Semiconductor devices, FinFET devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first gate stack, a spacer, a first dielectric layer, a shielding layer and a connector. The first gate stack is over the substrate. The spacer is disposed on and contacted to at least one sidewall of the first gate stack. The first dielectric layer is aside the spacer. The shielding layer covers a top surface of the spacer and a top surface of the first dielectric layer. The connector contacts a portion of a top surface of the first gate stack.

An interconnect structure including a semiconductor structure on a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor structure having a gate structure, shallow trench isolation and a source and a drain; a trench adjacent to the gate structure; a metal line adjacent to the gate structure and filling the trench, the metal line contacts one of the source and the drain; a gap in the metal line so as to create segments of the metal line; and a dielectric material filling the gap such that ends of the metal line abut the dielectric material wherein the ends of the metal line have a flat surface.

A method of concurrently forming source/drain contacts (CAs) and gate contacts (CBs) and device are provided. Embodiments include forming metal gates (PC) and source/drain (S/D) regions over a substrate; forming an ILD over the PCs and S/D regions; forming a mask over the ILD; concurrently patterning the mask for formation of CAs adjacent a first portion of each PC and CBs over a second portion of the PCs; etching through the mask, forming trenches extending through the ILD down to a nitride capping layer formed over each PC and a trench silicide (TS) contact formed over each S/D region; selectively growing a metal capping layer over the TS contacts formed over the S/D regions; removing the nitride capping layer from the second portion of each PC; and metal filling the trenches, forming the CAs and CBs.

Semiconductor structures having a source contact and a drain contact that exhibit reduced contact resistance and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present application, the reduced contact resistance is provided by forming a layer of a dipole metal or metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) oxide between an epitaxial semiconductor material (providing the source region and the drain region of the device) and an overlying metal semiconductor alloy. In yet other embodiment, the reduced contact resistance is provided by increasing the area of the source region and drain region by patterning the epitaxial semiconductor material that constitutes at least an upper portion of the source region and drain region of the device.

A method includes receiving a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; forming an isolation feature of a first dielectric material in the substrate, thereby defining an active region surrounded by the isolation feature; forming a gate stack on the active regions; forming a first and a second S/D feature on the fin active region; forming a front contact feature contacting the first S/D feature; thinning down the substrate from the back surface such that the isolation feature is exposed; selectively etching the active region, resulting in a trench surrounded by the isolation feature, the second S/D feature being exposed within the trench; forming, in the trench, a liner layer of a second dielectric material being different from the first dielectric material; forming a backside via feature landing on the second S/D feature within the trench; and forming a backside metal line landing on the backside via feature.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a dummy gate thereon is prepared. A spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the dummy gate. A source/drain region is disposed adjacent to the dummy gate. A sacrificial layer is then formed on the source/drain region. A cap layer is then formed on the sacrificial layer. A top surface of the cap layer is coplanar with a top surface of the dummy gate. A replacement metal gate (RMG) process is performed to transform the dummy gate into a replacement metal gate. An opening is then formed in the cap layer to expose a top surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed through the opening, thereby forming a lower contact hole exposing a top surface of the source/drain region. A lower contact plug is then formed in the lower contact hole.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, agate structure, an epitaxial layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a first plug and a protection layer. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate, and the gate structure is across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure, adjacent to the gate structure. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first plug is electrically connected to the epitaxial layer. The protection layer is disposed between the first plug and the gate structure.

A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first conductive feature embedded within a first dielectric layer, a via disposed over the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature disposed over the via, and a graphene layer disposed over at least a portion of the first conductive feature. The via electrically couples the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature.

A method provides a structure having a FinFET in an Rx region, the FinFET including a channel, source/drain (S/D) regions and a gate, the gate including gate metal. A cap is formed over the gate having a high-k dielectric liner and a core. Trench silicide (TS) is disposed on sides of the gate. The TS is recessed to a level above a level of the gate and below a level of the cap. An oxide layer is disposed over the structure. A CB trench is patterned into the oxide layer within the Rx region to expose the core and liner at an intermediate portion of the CB trench. The core is selectively etched relative to the liner to extend the CB trench to a bottom at the gate metal. The CB trench is metalized to form a CB contact.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, a plurality of first conductive structures including a first conductive pattern and a hard mask are sequentially stacked on a substrate. A plurality of preliminary spacer structures including first spacers, sacrificial spacers and second spacers are sequentially stacked on sidewalls of the conductive structures. A plurality of pad structures are formed on the substrate between the preliminary spacer structures, and define openings exposing an upper portion of the sacrificial spacers. A first mask pattern is formed to cover surfaces of the pad structures, and expose the upper portion of the sacrificial spacers. The sacrificial spacers are removed to form first spacer structures having respective air spacers, and the first spacer structures include the first spacers, the air spacers and the second spacers sequentially stacked on the sidewalls of the conductive structures.