Abstract: Various back end of line (BEOL) layer formation techniques described herein enable reduced contact resistance, reduced surface roughness, and/or increased semiconductor device performance for BEOL layers such as interconnects and/or metallization layers.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a fin structure protruding above a substrate, where the fin structure comprises a fin and a layer stack overlying the fin, where the layer stack comprises alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material; forming a dummy gate structure over the fin structure; forming openings in the fin structure on opposing sides of the dummy gate structure, where the openings extend through the layer stack into the fin; forming a dielectric layer in bottom portions of the openings; and forming source/drain regions in the openings on the dielectric layer, where the source/drain regions are separated from the fin by the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor channel over the substrate, a second semiconductor channel over the substrate and laterally offset from the first semiconductor channel, and a third semiconductor channel over the substrate and laterally offset from the second semiconductor channel. A first gate structure, a second gate structure, and a third gate structure are over and lateral surround the first, second, and third semiconductor channels, respectively. A first inactive fin is between the first gate structure and the second gate structure, and a second inactive fin is between the second gate structure and the third gate structure. A bridge conductor layer is over the first, second, and third gate structures, and the first and second inactive fins. A dielectric plug extends from an upper surface of the second inactive fin, through the bridge conductor layer, to at least an upper surface of the bridge conductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of active region structures that each protrude upwards in a vertical direction. The active region structures each extend in a first horizontal direction. The active region structures are separated from one another in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction. A gate structure is disposed over the active region structures. The gate structure extends in the second horizontal direction. The gate structure partially wraps around each of the active region structures. A conductive capping layer is disposed over the gate structure. A gate via is disposed over the conductive capping layer. A dimension of the conductive capping layer measured in the second horizontal direction is substantially greater than a maximum dimension of the gate via measured in the second horizontal direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a first gate structure engaging a plurality of first channel members that are vertically stacked, a first source/drain feature abutting the first channel members, a second gate structure engaging a plurality of second channel members that are vertically stacked, a second source/drain feature abutting the second channel members, a first backside dielectric feature disposed directly under the first gate structure, and a second backside dielectric feature disposed directly under the second gate structure. A number of the first channel members is larger than a number of the second channel members. A top surface of the first backside dielectric feature is below a top surface of the second backside dielectric feature.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure also includes an isolation structure formed around the first fin structure and a protection layer formed on the isolation structure. The semiconductor structure also includes first nanostructures formed over the first fin structure and a gate structure surrounding the first nanostructures. In addition, a bottom surface of the gate structure and the top surface of the isolation structure are separated by the protection layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device with a rare earth metal oxide layer and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming fin structures on a substrate and forming superlattice structures on the fin structures, where each of the superlattice structures includes a first-type nanostructured layer and a second-type nanostructured layer. The method further includes forming an isolation layer between the superlattice structures, implanting a rare earth metal into a top portion of the isolation layer to form a rare earth metal oxide layer, and forming a polysilicon structure over the superlattice structures. The method further includes etching portions of the superlattice structures adjacent to the polysilicon structure to form a source/drain (S/D) opening and forming an S/D region in the S/D opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a fin structure protruding above a substrate, where the fin structure comprises a fin and a layer stack overlying the fin, where the layer stack comprises alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material; forming a dummy gate structure over the fin structure; forming openings in the fin structure on opposing sides of the dummy gate structure, where the openings extend through the layer stack into the fin; forming a dielectric layer in bottom portions of the openings; and forming source/drain regions in the openings on the dielectric layer, where the source/drain regions are separated from the fin by the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Self-aligned gate cutting techniques for multigate devices are disclosed herein that provide multigate devices having asymmetric metal gate profiles and asymmetric source/drain feature profiles. An exemplary multigate device has a channel layer, a metal gate that wraps a portion of the channel layer, and source/drain features disposed over a substrate. The channel layer extends along a first direction between the source/drain features. A first dielectric fin and a second dielectric fin are disposed over the substrate and configured differently. The channel layer extends along a second direction between the first dielectric fin and the second dielectric fin. The metal gate is disposed between the channel layer and the second dielectric fin. In some embodiments, the first dielectric fin is disposed on a first isolation feature, and the second dielectric fin is disposed on a second isolation feature. The first isolation feature and the second isolation feature are configured differently.

Abstract: A method and structure providing an optical sensor having an optimized Ge—Si interface includes providing a substrate having a pixel region and a logic region. In some embodiments, the method further includes forming a trench within the pixel region. In various examples, and after forming the trench, the method further includes forming a doped semiconductor layer along sidewalls and along a bottom surface of the trench. In some embodiments, the method further includes forming a germanium layer within the trench and over the doped semiconductor layer. In some examples, and after forming the germanium layer, the method further includes forming an optical sensor within the germanium layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first stack of semiconductor layers disposed over a semiconductor substrate, where the first stack of semiconductor layers includes a first SiGe layer and a plurality of Si layers disposed over the first SiGe layer and the Si layers are substantially free of Ge, and a second stack of semiconductor layers disposed adjacent to the first stack of semiconductor layers, where the second stack of semiconductor layers includes the first SiGe layer and a plurality of second SiGe layers disposed over the first SiGe layer, and where the first SiGe layer and the second SiGe layers have different compositions. The semiconductor structure further includes a first metal gate stack interleaved with the first stack of semiconductor layers to form a first device and a second metal gate stack interleaved with the second stack of semiconductor layers to form a second device different from the first device.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first stack of active channel layers and a second stack of active channel layers disposed over a semiconductor substrate, where the second stacking include a dummy channel layer and the first stack is free of any dummy channel layer, a gate structure engaged with the first stack and the second stack, and first S/D features disposed adjacent to the first stack and second S/D features disposed adjacent to the second stack, where the second S/D features overlap with the dummy channel layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor channel over the substrate, a second semiconductor channel over the substrate and laterally offset from the first semiconductor channel, and a third semiconductor channel over the substrate and laterally offset from the second semiconductor channel. A first gate structure, a second gate structure, and a third gate structure are over and lateral surround the first, second, and third semiconductor channels, respectively. A first inactive fin is between the first gate structure and the second gate structure, and a second inactive fin is between the second gate structure and the third gate structure. A bridge conductor layer is over the first, second, and third gate structures, and the first and second inactive fins. A dielectric plug extends from an upper surface of the second inactive fin, through the bridge conductor layer, to at least an upper surface of the bridge conductor layer.

Abstract: Gate cutting techniques disclosed herein form gate isolation fins to isolate metal gates of multigate devices from one another before forming the multigate devices, and in particular, before forming the metal gates of the multigate devices. An exemplary device includes a first multigate device having first source/drain features and a first metal gate that surrounds a first channel layer and a second multigate device having second source/drain features and a second metal gate that surrounds a second channel layer. A gate isolation fin, which separates the first metal gate and the second metal gate, includes a first dielectric layer having a first dielectric constant and a second dielectric layer having a second dielectric constant disposed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric constant is less than the first dielectric constant. A gate isolation end cap may be disposed on the gate isolation fin to provide additional isolation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of active region structures that each protrude upwards in a vertical direction. The active region structures each extend in a first horizontal direction. The active region structures are separated from one another in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction. A gate structure is disposed over the active region structures. The gate structure extends in the second horizontal direction. The gate structure partially wraps around each of the active region structures. A conductive capping layer is disposed over the gate structure. A gate via is disposed over the conductive capping layer. A dimension of the conductive capping layer measured in the second horizontal direction is substantially greater than a maximum dimension of the gate via measured in the second horizontal direction.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary manufacturing method includes forming a stack of a first type and a second type epitaxial layers on a frontside of a semiconductor substrate, patterning the stack to form a fin-shaped structure, depositing a dielectric layer on sidewalls of the fin-shaped structure, and recessing the dielectric layer to expose a top portion of the fin-shaped structure. A top surface of the recessed dielectric layer is above a bottom surface of the stack. The exemplary manufacturing method also includes forming a gate structure over the top portion of the fin-shaped structure, etching the semiconductor substrate from a backside of the semiconductor substrate, and etching at least a bottommost first type epitaxial layer and a bottommost second type epitaxial layer through the trench.

Abstract: A device includes: an active region extending in a first direction; a first metal-to-S/D (MD) contact structure extending in a perpendicular second direction, and over and coupled to the active region; a first layer of metallization over the first MD contact structure and having M_1st segments extending in the first direction and each having a substantially same width relative to the second direction, the M_1st segments including M_1st routing segments, and an M_1st power grid (PG) segment having a portion over and coupled to the first MD contact structure; a second layer of metallization over the first layer of metallization and having M_2nd segments that extend in the second direction and include an M_2nd PG rail configured for a first reference voltage, a portion thereof being over and coupled to the M_1st PG segment. the M_2nd PG rail extending across multiple cell regions.

Abstract: A method for forming an underfill structure and semiconductor packages including the underfill structure are disclosed. In an embodiment, the semiconductor package may include a package including an integrated circuit die; an interposer bonded to the integrated circuit die by a plurality of die connectors; and an encapsulant surrounding the integrated circuit die. The semiconductor package may further include a package substrate bonded to the interposer by a plurality of conductive connectors; a first underfill between the package and the package substrate, the first underfill having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); and a second underfill surrounding the first underfill, the second underfill having a second CTE less than the first CTE.

Abstract: A method includes forming a multi-layer stack comprising dummy layers and semiconductor layers located alternatingly, and forming a plurality of dummy gate stacks on sidewalls and a top surface of the multi-layer stack. Two of the plurality of dummy gate stacks are immediately neighboring each other, and have a space in between. A first source/drain region and a second source/drain region are formed in the multi-layer stack, with the second source/drain region overlapping the first source/drain region. The method further includes replacing the plurality of dummy gate stacks with a plurality of replacement gate stacks, replacing a first one of the plurality of replacement gate stacks with a first dielectric isolation region, forming a deep contact plug in the space, forming a front-side via over the deep contact plug, and forming a back-side via under the deep contact plug, wherein the front-side via is electrically connected to the back-side via through the deep contact plug.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device with a rare earth metal oxide layer and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming fin structures on a substrate and forming superlattice structures on the fin structures, where each of the superlattice structures includes a first-type nanostructured layer and a second-type nanostructured layer. The method further includes forming an isolation layer between the superlattice structures, implanting a rare earth metal into a top portion of the isolation layer to form a rare earth metal oxide layer, and forming a polysilicon structure over the superlattice structures. The method further includes etching portions of the superlattice structures adjacent to the polysilicon structure to form a source/drain (S/D) opening and forming an S/D region in the S/D opening.