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 method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric structure over a transistor. The method includes forming a first recess in the dielectric structure. The method includes forming a first barrier layer over a first inner wall of the first recess. The first barrier layer has a first opening over a first portion of the dielectric structure, and the first barrier layer close to a first bottom surface of the first recess is thicker than the first barrier layer close to a top surface of the dielectric structure. The method includes removing the first portion through the first opening to form a second recess in the dielectric structure. The method includes forming a second barrier layer over a second inner wall of the second recess. The method includes forming a contact layer in the first opening and the second opening.

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: Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.

Abstract: Gate stacks for improving integrated circuit device performance and methods for fabricating such gate stacks are disclosed herein. An exemplary gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, a multi-function layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer, and a work function layer disposed over the multi-function layer. The multi-function layer includes a first metal nitride sub-layer having a first nitrogen (N) concentration and a second metal nitride material with a second metal nitride sub-layer having a second N concentration. The second metal nitride sub-layer is disposed over the first metal nitride-sub layer and the first N concentration is greater than the second N concentration. In some implementations, the second N concentration is from about 2% to about 5% and the first N concentration is from about 5% to about 15%.

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: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate structure, first spacers, second spacers and source and drain regions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators disposed between the fins. The at least one gate structure is disposed over the fins and disposed on the insulators. The first spacers are disposed on opposite sidewalls of the at least one gate structure. The source and drain regions are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one gate structure and beside the first spacers. The second spacers are disposed on the two opposite sides of the at least one gate structure and beside the first spacers. The source and drain regions are sandwiched between the opposite second spacers.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an exemplary asymmetric CPP layout for a semiconductor structure with a different gate pitch over the source and the drain regions to mitigate gate-to-gate parasitic capacitances over the drain region, thus improving cutoff frequency. For example, the semiconductor structure can include a fin on a substrate. The semiconductor structure can also include first and second gate structures formed on the fin and separated by a first space. The semiconductor structure can also include a third gate structure formed on the fin between the first and the second gate structures. The third gate structure can be separated from the first gate structure by a second pitch and separated from the second gate structure by a third pitch that is greater than the second pitch. The semiconductor structure further includes a source region formed between the first and third gate structures, and a drain region formed between the third and the second gate structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor having a source/drain and a gate. The semiconductor device also includes a conductive contact for the transistor. The conductive contact provides electrical connectivity to the source/drain or the gate of the transistor. The conductive contact includes a plurality of barrier layers. The barrier layers have different depths from one another.

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: 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: Gate structures and methods of forming the gate structures are described. In some embodiments, a method includes forming source/drain regions in a substrate, and forming a gate structure between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate, a work function tuning layer over the gate dielectric layer, a first metal over the work function tuning layer, an adhesion layer over the first metal, and a second metal over the adhesion layer. In some embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an alloy of the first and second metals, and may be formed by annealing the first and second metals. In other embodiments, the adhesion layer can include an oxide of at least one of the first and/or second metal, and may be formed at least in part by exposing the first metal to an oxygen-containing plasma or to a natural environment.

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: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate is provided. A hard mask and a mask layer are formed on a first region and a second region of the substrate. The substrate is recessed using the hard mask and the mask layer to form a fin structure in the first region and a raised structure in the second region. First isolation structures and second isolation structures are formed on lower portions of opposite sidewalls of the fin structure and opposite sidewalls of the raised structure. A first gate structure is formed on a portion of the fin structure, and a second gate structure is formed on a portion of the raised structure. A first source and a first drain are formed on opposite sides of the first gate structure, and a second source and a second drain are formed on opposite sides of the second gate structure.

Abstract: Gate stacks for improving integrated circuit device performance and methods for fabricating such gate stacks are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate and at least partially removing the gate stack, thereby forming an opening. A multi-function layer is deposited in the opening and a work function layer is deposited over the multi-function layer. The multi-function layer includes nitrogen and one of titanium or tantalum. The work function layer includes nitrogen and one of titanium or tantalum. A concentration of the nitrogen of the work function layer is different than a concentration of the nitrogen of the multi-function layer. In some implementations, the concentration of the nitrogen of the work function layer from about 2% to about 5% and the concentration of the nitrogen of the multi-function layer from about 5% to about 15%.

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: The present disclosure describes an exemplary asymmetric CPP layout for a semiconductor structure with a different gate pitch over the source and the drain regions to mitigate gate-to-gate parasitic capacitances over the drain region, thus improving cutoff frequency. For example, the semiconductor structure can include a fin on a substrate. The semiconductor structure can also include first and second gate structures formed on the fin and separated by a first space. The semiconductor structure can also include a third gate structure formed on the fin between the first and the second gate structures. The third gate structure can be separated from the first gate structure by a second pitch and separated from the second gate structure by a third pitch that is greater than the second pitch. The semiconductor structure further includes a source region formed between the first and third gate structures, and a drain region formed between the third and the second gate structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a n-type gate structure over a first semiconductor fin, in which the n-type gate structure is fluorine incorporated and includes a n-type work function metal layer overlying the first high-k dielectric layer. The n-type work function metal layer includes a TiAl (titanium aluminum) alloy, in which an atom ratio of Ti (titanium) to Al (aluminum) is in a range substantially from 1 to 3. The semiconductor device further includes a p-type gate structure over a second semiconductor fin, in which the p-type gate structure is fluorine incorporated includes a p-type work function metal layer overlying the second high-k dielectric layer. The p-type work function metal layer includes titanium nitride (TiN), in which an atom ratio of Ti to N (nitrogen) is in a range substantially from 1:0.9 to 1:1.1.

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.