Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor device includes an annealed cobalt plug over a silicide in a first opening of the semiconductor device, wherein the annealed cobalt plug has a repaired lattice structure. The annealed cobalt plug is formed by annealing a cobalt plug at a first temperature for a first duration, while exposing the cobalt plug to a first gas. The repaired lattice structure of the annealed cobalt plug is more regular or homogenized as compared to a cobalt plug that is not so annealed, such that the annealed cobalt plug has a relatively increased conductivity or reduced resistivity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for contact formation. A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an opening formed by a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces. A first conductive material is formed on the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces to partially fill the opening, the first conductive material including a top portion and a bottom portion. Ion implantation is formed on the first conductive material, the top portion of the first conductive material being associated with a first ion density, the bottom portion of the first conductive material being associated with a second ion density lower than the first ion density. At least part of the top portion of the first conductive material is removed. A second conductive material is formed to fill the opening.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a vertical device is provided. The method includes: providing a protrusion over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the protrusion; laterally etching a sidewall of the etch stop layer; forming an insulating layer over the etch stop layer; forming a film layer over the insulating layer and the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the film layer and exposing the etch stop layer; etching a portion of the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the protrusion; forming an oxide layer over the protrusion and the film layer; and performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and exposing the film layer.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: providing a vertical structure over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the vertical structure; forming an oxide layer over the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and stopping on the etch stop layer; etching back the oxide layer and the etch stop layer to expose a sidewall of the vertical structure and to form an isolation layer; oxidizing the sidewall of the vertical structure and doping oxygen into the isolation layer by using a cluster oxygen doping treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for contact formation. A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an opening formed by a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces. A first conductive material is formed on the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces to partially fill the opening, the first conductive material including a top portion and a bottom portion. Ion implantation is formed on the first conductive material, the top portion of the first conductive material being associated with a first ion density, the bottom portion of the first conductive material being associated with a second ion density lower than the first ion density. At least part of the top portion of the first conductive material is removed. A second conductive material is formed to fill the opening.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a vertical device is provided. The method includes: providing a protrusion over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the protrusion; laterally etching a sidewall of the etch stop layer; forming an insulating layer over the etch stop layer; forming a film layer over the insulating layer and the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the film layer and exposing the etch stop layer; etching a portion of the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the protrusion; forming an oxide layer over the protrusion and the film layer; and performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and exposing the film layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system and a method are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a first portion configured to hold an overlying wafer. The first portion includes a central region and an edge region circumscribing the central region. The first portion further including an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus further includes a second portion extending beyond an outer radius of the wafer. The second portion including an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the first portion in the central region has a first reflective characteristic. The lower surface of the first portion in the edge region and the second portion have a second reflective characteristic.

Abstract: Degenerate primers for amplifying fragments of the nucleotide sequences of mutL and dnaJ genes of a lactic acid bacterium of Lactobacillus casei group are provided. Methods and kits for discriminating interspecies and intraspecies of a lactic acid bacteria of Lb. casei group are also provided.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: providing a vertical structure over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the vertical structure; forming an oxide layer over the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and stopping on the etch stop layer; etching back the oxide layer and the etch stop layer to expose a sidewall of the vertical structure and to form an isolation layer; oxidizing the sidewall of the vertical structure and doping oxygen into the isolation layer by using a cluster oxygen doping treatment.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming vertical structures is provided. The method includes the following operations: providing a substrate; forming a first oxide layer over the substrate; forming a first dummy layer over the first oxide layer; etching the first oxide layer and the first dummy layer to form a recess; forming a second dummy layer in the recess (and further performing CMP on the second dummy layer and stop on the first dummy layer); removing the first dummy layer; removing the first oxide layer; and etching the substrate to form the vertical structure. According to an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; an STI embedded in the substrate; and a vertical transistor having a source substantially aligned with the STI.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a workpiece including an n-type field effect transistor (N-FET) region, a p-type FET (P-FET) region, and an insulating material disposed over the N-FET region and the P-FET region. The method includes patterning the insulating material to expose a portion of the N-FET region and a portion of the P-FET region, and forming an oxide layer over the exposed portion of the N-FET region and the exposed portion of the P-FET region. The oxide layer over the P-FET region is altered, and a metal layer is formed over a portion of the N-FET region and the P-FET region. The workpiece is annealed to form a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) tunnel diode over the N-FET region and a silicide or germinide material over the P-FET region.

Abstract: An embodiment method includes forming a nanowire extending upwards from a substrate, wherein the nanowire includes: a bottom semiconductor region; a middle semiconductor region over the bottom semiconductor region; and a top semiconductor region over the middle semiconductor region. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer around and extending over the nanowire and forming a chemical mechanical polish-stop (CMP-stop) layer within the dielectric layer using an implantation process. After forming the CMP-stop layer, the dielectric layer is planarized.

Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for forming bottom source/drain contact regions for nanowire devices. A nanowire is formed on a substrate. The nanowire extends substantially vertically relative to the substrate and is disposed between a top source/drain region and a bottom source/drain region. A first dielectric material is formed on the bottom source/drain region. A second dielectric material is formed on the first dielectric material. A first etching process is performed to remove part of the first dielectric material and part of the second dielectric material to expose part of the bottom source/drain region. A second etching process is performed to remove part of the first dielectric material under the second dielectric material to further expose the bottom source/drain region. A first metal-containing material is formed on the exposed bottom source/drain region. Annealing is performed to form a bottom contact region.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first vertical structure protruding from the substrate; a second vertical structure protruding from the substrate; an STI between the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure; wherein a first horizontal width between the first vertical structure and the STI is substantially the same as a second horizontal width between the second vertical structure and the STI.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the level of uric acid in a subject, which comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a fermentation product of Tenacibaculum sp. Also provided are a method of preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder related to hyperuricemia, a method of increasing the digestion of uric acid and a method of producing uricase.

Abstract: A method includes performing an anneal on a wafer. The wafer includes a wafer-edge region, and an inner region encircled by the wafer-edge region. During the anneal, a first power applied on a portion of the wafer-edge region is at least lower than a second power for annealing the inner region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a delta doped sheet layer within a transistor's source/drain region to reduce contact resistance, and an associated method. In some embodiments, a dielectric layer is disposed over the transistor. A trench is disposed through the dielectric layer to the source/drain region and a conductive contact is disposed in the trench. The source/drain region comprises a delta doped sheet layer with a doping concentration that is higher than rest of the source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain region, a barrier layer, and an interlayer dielectric. The barrier layer surrounds the source/drain region. The interlayer dielectric surrounds the barrier layer. As such, the source/drain region can be protected by the barrier layer from oxidation during manufacturing of the semiconductor device, e.g., the formation of the interlayer dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor device includes an annealed cobalt plug over a silicide in a first opening of the semiconductor device, wherein the annealed cobalt plug has a repaired lattice structure. The annealed cobalt plug is formed by annealing a cobalt plug at a first temperature for a first duration, while exposing the cobalt plug to a first gas. The repaired lattice structure of the annealed cobalt plug is more regular or homogenized as compared to a cobalt plug that is not so annealed, such that the annealed cobalt plug has a relatively increased conductivity or reduced resistivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel processes for the preparation of Fondaparinux sodium by using the compound of formula ABC5 In some embodiments, the intermediates for the synthesis of Fondaparinux sodium, are also provided.