Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, a plurality of memory cells, and at least one dummy gate structure. The substrate has a memory cell region and a dummy region. The memory cells are disposed on the substrate in the memory cell region. Each memory cell includes: adjacent two stack structures disposed on the substrate; two select gates respectively disposed outside the adjacent two stack structures; and an erase gate disposed between the adjacent two stack structures. The erase gate has a step between a topmost top surface and a lowermost top surface of the erase gate. The at least one dummy gate structure is disposed on the substrate in the dummy region.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes following steps. The substrate has a dummy region and a memory cell region. A plurality of first stack structures are formed over the substrate in the memory cell region. At least one second stack structure is formed over the substrate in the dummy region. A conductive layer is formed over the substrate to cover the first stack structures and the at least one second stack structure. A planarization process is performed on the conductive layer to expose top surfaces of the first stack structures and the at least one second stack structure. The conductive layer is patterned to form an erase gate between adjacent two first stack structures, and to form first and second select gates outside the adjacent two first stack structures.

A microelectronic device is formed by forming at least a portion of a substrate of the microelectronic device by one or more additive processes. The additive processes may be used to form semiconductor material of the substrate. The additive processes may also be used to form dielectric material structures or electrically conductive structures, such as metal structures, of the substrate. The additive processes are used to form structures of the substrate which would be costly or impractical to form using planar processes. In one aspect, the substrate may include multiple doped semiconductor elements, such as wells or buried layers, having different average doping densities, or depths below a component surface of the substrate. In another aspect, the substrate may include dielectric isolation structures with semiconductor material extending at least partway over and under the dielectric isolation structures. Other structures of the substrate are disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a fin structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The fin structure includes a substrate and at least one fin block. The fin block is disposed on the substrate. The fin block includes an isolation layer and a top fin layer. The isolation layer is disposed on the substrate. The top fin layer is disposed on the isolation layer. At least a portion of the top fin layer is exposed. The top fin layer is an epitaxial layer. The isolation layer is in contact with the top fin layer.

The present disclosure relates to a fin structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The fin structure includes a substrate and at least one fin block. The fin block is disposed on the substrate. The fin block includes an isolation layer and a top fin layer. The isolation layer is disposed on the substrate. The top fin layer is disposed on the isolation layer. At least a portion of the top fin layer is exposed. The top fin layer is an epitaxial layer. The isolation layer is in contact with the top fin layer.

A tunable amorphous silicon layer for use with multilayer patterning stacks can be used to maximize transparency and minimize reflections so as to improve overlay metrology contrast. By increasing the hydrogen content in the amorphous silicon layer, the extinction coefficient (k) value and the refractive index (n) value can be decreased to desired values. Methods for improving overlay metrology contrast with the tunable amorphous silicon layer are disclosed.

A tunable amorphous silicon layer for use with multilayer patterning stacks can be used to maximize transparency and minimize reflections so as to improve overlay metrology contrast. By increasing the hydrogen content in the amorphous silicon layer, the extinction coefficient (k) value and the refractive index (n) value can be decreased to desired values. Methods for improving overlay metrology contrast with the tunable amorphous silicon layer are disclosed.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate includes a dielectric layer disposed over a first substrate. The dielectric layer has an outside edge aligned with an outside edge of the first substrate. An active layer covers a first annular portion of an upper surface of the dielectric layer. The upper surface of the dielectric layer has a second annular portion that surrounds the first annular portion and extends to the outside edge of the dielectric layer. The second annular portion is uncovered by the active layer.

A tunable amorphous silicon layer for use with multilayer patterning stacks can be used to maximize transparency and minimize reflections so as to improve overlay metrology contrast. By increasing the hydrogen content in the amorphous silicon layer, the extinction coefficient (k) value and the refractive index (n) value can be decreased to desired values. Methods for improving overlay metrology contrast with the tunable amorphous silicon layer are disclosed.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an SOI substrate. The method may be performed by epitaxially forming a silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer over a sacrificial substrate and epitaxially forming a first active layer on the SiGe layer. The first active layer has a composition different than the SiGe layer. The sacrificial substrate and is flipped and the first active layer is bonded to an upper surface of a dielectric layer formed over a first substrate. The sacrificial substrate and the SiGe layer are removed and the first active layer is etched to define outermost sidewalls and to expose an outside edge of an upper surface of the dielectric layer. A contiguous active layer is formed by epitaxially forming a second active layer on the first active layer. The first active layer and the second active layer have a substantially same composition.