Abstract: Interlayer connections, i.e., vertical connections, may be formed on the basis of a hard mask material, which may be positioned below, within or above an interlayer dielectric material, wherein one lateral dimension is defined by a trench mask, thereby obtaining a desired interlayer connection in a common patterning process. Furthermore, the thickness of at least certain portions of the metal lines may be adjusted with a high degree of flexibility, thereby providing the possibility of significantly reducing the overall resistivity of metal lines in metal levels, in which device performance may significantly depend on resistivity rather than parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: Interlayer connections, i.e., vertical connections, may be formed on the basis of a hard mask material, which may be positioned below, within or above an interlayer dielectric material, wherein one lateral dimension is defined by a trench mask, thereby obtaining a desired interlayer connection in a common patterning process. Furthermore, the thickness of at least certain portions of the metal lines may be adjusted with a high degree of flexibility, thereby providing the possibility of significantly reducing the overall resistivity of metal lines in metal levels, in which device performance may significantly depend on resistivity rather than parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: Interlayer connections, i.e., vertical connections, may be formed on the basis of a hard mask material, which may be positioned below, within or above an interlayer dielectric material, wherein one lateral dimension is defined by a trench mask, thereby obtaining a desired interlayer connection in a common patterning process. Furthermore, the thickness of at least certain portions of the metal lines may be adjusted with a high degree of flexibility, thereby providing the possibility of significantly reducing the overall resistivity of metal lines in metal levels, in which device performance may significantly depend on resistivity rather than parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: By providing a surface modification process prior to or during a self-limiting deposition process, the per se highly conformal deposition behavior may be selectively changed so as to obtain reliable coverage at specific surface areas, while significantly reducing or suppressing a deposition above unwanted surface areas, such as the bottom of a via in advanced metallization structures of highly scaled semiconductor devices.

Abstract: By providing an interlayer dielectric material with different removal rates, a desired minimum material height above gate electrode structures of sophisticated transistor devices of the 65 nm technology or 45 nm technology may be obtained. The reduced removal rate above the gate electrode may thus provide enhanced process robustness during the planarization of the interlayer dielectric layer stack prior to the formation of contact elements.

Abstract: By providing an interlayer dielectric material with different removal rates, a desired minimum material height above gate electrode structures of sophisticated transistor devices of the 65 nm technology or 45 nm technology may be obtained. The reduced removal rate above the gate electrode may thus provide enhanced process robustness during the planarization of the interlayer dielectric layer stack prior to the formation of contact elements.

Abstract: Interlayer connections, i.e., vertical connections, may be formed on the basis of a hard mask material, which may be positioned below, within or above an interlayer dielectric material, wherein one lateral dimension is defined by a trench mask, thereby obtaining a desired interlayer connection in a common patterning process. Furthermore, the thickness of at least certain portions of the metal lines may be adjusted with a high degree of flexibility, thereby providing the possibility of significantly reducing the overall resistivity of metal lines in metal levels, in which device performance may significantly depend on resistivity rather than parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: By providing a surface modification process prior to or during a self-limiting deposition process, the per se highly conformal deposition behavior may be selectively changed so as to obtain reliable coverage at specific surface areas, while significantly reducing or suppressing a deposition above unwanted surface areas, such as the bottom of a via in advanced metallization structures of highly scaled semiconductor devices.