Abstract: A method having a semiconductor substrate received and a first dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A trench is formed in the first dielectric layer. The trench is filled to form a conductive layer in the first dielectric layer. The conductive layer is segmented to form a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature separated from each other by a recess. The recess is filled with a second dielectric layer, such that one or both of the conductive features are end-capped by a portion of the first dielectric layer and a portion of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain portion, a metal silicide layer disposed over the source/drain portion, and a transition layer disposed between the source/drain portion and the metal silicide layer. The transition layer includes implantation elements, and an atomic concentration of the implantation elements in the transition layer is higher than that in each of the source/drain portion and the metal silicide layer so as to reduce a contact resistance between the source/drain portion and the metal silicide layer. Methods for manufacturing the semiconductor device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes an active region over a substrate, a gate structure disposed over the active region, and a gate contact that includes a lower portion disposed over the gate structure and an upper portion disposed over the lower portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes first and second epitaxial features, at least one semiconductor channel layer connecting the first and second epitaxial features, and a gate structure engaging the semiconductor channel layer. The first and second epitaxial features, the semiconductor channel layer, and the gate structure are at a frontside of the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a backside metal wiring layer at a backside of the semiconductor structure, and a backside conductive contact electrically connecting the first epitaxial feature to the backside metal wiring layer. The backside metal wiring layer is spaced away from the gate structure with an air gap therebetween.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes first nanostructures surrounded by a first gate structure, and a first source/drain (S/D) structure adjacent to the first gate structure. The semiconductor structure includes a first contact structure formed over a first side of the first S/D structure, and a second contact structure formed over a second side of the first S/D structure. The second contact structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are made of different materials. The first S/D structure has a first width. The second portion has a second width. The first width is smaller than the second width.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a contact plug by bottom-up metal growth. In one step, a substrate is etched to form a contact hole that exposes a silicon-containing feature in the substrate. In one step, a silicide layer is formed on the silicon-containing feature. In one step, a metal seed layer is formed over the silicide layer. In one step, a metal contact layer is deposited over the metal seed layer to form the contact plug in the contact hole.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having source/drain electrodes and a first dielectric layer over the source/drain electrodes; forming a first etch mask covering a first area of the first dielectric layer; performing a first etching process to the first dielectric layer, resulting in first trenches over the source/drain electrodes; filling the first trenches with a second dielectric layer that has a different material than the first dielectric layer; removing the first etch mask; performing a second etching process including isotropic etching to the first area of the first dielectric layer, resulting in a second trench above a first one of the source/drain electrodes; depositing a metal layer into at least the second trench; and performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process to the metal layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes first and second source/drain (S/D) features, one or more semiconductor channel layers connecting the first and second S/D features, a gate structure engaging the one or more semiconductor channel layers, a metal wiring layer at a backside of the semiconductor structure, an S/D contact electrically connecting the first S/D feature to the metal wiring layer, and a seal layer between the metal wiring layer and the gate structure. The seal layer is spaced away from the gate structure by an air gap therebetween.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region and extending along a first direction, and a source/drain contact structure over the source/drain region. The source/drain contact structure includes a base portion extending lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a via portion over the base portion. The via portion tapers away from the base portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature; one or more channel semiconductor layers connected to the S/D feature; a gate structure engaging the one or more channel semiconductor layers; a first silicide feature at a frontside of the S/D feature; a second silicide feature at a backside of the S/D feature; and a dielectric liner layer at the backside of the S/D feature, below the second silicide feature, and spaced away from the second silicide feature by a first gap.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a substrate having a front side and a back side, forming a shallow trench in the substrate from the front side, forming a liner layer including a first dielectric material in the shallow trench, depositing a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material on the liner layer to form an isolation feature in the shallow trench, forming an active region surrounded by the isolation feature, forming a gate stack on the active region, forming a source/drain (S/D) feature on the active region and on a side of the gate stack, thinning down the substrate from the back side such that the isolation feature is exposed, etching the active region to expose the S/D feature from the back side to form a backside trench, and forming a backside via feature landing on the S/D feature and surrounded by the liner layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region adjacent the channel region, a gate structure over the channel region of the active region, a source/drain contact over the source/drain region, a dielectric feature over the gate structure and including a lower portion adjacent the gate structure and an upper portion away from the gate structure, and an air gap disposed between the gate structure and the source/drain contact. A first width of the upper portion of the dielectric feature along a first direction is greater than a second width of the lower portion of the dielectric feature along the first direction. The air gap is disposed below the upper portion of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a device, a first conductive structure disposed over the device, and the first conductive structure includes a first sidewall having a first portion and a second portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first spacer layer disposed on the first portion, a second conductive structure disposed adjacent the first conductive structure, and the second conductive structure includes a second sidewall having a third portion and a fourth portion. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second spacer layer disposed on the third portion, and an air gap is formed between the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure. The second portion, the first spacer layer, the fourth portion, and the second spacer layer are exposed to the air gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a gate structure formed over a substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a source/drain structure formed beside the gate structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact structure formed over the source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first cap layer formed over the contact structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a dielectric structure extending from a top surface of the first cap layer into the contact structure. The dielectric structure and the source/drain structure are separated by the contact structure.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a vertical stack of nanostructure channels over the substrate, a gate structure wrapping around the nanostructure channels, and a source/drain region on the substrate. The device further includes a source/drain contact in contact with the source/drain region. The source/drain contact includes a core layer of a first material. A source/drain via is over and in contact with the source/drain contact. The source/drain via is the first material. A gate via is over and in electrical connection with the gate structure. The gate via is the first material.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a field effect transistor (FET) having a metal gate structure, a source and a drain over a substrate is formed. A first frontside contact disposed between dummy metal gate structures is formed over an isolation insulating layer. A frontside wiring layer is formed over the first frontside contact. A part of the substrate is removed from a backside of the substrate so that a bottom of the isolation insulating layer is exposed. A first opening is formed in the isolation insulating layer from the bottom of the isolation insulating layer to expose a bottom of the first frontside contact. A first backside contact is formed by filling the first opening with a conductive material to connect the first frontside contact.

Abstract: A method and structure directed to providing a source/drain isolation structure includes providing a device having a first source/drain region adjacent to a second source/drain region. A masking layer is deposited between the first and second source/drain regions and over an exposed first part of the second source/drain region. After depositing the masking layer, a first portion of an ILD layer disposed on either side of the masking layer is etched, without substantial etching of the masking layer, to expose a second part of the second source/drain region and to expose the first source/drain region. After etching the first portion of the ILD layer, the masking layer is etched to form an L-shaped masking layer. After forming the L-shaped masking layer, a first metal layer is formed over the exposed first source/drain region and a second metal layer is formed over the exposed second part of the second source/drain region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with air spacer structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, nanostructured channel regions disposed on the substrate, a gate structure surrounding the nanostructured channel regions, a first air spacer disposed on the gate structure, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the substrate, and a contact structure disposed on the S/D region. The contact structure includes a silicide layer disposed on the S/D region, a conductive layer disposed on the silicide layer, a dielectric layer disposed along a sidewall of the conductive layer, and a second air spacer disposed along a sidewall of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, gate stacks, source/drain (S/D) features over the substrate, S/D contacts over the S/D features, and one or more dielectric layers over the gate stacks and the S/D contacts. A via structure penetrates the one or more dielectric layers and electrically contacts one of the gate stacks and the S/D contacts. And a ferroelectric (FE) stack is over the via structure and directly contacting the via structure, wherein the FE stack includes an FE feature and a top electrode over the FE feature.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an active region including a channel region and a source/drain region and extending along a first direction, and a source/drain contact structure over the source/drain region. The source/drain contact structure includes a base portion extending lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a via portion over the base portion. The via portion tapers away from the base portion.