An improvement is achieved in the reliability of a semiconductor device. In a memory cell region, a plurality of fins are provided which are portions of a semiconductor substrate extending in an x-direction along a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from each other in a y-direction orthogonal to the x-direction along the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. Between the fins adjacent to each other in the y-direction, a portion of an upper surface of an isolation region is at a position higher than a surface obtained by connecting a position of the upper surface of the isolation region which is in contact with a side wall of one of the fins to a position of the upper surface of the isolation region which is in contact with a side wall of the other fin. In a cross section along the y-direction, the upper surface of the isolation region has a projecting shape.

The present disclosure provides semiconductor structures and fabrication methods thereof. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a plurality of fins on a semiconductor substrate; forming an anti-diffusion layer, containing anti-diffusion ions, in the fins; forming an anti-punch through layer, containing anti-punch through ions, in the fins, a top surface of the anti-punch through layer being below a top surface of the anti-diffusion layer, and the anti-diffusion layer preventing the anti-punch through ions from diffusing toward tops of the fins; and performing a thermal annealing process.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming a slacked structure including first material layers and second material layers alternately stacked on each other; forming a pillar passing through the stacked structure, the pillar including a protruding portion protruding above an uppermost surface of the stacked structure; forming a conductive layer surrounding the protruding portion of the pillar; and forming a conductive pattern in contact with the protruding portion of the pillar by oxidizing a surface of the conductive layer.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) structure, including a semiconductor-based isolation structure on a substrate. A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure may be positioned on the semiconductor-based isolation structure. An active semiconductor region is on the substrate and adjacent each of the semiconductor-based isolation structure and the STI structure. The active semiconductor region includes a doped semiconductor material. At least one device on the active semiconductor region may be horizontally distal to the STI structure.

A semiconductor device may include active patterns extended in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, a device isolation layer defining the active patterns, an insulating structure provided between the active patterns and between the device isolation layer, and a gate structure disposed on the insulating structure and extended in a second direction crossing the first direction. The gate structure may include an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of the gate structure may be enclosed by the insulating structure.

Embodiments of three-dimensional (3D) memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a substrate, a memory stack on the substrate, a plurality of channel structures each extending vertically through the memory stack, an isolation structure, and an alignment mark. The memory stack includes a plurality of interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers. An outmost one of the conductive layers toward the substrate is a source select gate line (SSG). The isolation structure extends vertically into the substrate and surrounds at least one of the channel structures in a plan view to separate the SSG and the at least one channel structure. The alignment mark extends vertically into the substrate and is coplanar with the isolation structure.

In a TSC structure, a first dielectric layer is formed over a first main surface of a substrate. A TSC is formed in the first dielectric layer and the substrate so that the TSC passes through the first dielectric layer and extends into the substrate. A conductive plate is formed over the first dielectric layer and electrically coupled with the TSC. A second dielectric layer is formed on an opposing second main surface of the substrate. A first via is formed in the second dielectric layer, and a first end of the first via extends into the substrate to be in contact with the TSC. A second via is formed in the second dielectric layer and a first end of the second via extends into the substrate. A metal line is formed over the second dielectric layer so as to be coupled to the first via and the second via.

A bipolar transistor includes a stack of an emitter, a base, and a collector. The base is structured to have a comb shape including fingers oriented in a plane orthogonal to a stacking direction of the stack.

A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate for use in RF applications, such as a silicon-on-insulator substrate, comprises a semiconductor top layer, a buried oxide layer and a passivation layer over a support substrate. In addition, a penetration layer is provided between the passivation layer and the silicon support substrate to ensure sufficient high resistivity below RF features and avoid increased migration of dislocations in the support substrate. RE devices may be fabricated on and/or in such a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate.

Trenches of different depths in an integrated circuit are formed by a process utilizes a dry etch. A first stop layer is formed over first and second zones of the substrate. A second stop layer is formed over the first stop layer in only the second zone. A patterned mask defines the locations where the trenches are to be formed. The dry etch uses the mask to etch in the first zone, in a given time, through the first stop layer and then into the substrate down to a first depth to form a first trench. This etch also, at the same time, etch in the second zone through the second stop layer, and further through the first stop layer, and then into the substrate down to a second depth to form a second trench. The second depth is shallower than the first depth.