Abstract: Techniques are provided to fabricate metal interconnects using liner planarization-free process flows. A sacrificial layer is formed on a dielectric layer, and the sacrificial and dielectric layers are patterned to form an opening in the dielectric layer. A conformal liner layer is deposited, and a metal layer deposited to form a metal interconnect in the opening. An overburden portion of the metal layer is planarized to expose an overburden portion of the liner layer. A first wet etch is performed to selectively remove the overburden portion of the liner layer. A second wet etch process is performed to selectively remove the sacrificial layer, resulting in extended portions of the liner layer and the metal interconnect extending above a surface of the dielectric layer. A dielectric capping layer is formed to cover the sidewall and upper surfaces of the extended portions of the liner layer and the metal interconnect.

Abstract: A multi-layer package substrate includes a first build-up layer including a first dielectric layer and at least a second build-up layer including a second dielectric layer on the first build-up layer. The second build-up layer includes a top metal layer with a surface configured for attaching at least one integrated circuit (IC) die. The first build-up layer includes a bottom metal layer and a first microvia extending through the first dielectric layer, and the second build-up layer includes at least a second microvia extending through the second dielectric layer that is coupled to the first microvia. A barrier ring that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) matching material relative to a CTE of a metal of the second microvia positioned along only a portion of a height of at least the second microvia including at least around a top portion of the second microvia.

Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limit on the number of write operations. The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell including a first transistor and a second transistor, a second memory cell including a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and a driver circuit. The first transistor and the second transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The third transistor and the fourth transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The second memory cell is provided over the first memory cell. The first transistor includes a first semiconductor material. The second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor include a second semiconductor material.

Abstract: Provided are a transparent conductor and a display device including the same, the transparent conductor including: a substrate layer; and a transparent conductive pattern layer formed on the substrate layer, and the transparent conductive pattern layer includes a plurality of conductive areas and non-conductive areas, the non-conductive areas are formed every between neighboring conductive areas, the non-conductive area in the transparent conductive pattern layer has a deviation as calculated by Equation 1 herein, which has a value larger than about 1 and equal to or smaller than about 1.25, and the non-conductive areas have a minimum line width of 40 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate structure, which includes a substrate, one or more semiconductor fins on the substrate, a gate structure on each fin, an active region located in said fins, and an interlayer dielectric layer covering at the active region. The method includes forming a hard mask layer over the interlayer dielectric layer and the gate structure, and using an etch process with a patterned etch mask, forming a first contact hole extending through the hard mask layer and extending into a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer, using patterned a mask. The method further includes forming a sidewall dielectric layer on sidewalls of the first contact hole, and using an etch process with the sidewall dielectric layer as an etch mask, etching the interlayer dielectric layer at bottom of the first contact hole to form a second contact hole extending to the active region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a thin film transistor assembly, an array substrate and a display panel. The thin film transistor assembly includes a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor disposed on a substrate. The first thin film transistor includes a first source electrode, a first drain electrode, and a first active layer. The second thin film transistor includes a second source electrode. The first source electrode is disposed on a side of the first active layer facing towards the substrate. The first drain electrode is disposed on a side of the first active layer facing away from the substrate. An orthogonal projection of the first source electrode on the substrate overlaps an orthogonal projection of the second source electrode on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanosheet device is provided. The method includes forming two amorphous source/drain fills on a substrate and one or more semiconductor nanosheet layers between the two amorphous source/drain fills. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer on exposed portions of the one or more semiconductor nanosheet layers. The method further includes forming a protective capping layer on the gate dielectric layer, and subjecting the two amorphous source/drain fills to a recrystallization treatment to cause a phase change from the amorphous state to a single crystal or poly-crystalline phase.

Abstract: The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with an inventive polishing composition comprising a liquid carrier and abrasive particles that have been treated with a compound.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to a composition for etching, a method for manufacturing the composition, and a method for fabricating a semiconductor using the same. The composition may include a first inorganic acid, at least one of silane inorganic acid salts produced by reaction between a second inorganic acid and a silane compound, and a solvent. The second inorganic acid may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfuric acid, a fuming sulfuric acid, a nitric acid, a phosphoric acid, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor component including a substrate, a plurality of metallic lines, a passivation layer and a spacer. The metallic lines are disposed on the substrate, the passivation layer is disposed over the substrate and the metallic lines, and the spacer is interposed between the substrate and the dielectric layer and between the metallic lines and the dielectric layer. The passivation layer has a first dielectric constant, and the spacer has a second dielectric constant less than the first dielectric constant.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a substrate, dummy conductive structures, and resistor elements is provided. The substrate includes a resistor region and has isolation structures and dummy support patterns located in the resistor region. Each of the isolation structures is located between two adjacent dummy support patterns. Each of the dummy conductive structures is disposed on each of the isolation structures and equidistant from the dummy support patterns on both sides. The resistor elements are disposed above the dummy conductive structures and aligned with the dummy conductive structures.

Abstract: An interconnect and a method of forming an interconnect for a semiconductor device is provided. Conductive lines having different widths are formed. Wider conductive lines are used where the design includes an overlying via, and narrower lines are used in which an overlying via is not included. An overlying dielectric layer is formed and trenches and vias are formed extending through the overlying dielectric layer to the wider conductive lines. Voids or air gaps may be formed adjacent select conductive lines, such as the narrower lines.

Abstract: Subtractive plug and tab patterning with photobuckets for back end of line (BEOL) spacer-based interconnects is described. In an example, a back end of line (BEOL) metallization layer for a semiconductor structure includes an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed above a substrate. A plurality of conductive lines is disposed in the ILD layer along a first direction. A conductive tab is disposed in the ILD layer, the conductive tab coupling two of the plurality of conductive lines along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A conductive via is coupled to one of the plurality of conductive lines, the conductive via having a via hardmask thereon. An uppermost surface of each of the ILD layer, the plurality of conductive lines, the conductive tab, and the via hardmask is planar with one another.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a semiconductor structure having a dual-layer interconnect and a barrier layer. The interconnect structure combines a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a barrier layer disposed between. The result is a low via resistance combined with improved electromigration performance. In one embodiment, the first conductive layer is copper, the second conductive layer is cobalt, and the barrier layer is tantalum nitride. A barrier layer is not used in other embodiments. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a semiconductor device may include gate structures on a substrate; first and second impurity regions formed in the substrate and at both sides of each of the gate structures; conductive line structures provided to cross the gate structures and connected to the first impurity regions; and contact plugs connected to the second impurity regions, respectively. For each of the conductive line structures, the semiconductor device may include a first air spacer provided on a sidewall of the conductive line structure; a first material spacer provided between the conductive line structure and the first air spacer; and an insulating pattern provided on the air spacer. The insulating pattern may include a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion may have a depth greater than that of the first portion and defines a top surface of the air spacer.

Abstract: A method for forming contacts on a semiconductor device includes depositing conductive material in one or more trenches and over an etch stop layer to a height above the etch stop layer, patterning a resist on the conductive material with shapes over one or more source/drain regions in the one or more trenches, and forming one or more trench lines in the one or more trenches and one or more self-aligned contacts below the shapes, including subtractively etching the conductive material to remove the conductive material from over the etch stop layer and to recess the conductive material into the one or more trenches without the shapes.

Abstract: Fan-out wafer level packages with resist vias are provided. In an implementation, an example wafer level process or panel fabrication process includes adhering a die to a carrier, applying a temporary resist layer over the die and the carrier, developing the resist layer to form channels or spaces, filling the channels or the spaces with a molding material, removing the remaining resist to create vias in the molding material, and metalizing the vias in the molding material to provide conductive vias for the microelectronics package. The methods automatically create good via and pad alignment. In another implementation, an example process includes adhering a die to a carrier, applying a permanent resist layer over the die and the carrier, developing the resist layer to form vias in the resist layer, and metalizing the vias in the remaining resist of the permanent resist layer to provide conductive vias for the microelectronics package.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided and includes a base substrate including a device region and a peripheral region surrounding the device region, the base substrate including a base interconnection structure formed in each of the device region and the peripheral region; a medium layer on the base substrate; a first interconnection structure through the medium layer and on the base interconnection structure in the device region; and a second interconnection structure through the medium layer and on the base interconnection structure in the peripheral region. The first interconnection structure includes: a first portion over the base interconnection structure, and a second portion partially on the first portion and partially on a portion of the medium layer.

Abstract: Method of forming embedded MRAM in interconnects using a metal hard mask process and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer including a first metal (Mx) level; forming a capping layer over the first ILD layer; forming magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures formed in a second ILD over the first capping layer; forming a second metal (Mx+1) level in the second ILD layer; forming a second capping layer over the second ILD layer; and forming a third metal (Mx+2) level in a third ILD layer over the second capping layer.

Abstract: A testing method of a packaging process includes following steps. A substrate is provided. A circuit structure is formed on the substrate. The circuit structure includes a real unit area and a dummy side rail surrounding the real unit area, and a plurality of first circuit patterns is disposed on the real unit area. A second circuit pattern is formed on the dummy side rail, and the second circuit pattern emulates the configurations of at least a portion of the first circuit patterns for operating a simulation test. In addition, a packaging structure adapted for a testing process is also mentioned.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for optimizing an integrated circuit (IC) design. Before routing is performed on the IC design in an IC design flow, an IC design tool can iteratively perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising: (1) modifying a net in the IC design to obtain a modified net, (2) determining a metal layer for routing the modified net, (3) computing a resistance value and a capacitance value of the modified net based on the metal layer, and (4) computing a delay value for the modified net based on the resistance value and the capacitance value.

Abstract: Approaches herein provide model-based generation of dummy features used during processing of a semiconductor device (e.g., during a self-aligned via process). Specifically, at least one approach includes: generating a set of dummy features in proximity to a set of target features in a mask layout, evaluating a proximity of the set of dummy features to a metal layer of the semiconductor device, and removing a portion of the set of dummy features that is present within an established critical distance between the set of dummy features and the metal layer. Target design printability is further enhanced during photolithography by performing one or more of the following: merging two or more dummy features of the set of dummy features, and increasing a distance between adjacent dummy features of the set of dummy features by modifying a geometry of one or more of the set of dummy features.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes providing a base substrate including a device region and a peripheral region. The base substrate includes a base interconnection structure. The method also includes forming a medium layer on the base substrate. In addition, the method includes forming a first trench having a first depth in the peripheral region, and forming a second trench having a second depth in the device region. The second depth is greater than the first depth. Moreover, the method includes forming a first opening in the device region and forming a second opening in the peripheral region. Further, the method includes forming a first interconnection structure by filling the first opening with a conductive material and forming a second interconnection structure by filling the second opening with the conductive material.

Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limit on the number of write operations. The semiconductor device includes a first memory cell including a first transistor and a second transistor, a second memory cell including a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and a driver circuit. The first transistor and the second transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The third transistor and the fourth transistor overlap at least partly with each other. The second memory cell is provided over the first memory cell. The first transistor includes a first semiconductor material. The second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor include a second semiconductor material.

Abstract: A hybrid nanostructured surface and methods are shown. In one example the hybrid nanostructured surface is used to form one or more electrodes of a battery. Devices such as lithium ion batteries are shown incorporating hybrid nanostructured surfaces.

Abstract: In interconnect fabrication (e.g. a damascene process), a conductive layer is formed over a substrate with holes, and is polished to provide interconnect features in the holes. To prevent erosion/dishing of the conductive layer at the holes, the conductive layer is covered by a sacrificial layer (possibly conformal) before polishing; then both layers are polished. Initially, before polishing, the conductive layer and the sacrificial layer are recessed over the holes, but the sacrificial layer is polished at a lower rate to result in a protrusion of the conductive layer at a location of each hole. The polishing can continue to remove the protrusions and provide a planar surface.

Abstract: An alignment mark structure including a substrate, an alignment mark and at least one dummy pattern is provided. The alignment mark is disposed on the substrate. The at least one dummy pattern is disposed on the substrate and located adjacent to the alignment mark, wherein a size of the at least one dummy pattern is smaller than a size of the alignment mark.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a plurality of conductive areas formed on the substrate at a first vertical level; a first wiring layer formed on the substrate at a second vertical level which is higher than the first vertical level, the first wiring layer including first lines that extend in a first direction, one first line of the first lines connected to a first conductive area selected from the plurality of conductive areas through a via contact; a second wiring layer formed on the substrate at a third vertical level which is higher than the second vertical level, the second wiring layer including second lines that extend in a second direction that crosses the first direction, one second line of the second lines connected to a second conductive area selected from the plurality of conductive areas; and a deep via contact spaced apart from lines of the first wiring layer in a horizontal direction and extending from the second conductive area to the one second line.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an etching solution capable of suppressing particle appearance including a first silane compound in which three or more hydrophilic functional groups are independently bonded to a silicon atom and a second silane compound in which one or two hydrophilic functional groups are independently bonded to a silicon atom.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first layer, a second layer over the first layer, and a third layer over the second layer. The first layer includes a first transistor. The third layer includes a second transistor. A channel formation region of the first transistor includes a single crystal semiconductor. A channel formation region of the second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The second layer includes a first insulating film, a second insulating film, and a conductive film. The conductive film has a function of electrically connecting the first transistor and the second transistor. The first insulating film is over and in contact with the conductive film. The second insulating film is provided over the first insulating film. The second insulating film includes a region with a carbon concentration of greater than or equal to 1.77×1017 atoms/cm3 and less than or equal to 1.0×1018 atoms/cm3.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes the operations outlined below. A plurality of dummy conductive cells that provide different densities are formed in a plurality of empty areas in a plurality of metal layers of a semiconductor device according to overlap conditions of the empty areas between each pair of neighboring metal layers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first conductive line, a dielectric layer over the first conductive line, a diffusion barrier layer in the dielectric layer, and a second conductive line in the dielectric layer. The second conductive line includes a first portion of the diffusion barrier layer. A via is underlying the second conductive line and electrically couples the second conductive line to the first conductive line. The via includes a second portion of the diffusion barrier layer, with the second portion of the diffusion barrier layer having a bottom end higher than a bottom surface of the via.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to a composition for etching, a method for manufacturing the composition, and a method for fabricating a semiconductor using the same. The composition may include a first inorganic acid, at least one of silane inorganic acid salts produced by reaction between a second inorganic acid and a silane compound, and a solvent. The second inorganic acid may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfuric acid, a fuming sulfuric acid, a nitric acid, a phosphoric acid, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: Various aspects of an approach for routing die signals in an interior portion of a die using external interconnects are described herein. The approach provides for contacts coupled to circuits in the interior portion of the die, where the contacts are exposed to an exterior portion of the die. The external interconnects are configured to couple these contacts so that signals from the circuits in the interior portion of the die may be routed externally to the die. In various aspects of the disclosed approach, the external interconnects are protected by a packaging for the die.

Abstract: Provided are approaches for forming a self-aligned via and an air gap within a semiconductor device. Specifically, one approach produces a device having: a first metal line beneath a second metal line within an ultra low-k (ULK) dielectric, the first metal line connected to the second metal line by a first via; a dielectric capping layer formed over the second metal line; a third metal line within first and second via openings formed within a ULK fill material formed over the dielectric capping layer, wherein the third metal line within the first via opening extends to a top surface of the dielectric capping layer, and wherein the third metal line within the second via opening is connected to the second metal by a second via passing through the dielectric capping layer; and an air gap formed between the third metal line within the first and seconds via openings.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming an inter-layer dielectric layer and a sacrificial layer over a substrate so that the sacrificial layer covers the inter-layer dielectric layer; forming a conductive pattern that is coupled with a portion of the substrate while penetrating through the inter-layer dielectric layer and the sacrificial layer; protruding a first portion of the conductive pattern by removing the sacrificial layer while maintaining a second portion of the conductive pattern inside the inter-layer dielectric layer; oxidizing the protruded first portion of the conductive pattern without oxidizing the second portion of the conductive pattern; removing the oxidized first portion of the conductive pattern to expose a top of the second portion of the conductive pattern; and forming a variable resistance element on top of the conductive pattern to couple a bottom of the variable resistance element with the top of the second portion of the conductive pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first capping layer formed above the substrate, a first dielectric layer formed on the first capping layer; a second capping layer formed on the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer formed on the second capping layer; a plurality of conducting lines separately formed on the substrate; a third capping layer formed on the conducting lines and the second dielectric layer; and several nano-gaps formed between the adjacent conducting lines, and the nano-gaps being formed in the second dielectric layer, or further extending to the second capping layer or to the first capping layer. The nano-gaps partially open one of the second and first dielectric layers, or the nano-gaps expose the first capping layer or the second capping layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate with an interlevel dielectric layer positioned above the substrate. First trenches having a first depth are formed in the interlevel dielectric layer and a metal material fills the first trenches to form first interconnection lines. Second trenches having a second depth are also formed in the interlevel dielectric layer and filled with a metal material to form second interconnection lines. The first and second interconnection lines have a substantially equal pitch, which in a preferred implementation is a sub-lithographic pitch, and different resistivities due to the difference in trench depth. The first and second trenches are formed with an etching process through a hard mask having corresponding first and second openings of different depths. A sidewall image transfer process is used to define sub-lithographic structures for forming the first and second openings in the hard mask.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature positioned in a first dielectric layer. A conductive polymer layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature. The conductive polymer layer has a conductive path length. A second dielectric layer is formed above the first dielectric layer. A first via opening is formed in the second dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer to expose the first conductive feature. A conductive via is formed in the first via opening. The conductive via contacts the first conductive feature and the conductive polymer layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature positioned in a first dielectric layer. A conductive polymer layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature. The conductive polymer layer has a conductive path length. A second dielectric layer is formed above the first dielectric layer. A first via opening is formed in the second dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer to expose the first conductive feature. A conductive via is formed in the first via opening. The conductive via contacts the first conductive feature and the conductive polymer layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first conductive feature positioned in a first dielectric layer. A conductive polymer layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature. The conductive polymer layer has a conductive path length. A second dielectric layer is formed above the first dielectric layer. A first via opening is formed in the second dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer to expose the first conductive feature. A conductive via is formed in the first via opening. The conductive via contacts the first conductive feature and the conductive polymer layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide increased distance between vias and neighboring metal lines in a back end of line (BEOL) structure. A copper alloy seed layer is deposited in trenches that are formed in a dielectric layer. The trenches are then filled with copper. An anneal is then performed to create a self-forming barrier using a seed layer constituent, such as manganese, as the manganese is drawn to the dielectric layer during the anneal. The self-forming barrier is disposed on a shoulder region of the dielectric layer, increasing the effective distance between the via and its neighboring metal lines.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate die protection for an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a multilayer structure is formed in multiple levels and along the edges of a die to prevent and detect damages to the die. The multilayer structure includes a support layer, a first plurality of dielectric pillars overlying the support layer, a metal layer that fills spaces between the first plurality of dielectric pillars, an insulation layer overlying the first plurality of dielectric pillars and the metal layer, a second plurality of dielectric pillars overlying the insulation layer, and a second metal layer that fills spaces between the second plurality of dielectric pillars.

Abstract: Methods and structures of connecting at least two integrated circuits in a 3D arrangement by a zigzag conductive chain are disclosed. The zigzag conductive chain, acting as a spring or self-adaptive contact structure (SACS) in a wafer bonding process, is designed to reduce bonding interface stress, to increase bonding interface reliability, and to have an adjustable height to close or eliminate undesirable opens or voids between two integrated circuits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide increased distance between vias and neighboring metal lines in a back end of line (BEOL) structure. A copper alloy seed layer is deposited in trenches that are formed in a dielectric layer. The trenches are then filled with copper. An anneal is then performed to create a self-forming barrier using a seed layer constituent, such as manganese, as the manganese is drawn to the dielectric layer during the anneal. The self-forming barrier is disposed on a shoulder region of the dielectric layer, increasing the effective distance between the via and its neighboring metal lines.

Abstract: Provided are approaches for forming a self-aligned via and an air gap within a semiconductor device. Specifically, one approach produces a device having: a first metal line beneath a second metal line within an ultra low-k (ULK) dielectric, the first metal line connected to the second metal line by a first via; a dielectric capping layer formed over the second metal line; a third metal line within first and second via openings formed within a ULK fill material formed over the dielectric capping layer, wherein the third metal line within the first via opening extends to a top surface of the dielectric capping layer, and wherein the third metal line within the second via opening is connected to the second metal by a second via passing through the dielectric capping layer; and an air gap formed between the third metal line within the first and seconds via openings.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate die protection for an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a multilayer structure is formed in multiple levels and along the edges of a die to prevent and detect damages to the die. The multilayer structure includes a support layer, a first plurality of dielectric pillars overlying the support layer, a metal layer that fills spaces between the first plurality of dielectric pillars, an insulation layer overlying the first plurality of dielectric pillars and the metal layer, a second plurality of dielectric pillars overlying the insulation layer, and a second metal layer that fills spaces between the second plurality of dielectric pillars.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods for fabricating field effect transistors such as finFETs. Stressor regions are used to increase carrier mobility. However, subsequent processes such as deposition of flowable oxide and annealing can damage the stressor regions, diminishing the amount of stress that is induced. Embodiments of the present invention provide a protective layer of silicon or silicon oxide over the stressor regions prior to the flowable oxide deposition and anneal.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a plurality of lines on the substrate. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric layer on the substrate and adjacent the plurality of lines. The semiconductor device may include a connection element in the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device may include a plurality of contacts on the connection element, and a conductive interconnection on one of the plurality of contacts that are on the connection element and on a contact that is spaced apart from the connection element.

Abstract: Methods for chemical mechanical planarization of patterned wafers are provided herein. In some embodiments, methods of processing a substrate having a first surface and a plurality of recesses disposed within the first surface may include: depositing a first material into the plurality of recesses to predominantly fill the plurality of recesses with the first material; depositing a second material different from the first material into the plurality of recesses and atop the substrate to fill the plurality of recesses and to form a layer atop the first surface; and planarizing the second material using a first slurry in a chemical mechanical polishing tool until the first surface is reached. In some embodiments, a second slurry, different than the first slurry, is used to planarize the substrate to a first level.