Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature on a substrate, forming a via that contacts the first conductive feature, the via comprising a conductive material, performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process to a top surface of the via, depositing an Interlayer Dielectric (ILD) layer on the via, forming a trench within the ILD layer to expose the via, and filling the trench with a second conductive feature that contacts the via, the second conductive feature comprising a same material as the conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a source/drain contact structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a first gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the source/drain contact structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes an insulating cap structure formed over and separated from an upper surface of the first gate stack. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes first gate spacers formed over opposing sidewalls of the first gate stack to separate the first gate stack from the source/drain contact structure. The first gate spacers extend over opposing sidewalls of the insulating cap structure, so as to form an air gap surrounded by the first gate spacers, the first gate stack, and the insulating cap structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack, an air spacer, a first spacer, a second spacer, a sacrificial layer, and a contact plug. The gate stack is on the semiconductor substrate. The air spacer is around the gate stack. The first spacer is around the air spacer. The second spacer is on the air spacer and the first spacer. The sacrificial layer is on the gate stack, and an etching selectivity between the second spacer and the sacrificial layer is in a range from about 10 to about 30. The contact plug lands on the second spacer and the gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate, a gate spacer disposed on a sidewall of the metal gate structure, an source/drain contact disposed over the semiconductor substrate and separated from the metal gate structure by the gate spacer, and a contact feature coupling the metal gate structure to the source/drain contact. The contact feature may be configured to include a dielectric layer disposed on a metal layer, where the dielectric layer and the metal layer are defined by continuous sidewalls.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a conductive contact in contact with a substantially planar first top surface of a first active area, the contact between and in contact with a first alignment spacer and a second alignment spacer both having substantially vertical outer surfaces. The contact formed between the first alignment spacer and the second alignment spacer has a more desired contact shape then a contact formed between alignment spacers that do not have substantially vertical outer surfaces. The substantially planar surface of the first active area is indicative of a substantially undamaged structure of the first active area as compared to an active area that is not substantially planar. The substantially undamaged first active area has a greater contact area for the contact and a lower contact resistance as compared to a damaged first active area.

Abstract: A method and structure directed to providing a source/drain isolation structure includes providing a device having a first source/drain region adjacent to a second source/drain region. A masking layer is deposited between the first and second source/drain regions and over an exposed first part of the second source/drain region. After depositing the masking layer, a first portion of an ILD layer disposed on either side of the masking layer is etched, without substantial etching of the masking layer, to expose a second part of the second source/drain region and to expose the first source/drain region. After etching the first portion of the ILD layer, the masking layer is etched to form an L-shaped masking layer. After forming the L-shaped masking layer, a first metal layer is formed over the exposed first source/drain region and a second metal layer is formed over the exposed second part of the second source/drain region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over a first portion of a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a laminated dielectric layer over at least a portion of a top surface of the gate stack. The laminated dielectric layer includes at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer. The first sublayer is formed of a material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of a material used to form the second sublayer and the material used to form the second sublayer has an etch selectivity higher than an etch selectivity of the material used to form the first sublayer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure having metal gate structures (MGs), gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the MGs, and source/drain (S/D) features disposed adjacent to the gate spacers; forming a first dielectric layer over the MGs and forming S/D contacts (MDs) over the S/D features; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, where portions of the second dielectric layer contact the MDs and the second dielectric layer is different from the first dielectric layer in composition; removing the portions of the second dielectric layer that contact the MDs; forming a conductive layer over the MDs and over the first dielectric layer; and removing portions of the conductive layer to form conductive features over the MDs.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first conductive line and a second conductive line in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, each having a planar top surface, applying an etch-back process to the first dielectric layer until a dielectric portion between the first conductive line and the second conductive line has been removed, and the first conductive line and the second conductive line have respective cross sectional shapes including a rounded surface and two rounded corners and depositing a second dielectric layer over the substrate, while leaving a first air gap between the first conductive line and the second conductive line.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first dummy gate and a second dummy gate over a fin that protrudes above a substrate; replacing the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate with a first metal gate and a second metal gate, respectively; forming a dielectric cut pattern between the first and the second metal gates, the dielectric cut pattern extending further from the substrate than the first and the second metal gates; forming a patterned mask layer over the first metal gate, the second metal gate, and the dielectric cut pattern, an opening in the patterned mask layer exposing a portion of the first metal gate, a portion of the second metal gate, and a portion of the dielectric cut pattern underlying the opening; filling the opening with a first electrically conductive material; and recessing the first electrically conductive material below an upper surface of the dielectric cut pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack and a contact over a fin structure, a gate spacer layer between the gate stack and the contact, a first mask layer over the gate stack, and a second mask layer over the contact. The first mask layer includes a protruding portion sandwiched between an upper portion of the second mask layer and the gate spacer layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a device having a gate stack including a metal gate layer. The device further includes a spacer layer disposed on a sidewall of the gate stack and a source/drain feature adjacent to the gate stack. The method further includes performing a first etch-back process to the metal gate layer to form an etched-back metal gate layer. In some embodiments, the method includes depositing a metal layer over the etched-back metal gate layer. In some cases, a semiconductor layer is formed over both the metal layer and the spacer layer to provide a T-shaped helmet layer over the gate stack and the spacer layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact, a gate contact via over and electrically coupled to the gate structure, and a source/drain contact via over and electrically coupled to the source/drain contact. The gate contact via extends through a first dielectric layer such that a portion of the first dielectric layer interposes between the gate contact via and the spacer. The source/drain contact via extends through a second dielectric layer such that a portion of the second dielectric layer interposes between the source/drain contact via and the liner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a fin disposed on a substrate, a source/drain feature disposed over the fin, a silicide layer disposed over the source/drain feature, a seed metal layer disposed over the silicide layer and wrapping around the source/drain feature, and a metal layer disposed on the silicide layer, where the metal layer contacts the seed metal layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a semiconductor structure having metal gate structures (MGs), gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the MGs, and source/drain (S/D) features disposed adjacent to the gate spacers; forming a first dielectric layer over the MGs and forming S/D contacts (MDs) over the S/D features; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, where portions of the second dielectric layer contact the MDs and the second dielectric layer is different from the first dielectric layer in composition; removing the portions of the second dielectric layer that contact the MDs; forming a conductive layer over the MDs and over the first dielectric layer; and removing portions of the conductive layer to form conductive features over the MDs.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first conductive line and a second conductive line in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, each having a planar top surface, applying an etch-back process to the first dielectric layer until a dielectric portion between the first conductive line and the second conductive line has been removed, and the first conductive line and the second conductive line have respective cross sectional shapes including a rounded surface and two rounded corners and depositing a second dielectric layer over the substrate, while leaving a first air gap between the first conductive line and the second conductive line.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate, a gate spacer disposed on a sidewall of the metal gate structure, an source/drain contact disposed over the semiconductor substrate and separated from the metal gate structure by the gate spacer, and a contact feature coupling the metal gate structure to the source/drain contact. The contact feature may be configured to include a dielectric layer disposed on a metal layer, where the dielectric layer and the metal layer are defined by continuous sidewalls.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method for forming the semiconductor device structure includes forming a first mask layer covering the gate stack, forming a contact alongside the gate stack and the first mask layer, recessing the contact, etching the first mask layer, and forming a second mask layer covering the contact and a portion of the first mask layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for semiconductor fabrication. The method includes epitaxially growing source/drain feature on a fin; forming a silicide layer over the epitaxial source/drain feature; forming a seed metal layer on the silicide layer; forming a contact metal layer over the seed metal layer using a bottom-up growth approach; and depositing a fill metal layer over the contact metal layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over a channel region of the fin, a source/drain contact over a source/drain region of the fin, a spacer extending along a sidewall of the gate structure, a liner extending along a sidewall of the source/drain contact, a gate contact via over and electrically coupled to the gate structure, and a source/drain contact via over and electrically coupled to the source/drain contact. The gate contact via extends through a first dielectric layer such that a portion of the first dielectric layer interposes between the gate contact via and the spacer. The source/drain contact via extends through a second dielectric layer such that a portion of the second dielectric layer interposes between the source/drain contact via and the liner.