Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first dummy gate structure over a first region of a substrate and a second dummy gate structure over a second region of the substrate, the first region and the second region of the substrate having a first composition, the first composition having a first etch rate; implanting the first region of the substrate with dopants laterally adjacent to the first dummy gate structure, wherein after the implanting the first region, the first region has a second composition having a second etch rate, the second etch rate being different from the first etch rate; etching a first recess in the first region of the substrate having the second composition and a second recess in the second region having the first composition; and epitaxially growing a first source/drain region in the first recess and a second source/drain region in the second recess.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a source/drain region, and forming a source/drain contact plug over and electrically connecting to the source/drain region. A top portion of the source/drain contact plug has a first lateral dimension. An implantation process is performed to implant a dopant into the first dielectric layer. The implantation process results in the source/drain contact plug to have a second lateral dimension smaller than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and forming a gate contact plug adjacent to the source/drain contact plug.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using an implantation process and a melting anneal process performed on a nanosecond scale to achieve a high surface concentration (surface pile up) dopant profile and a retrograde dopant profile simultaneously. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain structure in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain structure including a first region comprising germanium, implanting a first dopant into the first region of the source/drain structure to form an amorphous region in at least the first region of the source/drain structure, implanting a second dopant into the amorphous region containing the first dopant, and heating the source/drain structure to liquidize and convert at least the amorphous region into a crystalline region, the crystalline region containing the first dopant and the second dopant.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature disposed in a semiconductor layer, a metal gate stack (MG) disposed in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer and adjacent to the S/D feature, a second ILD layer disposed over the MG, and an S/D contact disposed over the S/D feature. The semiconductor structure further includes an air gap disposed between a sidewall of a bottom portion of the S/D contact and the first ILD layer, where a sidewall of a top portion of the S/D contact is in direct contact with the second ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer disposed over a substrate and a conductive feature, a doped dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, a first metal portion disposed in the first dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive feature, and a doped metal portion disposed over the first metal portion. The first metal portion and the doped metal portion include a same noble metal material. The doped dielectric layer and the doped metal portion include same dopants. The dopants are bonded to the noble metal material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a source/drain region, and forming a source/drain contact plug over and electrically connecting to the source/drain region. A top portion of the source/drain contact plug has a first lateral dimension. An implantation process is performed to implant a dopant into the first dielectric layer. The implantation process results in the source/drain contact plug to have a second lateral dimension smaller than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and forming a gate contact plug adjacent to the source/drain contact plug.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure over a substrate. The semiconductor structure also includes source/drain structures on opposite sides of the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric layer over the gate structure and the source/drain structures. The semiconductor structure also includes a via plug passing through the dielectric layer and including a first group IV element. The dielectric layer includes a second group IV element, a first compound, and a second compound, and the second compound includes elements in the first compound and the first group IV element.

Abstract: A method for making a middle-of-line interconnect structure in a semiconductor device includes forming, near a surface of a first interconnect structure comprised of a first metal, a region of varied composition including the first metal and a second element. The method further includes forming a recess within the region of varied composition. The recess laterally extends a first distance along the surface and vertically extends a second distance below the first surface. The method further includes filling the recess with a second metal to form a second interconnect structure that contacts the first interconnect structure.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to using an implantation process and a melting anneal process performed on a nanosecond scale to achieve a high surface concentration (surface pile up) dopant profile and a retrograde dopant profile simultaneously. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a source/drain structure in an active area on a substrate, the source/drain structure including a first region comprising germanium, implanting a first dopant into the first region of the source/drain structure to form an amorphous region in at least the first region of the source/drain structure, implanting a second dopant into the amorphous region containing the first dopant, and heating the source/drain structure to liquidize and convert at least the amorphous region into a crystalline region, the crystalline region containing the first dopant and the second dopant.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin protruding from a semiconductor substrate; forming a dummy gate stack over the fin, wherein forming the dummy gate stack includes depositing a layer of amorphous material over the fin; performing an anneal process on the layer of amorphous material, wherein the anneal process recrystallizes the layer of amorphous material into a layer of polycrystalline material, wherein the anneal process includes heating the layer of amorphous material for less than one millisecond; and patterning the layer of polycrystalline material; and forming an epitaxial source/drain region in the fin adjacent the dummy gate stack; and removing the dummy gate stack and replacing the dummy gate stack with a replacement gate stack.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are described herein. A method includes implanting neutral elements into a dielectric layer, an etch stop layer, and a metal feature, the dielectric layer being disposed over the etch stop layer and the metal feature being disposed through the dielectric layer and the etch stop layer. The method further includes using a germanium gas as a source for the neutral elements and using a beam current above 6.75 mA to implant the neutral elements.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure over a fin structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a source/drain structure in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a first contact plug over the source/drain structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a first via plug over the first contact plug. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric layer surrounding the first via plug. The first via plug includes a first group IV element and the dielectric layer includes the first group IV element and a second group IV element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to doping for conductive features in a semiconductor device. In an example, a structure includes an active region of a transistor. The active region includes a source/drain region, and the source/drain region is defined at least in part by a first dopant having a first dopant concentration. The source/drain region further includes a second dopant with a concentration profile having a consistent concentration from a surface of the source/drain region into a depth of the source/drain region. The consistent concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration. The structure further includes a conductive feature contacting the source/drain region at the surface of the source/drain region.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metallic feature, forming an etch stop layer over the metallic feature, implanting the metallic feature with a dopant, forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, performing a first etching process to etch the dielectric layer and the etch stop layer to form a first opening, performing a second etching process to etch the metallic feature and to form a second opening in the metallic feature, wherein the second opening is joined with the first opening, and filling the first opening and the second opening with a metallic material to form a contact plug.

Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metallic feature, forming an etch stop layer over the metallic feature, implanting the metallic feature with a dopant, forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, performing a first etching process to etch the dielectric layer and the etch stop layer to form a first opening, performing a second etching process to etch the metallic feature and to form a second opening in the metallic feature, wherein the second opening is joined with the first opening, and filling the first opening and the second opening with a metallic material to form a contact plug.

Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to doping for conductive features in a semiconductor device. In an example, a structure includes an active region of a transistor. The active region includes a source/drain region, and the source/drain region is defined at least in part by a first dopant having a first dopant concentration. The source/drain region further includes a second dopant with a concentration profile having a consistent concentration from a surface of the source/drain region into a depth of the source/drain region. The consistent concentration is greater than the first dopant concentration. The structure further includes a conductive feature contacting the source/drain region at the surface of the source/drain region.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a source/drain region, and forming a source/drain contact plug over and electrically connecting to the source/drain region. A top portion of the source/drain contact plug has a first lateral dimension. An implantation process is performed to implant a dopant into the first dielectric layer. The implantation process results in the source/drain contact plug to have a second lateral dimension smaller than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and forming a gate contact plug adjacent to the source/drain contact plug.