Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor strip and a second semiconductor strip extending longitudinally in a first direction, where the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip are spaced apart from each other in a second direction. The device also includes a power supply line located between the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip. A top surface of the power supply line is recessed in comparison to a top surface of the first semiconductor strip. A source feature is disposed on a source region of the first semiconductor strip, and a source contact electrically couples the source feature to the power supply line. The source contact includes a lateral portion contacting a top surface of the source feature, and a vertical portion extending along a sidewall of the source feature towards the power supply line to physically contact the power supply line.

Abstract: Methods of performing backside etching processes on source/drain regions and gate structures of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first transistor structure; a first interconnect structure on a front-side of the first transistor structure; and a second interconnect structure on a backside of the first transistor structure, the second interconnect structure including a first dielectric layer on the backside of the first transistor structure; a contact extending through the first dielectric layer to a source/drain region of the first transistor structure; and first spacers along sidewalls of the contact between the contact and the first dielectric layer, sidewalls of the first spacers facing the first dielectric layer being aligned with sidewalls of the source/drain region of the first transistor structure.

Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first conductive via electrically connected to the first epitaxial structure through a conductive contact. The first conductive via is misaligned with the first epitaxial structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second conductive via electrically connected to the second epitaxial structure. The second conductive via is aligned with the second epitaxial structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor and a memory pickup cell formed over a well in a substrate. The transistor includes a first fin having a first width and two first source/drain features on the first fin. The pickup cell includes a second fin having a second width and two second source/drain features on the second fin. The well, the first fin, the second fin, and the second source/drain feature are of a first conductivity type. The first source/drain features are of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The second width is at least three times of the first width. The pickup cell further includes a stack of semiconductor layers over the second fin and connecting the two second source/drain features.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an embodiment of an integrated structure that includes a first electrode of a first conductive material embedded in a first semiconductor substrate; a second electrode of a second conductive material embedded in a second semiconductor substrate; and a electrolyte disposed between the first and second electrodes. The first and second semiconductor substrates are bonded together through bonding pads such that the first and second electrodes are enclosed between the first and second semiconductor substrates. The second conductive material is different from the first conductive material.

Abstract: A memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a first conduction channel collectively constituted by one or more first nanostructures spaced apart from one another along a vertical direction. The memory cell includes a second transistor electrically coupled to the first transistor in series. The second transistor includes a second conduction channel collectively constituted by one or more second nanostructures spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction. At least one of the one or more first nanostructures is applied with first stress by a first metal structure extending, along the vertical direction, into a first drain/source region of the first transistor.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes one or more first semiconductor nanostructures spaced apart from one another along a first direction. Each of the one or more first semiconductor nanostructures has a first width along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The memory device also includes a second transistor coupled to the first transistor in series. The second transistor includes one or more second semiconductor nanostructures spaced apart from one another along the first direction. Each of the one or more second semiconductor nanostructures has a second, different width along the second direction.

Abstract: A method includes forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over a first epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature and a second epitaxial S/D feature, where the first epitaxial S/D feature is disposed adjacent to the second epitaxial S/D feature, forming a dummy contact feature in the ILD layer over the first epitaxial S/D feature, removing a portion of the dummy contact feature and a portion of the ILD layer disposed above the second epitaxial S/D feature to form a first trench, removing a remaining portion of the dummy contact feature to form a second trench, and forming a metal S/D contact in the first and the second trenches.

Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor strip and a second semiconductor strip extending longitudinally in a first direction, where the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip are spaced apart from each other in a second direction. The device also includes a power supply line located between the first semiconductor strip and the second semiconductor strip. A top surface of the power supply line is recessed in comparison to a top surface of the first semiconductor strip. A source feature is disposed on a source region of the first semiconductor strip, and a source contact electrically couples the source feature to the power supply line. The source contact includes a lateral portion contacting a top surface of the source feature, and a vertical portion extending along a sidewall of the source feature towards the power supply line to physically contact the power supply line.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming metal interconnects in an integrated circuit (IC). The method includes placing a metal interconnect in a layout area, determining a location of a redundant portion of the metal interconnect, and reducing, at the location, the length of the metal interconnect by a length of the redundant portion to form one or more active portions of the metal interconnect. The length of the redundant portion is a function of a distance between adjacent gate structures of the IC. The method further includes forming the one or more active portions on an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer of the IC and forming vias on the one or more active portions, wherein the vias are positioned about 3 nm to about 5 nm away from an end of the one or more active portions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first well, a second well, a third well, a first set of implants and a second set of implants. The first well includes a first dopant type, a first portion extending in a first direction and having a first width, and a second portion adjacent to the first portion of the first well, extending in the first direction and having a second width. The second well has a second dopant type and is adjacent to the first well. The third well has the second dopant type, and is adjacent to the first well. The first portion of the first well is between the second well and the third well. The first set of implants is in the first portion of the first well, the second well and the third well. The second set of implants is in the second portion of the first well.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In some embodiments, a process gas is applied into a vacuum chamber. The process gas is guided downstream the vacuum chamber through a shower head arranged under the gas import, where the process gas is redirected to be laterally unevenly distributed under the shower head. A density of the process gas increases from a center region to a peripheral region of the vacuum chamber. The process gas is then deposited onto a first substrate to form a precursor material with an uneven thickness profile as a result of uneven distribution of the process gas. The shower head has multiple control zones each having a plurality of holes disposed through the shower head.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chemical vapor deposition apparatus and associated methods. In some embodiments, the CVD apparatus has a vacuum chamber and a gas import having a gas import axis through which a process gas is imported into the vacuum chamber and being arranged near an upper region of the vacuum chamber. At least one exhaust port is arranged near a bottom region of the vacuum chamber. The CVD apparatus also has a shower head arranged under the gas import having a plurality of holes formed there through. The shower head redistributes the process gas to form a precursor material with an uneven thickness that matches a remove profile of a subsequent CMP process. As a result, planarity of the formed layer after the CMP process is improved.

Abstract: A memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a first conduction channel collectively constituted by one or more first nanostructures spaced apart from one another along a vertical direction. The memory cell includes a second transistor electrically coupled to the first transistor in series. The second transistor includes a second conduction channel collectively constituted by one or more second nanostructures spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction. At least one of the one or more first nanostructures is applied with first stress by a first metal structure extending, along the vertical direction, into a first drain/source region of the first transistor.

Abstract: A memory device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The memory device includes a transistor, a first embedded insulating structure and a second embedded insulating structure. The transistor is formed on a substrate, and includes a gate structure, channel structures, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The channel structures penetrate through the gate structure, and are in contact with the source and drain electrodes. The first and second embedded insulating structures are disposed in the substrate, and overlapped with the source and drain electrodes. The first and second embedded insulating structures are laterally spaced apart from each other by a portion of the substrate lying under the gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. In one implementation, the integrated circuit may include a semiconductor substrate; at least one source region comprising a first doped semiconductor material; at least one drain region comprising a second doped semiconductor material; at least one gate formed between the at least one source region and the at least one drain region; and a nanosheet formed between the semiconductor substrate and the at least one gate. The nanosheet may be configured as a routing channel for the at least one gate and may have a first region having a first width and a second region having a second width. The first width may be smaller than the second width.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein that obviate the need for a read assist circuit. In one example, a semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region formed above a substrate. A buried insulator (BI) layer is formed beneath either the source region or the drain region. A first nano-sheet is formed (i) horizontally between the source region and the drain region and (ii) vertically above the BI layer. The BI layer reduces current flow through the first nano-sheet.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure is provided including a first transistor, a second transistor, a power rail, a first metal via and a plurality of metal tracks. The first transistor includes a first fin above a substrate and a source feature. The second transistor includes a second fin and a drain feature. The power rail is formed between the first fin and the second fin and below the source feature and the drain feature. The first metal via is formed over the power rail and electrically connected to source or drain feature. The metal tracks are separated from each other. Gaps between any two adjacent metal tracks are identical to each other, each of the metal tracks overlapping the power rail has a first width, each of the metal tracks not overlapping the power rail has a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes placing a tap cell layout pattern on a layout level, placing a set of standard cell layout patterns adjacent to the tap cell layout pattern, and manufacturing the integrated circuit structure based on at least one of the layout patterns. The placing the first well layout pattern includes placing a first layout pattern extending in a first direction and having a first width, placing a second layout pattern adjacent to the first layout pattern, and having a second width greater than the first width, and placing a first implant layout pattern on a second layout level, extending in the first direction, overlapping the first layout pattern and having a third width greater than the first width.