A semiconductor die includes a semiconductor body, and a multi-layer environmental barrier on the semiconductor body. The multi-layer environmental barrier includes first and second sublayers of first and second oxide materials, respectively, where the first oxide material is different than the second oxide material. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

An example apparatus includes a semiconductor wafer with a plurality of probe pads each formed centered in scribe streets and intersected by saw kerf lanes. Each probe pad includes a plurality of lower level conductor layers arranged in lower level conductor frames, a plurality of lower level vias extending vertically through lower level insulator layers and electrically coupling the lower level conductor frames; a plurality of upper level conductor layers, each forming two portions on two outer edges of the probe pad, the two portions aligned with, spaced from, and on opposite sides of the saw kerf lane, the coverage of the upper level conductor layers being less than about twenty percent; and a plurality of upper level vias extending vertically through upper level insulator layers and coupling the upper level conductor layers electrically to one another and to the lower level conductor layers. Methods are disclosed.

At least one polymer material may be employed to facilitate bonding between the semiconductor dies. Plasma treatment, formation of a blended polymer, or formation of polymer hairs may be employed to enhance bonding. Alternatively, air gaps can be formed by subsequently removing the polymer material to reduce capacitive coupling between adjacent bonding pads.

Semiconductor devices laterally surrounded by at least one dielectric material portion are formed over a substrate. At least one edge seal ring structure is formed around the semiconductor devices and the at least one dielectric material portion. One or more of the at least one edge seal ring structure has a horizontal cross-sectional profile that includes laterally-extending regions that extend laterally with a uniform width between an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall, and notch regions connecting neighboring pairs of the laterally-extending regions and having a greater width than the uniform width. Cavities in the laterally-extending regions are connected to cavities in the notch regions to allow outgassing from the material of the at least one edge seal ring structure.

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer on the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a band gap greater than a band gap of the first nitride semiconductor layer; a group III-V dielectric layer disposed on the second nitride semiconductor layer; a gate electrode disposed on the second nitride semiconductor layer; and a first passivation layer disposed on the group III-V dielectric layer, wherein the group III-V dielectric layer is separated from the gate electrode by the first passivation layer.

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a bandgap greater than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer; an ohmic contact disposed on the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a spacer disposed adjacent to a sidewall of the ohmic contact.

Semiconductor device structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer, a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The second nitride semiconductor layer is disposed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and has a bandgap greater than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the second nitride semiconductor layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer includes a first portion and a second portion separated from the first portion by a trench, wherein the trench terminates at an upper surface of the first dielectric layer.

A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, first and second passivation layers, first and second field plates. The gate electrode is disposed above nitride-based semiconductor layers. The first passivation layer covers the gate electrode. The first field plate is disposed on the first passivation layer. The first passivation layer has a first portion covered with the first field plate and a second portion free from coverage of the first field plate. The second passivation layer covers the first field plate. The second field plate is disposed over the second passivation layer. The second passivation has a first portion covered with the second field plate and a second portion is free from coverage of the second field plate. A thickness difference between the first and second portions of the first passivation layer is less than a thickness difference between the first and second portions of the second passivation layer.

A transistor device includes a semiconductor structure, source and drain contacts on the semiconductor structure, a gate on the semiconductor structure between the source and drain contacts, and a surface passivation layer on the semiconductor structure between the gate and the source or drain contact. The surface passivation layer includes an opening therein that exposes a first region of the semiconductor structure for processing the first region differently than a second region of the semiconductor structure adjacent the gate. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a conductive pad, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and etching the second dielectric layer to form a first opening, with a top surface of the first dielectric layer exposed to the first opening. A template layer is formed to fill the first opening. A second opening is then formed in the template layer and the first dielectric layer, with a top surface of the conductive pad exposed to the second opening. A conductive pillar is formed in the second opening.