An semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, an etch stop layer, an interconnect structure, and a second dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. The interconnect structure includes a conductive via in the first dielectric layer and the etch stop layer, a conductive line over the conductive via, an intermediate conductive layer over the conductive line, and a conductive pillar over the intermediate conductive layer. The interconnect structure is electrically conductive at least from a top of the conductive pillar to a bottom of the conductive via. The second dielectric layer surrounds the conductive line, the intermediate conductive layer, and the conductive pillar, wherein a bottom of the second dielectric layer is lower than a top of the conductive line, and a top of the second dielectric layer is higher than the top of the conductive line.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate including an active pattern, a first interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate, the first interlayer dielectric layer including a recess on an upper portion thereof, and a lower connection line in the first interlayer dielectric layer, the lower connection line being electrically connected to the active pattern, and the lower connection line including a conductive pattern, the recess of the first interlayer dielectric layer selectively exposing a top surface of the conductive pattern, and a barrier pattern between the conductive pattern and the first interlayer dielectric layer, the first interlayer dielectric layer covering a top surface of the barrier pattern.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a scaled gate contact and source/drain cap and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a gate structure comprising an active region; source and drain contacts adjacent to the gate structure; a capping material over the source and drain contacts; a gate contact formed directly above the active region of the gate structure and over the capping material; a U-shape dielectric material around the gate contact, above the source and drain contacts; and a contact in direct electrical contact to the source and drain contacts.

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor fin, a first epitaxial layer, a first alloy layer and a contact plug. The first semiconductor fin is on a substrate. The first epitaxial layer is on the first semiconductor fin. The first alloy layer is on the first epitaxial layer. The first alloy layer is made of one or more Group IV elements and one or more metal elements, and the first alloy layer comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending downwardly from a bottom of the first sidewall along a direction non-parallel to the first sidewall. The contact plug is in contact with the first and second sidewalls of the first alloy layer.

Systems and methods for multi-height interconnect structures for a semiconductor device are provided herein. The multi-height interconnect structure generally includes a primary level semiconductor die having a primary conductive pillar and a secondary conductive pillar, where the primary conductive pillar has a greater height than the secondary conductive pillar. The semiconductor device may further include a substrate electrically coupled to the primary level semiconductor die through the primary conductive pillar and a secondary level semiconductor die electrically coupled to the primary level semiconductor die through the secondary conductive pillar. The multi-height pillars may be formed using a single photoresist mask or multiple photoresist masks. In some configurations, the primary and secondary conductive pillars may be arranged on only the front-side of the dies and/or substrate.

A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a pair of source/drain features formed in a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack formed over a portion of the semiconductor substrate that is between the pair of source/drain features. The semiconductor device structure also includes gate spacers extend along opposing sidewalls of the gate stack and protrude above an upper surface of the gate stack. Additionally, the semiconductor device structure includes a first capping layer formed over the gate stack and spaced apart from the upper surface of the gate stack by a gap. Opposing sidewalls of the first capping layer are covered by portions of the gate spacers that protrude above the upper surface of the gate stack.

An etching method includes: (a) providing, on a support, a substrate having the first region covering the second region and the second region defining a recess receiving the first region, (b) etching the first region until or immediately before the second region is exposed, (c) exposing the substrate to plasma generated from a first process gas containing C and F atoms using a first RF signal and forming a deposit on the substrate, (d) exposing the deposit to plasma generated from a second process gas containing an inert gas using a first RF signal and selectively etching the first region to the second region, and (e) repeating (c) and (d). (c) includes using the RF signal with a frequency of 60 to 300 MHz and/or setting the support to 100 to 200° C. to control a ratio of C to F atoms in the deposit to greater than 1.

The present description relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices having non-planar transistors. Embodiments of the present description relate to the formation of source/drain contacts within non-planar transistors, wherein a titanium-containing contact interface may be used in the formation of the source/drain contact with a discreet titanium silicide formed between the titanium-containing interface and a silicon-containing source/drain structure.

A polysilicon-insulator-polysilicon (PIP) structure includes: a first polysilicon region formed on a substrate; a first insulation region formed outside one side of the first polysilicon region and adjoined to the first polysilicon region in a horizontal direction; and a second polysilicon region formed outside one side of the first insulation region. The first polysilicon region, the first insulation region and the second polysilicon region are adjoined in sequence in the horizontal direction. The second polysilicon region is formed outside the first insulation region by a first self-aligned process step, and the first insulation region is formed outside the first polysilicon region by a second self-aligned process step.

A semiconductor device includes a device layer with a semiconductor element, a first dielectric layer on the device layer, a first conductive line on the device layer and surrounded by the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and around the first conductive line. The semiconductor includes a spacer disposed on the first conductive line and abutting a sidewall of the second dielectric layer, and a first conductive via disposed on the first conductive line and the spacer. The first conductive via includes a first segment positioned over the spacer and including a first width, and a second segment positioned between the first segment the first conductive line and including a second width. The first width is larger than the second width.