Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a fin structure over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a gate stack covering a portion of the fin structure and an epitaxially grown source/drain structure over the fin structure and adjacent to the gate stack. The semiconductor device further includes a semiconductor protection layer over the epitaxially grown source/drain structure. The semiconductor protection layer has an atomic concentration of silicon greater than that of the epitaxially grown source/drain structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor includes a gate stack over a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) at least partially enclosing the gate stack. The ILD includes a portion doped with a large species material, wherein the portion includes a first sidewall substantially perpendicular to a top-most surface of the ILD, and the portion includes a second sidewall having a positive angle with respect to the first sidewall.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin, a lining oxide layer, a silicon nitride based layer and a gate oxide layer. The semiconductor fin has a top fin surface, an upper fin side surface portion adjacent to the top fin surface, and a lower fin side surface contiguously connected to the upper fin side surface portion. The lining oxide layer peripherally encloses the lower fin side surface portion of the semiconductor fin. The silicon nitride based layer is disposed conformally over the lining oxide layer. The gate oxide layer is disposed conformally over the top fin surface and the upper fin side surface portion.

Abstract: A device includes first and second transistors and first and second isolation structures. The first transistor includes a raised structure, a first gate structure over the raised structure, and a first source/drain structure over the raised structure and adjacent the first gate structure. The first isolation structure surrounds the raised structure and the first source/drain structure of the first transistor. A bottommost surface of the first source/drain structure is spaced apart from a topmost surface of the first isolation structure. The second transistor includes a fin structure, a second gate structure over the raised structure, and a second source/drain structure over the fin structure. The second isolation structure surrounds a bottom of the fin structure of the second transistor. A bottommost surface of the second source/drain structure is in contact with a topmost surface of the second isolation structure.

Abstract: A FinFET device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes a first fin structure over a substrate, and a second fin structure over the substrate. The FinFET device structure also includes a first isolation structure over the substrate and surrounding the first fin structure. The first fin structure is protruded from a top surface of the first isolation structure. The FinFET device structure further includes a second isolation structure over the substrate and surrounding the second fin structure. The second fin structure is protruded from a top surface of the second isolation structure, and the first fin structure has a vertical sidewall surface and the second fin structure has a sloped sidewall surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate; forming a gate structure on the substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer over the gate structure; depositing a conductive interconnect in a trench of the first dielectric layer thereby exposing a surface of the conductive interconnect through the first dielectric layer; depositing a conductive layer over the exposed surface of the conductive interconnect; depositing a silicon-containing layer over the conductive layer and the conductive interconnect; and forming a metal silicide layer to be a silicide form of the conductive layer by reacting the conductive layer with silicon in the silicon-containing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate stack over a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) at least partially enclosing the gate stack. The ILD includes a first portion doped with an oxygen-containing material. The ILD further includes a second portion doped with a large species material, wherein the second portion includes a first sidewall substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, and the second portion includes a second sidewall having a positive angle with respect to the first sidewall.

Abstract: A device includes a source/drain (S/D) in a substrate and adjacent to a gate structure, wherein the S/D comprises a protrusion extending from a top surface of the S/D, and the protrusion has a tapered profile. The device further includes a contact plug electrically connected to the protrusion.

Abstract: An improved conductive feature for a semiconductor device and a technique for forming the feature are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a substrate having a gate structure formed thereupon. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a growth control material disposed on a side surface of the gate structure, and a gate electrode fill material disposed on the growth control material. The gate electrode fill material is also disposed on a bottom surface of the gate structure that is free of the growth control material. In some such embodiments, the gate electrode fill material contacts a first surface and a second surface that are different in composition.

Abstract: An electrochemical plating (ECP) system is provided. The ECP system includes an ECP cell comprising a plating solution for an ECP process, a sensor configured to in situ measure an interface resistance between a plated metal and an electrolyte in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, a plating solution supply system in fluid communication with the ECP cell and configured to supply the plating solution to the ECP cell, and a control system operably coupled to the ECP cell, the sensor and the plating solution supply system. The control system is configured to compare the interface resistance with a threshold resistance and to adjust a composition of the plating solution in response to the interface resistance being below the threshold resistance.

Abstract: An electrochemical plating (ECP) system is provided. The ECP system includes an ECP cell comprising a plating solution for an ECP process, a sensor configured to in situ measure an interface resistance between a plated metal and an electrolyte in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, a plating solution supply system in fluid communication with the ECP cell and configured to supply the plating solution to the ECP cell, and a control system operably coupled to the ECP cell, the sensor and the plating solution supply system. The control system is configured to compare the interface resistance with a threshold resistance and to adjust a composition of the plating solution in response to the interface resistance being below the threshold resistance.

Abstract: An image sensor device is provided. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a light sensing region in the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor device also includes a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate and a filter partially surrounded by the dielectric layer. The filter has a protruding portion protruding from a bottom surface of the dielectric layer. The image sensor device further includes a shielding layer between the dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the protruding portion of the filter. In addition, the image sensor device includes a reflective element between the shielding layer and an edge of the light sensing region.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more support structures for integrated circuitry and techniques for forming such support structures are provided. A support structure comprises one or more trench structures, such as a first trench structure and a second trench structure formed around a periphery of integrated circuitry. In some embodiments, one or more trench structures are formed according to partial substrate etching, such that respective trench structures are formed into a region of a substrate. In some embodiments, one or more trench structures are formed according to discontinued substrate etching, such that respective trench structures comprise one or more trench portions separated by separation regions of the substrate. The support structure mitigates stress energy from reaching the integrated circuitry, and facilitates process-induced charge release from the integrated circuitry.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a contact structure passing through the dielectric structure. The contact structure includes a contact layer, a first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer. The first barrier layer surrounds the contact layer, the second barrier layer surrounds a first upper portion of the first barrier layer, the contact layer passes through the first barrier layer and extends into the dielectric structure, and the first barrier layer passes through the second barrier layer and extends into the dielectric structure.

Abstract: Operations in fabricating a Fin FET include providing a substrate having a fin structure, where an upper portion of the fin structure has a first fin surface profile. An isolation region is formed on the substrate and in contact with the fin structure. A portion of the isolation region is recessed by an etch process to form a recessed portion and to expose the upper portion of the fin structure, where the recessed portion has a first isolation surface profile. A thermal hydrogen treatment is applied to the fin structure and the recessed portion. A gate dielectric layer is formed with a substantially uniform thickness over the fin structure, where the recessed portion is adjusted from the first isolation surface profile to a second isolation surface profile and the fin structure is adjusted from the first fin surface profile to a second fin surface profile, by the thermal hydrogen treatment.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrochemical plating (ECP) process includes contacting a surface of a substrate with a plating solution comprising ions of a metal to be deposited, electroplating the metal on the surface of the substrate, in situ monitoring a plating current flowing through the plating solution between an anode and the substrate immersed in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, and adjusting a composition of the plating solution in response to the plating current being below a critical plating current such that voids formed in a subset of conductive lines having a highest line-end density among a plurality of conductive lines for a metallization layer over the substrate are prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a transistor over a substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure over the substrate and covering the transistor. The semiconductor device structure includes a contact structure passing through the dielectric structure and electrically connected to the transistor. The contact structure includes a contact layer, a first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer, the first barrier layer surrounds the contact layer, the second barrier layer surrounds a first upper portion of the first barrier layer, a first lower portion of the first barrier layer is in direct contact with the dielectric structure, and a thickness of the first lower portion increases toward the substrate.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrochemical plating (ECP) process includes contacting a surface of a substrate with a plating solution comprising ions of a metal to be deposited, electroplating the metal on the surface of the substrate, in situ monitoring a plating current flowing through the plating solution between an anode and the substrate immersed in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, and adjusting a composition of the plating solution in response to the plating current being below a critical plating current such that voids formed in a subset of conductive lines having a highest line-end density among a plurality of conductive lines for a metallization layer over the substrate are prevented.

Abstract: Operations in fabricating a Fin FET include providing a substrate having a fin structure, where an upper portion of the fin structure has a first fin surface profile. An isolation region is formed on the substrate and in contact with the fin structure. A portion of the isolation region is recessed by an etch process to form a recessed portion and to expose the upper portion of the fin structure, where the recessed portion has a first isolation surface profile. A thermal hydrogen treatment is applied to the fin structure and the recessed portion. A gate dielectric layer is formed with a substantially uniform thickness over the fin structure, where the recessed portion is adjusted from the first isolation surface profile to a second isolation surface profile and the fin structure is adjusted from the first fin surface profile to a second fin surface profile, by the thermal hydrogen treatment.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, two gate structures, an interlayer dielectric layer and a material layer. The substrate has at least two device regions separated by at least one isolation structure disposed in the substrate. Each device region includes two doped regions in the substrate. The gate structures are respectively disposed on the device regions. In each device region, the doped regions are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the gate structure. The interlayer dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate and peripherally surrounds the gate structures. A top of the interlayer dielectric layer has at least one concave. The material layer fills the concave and has a top surface elevated at the same level with top surfaces of the gate structures. A ratio of a thickness of a thickest portion of the material layer to a pitch of the gate structures ranges from 1/30 to 1/80.