is the position of the corresponding image in the layout.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor region extending from the substrate, the first semiconductor region including silicon; a second semiconductor region on the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region including silicon germanium, edge portions of the second semiconductor region having a first germanium concentration, a center portion of the second semiconductor region having a second germanium concentration less than the first germanium concentration; a gate stack on the second semiconductor region; and source and drain regions in the second semiconductor region, the source and drain regions being adjacent the gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first semiconductor fin, a second semiconductor fin, and a first lightly-doped drain (LDD) region. The first semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The first semiconductor fin has a top surface and sidewalls. The second semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin are separated from each other at a nanoscale distance. The first lightly-doped drain (LDD) region is disposed at least in the top surface and the sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first metal layer over a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the first metal layer. The method includes forming a trench in the dielectric layer, and performing a surface treatment process on a sidewall surface of the trench to form a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer is formed on a sidewall surface of the dielectric layer. The method further includes depositing a metal material in the trench and over the hydrophobic layer to form a via structure.