Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor region, recessing the gate electrode to generate a recess, performing a first deposition process to form a first metallic layer on the gate electrode and in the recess, wherein the first deposition process is performed using a first precursor, and performing a second deposition process to form a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer using a second precursor different from the first precursor. The first metallic layer and the second metallic layer comprise a same metal. The method further incudes forming a dielectric hard mask over the second metallic layer, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the dielectric hard mask. The gate contact plug contacts a top surface of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device including the following components is provided. A gate electrode is located on a barrier layer. A source electrode is located on the first side of the gate electrode. A drain electrode is located on the second side of the gate. A source field plate is connected to the source electrode. The source field plate includes first, second, and third field plate portions. The first field plate portion is connected to the source electrode and is located on the first side of the gate electrode. The second field plate portion is located on the second side of the gate electrode. The third field plate portion is connected to the end of the first field plate portion and the end of the second field plate portion. The source field plate has a first opening located directly above the gate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image capturing optical system comprising: a positive first lens element having a convex object-side surface; a negative second lens element having a concave object-side surface; a third lens element; a fourth lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric; a fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface concave, both of the object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric, at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface having at least one convex shape in an off-axis region thereof.

Abstract: Methods for forming a dielectric isolation region between two active regions are disclosed herein. A mandrel is formed on a substrate, then etched to form a trench. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the mandrel. The mandrel is removed, and the substrate is etched to form fins extending in a first direction in the two active regions, and of fins extending in a second direction. A mask is formed that exposes the substrate between the fins extending in the second direction. The substrate is etched to form a trench. The trench is filled with a dielectric material up to the top of the fins to form the dielectric isolation region. The methods provide better depth control during etching between the two active regions, and also permit the trench to extend deeper into the substrate due to reduced depth/width ratios during the etching steps.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over a substrate, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer is formed over the first ILD layer, a trench is formed by patterning the CMP stop layer and the first ILD layer, a metal layer is formed over the CMP stop layer and in the trench, a sacrificial layer is formed over the metal layer, a CMP operation is performed on the sacrificial layer and the metal layer to remove a portion of the metal layer over the CMP stop layer, and a remaining portion of the sacrificial layer over the trench is removed.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes following steps. A first organic layer is formed to cover a first conductive layer. A first opening is formed in the first organic layer to expose a first surface of the first conductive layer. A first silicon layer is formed on a sidewall of the first opening and the first surface of the first conductive layer. A first dielectric layer is formed on the sidewall of the first opening and the first surface of the first conductive layer over the first silicon layer. By using a first mask, portions of the first silicon layer and the first dielectric layer on the first surface are simultaneously removed to expose the first surface, wherein after removing the portions of the first silicon layer and the first dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer covers a top surface of the first silicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer, an electrode in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer in the electrode, and a phase change material over the first dielectric layer, the electrode, and the second dielectric layer. According to some embodiments, an uppermost surface of the electrode is at least one of above an uppermost surface of the first dielectric layer, above an uppermost surface of the second dielectric layer, or above a lowermost surface of the phase change material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes in a transistor layer, components of corresponding transistors (transistor components); in corresponding layers below the transistor layer (sub-TR layers), various non-dummy structures (non-dummy sub-TR structures) coupled to the transistor components and which are included because the semiconductor device has a buried power rail (BPR) architecture; and in corresponding layers over the transistor layer (supra-TR layers), various dummy structures (dummy supra-TR structures) which are included as artifacts resulting from the semiconductor device being based on a dual-architecture-compatible design which is substantially equally suitable either to adaptation into a non-BPR architecture or adaptation into the BPR architecture; and the semiconductor device being an inductor.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes coating a photoresist film over a target layer over a semiconductor substrate; performing a lithography process to pattern the photoresist film into a photoresist layer; performing a directional ion bombardment process to the photoresist layer along a direction tilted with respect to a normal direction of the semiconductor substrate, such that a carbon atomic concentration in the photoresist layer is increased; and etching the target layer using the photoresist layer as an etch mask.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides low resistance contacts and damascene interconnects with one or more graphene layers in fin structures of finFETs. An example semiconductor device can include a substrate with a fin structure that includes an epitaxial region. The semiconductor device can also include an etch stop layer on the epitaxial region, and an interlayer dielectric layer on the etch stop layer. The semiconductor device can further include a metal contact, above the epitaxial region, formed through the etch stop layer and the interlayer dielectric layer, and a graphene film at interfaces between the metal contact and each of the epitaxial region, the etch stop layer, and the interlayer dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate, a metal gate stack disposed over the semiconductor fin, an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature disposed over the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the metal gate stack, and a dielectric feature embedded in the semiconductor fin, where a bottom surface of the epitaxial S/D feature is disposed on a top surface of the dielectric feature, and where sidewalls of the epitaxial S/D feature extend to define sidewalls of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate, a metal gate stack disposed over the semiconductor fin, an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature disposed over the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the metal gate stack, and a dielectric feature embedded in the semiconductor fin, where a bottom surface of the epitaxial S/D feature is disposed on a top surface of the dielectric feature, and where sidewalls of the epitaxial S/D feature extend to define sidewalls of the dielectric feature.

Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for testing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing an active area in an integrated circuit design layout; grouping the active area into a plurality of regions, each of the regions including at least one polysilicon gate; calculating an operating temperature of the at least one polysilicon gate in each of the regions; calculating a self-heating temperature of each of the regions based on the operating temperature of the at least one polysilicon gate in each of the regions; determining an Electromigration (EM) evaluation based on the self-heating temperatures of the regions; and generating a semiconductor device based on the integrated circuit design layout passing the EM evaluation, wherein one of the regions includes a number of polysilicon gates disposed thereon different from the number of polysilicon gates disposed on the rest of regions.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor region, recessing the gate electrode to generate a recess, performing a first deposition process to form a first metallic layer on the gate electrode and in the recess, wherein the first deposition process is performed using a first precursor, and performing a second deposition process to form a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer using a second precursor different from the first precursor. The first metallic layer and the second metallic layer comprise a same metal. The method further incudes forming a dielectric hard mask over the second metallic layer, and forming a gate contact plug penetrating through the dielectric hard mask. The gate contact plug contacts a top surface of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for determining a performance of a dry-clean operation within a deposition tool. A cleaning-control subsystem of the deposition tool may include a gas concentration sensor and a temperature sensor mounted in an exhaust system of the deposition tool to monitor the dry-clean operation. The gas concentration sensor may provide data related to a concentration of a chemical compound in a cleaning gas, where the chemical compound is a bi-product of the dry-clean operation. The temperature sensor may provide temperature data related to an exothermic reaction of the dry-clean operation. Such data may be used to determine an efficiency and/or an effectiveness of the dry-clean operation within the deposition tool.

Abstract: Methods for performing a pre-clean process to remove an oxide in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a shallow trench isolation region over a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack over the shallow trench isolation region; etching the shallow trench isolation region adjacent the gate stack using an anisotropic etching process; and after etching the shallow trench isolation region with the anisotropic etching process, etching the shallow trench isolation region with an isotropic etching process, process gases for the isotropic etching process including hydrogen fluoride and ammonia.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device and a method for forming the semiconductor device. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a gate structure on the fin structure, and forming a source/drain (S/D) region on the fin structure not covered by the gate structure. The method further includes forming a contact structure on the S/D region. Forming the contact structure includes forming a transition metal chalcogenide (TMC) layer on the S/D region, and forming a contact plug on the TMC layer.

Abstract: Techniques described herein enable respective (different) types of metal silicide layers to be formed for p-type source/drain regions and n-type source/drain regions in a selective manner. For example, a p-type metal silicide layer may be selectively formed over a p-type source/drain region (e.g., such that the p-type metal silicide layer is not formed over the n-type source/drain region) and an n-type metal silicide layer may be formed over the n-type source/drain region (which may be selective or non-selective). This provides a low Schottky barrier height between the p-type metal silicide layer and the p-type source/drain region, as well as a low Schottky barrier height between the n-type metal silicide layer and the n-type source/drain region. This reduces the contact resistance for both p-type source/drain regions and n-type source/drain regions.

Abstract: A heat dissipation system of an electronic device including a body, a plurality of heat sources disposed in the body, and at least one centrifugal heat dissipation fan disposed in the body is provided. The centrifugal heat dissipation fan includes a housing and an impeller disposed in the housing on an axis. The housing has at least one inlet on the axis and has a plurality of outlets in different radial directions, and the plurality of outlets respectively correspond to the plurality of heat sources.