Abstract: A semiconductor substructure with improved performance and a method of forming the same is described. The method includes providing a semiconductor dielectric layer having a recess formed therein; forming an interconnect structure with a metal liner and a conductive fill within the recess; and applying an electron beam treatment to the substructure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate of a transistor at a surface of a wafer, removing the dummy gate, and filling a metallic material into a trench left by the removed dummy gate. A Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) is then performed on the metallic material, wherein a remaining portion of the metallic material forms a metal gate of the transistor. After the CMP, a treatment is performed on an exposed top surface of the metal gate using an oxidation-and-etching agent comprising chlorine and oxygen.

Abstract: A polishing head for a chemical-mechanical polishing system includes a carrier head, at least one electromagnetism actuated pressure sector and a membrane. The electromagnetism actuated pressure sector is disposed on the carrier head. The membrane covers the electromagnetism actuated pressure sector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The method includes providing a metal gate (MG), an etch stop layer (ESL) formed on the MG, and a dielectric layer formed on the ESL. The method further includes etching the ESL and the dielectric layer to form a trench. A surface of the MG exposed in the trench is oxidized to form a first oxide layer on the MG. The method further includes removing the first oxide layer using a H3PO4 solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and an interconnect structure disposed over the substrate. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of interconnect layers. One of the interconnect layers contains: a plurality of metal via slots and a bulk metal component disposed over the plurality of metal via slots. The present disclosure also provides a method. The method includes providing a wafer, and forming a first layer over the wafer. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over the first layer. The forming the interconnect structure includes forming a second interconnect layer over the first layer, and forming a third interconnect layer over the second interconnect layer. The second interconnect layer is formed to contain a plurality of metal via slots and a bulk metal component formed over the plurality of metal via slots. The third interconnect layer contains one or more metal trenches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a trench isolation. The trench isolation is located in the semiconductor substrate, and includes a first cushion layer, a second cushion layer and an insulating filler. The first cushion layer is peripherally enclosed by the semiconductor substrate, the second cushion layer is peripherally enclosed by the first cushion layer, and insulating filler is peripherally enclosed by the second cushion layer. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided herein.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate of a transistor at a surface of a wafer, removing the dummy gate, and filling a metallic material into a trench left by the removed dummy gate. A Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) is then performed on the metallic material, wherein a remaining portion of the metallic material forms a metal gate of the transistor. After the CMP, a treatment is performed on an exposed top surface of the metal gate using an oxidation-and-etching agent comprising chlorine and oxygen.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a brush includes inducing a static charge on a surface of a first plate, wherein the first plate comprises at least one of silicon nitride (SixNy) or silicon oxide (SiaOb), wherein a, b, x and y are integers. The method further includes rotating the brush in contact with the surface of the first plate.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a metal gate stack including a metal gate electrode over the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes applying an oxidizing solution containing an oxidizing agent over the metal gate electrode to oxidize the metal gate electrode to form a metal oxide layer on the metal gate electrode.

Abstract: A brush cleaning system comprising: a plate comprising at least one of silicon nitride (SixNy) or silicon oxide (SiaOb), wherein the plate has a static charge on a surface thereof; and a machine configured to rotate a brush in contact with the static charged surface of the plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The method includes providing a metal gate (MG), an etch stop layer (ESL) formed on the MG, and a dielectric layer formed on the ESL. The method further includes etching the ESL and the dielectric layer to form a trench. A surface of the MG exposed in the trench is oxidized to form a first oxide layer on the MG. The method further includes removing the first oxide layer using a H3PO4 solution.

Abstract: Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a metal gate stack formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the metal gate stack includes a metal gate electrode. The semiconductor device also includes a metal oxide layer formed over the metal gate stack and in direct contact with the metal gate electrode, and a thickness of the metal oxide layer is in a range from about 15 ? to about 40 ?. The metal oxide layer has a first portion made of an oxidized material of the metal gate electrode and has a second portion made of a material different from that of the first portion.

Abstract: An interconnect and a method of forming an interconnect for a semiconductor device is provided. The interconnect is formed by treating an upper surface of a dielectric layer to create a high density layer. The treatment may include, for example, creating a high density monolayer using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), trimethylsilydiethylamine (TMSDEA) or trimethylsilylacetate (OTMSA). After treating, the dielectric layer may be patterned to create openings, which are subsequently filled with a conductive material. Excess conductive material may be removed using, for example, a chemical mechanical polishing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a metal gate (MG) layer formed to fill in a trench between two adjacent interlayer dielectric (ILD) regions; performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process using a CMP system to planarize the MG layer and the ILD regions; and cleaning the planarized MG layer using a O3/DIW solution including ozone gas (O3) dissolved in deionized water (DIW). The MG layer is formed on the ILD regions.

Abstract: A platen assembly includes a platen body, a polishing pad, and a fountain slurry supplier. The platen body has an upper surface. The polishing pad is disposed on the upper surface of the platen body. The fountain slurry supplier is at least partially disposed on the upper surface of the platen body for supplying slurry up onto the polishing pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor substructure with improved performance and a method of forming the same is described. The method includes providing a semiconductor dielectric layer having a recess formed therein; forming an interconnect structure with a metal liner and a conductive fill within the recess; and applying an electron beam treatment to the substructure.

Abstract: A polishing head for a chemical-mechanical polishing system includes a carrier head, at least one electromagnetism actuated pressure sector and a membrane. The electromagnetism actuated pressure sector is disposed on the carrier head. The membrane covers the electromagnetism actuated pressure sector.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a trench isolation. The trench isolation is located in the semiconductor substrate, and includes a first cushion layer, a second cushion layer and an insulating filler. The first cushion layer is peripherally enclosed by the semiconductor substrate, the second cushion layer is peripherally enclosed by the first cushion layer, and insulating filler is peripherally enclosed by the second cushion layer. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also provided herein.

Abstract: In a semiconductor wafer manufacturing apparatus, a rotation module is provided to hold the semiconductor wafer at a plane. The semiconductor wafer is revolved by the rotation module around a first axis. The first axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane. A cleaning module is configured to revolve around a second axis when the cleaning module contacts the surface of the semiconductor wafer. A mechanism is further provided to enable the rotation module and/or the cleaning module to move along a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Consequently, the relative velocities at the contact points between the semiconductor wafer and the cleaning module are changed. Moreover, no relative velocity at any contact point between the semiconductor wafer and the cleaning module is zero or close to zero.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a structure over the semiconductor substrate. The structure includes a sacrificial dielectric on the semiconductor substrate and a dummy gate over the sacrificial dielectric. The method further includes removing the dummy gate and the sacrificial dielectric from the structure thereby forming a trench. The method further includes filling a metal layer into the trench and covering over a top surface of an inter layer dielectric (ILD). The method also includes performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to expose the top surface of the ILD and heating the top surface of the ILD. Moreover, the method includes forming an etch stop layer on the top surface of the ILD.