A method of fabricating an IC device is disclosed, in which a dielectric layer is first etched to form a contact opening and a dummy opening. Both do not extend through the dielectric layer, the contact opening has a width greater than that of the dummy opening. A sacrificial layer, which covers inner surface of the dummy opening and the dielectric layer at side surface of the contact opening, and from which the dielectric layer at bottom surface of the contact opening is exposed, is then formed, and under protection of this sacrificial layer, the dielectric layer exposed in the contact opening is etched in a self-aligned manner, a self-aligned contact hole is formed, in which a surface of the conductive structure is exposed. In this way, reliability of a contact that extends in both contact opening and self-aligned contact hole is ensured, avoiding the problem of possible contact failure.

The present disclosure describes a method for the fabrication of ruthenium conductive structures over cobalt conductive structures. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a first opening in a dielectric layer to expose a first cobalt contact and filling the first opening with ruthenium metal to form a ruthenium contact on the first cobalt contact. The method also includes forming a second opening in the dielectric layer to expose a second cobalt contact and a gate structure and filling the second opening with tungsten to form a tungsten contact on the second cobalt contact and the gate structure. Further, the method includes forming a copper conductive structure on the ruthenium contact and the tungsten contact, where the copper from the copper conductive structure is in contact with the ruthenium metal from the ruthenium contact.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, which includes: a base is provided and a stack layer is formed on the base, wherein the stack layer includes at least a first sacrificial layer, and a material of the first sacrificial layer includes an amorphous elemental semiconductor material; second hard mask patterns are formed on the first sacrificial layer through a self-aligned process; a doping process is performed, which includes the operation that a region of the first sacrificial layer exposed from gaps between the second hard mask patterns is doped; the second hard mask patterns are removed; and an undoped region of the first sacrificial layer is removed through a selective etching process so as to form first sacrificial patterns.

A semiconductor structure and method for forming a semiconductor structure includes formation of a recess in a metal layer during the fabrication process to provide process improvements and a conductive via with reduced contact resistance. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric layer, a metal layer, an etch stop layer, and a conductive via. The top surface of the dielectric layer extends above a top surface of the metal layer, and a bottom surface of the conductive via extends below the top surface of the dielectric layer.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor device. For example, the method can include forming a target structure, the target structure including a lower gate region, an upper gate region, and a separation layer disposed between and separating the lower gate region and the upper gate region. The method can also include forming a sacrificial contact structure extending vertically from the bottom gate region through the separation layer and the upper gate region to a position above the upper gate region, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial contact structure resulting in a lower gate contact opening extending from the position above the upper gate region to the bottom gate region, insulating a side wall surface of the lower gate contact opening, and filling the lower gate contact opening with a conductor to form a lower gate contact.

Embodiments disclosed herein describe semiconductor devices that include semiconductor structures and methods of forming the semiconductor structures. The semiconductor structures may include an upper conductive line, a first lower conductive line laterally insulated by a first lower dielectric region and a second lower dielectric region. The semiconductor structure also includes a lower level via region above the first lower conductive line. The lower level via region includes a dielectric blocking material and a spacer material.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: providing a base and a dielectric layer on the base, the base in an array region being provided with discrete capacitive contact plugs and a first conductive layer being formed on a top surface of the capacitive contact plugs; sequentially forming a conversion layer and a target layer on the first conductive layer and the dielectric layer, the target layer in the array region and the first circuit region being provided with first openings through the target layer; patterning the target layer in the array region as well as in the first circuit region and the second circuit region to form a second opening and a third opening; etching the conversion layer to form a first trench; forming a filling layer filling the first trench and removing the conversion layer to form a second trench filled by a second conductive layer.

A cross-couple contact structure is provided that is located on, and physically contacts, a topmost surface of a functional gate structure that is located laterally adjacent to a gate cut region. The cross-couple contact structure extends into the laterally adjacent gate cut region and physically contacts a sidewall of the functional gate structure, an upper portion of a first sidewall of a dielectric plug that is present in the gate cut region, and an upper surface of a dielectric liner that is located on a lower portion of the first sidewall of the dielectric plug.

A method for making a semiconductor device includes patterning at least one dielectric layer disposed over a conductive cap layer to form a via opening penetrating through the at least one dielectric layer to expose the conductive cap layer and to form a top portion of the conductive cap layer into a metal oxide layer; converting the metal oxide layer to a metal oxynitride layer by a soft ashing process using a processing gas containing nitrogen gas; removing the metal oxynitride layer from a remaining portion of the conductive cap layer; and forming a via contact in the via opening to electrically connect the remaining portion of the conductive cap layer.

A semiconductor device includes: a lower wiring including: a lower filling film, which extends in a first direction and includes a first portion having a first width in the first direction and a second portion, having a second width smaller than the first width in the first direction, on the first portion; and a lower barrier film which is disposed on a side wall and a bottom surface of the first portion, and is not disposed on a side wall of the second portion in a cross-sectional view of the first direction; and an upper wiring structure including: an upper via connected to the lower wiring; and an upper wiring extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction on the upper via, wherein the upper wiring structure further includes an upper barrier film, and an upper filling film in a trench defined by the upper barrier film, each of the upper via and the upper wiring comprises the upper barrier film and the upper filling film, and the upper via is not separated from the upper wiring by the upper barrier film, and is separated from the second portion of the lower filling film by the upper barrier film.