Abstract: A photo resist layer is used to protect a dielectric layer and conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer when patterning an etch stop layer underlying the dielectric layer. The photo resist layer may further be used to etch another dielectric layer underlying the etch stop layer, where etching the next dielectric layer exposes a contact, such as a gate contact. The bottom layer can be used to protect the conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer from a wet etchant used to etch the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a metal contact on a substrate, forming a first dielectric on the metal contact, forming a first opening in the first dielectric, and performing a wet etch on a bottom surface of the first opening through a first etch stop layer (ESL) over the metal contact. The wet etch forms a first recess in a top surface of the metal contact. An upper width of the first recess is smaller than a lower width of the first recess. A first conductive feature is formed in the first recess and the first opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a metal contact on a substrate, forming a first dielectric on the metal contact, forming a first opening in the first dielectric, and performing a wet etch on a bottom surface of the first opening through a first etch stop layer (ESL) over the metal contact. The wet etch forms a first recess in a top surface of the metal contact. An upper width of the first recess is smaller than a lower width of the first recess. A first conductive feature is formed in the first recess and the first opening.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the semiconductor substrate; a first conductive feature extending through the first ILD; a first etch stop layer over the first conductive feature and the first ILD, the first etch stop layer being a first dielectric material; a second ILD over the first etch stop layer; a contact having a first portion extending through the second ILD and a second portion extending through the first etch stop layer, the contact being physically and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature; and a first protective layer surrounding the second portion of the contact, the first portion of the contact being free from the first protective layer, the first protective layer being a second dielectric material, the second dielectric material being different from the first dielectric material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a source/drain structure, a lower contact contacting either of the gate electrode or the source/drain structure, and an upper contact disposed in an opening formed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer and in direct contact with the lower contact. The upper contact is in direct contact with the ILD layer without an interposing conductive barrier layer, and the upper contact includes ruthenium.

Abstract: A photo resist layer is used to protect a dielectric layer and conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer when patterning an etch stop layer underlying the dielectric layer. The photo resist layer may further be used to etch another dielectric layer underlying the etch stop layer, where etching the next dielectric layer exposes a contact, such as a gate contact. The bottom layer can be used to protect the conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer from a wet etchant used to etch the etch stop layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture are described herein. A method includes forming an opening through an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to expose a contact etch stop layer (CESL) disposed over a conductive feature in a metallization layer. The opening is formed using photo sensitive materials, lithographic techniques, and a dry etch process that stops on the CESL. Once the CESL is exposed, a CESL breakthrough process is performed to extend the opening through the CESL and expose the conductive feature. The CESL breakthrough process is a flexible process with a high selectivity of the CESL to ILD layer. Once the CESL breakthrough process has been performed, a conductive fill material may be deposited to fill or overfill the opening and is then planarized with the ILD layer to form a contact plug over the conductive feature in an intermediate step of forming a semiconductor device.