Abstract: A semiconductor electrochemical plating (ECP) tool includes: a plating cell which receives an ECP solution therein; a support onto which a semiconductor substrate is selectively secured, the support being controllable to selectively dip the semiconductor substrate into ECP solution contained in the plating cell; a recirculation system including a reservoir that receives an overflow of ECP solution from the plating cell, the ECP solution being recirculated from the reservoir back to the plating cell; a bubble monitoring system that detects gas bubbles within the ECP solution; and a degassing system that inhibits at least one of gas bubble formation, nucleation and growth within the ECP solution, wherein the degassing system is controlled at least in part based upon gas bubble detection by the bubble monitoring system.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for forming a copper structure adjacent to a multi-layer film structure included in a semiconductor device. The techniques include using an electroplating process to form the copper structure adjacent to the multi-layer film structure, wherein a pre-layer of chlorine molecules coats a seed layer of the multi-layer film structure during the electroplating process. During formation of the copper structure, a chlorine-enriched interface region (e.g., a control layer including a copper chelate material with chlorine) may be formed between the copper structure and the multi-layer film structure including the seed layer. The chlorine-enriched interface region may reduce a likelihood of electromigration and/or stress migration within the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A buffer layer may be included between a first conductive electrode layer and an insulator layer, and/or between a second conductive electrode layer and the insulator layer of a capacitor structure to reduce lattice mismatching in the capacitor structure. The buffer layer(s) include a combination of materials that promote lattice matching between the insulator layer and one or more of the conductive electrode layers. This reduces the likelihood of formation of structural defects in the capacitor structure relative to another capacitor structure that does not include the buffer layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes: a substrate; a transistor on the substrate; a first dielectric layer over the transistor; a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; a barrier layer extending from the second dielectric layer to the first dielectric layer; and a conductive structure separated from the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer by the barrier layer. The barrier layer includes: a first layer, including titanium or tantalum along inner sidewalls of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer; a second layer, being an oxide of titanium or tantalum and over the first layer; and a third layer, including cobalt and over the second layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain region, a silicide region, a source/drain contact, and a silicon-containing dielectric liner. The source/drain region is in a substrate. The silicide region is embedded in the source/drain region. The source/drain contact is over the silicide region. The silicon-containing dielectric liner surrounds the source/drain contact. The source/drain region is in contact with an outer sidewall of the silicon-containing dielectric liner but separated from a bottom surface of the silicon-containing dielectric liner by the silicide region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods of fabricating conductive features to prevent metal extrusion. Particularly, the conductive feature includes a control layer to reduce grain size of a metal containing layer, thus obtaining a robust structure to decrease extrusion defects. In some embodiments, the control layer is formed between a barrier layer and the conductive feature. In some embodiments, the control layer is formed by adding a control element, such as oxygen, to an upper portion of the barrier layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a substrate, a control layer disposed over the first ILD layer and containing silicon and oxygen, and a resistor wire disposed over the control layer. An oxygen concentration of the control layer is greater than an oxygen concentration of the first ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, first source/drain contact and a first dielectric spacer liner. The gate structure is over the semiconductor substrate. The first source/drain region and the second source/drain region are in the semiconductor substrate and respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The first source/drain contact is over the first source/drain region. The first dielectric spacer liner lines a sidewall of the first source/drain contact and extends into the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating tantalum nitride barrier layer in an ultra low threshold voltage semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a high-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a tantalum nitride barrier layer is formed on the high-k dielectric layer. The tantalum nitride barrier layer has a Ta:N ratio between 1.2 and 3. Next, a plurality of first metal gates is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer. The first metal gates are patterned, and then a second metal gate is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, first source/drain contact and a first dielectric spacer liner. The gate structure is over the semiconductor substrate. The first source/drain region and the second source/drain region are in the semiconductor substrate and respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The first source/drain contact is over the first source/drain region. The first dielectric spacer liner lines a sidewall of the first source/drain contact and extends into the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A device includes an epitaxy structure having a recess therein, a dielectric layer over the epitaxy structure, the dielectric layer having a contact hole communicating with the recess, a dielectric spacer liner (DSL) layer on a sidewall of the recess, a barrier layer on the DSL layer, and a conductor. The DSL layer has an opening. The DSL layer extends further into the epitaxy structure than the barrier layer. The conductor is disposed in the contact hole and electrically connected to the epitaxy feature through the opening of the DSL layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating tantalum nitride barrier layer in an ultra low threshold voltage semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a high-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a tantalum nitride barrier layer is formed on the high-k dielectric layer. The tantalum nitride barrier layer has a Ta:N ratio between 1.2 and 3. Next, a plurality of first metal gates is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer. The first metal gates are patterned, and then a second metal gate is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating tantalum nitride barrier layer in an ultra low threshold voltage semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a high-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a tantalum nitride barrier layer is formed on the high-k dielectric layer. The tantalum nitride barrier layer has a Ta:N ratio between 1.2 and 3. Next, a plurality of first metal gates is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer. The first metal gates are patterned, and then a second metal gate is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: A device includes an epitaxy structure having a recess therein, a dielectric layer over the epitaxy structure, the dielectric layer having a contact hole communicating with the recess, a dielectric spacer liner (DSL) layer on a sidewall of the recess, a barrier layer on the DSL layer, and a conductor. The DSL layer has an opening. The DSL layer extends further into the epitaxy structure than the barrier layer. The conductor is disposed in the contact hole and electrically connected to the epitaxy feature through the opening of the DSL layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one dielectric layer, a dielectric spacer liner (DSL) layer, and at least one conductor. The dielectric layer is present on the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer has at least one contact hole exposing at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has at least one recess communicating with the contact hole. The recess has a bottom surface and at least one sidewall. The DSL layer is present on at least the sidewall of the recess. The conductor is present at least partially in the contact hole and is electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating tantalum nitride barrier layer in an ultra low threshold voltage semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a high-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, a tantalum nitride barrier layer is formed on the high-k dielectric layer. The tantalum nitride barrier layer has a Ta:N ratio between 1.2 and 3. Next, a plurality of first metal gates is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer. The first metal gates are patterned, and then a second metal gate is formed on the tantalum nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one dielectric layer, a dielectric spacer liner (DSL) layer, and at least one conductor. The dielectric layer is present on the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer has at least one contact hole exposing at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has at least one recess communicating with the contact hole. The recess has a bottom surface and at least one sidewall. The DSL layer is present on at least the sidewall of the recess. The conductor is present at least partially in the contact hole and is electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate.