A method includes forming a gate structure over a substrate. A dielectric cap is formed over the gate structure. An etch stop layer is deposited over the dielectric cap. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is deposited over the etch stop layer. The ILD layer is in contact with a sidewall of the etch stop layer. A gate via in the ILD layer is formed to pass through the etch stop layer and the dielectric cap to the gate structure.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include: forming an opening in a dielectric layer, the opening exposing a non-conductive layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate; forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) within the opening and over the non-conductive layer; forming a catalytic layer within the opening and over the SAM; filling the opening having the SAM and the catalytic layer with a conductive material to form a plug; and forming a barrier layer on sidewalls of the plug.

Embodiments herein relate to systems, apparatuses, or processes for hybrid bonding two dies, where at least one of the dies has a top layer to be hybrid bonded includes one or more copper pad and a top oxide layer surrounding the one or more copper pad, with another layer beneath the oxide layer that includes carbon atoms. The top oxide layer and the other carbide layer beneath may form a combination gradient layer that goes from a top of the top layer that is primarily an oxide to a bottom of the other layer that is primarily a carbide. The top oxide layer may be performed by exposing the carbide layer to a plasma treatment. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Techniques relate to forming a gate metal via. A gate contact has a bottom part in a first layer. A cap layer is formed on the gate contact and first layer. The gate contact is formed on top of the gate. A second layer is formed on the cap layer. The second layer and cap layer are recessed to remove a portion of the cap layer from a top part and upper sidewall parts of the gate contact. A third layer is formed on the second layer, cap layer, and gate contact. The third layer is etched through to form a gate trench over the gate contact to be around the upper sidewall parts of the gate contact. The gate trench is an opening that stops on the cap layer. Gate metal via is formed on top of the gate contact and around upper sidewall parts of the gate contact.

An integrated circuit structure includes a first layer comprising silicon and at least one of carbon, oxygen, or hydrogen, and a device layer including a plurality of transistors above the first layer. A first interconnect structure is above the device layer and includes first conductive interconnect features. A second interconnect structure is below the first layer and includes second conductive interconnect features. In an example, one or more of the second conductive interconnect features pass through a bottom surface of the first layer. One or more third conductive interconnect features vertically extend through the device layer to a top surface of the first layer. In an example, the one or more third conductive interconnect features are in contact with the corresponding one or more of the second conductive interconnect features that pass through the bottom surface of the first layer.

An electrical communication structure that includes a plurality of metal line levels, a first metal line in a first metal line level of the plurality of line levels, and a second metal line in an upper metal line level of the plurality of line levels. A base of the second metal line is atop a metal etch stop layer that is aligned with edges of the second metal line. The electrical communication structure further includes a via that extends from the first metal line to the second metal line through the plurality of line levels. the via is not in electrical communication with at least one an intermediate metal line within the plurality of line levels between the first metal line level and the upper metal line level. The via has a metal fill that is in direct contact with a metal fill of the first metal line.

A method of forming a fully-aligned via (FAV) structure is provided. The method includes arranging conductive material adjacent to a dielectric pad and chemically deactivating a surface of the conductive material by forming a dopant-free surface-aligned monolayer (SAM) thereon. Dielectric material is deposited onto the dielectric pad aside the dopant-free SAM and the dopant-free SAM is removed from the surface of the conductive material.

A semiconductor device includes: a dielectric structure in which etch stop structures and low-k layers are alternately stacked over a substrate; and a metal interconnection electrically connected to the substrate in the dielectric structure, wherein each one of the etch stop structures includes: a first etch stop layer including a hydrogen blocking material; and a second etch stop layer formed over the first etch stop layer.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first polysilicon structure over the substrate, wherein the first polysilicon structure has a first grain size. The semiconductor device further includes a first barrier layer over the first polysilicon structure, wherein the first barrier layer has a non-uniform thickness. The semiconductor device further includes a second polysilicon structure over the first barrier layer, wherein the second polysilicon structure has a second grain size smaller than the first grain size.

A semiconductor device includes a bit line structure, first and second capping patterns, first and second contact plug structures, and a capacitor. The bit line structure extends on a cell region and a dummy region. The first capping pattern is adjacent the bit line structure on the cell region. The second capping pattern is adjacent the bit line structure on the dummy region. The first contact plug structure is adjacent the bit line structure and the first capping pattern on the cell region, and includes a lower contact plug and a first upper contact plug sequentially stacked. The second contact plug structure is adjacent the bit line structure and the second capping pattern on the dummy region, and includes a dummy lower contact plug and a second upper contact plug sequentially stacked. The capacitor contacts an upper surface of the first contact plug structure on the cell region.