Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a lower dielectric arranged over a substrate. An interconnect wire is arranged over the dielectric layer, and a first interconnect dielectric layer is arranged outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire. A protection liner that includes graphene is arranged directly on the outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire and on a top surface of the interconnect wire. The integrated chip further includes a first etch stop layer arranged directly on upper surfaces of the first interconnect dielectric layer, and a second interconnect dielectric layer arranged over the first interconnect dielectric layer and the interconnect wire. Further, an interconnect via extends through the second interconnect dielectric layer, is arranged directly over the protection liner, and is electrically coupled to the interconnect wire.

Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, and a conductive layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a first barrier layer in contact with the first portion of the conductive layer, a second barrier layer in contact with the second portion of the conductive layer, and a support layer in contact with the first and second barrier layers. An air gap is located between the first and second barrier layers, and the dielectric layer and the support layer are exposed to the air gap.

Abstract: A method includes forming a material layer over a substrate, forming a first hard mask (HM) layer over the material layer, forming a first trench, along a first direction, in the first HM layer. The method also includes forming first spacers along sidewalls of the first trench, forming a second trench in the first HM layer parallel to the first trench, by using the first spacers to guard the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the first trench and the second trench, removing the first HM layer and the first spacers, forming a second HM layer over the material layer, forming a third trench in the second HM layer. The third trench extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and overlaps with the first trench. The method also includes etching the material layer through the third trench.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a barrier-free interconnect layer includes patterning a metal layer disposed over a substrate to form a patterned metal layer including one or more trenches. In some embodiments, the method further includes selectively depositing a barrier layer on metal surfaces of the patterned metal layer within the one or more trenches. In some examples, and after selectively depositing the barrier layer, a dielectric layer is deposited within the one or more trenches. Thereafter, the selectively deposited barrier layer may be removed to form air gaps between the patterned metal layer and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a patterned metal structure on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the patterned metal structure includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer deposited in a single deposition step. The method further includes etching a portion of the second metal layer thereby forming a metal plug in the second metal layer, the first metal layer of the patterned metal structure having a first metal feature underlying and contacting the metal plug.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer overlying a substrate. A conductive via is disposed within the ILD layer. A plurality of conductive wires overlie the ILD layer. The plurality of conductive wires includes a first conductive wire laterally offset a second conductive wire. A dielectric structure is disposed laterally between the first and second conductive wires. The dielectric structure includes a first dielectric liner, a dielectric layer, and an air-gap. The air-gap is disposed between an upper surface of the first dielectric liner and a lower surface of the dielectric layer. A dielectric capping layer is disposed along an upper surface of the dielectric structure. The dielectric capping layer continuously extends between opposing sidewalls of the dielectric structure and is laterally offset from the plurality of conductive wires.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip may comprise a first metal line disposed over a substrate. A via may be disposed directly over a top of the first metal line and the via may comprise a first lower surface and a second lower surface above the first lower surface. A first dielectric structure may be disposed laterally adjacent to the first metal line and may be disposed along a sidewall of the first metal line. A first protective etch-stop structure may be disposed directly over a top of the first dielectric structure and the first protective etch-stop structure may vertically separate the second lower surface of the via from the top of the first dielectric structure.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) layout having a plurality of metal features in a metal layer. The method also includes classifying the plurality of metal features into a first type of metal features and a second type of metal features based on a dimensional criterion, where the first type of the metal features have dimensions greater than the second type of the metal features. The method further includes assigning to the first type of metal features a first metal material, and to the second type of metal features a second metal material, where the second metal material is different from the first metal material. The method additionally includes forming the plurality of metal features embedded within a dielectric layer, where each of the plurality of metal features have the respective assigned metal materials.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece including a semiconductor substrate, a first ILD layer over the semiconductor substrate, and a first metal feature in the first ILD layer; depositing a second metal feature over the workpiece such that the second metal feature is electrically coupled to the first metal feature; patterning the second metal feature to form a first trench adjacent to the first metal feature; depositing a blocking layer over the workpiece, wherein the blocking layer selectively attaches to the first ILD layer; depositing a barrier layer over the workpiece, wherein the barrier layer selectively forms over the second metal feature relative to the first ILD layer; and depositing a second ILD layer over the workpiece.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates an integrated chip. The integrated chip may include a first interconnect and a second interconnect disposed within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A lower etch stop structure is disposed on the first ILD layer and a third interconnect is disposed within a second ILD layer that is over the first ILD layer. The third interconnect extends through the lower etch stop structure to contact the first interconnect. An interconnect patterning layer is disposed on the second interconnect and laterally adjacent to the lower etch stop structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes an electrical interconnect structure, a thermal interconnect structure, and a thermal passivation layer over a substrate. The electrical interconnect structure includes interconnect vias and interconnect wires embedded within interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure is arranged beside the electrical interconnect structure and includes thermal vias, thermal wires, and/or thermal layers. Further, the thermal interconnect structure is embedded within the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal passivation layer is arranged over a topmost one of the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the interconnect dielectric layers.

Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with an interconnect structure and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, the method includes receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate and an interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes a first conductive feature disposed within a first inter-level dielectric layer. A blocking layer is selectively formed on the first conductive feature without forming the blocking layer on the first inter-level dielectric layer. An alignment feature is selectively formed on the first inter-level dielectric layer without forming the alignment feature on the blocking layer. The blocking layer is removed from the first conductive feature, and a second inter-level dielectric layer is formed on the alignment feature and on the first conductive feature. The second inter-level dielectric layer is patterned to define a recess for a second conductive feature, and the second conductive feature is formed within the recess.

Abstract: An interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes a first via in a first dielectric layer, a first metal line on and electrically connected to the first via, a first etching stop layer over the first dielectric layer, a second metal line over the first etching stop layer, and an encapsulating layer. The encapsulating layer includes a first vertical portion along a sidewall of the first metal line, a horizontal portion along an upper surface of the first etching stop layer, and a second vertical portion along a sidewall of the second metal line. The interconnect structure also includes a second dielectric layer nested within the encapsulating layer.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure overlying a substrate. A conductive contact directly overlies the substrate and is disposed within the first ILD structure. A conductive wire directly overlies the conductive contact. A conductive capping layer overlies the conductive wire such that the conductive capping layer continuously extends along an upper surface of the conductive wire. A second ILD structure overlies the conductive capping layer. The second ILD structure is disposed along opposing sides of the conductive wire. A pair of air-gaps are disposed within the second ILD structure. The conductive wire is spaced laterally between the pair of air-gaps. A dielectric capping layer is disposed along an upper surface of the conductive capping layer. The dielectric capping layer is spaced laterally between the pair of air-gaps and is laterally offset from an upper surface of the first ILD structure.

Abstract: An interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes a first metal line and a second metal line surrounded by a first dielectric layer, a dielectric block over a portion of the first dielectric layer between the first metal line and the second metal line, and a second dielectric layer over the dielectric block, the first metal line and the second metal line. A bottom surface of the second dielectric layer is lower than a top surface of the dielectric block. The interconnect structure also includes a first via surrounded by the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first metal line.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a lower dielectric arranged over a substrate. An interconnect wire is arranged over the dielectric layer, and a first interconnect dielectric layer is arranged outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire. A protection liner that includes graphene is arranged directly on the outer sidewalls of the interconnect wire and on a top surface of the interconnect wire. The integrated chip further includes a first etch stop layer arranged directly on upper surfaces of the first interconnect dielectric layer, and a second interconnect dielectric layer arranged over the first interconnect dielectric layer and the interconnect wire. Further, an interconnect via extends through the second interconnect dielectric layer, is arranged directly over the protection liner, and is electrically coupled to the interconnect wire.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and method of forming the same are disclosed herein. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, a second contact feature extending through the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer, and a graphene layer between the second contact feature and the third dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a substrate, and a first metal wiring pattern formed in the first interlayer dielectric layer and extending in a first direction parallel with the substrate. In a cross section along a second direction which crosses the first direction and is in parallel with the substrate, a top of the first metal wiring pattern is covered by a first two-dimensional material layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive feature, a second conductive feature, and a first dielectric layer positioned between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. An etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. A cap layer is over the first conductive feature, the second conductive feature, and the etch stop layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes removing a top portion of a conductive feature disposed in a first dielectric layer and over a semiconductor substrate to form a first recess, depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, where the second dielectric layer includes a first region disposed vertically above the first recess and a second region disposed adjacent the first region, and forming a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer. The method further includes subsequently forming openings in the third dielectric layer that extend to expose the second dielectric layer, depositing a conductive material in the openings, and planarizing the conductive material to form conductive features in the first and the second regions, where the planarizing completely removes portions of the third dielectric layer disposed in the second region.