Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method to form an air gap structure. An opening is formed in a first dielectric layer between adjacent conductors. A first dielectric layer is formed over the opening to fill a first portion of the opening. A remainder of the opening is free of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on a top surface of the first dielectric layer, with a remainder of the opening unfilled. The second dielectric layer is devoid of wiring. The remainder of the opening below the second dielectric layer defines an air gap structure. A wiring layer is formed above the air gap structure.

A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming line structures comprising conductive material and insulative material overlying the conductive material, the line structures separated from one another by trenches. An isolation material is formed on surfaces of the line structures inside and outside of the trenches, the isolation material only partially filling the trenches to form air gaps interposed between the line structures. Openings are formed to extend through the isolation material and expose portions of the insulative material of the line structures. The exposed portions of the insulative material of the line structures are removed to form extended openings extending to the conductive material of the line structures. Conductive contact structures are formed within the extended openings. Conductive pad structures are formed on the conductive contact structures. Additional methods, microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with a fuse structure and an anti-fuse structure and a method for forming the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and a first electrode disposed over the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device also includes a fuse link disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the fuse link. The semiconductor device further includes a third electrode disposed adjacent to the first electrode, and a second dielectric layer separating the first electrode from the first dielectric layer and the third electrode. The first electrode, the fuse link, and the second electrode form a fuse structure, and the first electrode, the third electrode, and a portion of the second dielectric layer between the first electrode and the third electrode form an anti-fuse structure.

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor fin protruding from a substrate; a gate structure engaging with the semiconductor fin. The semiconductor structure also includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over the substrate and adjacent to the gate structure, where a top surface of the gate structure is below a top surface of the ILD layer; a first metal layer in direct contact with a top surface of the gate structure; a second metal layer disposed over the first metal layer, where the first metal layer is disposed on bottom and sidewall surfaces of the second metal layer, where the bottom surface of the second metal layer has a concave profile, and where the second metal layer differs from the first metal layer in composition; and a gate contact disposed over the second metal layer.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device with an air gap below a landing pad and a method for forming the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first lower plug and a second lower plug disposed over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first landing pad disposed over a top surface and upper sidewalls of the first lower plug, and a first upper plug disposed over the first landing pad and electrically connected to the first lower plug. A width of the first lower plug is greater than a width of the first upper plug. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The first lower plug, the second lower plug, the first landing pad and the first upper plug are disposed in the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer includes an air gap disposed between the first lower plug and the second lower plug.

A semiconductor device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive layer formed over a substrate, and an air gap structure adjacent to the first conductive layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a support layer formed over the air gap structure. A bottom surface of the support layer is in direct contact with the air gap structure, and the bottom surface of the support layer is lower than a top surface of the first conductive layer and higher than a bottom surface of the first conductive layer.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region, first metal lines spaced apart from each other at a first interval on the first region, second metal lines spaced apart from each other at a second interval on the second region, the second interval being less than the first interval, and a passivation layer on the semiconductor substrate and covering the first and second metal lines, the passivation layer including sidewall parts covering sidewalls of the first metal lines and the second metal lines, the sidewall parts including a porous dielectric layer, upper parts covering top surfaces of the first metal lines and the second metal lines, and an air gap defined by the sidewall parts between the second metal lines.

The present disclosure provides to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device. The method includes receiving a substrate including a cell area and a peripheral area; forming a first bit line structure on a surface of the cell area; depositing a landing pad above the barrier layer and on the top surface of the first bit line structure; removing a top corner of the landing pad to form an inclined surface connecting a top surface of the landing pad to a sidewall of the landing pad; etching the nitride layer of the first bit line structure and the spacer nitride layer from the top opening so as to form a concavity; etching the spacer oxide layer from the concavity to form an air gap; and depositing a silicon nitride layer to seal the air gap.

A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a trench adjacent to a gate structure to expose a contact surface of one of a source region and a drain region. A sacrificial spacer may be formed on a sidewall of the trench and on a sidewall of the gate structure. A metal contact may then be formed in the trench to at least one of the source region and the drain region. The metal contact has a base width that is less than an upper surface width of the metal contact. The sacrificial spacer may be removed, and a substantially conformal dielectric material layer can be formed on sidewalls of the metal contact and the gate structure. Portions of the conformally dielectric material layer contact one another at a pinch off region to form an air gap between the metal contact and the gate structure.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first wiring layer, the first wiring layer including a first metal wiring and a first interlayer insulating film wrapping the first metal wiring on a substrate, forming a first via layer, the first via layer including a first via that is in electrical connection with the first metal wiring, and a second interlayer insulating film wrapping the first via on the first wiring layer, and forming a second wiring layer, the second wiring layer including a second metal wiring that is in electrical connection with the first via, and a third interlayer insulating film wrapping the second metal wiring on the first via layer, wherein the third interlayer insulating film contains deuterium and is formed through chemical vapor deposition using a first gas containing deuterium and a second gas containing hydrogen.