Abstract: A carrier structure and methods of forming and using the same are described. In some embodiments, the method includes forming one or more devices over a substrate, forming a first interconnect structure over the one or more devices, and bonding the first interconnect structure to a carrier structure. The carrier structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a release layer, and a first dielectric layer, and the release layer includes a metal nitride. The method further includes flipping over the one or more devices so the carrier structure is located at a bottom, performing backside processes, flipping over the one or more devices so the carrier structure is located at a top, and exposing the carrier structure to IR lights. Portions of the release layer are separated from the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: An interconnect structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. In some embodiments, the structure includes a first dielectric layer disposed over one or more devices, a first conductive feature disposed in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, and a second conductive feature disposed in the second dielectric layer. The second conductive feature is electrically connected to the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a heat dissipation layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers, and the heat dissipation layer partially surrounds the second conductive feature and is electrically isolated from the first and second conductive features.

Abstract: Provided is a bioreactor apparatus including: a liquid storage chamber for storing a liquid containing a first ion; a pump; a culture chamber for accommodating the liquid and cells to be cultured; and an ion-exchange chamber accommodating an ion-exchange substrate containing a second ion. Affinity of the second ion to the ion-exchange substrate is lower than affinity of the first ion to the ion-exchange substrate, or molar concentration of the second ion far outweigh molar concentration of the first ion. The storage chamber, the pump, the culture chamber and the ion-exchange chamber are connected via pipelines to form a closed loop, and the pump is configured to provide pressure to drive flow of the liquid in the closed loop. Also provided are a method for regulating ion concentration by the ion-exchange substrate and a method for cell culture by the bioreactor apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a structure having a dielectric layer over a conductive feature, wherein the conductive feature includes a second metal. The method further includes etching a hole through the dielectric layer and exposing the conductive feature and depositing a first metal into the hole and in direct contact with the dielectric layer and the conductive feature, wherein the first metal entirely fills the hole. The method further includes annealing the structure such that atoms of the second metal are diffused into grain boundaries of the first metal and into interfaces between the first metal and the dielectric layer. After the annealing, the method further includes performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process to remove at least a portion of the first metal.

Abstract: A device includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductor, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer, and a second conductor. The first conductor is in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer has a first surface facing the first dielectric layer and a second surface facing away from the first dielectric layer, and a concentration of carbon in the etch stop layer periodically varies from the first surface to the second surface. The second dielectric layer is over the etch stop layer. The second conductor is in the second dielectric layer and the etch stop layer and electrically connected to the first conductor.

Abstract: A device includes source/drain regions, a gate structure, a source/drain contact, and a tungsten structure. The source/drain regions are over a substrate. The gate structure is between the source/drain regions. The source/drain contact is over one of the source/drain regions. The tungsten structure is over the source/drain contact. The tungsten structure includes a lower portion and an upper portion above the lower portion. The upper portion has opposite sidewalls respectively set back from opposite sidewalls of the lower portion of the tungsten structure.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductive substrate, a fin structure, and an isolation material. The fin structure extends from the semiconductive substrate. The isolation material is over the semiconductive substrate and adjacent to the fin structure, wherein the isolation material includes a first metal element, a second metal element, and oxide.

Abstract: An interconnect structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. In some embodiments, the structure includes a first dielectric layer disposed over one or more devices, a first conductive feature disposed in the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, and a second conductive feature disposed in the second dielectric layer. The second conductive feature is electrically connected to the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a heat dissipation layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers, and the heat dissipation layer partially surrounds the second conductive feature and is electrically isolated from the first and second conductive features.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of forming low thermal budget dielectrics in semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method for the fabrication of spacer structures between source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures and metal gate structures in nanostructure transistors. The method includes forming a fin structure with alternating first and second nanostructure elements on a substrate. The method also includes etching edge portions of the first nanostructure elements in the fin structure to form cavities. Further, depositing a spacer material on the fin structure to fill the cavities and removing a portion of the spacer material in the cavities to form an opening in the spacer material. In addition, the method includes forming S/D epitaxial structures on the substrate to abut the fin structure and the spacer material so that sidewall portions of the S/D epitaxial structures seal the opening in the spacer material to form an air gap in the spacer material.

Abstract: An IC structure includes a transistor, a source/drain contact, a metal oxide layer, a non-metal oxide layer, a barrier structure, and a via. The transistor includes a gate structure and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the gate structure. The source/drain contact is over one of the source/drain regions. The metal oxide layer is over the source/drain contact. The non-metal oxide layer is over the metal oxide layer. The barrier structure is over the source/drain contact. The barrier structure forms a first interface with the metal oxide layer and a second interface with the non-metal oxide layer, and the second interface is laterally offset from the first interface. The via extends through the non-metal oxide layer to the barrier structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first semiconductor channel member and a second semiconductor channel member over the first semiconductor channel member and a porous dielectric feature that includes silicon and nitrogen. In the semiconductor device, the porous dielectric feature is sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor channel members and a density of the porous dielectric feature is smaller than a density of silicon nitride.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of forming low thermal budget dielectrics in semiconductor devices. The method includes forming, on a substrate, first and second fin structures with an opening in between, filling the opening with a flowable isolation material, treating the flowable isolation material with a plasma, and removing a portion of the plasma-treated flowable isolation material between the first and second fin structures.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure having bonded wafers with storage layers and a method to bond wafers with storage layers. The semiconductor structure includes a first wafer including a first storage layer with carbon, a second wafer including a second storage layer with carbon, and a bonding layer interposed between the first and second wafers and in contact with the first and second storage layers.

Abstract: A device includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductor, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer, and a second conductor. The first conductor is in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer has a first surface facing the first dielectric layer and a second surface facing away from the first dielectric layer, and a concentration of carbon in the etch stop layer periodically varies from the first surface to the second surface. The second dielectric layer is over the etch stop layer. The second conductor is in the second dielectric layer and the etch stop layer and electrically connected to the first conductor.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method for the fabrication of spacer structures between source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures and metal gate structures in nanostructure transistors. The method includes forming a fin structure with alternating first and second nanostructure elements on a substrate. The method also includes etching edge portions of the first nanostructure elements in the fin structure to form cavities. Further, depositing a spacer material on the fin structure to fill the cavities and removing a portion of the spacer material in the cavities to form an opening in the spacer material. In addition, the method includes forming S/D epitaxial structures on the substrate to abut the fin structure and the spacer material so that sidewall portions of the S/D epitaxial structures seal the opening in the spacer material to form an air gap in the spacer material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a first bonding layer on a device substrate formed with a semiconductor device so as to cover the semiconductor device, wherein the first bonding layer includes a first metal oxide material in an amorphous state; forming a second bonding layer on a carrier substrate, wherein the second bonding layer includes a second metal oxide material in an amorphous state; conducting a surface modification process on the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer; bonding the device substrate and the carrier substrate to each other through the first and second bonding layers; and annealing the first and second bonding layers so as to convert the first and second metal oxide materials from the amorphous state to a crystalline state.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first semiconductor channel member and a second semiconductor channel member over the first semiconductor channel member and a porous dielectric feature that includes silicon and nitrogen. In the semiconductor device, the porous dielectric feature is sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor channel members and a density of the porous dielectric feature is smaller than a density of silicon nitride.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate. The structure also includes a sealing element extending along a sidewall of the gate stack. The sealing element has a first atomic layer and a second atomic layer, and the first atomic layer and the second atomic layer have different atomic concentrations of carbon. The structure further includes a spacer element over the sealing element.

Abstract: A post-deposition treatment can be applied to an atomic layer deposition (ALD)-deposited film to seal one or more seams at the surface. The seam-top treatment can physically merge the two sides of the seam, so that the surface behaves as a continuous material to allow etching at a substantially uniform rate across the surface of the film. The seam-top treatment can be used to merge seams in ALD-deposited films within semiconductor structures, such as gate-all-around field effect transistors (GAAFETs).