Abstract: Semiconductor devices having metallization structures including crack-inhibiting structures, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metallization structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure can include a bond pad electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate via one or more layers of conductive material, and an insulating material—such as a low-? dielectric material—at least partially around the conductive material. The metallization structure can further include a crack-inhibiting structure positioned beneath the bond pad between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate. The crack-inhibiting structure can include a barrier member extending vertically from the bond pad toward the semiconductor substrate and configured to inhibit crack propagation through the insulating material.

Abstract: A memory device with a dielectric layer or an air gap between contacts and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method comprises a series of steps including forming a plurality of conductive lines having trenches therebetween; forming a contact layer in the trench; and forming a dielectric layer interposed in the contact layer and configured to divide the contact layer into two contacts. The method also comprises removing the dielectric layer to form a space and forming a cap layer over the two contacts to form an air gap therein. The method further comprises forming a second air gap between the conductive line and the two contacts.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having metallization structures including crack-inhibiting structures, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metallization structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure can include a bond pad electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate via one or more layers of conductive material, and an insulating material—such as a low-? dielectric material—at least partially around the conductive material. The metallization structure can further include a crack-inhibiting structure positioned beneath the bond pad between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate. The crack-inhibiting structure can include (a) a metal lattice extending laterally between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate and (b) barrier members extending vertically between the metal lattice and the bond pad.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having metallization structures including crack-inhibiting structures, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metallization structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure can include a bond pad electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate via one or more layers of conductive material, and an insulating material—such as a low-? dielectric material—at least partially around the conductive material. The metallization structure can further include a crack-inhibiting structure positioned beneath the bond pad between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate. The crack-inhibiting structure can include a barrier member extending vertically from the bond pad toward the semiconductor substrate and configured to inhibit crack propagation through the insulating material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having metallization structures including crack-inhibiting structures, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metallization structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure can include a bond pad electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate via one or more layers of conductive material, and an insulating material—such as a low-low-? dielectric material—at least partially around the conductive material. The metallization structure can further include a crack-inhibiting structure positioned beneath the bond pad between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate. The crack-inhibiting structure can include a barrier member extending vertically from the bond pad toward the semiconductor substrate and configured to inhibit crack propagation through the insulating material.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having metallization structures including crack-inhibiting structures, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a metallization structure formed over a semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure can include a bond pad electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate via one or more layers of conductive material, and an insulating material—such as a low-? dielectric material—at least partially around the conductive material. The metallization structure can further include a crack-inhibiting structure positioned beneath the bond pad between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate. The crack-inhibiting structure can include (a) a metal lattice extending laterally between the bond pad and the semiconductor substrate and (b) barrier members extending vertically between the metal lattice and the bond pad.

Abstract: A memory device with a dielectric layer or an air gap between contacts and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method comprises a series of steps including forming a plurality of conductive lines having trenches therebetween; forming a contact layer in the trench; and forming a dielectric layer interposed in the contact layer and configured to divide the contact layer into two contacts. The method also comprises removing the dielectric layer to form a space and forming a cap layer over the two contacts to form an air gap therein. The method further comprises forming a second air gap between the conductive line and the two contacts.

Abstract: A memory device with a dielectric layer or an air gap between contacts and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method comprises a series of steps including forming a plurality of conductive lines having trenches therebetween; forming a contact layer in the trench; and forming a dielectric layer interposed in the contact layer and configured to divide the contact layer into two contacts. The method also comprises removing the dielectric layer to form a space and forming a cap layer over the two contacts to form an air gap therein. The method further comprises forming a second air gap between the conductive line and the two contacts.

Abstract: A memory device with a dielectric layer or an air gap between contacts and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method comprises a series of steps including: forming a plurality of conductive lines having trenches therebetween; forming a contact layer in the trench; and forming a dielectric layer interposed in the contact layer and configured to divide the contact layer into two contacts. The method also comprises removing the dielectric layer to form a space and forming a cap layer over the contacts to form an air gap therein. The method further comprises forming a second air gap between the conductive fine and the contact.

Abstract: A method for forming a cell contact. A substrate having first and second protruding structures is prepared. An etch stop layer is deposited over the substrate. A sacrificial layer is deposited on the etch stop layer. The sacrificial layer is recessed. Spacers are formed on the top surface of the sacrificial layer. A portion of the sacrificial layer not covered by the spacers is etched away, thereby forming a recess. A gap filling material layer is deposited into the recess. An upper portion of the gap filling material layer and the spacers are removed to expose the top surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to form contact holes. A punch etching process is performed to remove the etch stop layer from bottoms of the contact holes. The contact holes is filled up with a conductive material layer.

Abstract: A method of creating a trench having a portion of a bulb-shaped cross-section in silicon is disclosed. The method comprises forming at least one trench in silicon and forming a liner in the at least one trench. The liner is removed from a bottom surface of the at least one trench to expose the underlying silicon. A portion of the underlying exposed silicon is removed to form a cavity in the silicon. At least one removal cycle is conducted to remove exposed silicon in the cavity to form a bulb-shaped cross-sectional profile, with each removal cycle comprising subjecting the silicon in the cavity to ozonated water to oxidize the silicon and subjecting the oxidized silicon to a hydrogen fluoride solution to remove the oxidized silicon. A semiconductor device structure comprising the at least one trench comprising a cavity with a bulb-shaped cross-sectional profile is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of creating a trench having a portion of a bulb-shaped cross-section in silicon is disclosed. The method comprises forming at least one trench in silicon and forming a liner in the at least one trench. The liner is removed from a bottom surface of the at least one trench to expose the underlying silicon. A portion of the underlying exposed silicon is removed to form a cavity in the silicon. At least one removal cycle is conducted to remove exposed silicon in the cavity to form a bulb-shaped cross-sectional profile, with each removal cycle comprising subjecting the silicon in the cavity to ozonated water to oxidize the silicon and subjecting the oxidized silicon to a hydrogen fluoride solution to remove the oxidized silicon. A semiconductor device structure comprising the at least one trench comprising a cavity with a bulb-shaped cross-sectional profile is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single-sided access device including an active fin structure comprising a source region and a drain region; an insulating layer interposed between the source region and the drain region; a trench isolation structure disposed at one side of the active fin structure; a single-sided sidewall gate electrode disposed on the other side of the active fin structure opposite to the trench isolation structure so that the active fin structure is sandwiched by trench isolation structure and the single-sided sidewall gate electrode; and a gate protrusion laterally and electrically extended from the single-sided sidewall gate electrode and embedded between the source region and the drain region under the insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A substrate having a plurality of pillars is provided, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed around each pillar. A doped region is formed in the substrate and below each pillar. The doped region below each trench is removed to form an opening such that the doped regions below the adjacent pillars are separated from each other. A shielding layer is formed in each opening.

Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A substrate having a plurality of pillars is provided, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed around each pillar. A doped region is formed in the substrate and below each pillar. The doped region below each trench is removed to form an opening such that the doped regions below the adjacent pillars are separated from each other. A shielding layer is formed in each opening.

Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A substrate having a plurality of pillars is provided, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed around each pillar. A doped region is formed in the substrate and below each pillar. The doped region below each trench is removed to form an opening such that the doped regions below the adjacent pillars are separated from each other. A shielding layer is formed in each opening.

Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A substrate having a plurality of pillars is provided, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed around each pillar. A doped region is formed in the substrate and below each pillar. The doped region below each trench is removed to form an opening such that the doped regions below the adjacent pillars are separated from each other. A shielding layer is formed in each opening.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a memory device includes forming a plurality of first insulative blocks and a plurality of second insulative blocks arranged in an alternating manner in a substrate, forming a plurality of wide trenches in the substrate to form a plurality of protruding blocks, forming a word line on each sidewall of the protruding blocks, isolating the word line on each sidewall of the protruding block, and forming an trench filler in the protruding block to form two mesa structures, wherein the first insulative block and the second insulative block have different depths, and the wide trenches are transverse to the first insulative blocks.

Abstract: A memory device includes a mesa structure and a word line. The mesa structure, having two opposite side surfaces, includes at least one pair of source/drain regions and at least one channel base region corresponding to the pair of source/drain regions formed therein. The word line includes two linear sections and at least one interconnecting portion. Each linear section extends on the respective side surface of the mesa structure, adjacent to the channel base region. The at least one interconnecting portion penetrates through the mesa structure, connecting the two linear sections.

Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of isolations and trench fillers arranged in an alternating manner in a direction, a plurality of mesa structures between the isolations and trench fillers, and a plurality of word lines each overlying a side surface of the respective mesa. In one embodiment of the present invention, the width measured in the direction of the trench filler is smaller than that of the isolation, each mesa structure includes at least one paired source/drain regions and at least one channel base region corresponding to the paired source/drain regions, and each of the word lines is on a side surface of the mesa structure, adjacent the respective isolation, and is arranged adjacent the channel base region.