Methods for processing a semiconductor substrate are proposed. An example of a method includes forming cavities in the semiconductor substrate by implanting ions through a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The cavities define a separation layer in the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor layer is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor device elements are formed in the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor substrate is separated along the separation layer into a first substrate part including the semiconductor layer and a second substrate part.

A 3D-IC includes a first tier device and a second tier device. The first tier device and the second tier device are vertically stacked together. The first tier device includes a first substrate and a first interconnect structure formed over the first substrate. The second tier device includes a second substrate, a doped region formed in the second substrate, a dummy gate formed over the substrate, and a second interconnect structure formed over the second substrate. The 3D-IC also includes an inter-tier via extends vertically through the second substrate. The inter-tier via has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the inter-tier via is coupled to the first interconnect structure. The second end of the inter-tier via is coupled to one of: the doped region, the dummy gate, or the second interconnect structure.

Provided herein are wafers that can be used to align carbon nanotubes, as well as methods of making and using the same. Such wafers include alignment areas that have four sides and a surface charge, where the alignment areas are surrounded by areas that have a surface charge of a different polarity. Methods of the disclosure may include depositing and selectively etching a number of hardmasks on a substrate. The described methods may also include depositing a carbon nanotube on such a wafer.

A micro-electronic non-landing mirror system includes a substrate, at least two supporting assemblies, at least two driving electrodes, a rotating mirror, and a driving circuit. The rotating mirror is elastically supported on the supporting assemblies through elastic reset assemblies. When the driving circuit applies a driving voltage, the rotating mirror moves closer to the driving electrode to which the driving voltage is applied within a range of movement that does not land on the substrate. When the driving circuit removes the driving voltage, the rotating mirror gets back to move away from the driving electrode under elastic restoring force of the elastic reset assemblies. Each elastic reset assembly includes at least two elastic reset units connected to different corners of the rotating mirror by a corresponding one supporting assembly. Each elastic reset unit is configured for providing the rotating mirror with at least two rotational degrees of freedom.

In an embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided that includes a main transistor having a load path, a sense transistor configured to sense a main current flowing in the load path of the main transistor, and at least one bypass diode structure configured to protect the sense transistor. The at least one bypass diode structure is electrically coupled in parallel with the sense transistor.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: depositing a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate adjacent to the first conductive plate; depositing a first insulating plate on the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; depositing a third conductive plate on the first insulating plate; depositing a second insulating plate on the third conductive plate; forming a fourth conductive plate on the second insulating plate; forming a first conductive via penetrating the fourth conductive plate, the second insulating plate, the first insulating plate, and the first conductive plate; and forming a second conductive via penetrating the second insulating plate, the third conductive plate, the first insulating plate, and the second conductive plate.

A semiconductor device includes: a first chip including first and second electrodes provided at a first surface, and a third electrode provided at a second surface positioned at a side opposite to the first surface; a second chip including fourth and fifth electrodes provided at a third surface, and a sixth electrode provided at a fourth surface positioned at a side opposite to the third surface, wherein the second chip is disposed to cause the third surface to face the first surface; a first connector disposed between the first electrode and the fourth electrode and connected to the first and fourth electrodes; and a second connector disposed between the second electrode and the fifth electrode and connected to the second and fifth electrodes.

A semiconductor device includes an ultra-thick metal (UTM) structure. The semiconductor device includes a passivation layer including a first passivation oxide. The first passivation oxide includes an unbias film and a first bias film, where the unbias film is on portions of the UTM structure and on portions of a layer on which the UTM structure is formed, and the first bias film is on the unbias film. The passivation layer includes a second passivation oxide consisting of a second bias film, the second bias film being on the first bias film. The passivation layer includes a third passivation oxide consisting of a third bias film, the third bias film being on the second bias film.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

A semiconductor device includes a device isolation layer defining first and second active regions, a buried contact connected to the second active region, and first and second bit line structures disposed on the first and second active regions. Each of the first and second bit line structures comprises a bit line contact part and a bit line pass part. The bit line contact part is electrically connected to the first active region. The bit line pass part is disposed on the device isolation layer. A height of a lowest part of the buried contact is smaller than a height of a lowest part of the bit line pass part. The height of the lowest part of the buried contact is greater than a height of a lowest part of the bit line contact part. A lower end of the bit line pass part is buried in the second active region.