Abstract: A method for performing an electrochemical plating (ECP) process includes contacting a surface of a substrate with a plating solution comprising ions of a metal to be deposited, electroplating the metal on the surface of the substrate, in situ monitoring a plating current flowing through the plating solution between an anode and the substrate immersed in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, and adjusting a composition of the plating solution in response to the plating current being below a critical plating current such that voids formed in a subset of conductive lines having a highest line-end density among a plurality of conductive lines for a metallization layer over the substrate are prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped structure on a substrate, a single diffusion break (SDB) structure in the fin-shaped structure to divide the fin-shaped structure into a first portion and a second portion, and a gate structure on the SDB structure. Preferably, the SDB structure includes silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), a concentration portion of oxygen in SiOCN is between 30% to 60%, and the gate structure includes a metal gate.

Abstract: An electrochemical plating (ECP) system is provided. The ECP system includes an ECP cell comprising a plating solution for an ECP process, a sensor configured to in situ measure an interface resistance between a plated metal and an electrolyte in the plating solution as the ECP process continues, a plating solution supply system in fluid communication with the ECP cell and configured to supply the plating solution to the ECP cell, and a control system operably coupled to the ECP cell, the sensor and the plating solution supply system. The control system is configured to compare the interface resistance with a threshold resistance and to adjust a composition of the plating solution in response to the interface resistance being below the threshold resistance.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure on a fin structure includes the steps of providing a fin structure covered by a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, a gate material and a cap material in sequence, wherein the silicon nitride layer contacts the first silicon oxide layer. Later, the cap material is patterned to form a first cap layer and the gate material is patterned to form a first gate electrode by taking the silicon nitride layer as an etching stop layer. Then, the silicon nitride layer not covered by the first gate electrode is removed to expose part of the first silicon oxide layer. Finally, a first dielectric layer is formed to conformally cover the first silicon oxide layer, the first gate electrode and the first cap layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrically controllable optical device and a method for operating the same. The electrically controllable optical device comprises a multi-stable liquid crystal layer and a controller, wherein the electrically controllable optical device is switchable between a transparent state and a non-transparent state. The method for operating the electrically controllable optical device comprises applying a voltage to the multi-stable liquid crystal layer, controlling at least one of the amplitude, frequency and number of pulses of the voltage to switch the electrically controllable optical device between a transparent state and a non-transparent state, and removing the voltage.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure includes the following steps. A patterned mask layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. An isolation trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate by removing a part of the semiconductor substrate. A liner layer is conformally formed on an inner sidewall of the isolation trench. An implantation process is performed to the liner layer. The implantation process includes a noble gas implantation process. An isolation structure is at least partially formed in the isolation trench after the implantation process. An etching process is performed to remove the patterned mask layer after forming the isolation structure and expose a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A part of the liner layer formed on the inner sidewall of the isolation trench is removed by the etching process. The implantation process is configured to modify the etch rate of the liner layer in the etching process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure and an epitaxial structure. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate, and the epitaxial structure is disposed in the substrate, at one side of the gate structure. The epitaxial structure includes a portion being protruded from a top surface of the substrate, and the portion includes a discontinuous sidewall, with a distance between a turning point of the discontinuous sidewalls and the gate structure being a greatest distance between the epitaxial structure and the gate structure.

Abstract: A method of rounding corners of a fin includes providing a substrate with a fin protruding from the substrate, wherein a pad oxide and a pad nitride entirely cover a top surface of the fin. Later, part of the pad oxide is removed laterally to expose part of the top surface of the fin. A silicon oxide layer is formed to contact two sidewalls of the fin and the exposed top surface, wherein two sidewalls and the top surface define two corners of the fin. After forming the silicon oxide layer, an annealing process is performed to round two corners of the fin. Finally, after the annealing process, an STI filling material is formed to cover the pad nitride, the pad oxide and the fin.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first fin-shaped structure on the first region; removing part of the first fin-shaped structure to form a first trench; forming a dielectric layer in the first trench, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN); and planarizing the dielectric layer to form a first single diffusion break (SDB) structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a gate structure disposed on the substrate, a spacer disposed on the substrate and covering a sidewall of the gate structure, an air gap sandwiched between the spacer and the substrate, and a source/drain region disposed in the substrate and having a faceted surface exposed from the substrate, wherein the faceted surface borders the substrate on a boundary between the air gap and the substrate.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes: a light-emitting stack including a first active layer emitting a first light having a first peak wavelength; a diode emitting a second light having a second peak wavelength between 800 nm and 1900 nm; and a tunneling junction between the diode and the light-emitting stack, wherein the tunneling junction includes a first tunneling layer and a second tunneling layer on the first tunneling layer, the first tunneling layer has a band gap and a thickness of the first tunneling layer is greater than a thickness of the second tunneling layer.

Abstract: A method of rounding corners of a fin includes providing a substrate with a fin protruding from the substrate, wherein a pad oxide and a pad nitride entirely cover a top surface of the fin. Later, part of the pad oxide is removed laterally to expose part of the top surface of the fin. A silicon oxide layer is formed to contact two sidewalls of the fin and the exposed top surface, wherein two sidewalls and the top surface define two corners of the fin. After forming the silicon oxide layer, an annealing process is performed to round two corners of the fin. Finally, after the annealing process, an STI filling material is formed to cover the pad nitride, the pad oxide and the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises at least one gate structure disposed on a substrate; a first dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and contacting an outer sidewall of the at least one gate structure; a second dielectric layer having a L shape disposed on the first dielectric layer and contacting the outer sidewall of the at least one gate structure; an etch stop layer contacting the second dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer and the substrate, wherein the second dielectric layer has an upper portion and a lower portion contacting the upper portion, the upper portion extends along the outer sidewall, the lower portion extends from the outer sidewall to the etch stop layer; and an air gap between the second dielectric layer and the etch stop layer; wherein the first dielectric layer and the lower portion of the second dielectric layer have a same width.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first fin-shaped structure on the first region; removing part of the first fin-shaped structure to form a first trench; forming a dielectric layer in the first trench, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN); and planarizing the dielectric layer to form a first single diffusion break (SDB) structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a gate structure on the substrate; and an epitaxial layer in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure, in which the epitaxial layer includes a planar surface and protrusions adjacent to two sides of the planar surface. Preferably, a contact plug is embedded in part of the epitaxial layer, and a silicide is disposed under the contact plug, in which a bottom surface of the silicide includes an arc.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a gate structure on a substrate; forming a first spacer adjacent to the gate structure, wherein the first spacer comprises silicon carbon nitride (SiCN); forming a second spacer adjacent to the first spacer, wherein the second spacer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN); and forming a source/drain region adjacent to two sides of the second spacer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first fin-shaped structure on the first region; removing part of the first fin-shaped structure to forma first trench; forming a dielectric layer in the first trench, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN); and planarizing the dielectric layer to form a first single diffusion break (SDB) structure.

Abstract: A method for processing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a protruding structure on a substrate, the protruding structure having a nitride spacer at a sidewall, and an epitaxial layer is formed in the substrate adjacent to the protruding structure. The method includes removing the nitride spacer on the protruding structure. Then, a dilute hydrofluoric (DHF) cleaning process is performed over the substrate, wherein a top surficial portion of the epitaxial layer is removed. A standard clean (SC) process is performed over the substrate, wherein a native oxide layer is formed on an expose surface of the epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a first gate structure on a substrate; performing a first etching process to form a recess adjacent to the first gate structure; performing an ion implantation process to form an amorphous layer directly under the recess; performing a second etching process to remove the amorphous layer; and forming an epitaxial layer in the recess.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a first gate structure on a substrate; performing a first etching process to form a recess adjacent to the first gate structure; performing an ion implantation process to form an amorphous layer directly under the recess; performing a second etching process to remove the amorphous layer; and forming an epitaxial layer in the recess.