Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided. A plurality of trenches are formed in a substrate. The trenches define at least one fin therebetween. The fin is hydrogen annealed. A dielectric material is formed in the trenches. The dielectric material in the trenches is recessed.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a substrate, a pixel circuit, a dielectric structure, a photo sensitive element, a grid, and a convex dielectric lens. The substrate has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The pixel circuit is disposed on the first side of the substrate. The dielectric structure is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The photo sensitive element is disposed between the pixel circuit and the dielectric structure. The grid is disposed on the dielectric structure. The convex dielectric lens is disposed on the dielectric structure. The convex dielectric lens has a convex side. A topmost of the convex side is above an interface between the dielectric structure and the grid.

Abstract: A device includes first and second transistors and first and second isolation structures. The first transistor includes an active region including a first channel region, a first source and a first drain in the active region and respectively on opposite sides of the first channel region, and a first gate structure over the first channel region. The first isolation structure surrounds the active region of the first transistor. The second transistor includes a second source and a second drain, a fin structure includes a second channel region between the second source and the second drain, and a second gate structure over the second channel region. The second isolation structure surrounds a bottom portion of the fin structure of the second transistor. The top of the first isolation structure is higher than a top of the second isolation structure.

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 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. The image sensor device further includes a filter partially surrounded by the dielectric layer. The filter has a protruding portion protruding from a bottom surface of the dielectric layer. In addition, the image sensor device includes a shielding layer between the dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the protruding portion of the filter.

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 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 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: A method of electroplating a metal into a recessed feature is provided, which includes: contacting a surface of the recessed feature with an electroplating solution comprising metal ions, an accelerator additive, a suppressor additive and a leveler additive, in which the recessed feature has at least two elongated regions and a cross region laterally between the two elongated regions, and a molar concentration ratio of the accelerator additive: the suppressor additive: the leveler additive is (8-15):(1.5-3):(0.5-2); and electroplating the metal to form an electroplating layer in the recessed feature. An electroplating layer in a recessed feature is also provided.

Abstract: An interconnection structure includes a first dielectric layer, a bottom conductive feature present in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer present on the first dielectric layer, an aluminum-containing etch stop layer present between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, an upper conductive via present at least in the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the bottom conductive feature, and at least one aluminum-containing fragment present at least at a bottom corner of the upper conductive via.

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 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: An integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. The etch stop layer includes a first sub layer including a metal nitride over the first dielectric layer, and a second sub layer overlying or underlying the first sub layer. The second sub layer includes a metal compound comprising an element selected from carbon and oxygen, and is in contact with the first sub layer.

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: 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: A semiconductor device including 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, a second portion doped with a large species material, and a third portion being undoped by the oxygen-containing material and the large species material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with a stop layer for planarization process therein and a method for forming the same is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a trench in a substrate and between active areas; filling the trench with isolation layer; doping the isolation layer with an element to form a doped isolation region; annealing the doped isolation region; and planarizing the annealed and doped isolation region and measuring a planarization depth thereof. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of the stop layer, the dielectric layer, and the active area are different.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a titanium-containing material over a source/drain (S/D), wherein an energy of depositing the titanium-containing material is sufficient to cause re-deposition of a material of the S/D along sidewalls of a dielectric layer adjacent the S/D to form protrusions extending from a top surface of the S/D. The method further includes annealing the semiconductor device to form a silicide layer in the S/D and in the protrusions.

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.