Abstract: A method includes forming a dielectric layer over an epitaxial source/drain region. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer. The opening exposes a portion of the epitaxial source/drain region. A barrier layer is formed on a sidewall and a bottom of the opening. An oxidation process is performing on the sidewall and the bottom of the opening. The oxidation process transforms a portion of the barrier layer into an oxidized barrier layer and transforms a portion of the dielectric layer adjacent to the oxidized barrier layer into a liner layer. The oxidized barrier layer is removed. The opening is filled with a conductive material in a bottom-up manner. The conductive material is in physical contact with the liner layer.

Abstract: Low-flow tungsten chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques described herein provide substantially uniform deposition of tungsten on a semiconductor substrate. In some implementations, a flow of a processing vapor is provided to a CVD processing chamber such that a flow rate of tungsten hexafluoride in the processing vapor results in the tungsten layer being grown at a slower rate than a higher flow rate of the tungsten hexafluoride to promote substantially uniform growth of the tungsten layer. In this way, the low-flow tungsten CVD techniques may be used to achieve similar surface uniformity performance to an atomic layer deposition (ALD) while being a faster deposition process relative to ALD (e.g., due to the lower deposition rate and large quantity of alternating processing cycles of ALD). This reduces the likelihood of defect formation in the tungsten layer while increasing the throughput of semiconductor device processing for the semiconductor substrate (and other semiconductor substrates).

Abstract: A capacitor includes a bottom capacitor plate including a rough upper surface with a root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of at least 1.14, a capacitor dielectric layer on the bottom capacitor plate and contacting the rough upper surface of the bottom capacitor plate, and an upper capacitor plate on the capacitor dielectric layer. A semiconductor device includes a transistor located on a substrate, a dielectric layer on the transistor, and a capacitor in the dielectric layer and including a bottom capacitor plate connected to a source region of the transistor and having a rough upper surface with a root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of at least 1.14.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dielectric layer over an epitaxial source/drain region. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer. The opening exposes a portion of the epitaxial source/drain region. A barrier layer is formed on a sidewall and a bottom of the opening. An oxidation process is performing on the sidewall and the bottom of the opening. The oxidation process transforms a portion of the barrier layer into an oxidized barrier layer and transforms a portion of the dielectric layer adjacent to the oxidized barrier layer into a liner layer. The oxidized barrier layer is removed. The opening is filled with a conductive material in a bottom-up manner. The conductive material is in physical contact with the liner layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to conductive features, such as metal contacts, vias, lines, etc., and methods for forming those conductive features. In some embodiments, a structure includes a first dielectric layer over a substrate, a first conductive feature through the first dielectric layer, the first conductive feature comprising a first metal, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and a second conductive feature through the second dielectric layer having a lower convex surface extending into the first conductive feature, wherein the lower convex surface of the second conductive feature has a tip end extending laterally under a bottom boundary of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a gate structure over a fin that protrudes above a substrate; forming a source/drain region over the fin adjacent to the gate structure; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over the source/drain region around the gate structure; forming an opening in the ILD layer to expose the source/drain region; forming a silicide region and a barrier layer successively in the openings over the source/drain region, where the barrier layer includes silicon nitride; reducing a concentration of silicon nitride in a surface portion of the barrier layer exposed to the opening; after the reducing, forming a seed layer on the barrier layer; and forming an electrically conductive material on the seed layer to fill the opening.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first metallic feature, forming a dielectric layer over the first metallic feature, etching the dielectric layer to form an opening, with a top surface of the first metallic feature being exposed through the opening, and performing a first treatment on the top surface of the first metallic feature. The first treatment is performed through the opening, and the first treatment is performed using a first process gas. After the first treatment, a second treatment is performed through the opening, and the second treatment is performed using a second process gas different from the first process gas.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first metallic feature, forming a dielectric layer over the first metallic feature, etching the dielectric layer to form an opening, with a top surface of the first metallic feature being exposed through the opening, and performing a first treatment on the top surface of the first metallic feature. The first treatment is performed through the opening, and the first treatment is performed using a first process gas. After the first treatment, a second treatment is performed through the opening, and the second treatment is performed using a second process gas different from the first process gas. A second metallic feature is deposited in the opening.

Abstract: A chip with power-glitch detection is provided, which includes a power terminal receiving power, an inverter, and a back-up power storage device coupled to the power terminal. The inverter has an input terminal coupled to the power terminal. The back-up power storage device transforms the power to back-up power. The inverter is powered by the back-up power when a power glitch occurs on the power terminal, and the power glitch is reflected at an output terminal of the inverter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic comparator including a dynamic amplifier and a latch circuit. The dynamic amplifier includes a first input pair, a current source and a gain boosting circuit. The first input pair is configured to receive an input signal to generate an amplified signal at an output terminal. The current source is coupled between the first input pair and a first reference voltage. The gain-boosting circuit is coupled between the first input pair and a second reference voltage, and is configured to receive the input signal to selectively inject current to the output terminal or sink current from the output terminal. The latch circuit is coupled to the dynamic amplifier, and is configured to receive the amplified signal to generate an output signal.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dielectric layer over an epitaxial source/drain region. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer. The opening exposes a portion of the epitaxial source/drain region. A barrier layer is formed on a sidewall and a bottom of the opening. An oxidation process is performing on the sidewall and the bottom of the opening. The oxidation process transforms a portion of the barrier layer into an oxidized barrier layer and transforms a portion of the dielectric layer adjacent to the oxidized barrier layer into a liner layer. The oxidized barrier layer is removed. The opening is filled with a conductive material in a bottom-up manner. The conductive material is in physical contact with the liner layer.

Abstract: Power-glitch detection and power-glitch self-testing within a chip is shown. In a chip, a processor has a power terminal, a glitch detector, and a self-testing circuit. The power terminal is configured to receive power. The glitch detector is coupled to the power terminal of the processor for power-glitch detection. The self-testing circuit has a glitch generator and a glitch controller. The glitch controller controls the glitch generator to generate a self-testing glitch signal within the chip to test the glitch detector.

Abstract: A chip with power-glitch detection is provided, which includes a power terminal receiving power, an inverter, and a back-up power storage device coupled to the power terminal. The inverter has an input terminal coupled to the power terminal. The back-up power storage device transforms the power to back-up power. The inverter is powered by the back-up power when a power glitch occurs on the power terminal, and the power glitch is reflected at an output terminal of the inverter.

Abstract: Low-flow tungsten chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques described herein provide substantially uniform deposition of tungsten on a semiconductor substrate. In some implementations, a flow of a processing vapor is provided to a CVD processing chamber such that a flow rate of tungsten hexafluoride in the processing vapor results in the tungsten layer being grown at a slower rate than a higher flow rate of the tungsten hexafluoride to promote substantially uniform growth of the tungsten layer. In this way, the low-flow tungsten CVD techniques may be used to achieve similar surface uniformity performance to an atomic layer deposition (ALD) while being a faster deposition process relative to ALD (e.g., due to the lower deposition rate and large quantity of alternating processing cycles of ALD). This reduces the likelihood of defect formation in the tungsten layer while increasing the throughput of semiconductor device processing for the semiconductor substrate (and other semiconductor substrates).

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure provides example embodiments relating to conductive features, such as metal contacts, vias, lines, etc., and methods for forming those conductive features. In an embodiment, a structure includes a first dielectric layer over a substrate, a first conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a second conductive feature in the second dielectric layer, and a blocking region disposed between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. The second conductive feature is disposed between and abutting a first sidewall of the second dielectric layer and a second sidewall of the second dielectric layer. The blocking region extends laterally at least from the first sidewall of the second dielectric layer to the second sidewall of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic comparator including a dynamic amplifier and a latch circuit. The dynamic amplifier includes a first input pair, a current source and a gain boosting circuit. The first input pair is configured to receive an input signal to generate an amplified signal at an output terminal. The current source is coupled between the first input pair and a first reference voltage. The gain-boosting circuit is coupled between the first input pair and a second reference voltage, and is configured to receive the input signal to selectively inject current to the output terminal or sink current from the output terminal. The latch circuit is coupled to the dynamic amplifier, and is configured to receive the amplified signal to generate an output signal.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor arrangement includes removing a portion of a first dielectric layer to form a first recess defined by sidewalls of the first dielectric layer, forming a first conductive layer in the first recess, removing a portion of the first conductive layer to form a second recess defined by the sidewalls of the first dielectric layer, forming a second conductive layer in the second recess, where the second conductive layer contacts the first conductive layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the second conductive layer, removing a portion of the second dielectric layer to form a third recess defined by sidewalls of the second dielectric layer, where the second conductive layer is exposed through the third recess, and forming a third conductive layer in the third recess, where the third conductive layer contacts the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first metallic feature, forming a dielectric layer over the first metallic feature, etching the dielectric layer to form an opening, with a top surface of the first metallic feature being exposed through the opening, and performing a first treatment on the top surface of the first metallic feature. The first treatment is performed through the opening, and the first treatment is performed using a first process gas. After the first treatment, a second treatment is performed through the opening, and the second treatment is performed using a second process gas different from the first process gas.