Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer and a second conductive feature is provided. The first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, wherein the etch stop layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer is located between the first dielectric layer and the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer comprises a nitride-containing region and an oxide-containing region, and the nitride-containing region contacts the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the etch stop layer. The second conductive feature penetrates the second dielectric layer and electrically connects with the first conductive feature.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a front side of a substrate; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the transistor, the front-side interconnect structure comprising layers of conductive lines, and conductive vias interconnecting the layers of conductive lines; forming a first bonding layer over the front-side interconnect structure; forming a second bonding layer over a carrier substrate; bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate by pressing the first bonding layer against the second bonding layer; and forming a backside interconnect structure over a backside of the substrate after bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first bond layer on a first wafer, and forming a first thermal conductive channel extending into the first bond layer. The first thermal conductive channel has a first thermal conductivity value higher than a second thermal conductivity value of the first bond layer. The method further includes forming a second bond layer on a second wafer, and forming a second thermal conductive channel extending into the second bond layer. The second thermal conductive channel has a third thermal conductivity value higher than a fourth thermal conductivity value of the second bond layer. The first wafer is bonded to the second wafer, and the first thermal conductive channel at least physically contacts the second thermal conductive channel. An interconnect structure is formed over the first wafer. The interconnect structure is electrically connected to integrated circuit devices in the first wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first metal feature in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, wherein a sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer is over a top surface of the first metal feature, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a second metal feature extending through the second dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of a first portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the top surface of the first metal feature and a bottom of a second portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a front side of a substrate; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the transistor, the front-side interconnect structure comprising layers of conductive lines, and conductive vias interconnecting the layers of conductive lines; forming a first bonding layer over the front-side interconnect structure; forming a second bonding layer over a carrier substrate; bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate by pressing the first bonding layer against the second bonding layer; and forming a backside interconnect structure over a backside of the substrate after bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first metal feature in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, wherein a sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer is over a top surface of the first metal feature, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a second metal feature extending through the second dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of a first portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the top surface of the first metal feature and a bottom of a second portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first diffusion barrier layer made of a dielectric material including a metal element, nitrogen, and oxygen and a first protection layer made of a dielectric material including silicon and oxygen and in direct contact with the top surface of the first diffusion barrier layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first thickening layer made of a dielectric material including the metal element and oxygen and in direct contact with the top surface of the first protection layer. A maximum metal content in the first thickening layer is greater than that in the first diffusion barrier layer. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive feature surrounded by and in direct contact with the first diffusion barrier layer, the first protection layer, and the first thickening layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a conductive interconnect disposed on a dielectric over a substrate. An interfacial layer is arranged along an upper surface of the conductive interconnect. A liner is arranged along a lower surface of the conductive interconnect. The liner and the interfacial layer surround the conductive interconnect. A middle layer is located over the interfacial layer and has a bottommost surface over the dielectric. A bottommost surface of the interfacial layer and the bottommost surface of the middle layer are both above a top of the conductive interconnect.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes successively forming a first multi-layer etch stop structure and an insulating layer over a first conductive feature. The insulating layer and the first multi-layer etch stop structure are successively etched to form an opening substantially aligned to the first conductive feature. A second conductive feature is formed in the opening. The formation of the first multi-layer etch stop structure and the second multi-layer etch stop structure includes forming a first metal-containing dielectric layer, forming a silicon-containing dielectric layer over the first metal-containing dielectric layer, and forming a second metal-containing dielectric layer over the silicon-containing dielectric layer. The second metal-containing dielectric layer has a material that is different from the material of the first metal-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer and a second conductive feature is provided. The first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, wherein the etch stop layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer is located between the first dielectric layer and the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer comprises a nitride-containing region and an oxide-containing region, and the nitride-containing region contacts the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the etch stop layer. The second conductive feature penetrates the second dielectric layer and electrically connects with the first conductive feature.

Abstract: A method includes bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, performing a trimming process on the first wafer, and depositing a sidewall protection layer contacting a sidewall of the first wafer. The depositing the sidewall protection layer includes depositing a high-density material in contact with the sidewall of the first wafer. The sidewall protection layer has a density higher than a density of silicon oxide. The method further includes removing a horizontal portion of the sidewall protection layer that overlaps the first wafer, and forming an interconnect structure over the first wafer. The interconnect structure is electrically connected to integrated circuit devices in the first wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer and a second conductive feature is provided. The first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, wherein the etch stop layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer is located between the first dielectric layer and the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer comprises a nitride-containing region and an oxide-containing region, and the nitride-containing region contacts the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the etch stop layer. The second conductive feature penetrates the second dielectric layer and electrically connects with the first conductive feature.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first bond layer on a first wafer, and forming a first thermal conductive channel extending into the first bond layer. The first thermal conductive channel has a first thermal conductivity value higher than a second thermal conductivity value of the first bond layer. The method further includes forming a second bond layer on a second wafer, and forming a second thermal conductive channel extending into the second bond layer. The second thermal conductive channel has a third thermal conductivity value higher than a fourth thermal conductivity value of the second bond layer. The first wafer is bonded to the second wafer, and the first thermal conductive channel at least physically contacts the second thermal conductive channel. An interconnect structure is formed over the first wafer. The interconnect structure is electrically connected to integrated circuit devices in the first wafer.

Abstract: Interconnect structures exhibiting reduced accumulation of copper vacancies along interfaces between contact etch stop layers (CESLs) and interconnects, along with methods for fabrication, are disclosed herein. A method includes forming a copper interconnect in a dielectric layer and depositing a metal nitride CESL over the copper interconnect and the dielectric layer. An interface between the metal nitride CESL and the copper interconnect has a first surface nitrogen concentration, a first nitrogen concentration and/or a first number of nitrogen-nitrogen bonds. A nitrogen plasma treatment is performed to modify the interface between the metal nitride CESL and the copper interconnect.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a conductive interconnect disposed on a dielectric over a substrate. An interfacial layer is arranged along an upper surface of the conductive interconnect. A liner is arranged along a lower surface of the conductive interconnect. The liner and the interfacial layer surround the conductive interconnect. A middle layer is located over the interfacial layer and has a bottommost surface over the dielectric. A bottommost surface of the interfacial layer and the bottommost surface of the middle layer are both above a top of the conductive interconnect.

Abstract: Interconnect structures exhibiting reduced accumulation of copper vacancies along interfaces between contact etch stop layers (CESLs) and interconnects, along with methods for fabrication, are disclosed herein. A method includes forming a copper interconnect in a dielectric layer and depositing a metal nitride CESL over the copper interconnect and the dielectric layer. An interface between the metal nitride CESL and the copper interconnect has a first surface nitrogen concentration, a first nitrogen concentration and/or a first number of nitrogen-nitrogen bonds. A nitrogen plasma treatment is performed to modify the interface between the metal nitride CESL and the copper interconnect.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first metal feature in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, wherein a sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer is over a top surface of the first metal feature, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a second metal feature extending through the second dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of a first portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the top surface of the first metal feature and a bottom of a second portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit having a conductive interconnect disposed on a dielectric over a substrate. A first liner is arranged along an upper surface of the conductive interconnect. A barrier layer is arranged along a lower surface of the conductive interconnect and contacts an upper surface of the dielectric. The barrier layer and the first liner surround the conductive interconnect. A second liner is located over the first liner and has a lower surface contacting the upper surface of the dielectric.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first metal feature in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, wherein a sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer is over a top surface of the first metal feature, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a second metal feature extending through the second dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of a first portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the top surface of the first metal feature and a bottom of a second portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a front side of a substrate; forming a front-side interconnect structure over the transistor, the front-side interconnect structure comprising layers of conductive lines, and conductive vias interconnecting the layers of conductive lines; forming a first bonding layer over the front-side interconnect structure; forming a second bonding layer over a carrier substrate; bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate by pressing the first bonding layer against the second bonding layer; and forming a backside interconnect structure over a backside of the substrate after bonding the front-side interconnect structure to the carrier substrate.