Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for preparing dual-sensitive cellulose-based aerogel. The DAC (Dialdehyde cellulose), the DAC/PDMAEMA (poly-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) copolymer, the DAC/PDMAEMA/PEI (Polyethylenimine) copolymer are serially prepared, was freeze-dried to obtain a product. The product is the dual-sensitive cellulose-based aerogel, a cumulative adsorption capacity of the dual-sensitive cellulose-based aerogel is 250 mg/g, and a cumulative release amount of the dual-sensitive cellulose-based aerogel in 0.05 mol/L NaH2PO4 (pH=3-8), 0.2% NaCl (pH<3), or NaOH (pH>8) is 63-90%.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over a first portion of a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a laminated dielectric layer over at least a portion of a top surface of the gate stack. The laminated dielectric layer includes at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer. The first sublayer is formed of a material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of a material used to form the second sublayer and the material used to form the second sublayer has an etch selectivity higher than an etch selectivity of the material used to form the first sublayer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first fin structure protruding from the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate stack formed across the first fin structure and a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure adjacent to the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes a contact structure formed over the first source/drain structure and a dielectric structure formed through the contact structure. In addition, a bottom surface of the contact structure is wider than a top surface of the contact structure.

Abstract: A wafer etching apparatus and a method for controlling an etch bath of a wafer is provided. The wafer etching apparatus includes an etching tank comprising an etch bath, an etch bath recycle system connected to the etching tank, a real time monitor (RTM) system connected to the etching tank, and a control system coupled with the RTM system and the etch bath recycle system. The wafer etching apparatus and the method for controlling an etch bath of the wafer both control the silicate concentration in the etch bath to stable an etching selectivity with respect to silicon oxide and silicon nitride.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain contact structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a first gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the source/drain contact structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes an insulating cap structure formed over and separated from an upper surface of the first gate stack. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes first gate spacers formed over opposing sidewalls of the first gate stack to separate the first gate stack from the source/drain contact structure. The first gate spacers extend over opposing sidewalls of the insulating cap structure, so as to form an air gap surrounded by the first gate spacers, the first gate stack, and the insulating cap structure.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature on a substrate, forming a via that contacts the first conductive feature, the via comprising a conductive material, performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process to a top surface of the via, depositing an Interlayer Dielectric (ILD) layer on the via, forming a trench within the ILD layer to expose the via, and filling the trench with a second conductive feature that contacts the via, the second conductive feature comprising a same material as the conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a first source/drain contact plug over and electrically coupling to a source/drain region of a transistor, forming a first dielectric hard mask overlapping a gate stack, recessing the first source/drain contact plug to form a first recess, forming a second dielectric hard mask in the first recess, recessing an inter-layer dielectric layer to form a second recess, and forming a third dielectric hard mask in the second recess. The third dielectric hard mask contacts both the first dielectric hard mask and the second dielectric hard mask.

Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit a having an advanced two-dimensional (2D) metal connection with metal cut and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An example method for fabricating a conductive interconnection layer of an integrated circuit may include: patterning a conductive connector portion on the conductive interconnection layer of the integrated circuit using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, wherein the conductive connector portion is patterned to extend across multiple semiconductor structures in a different layer of the integrated circuit; and cutting the conductive connector portion into a plurality of conductive connector sections, wherein the conductive connector portion is cut by removing conductive material from the metal connector portion at one or more locations between the semiconductor structures.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dummy gate and a second dummy gate over a fin that protrudes above a substrate; replacing the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate with a first metal gate and a second metal gate, respectively; forming a dielectric cut pattern between the first and the second metal gates, the dielectric cut pattern extending further from the substrate than the first and the second metal gates; forming a patterned mask layer over the first metal gate, the second metal gate, and the dielectric cut pattern, an opening in the patterned mask layer exposing a portion of the first metal gate, a portion of the second metal gate, and a portion of the dielectric cut pattern underlying the opening; filling the opening with a first electrically conductive material; and recessing the first electrically conductive material below an upper surface of the dielectric cut pattern.

Abstract: A method includes forming a pad layer and a mask layer over a substrate; patterning the mask layer, the pad layer, and the substrate to form pads, masks, and first and semiconductor fins over the substrate; forming a liner covering the pads, the masks, and the first and second semiconductor fins; removing a first portion of the liner to expose sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin, while leaving a second portion of the liner covering sidewalls of the second semiconductor fin; forming an isolation material over the substrate; and performing a CMP process to the isolation material until a first one of the pads over the second semiconductor fin is exposed; and etching back the isolation material and the second portion of the liner.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method for forming the semiconductor device structure includes forming a first mask layer covering the gate stack, forming a contact alongside the gate stack and the first mask layer, recessing the contact, etching the first mask layer, and forming a second mask layer covering the contact and a portion of the first mask layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first metal wire arranged within an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A second metal wire is arranged within the ILD layer and is laterally separated from the first metal wire by an air-gap. A dielectric layer is arranged over the first metal wire and the second metal wire. The dielectric layer has a curved surface along a top of the air-gap. The curved surface of the dielectric layer is a smooth curved surface that continuously extends between opposing sides of the air-gap. A via is disposed on and over the second metal wire.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack, an air spacer, a first spacer, a second spacer, a sacrificial layer, and a contact plug. The gate stack is on the semiconductor substrate. The air spacer is around the gate stack. The first spacer is around the air spacer. The second spacer is on the air spacer and the first spacer. The sacrificial layer is on the gate stack, and an etching selectivity between the second spacer and the sacrificial layer is in a range from about 10 to about 30. The contact plug lands on the second spacer and the gate stack.

Abstract: A method for forming a fin field effect transistor device structure includes forming fin structures over a substrate. The method also includes forming a gate structure across the fin structures. The method also includes forming source/drain epitaxial structures over the fin structures. The method also includes forming blocking structures between the source/drain epitaxial structures. The method also includes depositing contact structures over the source/drain epitaxial structures and between the blocking structures. The method also includes removing a top portion of the blocking structures. The method also includes depositing an etch stop layer over the blocking structures and the contact structures, so that an air gap is formed between the etch stop layer and the blocking structure.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical connection structure is provided. The method includes forming a first metal material in an opening of a dielectric layer. The first metal material includes a plurality of grains. The method also includes forming a second metal material over the first metal material. The method also includes annealing the second metal material so that the second metal material diffuses along grain boundaries of the grains of the first metal material. The method also includes removing the second metal material from the upper surface of the first metal material.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure in a substrate. The method includes forming a first dielectric layer over the first source/drain structure, the second source/drain structure, and the substrate. The method includes forming a gate electrode in the first trench. The method includes removing the first dielectric layer. The method includes forming a first conductive strip structure over the first source/drain structure and the substrate. The method includes partially removing the first conductive strip structure to form a second trench in the first conductive strip structure. The method includes forming a second dielectric layer in the second trench.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the first epitaxial structure, the second epitaxial structure, and the semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a first mask layer over the dielectric layer and between the first epitaxial structure and the second epitaxial structure. The method includes forming a second mask layer over the dielectric layer and the first mask layer. The method includes partially removing the dielectric layer covering the first epitaxial structure and the second epitaxial structure. The method includes removing the first mask layer. The method includes forming a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer respectively in the first recess and the second recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive line embedded in the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive line. The semiconductor device structure includes a second conductive line over the second dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The semiconductor device structure includes conductive pillars passing through the second dielectric layer to electrically connect the first conductive line to the second conductive line. The conductive pillars are spaced apart from each other.

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: Examples of an integrated circuit a having an advanced two-dimensional (2D) metal connection with metal cut and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An example method for fabricating a conductive interconnection layer of an integrated circuit may include: patterning a conductive connector portion on the conductive interconnection layer of the integrated circuit using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, wherein the conductive connector portion is patterned to extend across multiple semiconductor structures in a different layer of the integrated circuit; and cutting the conductive connector portion into a plurality of conductive connector sections, wherein the conductive connector portion is cut by removing conductive material from the metal connector portion at one or more locations between the semiconductor structures.