A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers. The electrically conductive layers include an intermetallic alloy of aluminum and at least one metal other than aluminum. Memory openings vertically extend through the alternating stack. Memory opening fill structures are located in a respective one of the memory openings and include a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective vertical stack of memory elements.

A method includes forming a trench in a semiconductor layer of a device wafer and depositing a liner on the trench sidewalls. The liner is removed from the trench bottom, and the trench is deepened anisotropically to form an extension fully along the trench, or locally by applying a mask. The semiconductor material is removed outwardly from the extension by etching to create a cavity wider than the trench and below the liner. A space formed by the trench and cavity is filled with electrically conductive material to form a buried interconnect rail comprising a narrow portion in the trench and a wider portion in the cavity. The wider portion can be contacted by a TSV connection, enabling a contact area between the connection and buried rail. The etching forms a wider rail portion at a location remote from active devices formed on the front surface of the semiconductor layer.

The present invention provides a metal interconnection structure and a manufacturing method thereof, the metal interconnection structure includes: metal interconnection lines disposed at intervals, first metal layers respectively disposed on the metal interconnection lines; second metal layers respectively disposed on the first metal layers; dielectric layers disposed on both sides of the first metal layer and the second metal layer and having a gap with both the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and a metal diffusion covering layer covering the dielectric layer and the second metal layer. In the present invention, by disposing the dielectric layer on both sides of the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and the dielectric layer has a gap with both the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and the formed metal interconnection structure reduces parasitic capacitance due to the gap, and the gaps existing between the first metal layer and the dielectric layer and between the second metal layer and the dielectric layer can further reduce the diffusion of metal ions to the dielectric layer.

A method includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a first conductive feature, depositing a first mask layer over the first dielectric layer, and depositing a second mask layer over the first mask layer. A first opening is patterned in the first mask layer and the second mask layer, the first opening having a first width. A second opening is patterned in a bottom surface of the first opening, the second opening extending into the first dielectric layer, the second opening having a second width. The second width is less than the first width. The first opening is extended into the first dielectric layer and the second opening is extended through the first dielectric layer to expose a top surface of the first conductive feature.

A method of forming a via is provided. A lower metal element is formed, and a first patterned photoresist is used to form a sacrificial element over the lower metal element. A dielectric region including a dielectric element projection extending upwardly above the sacrificial element is formed. A second patterned photoresist including a second photoresist opening is formed, wherein the dielectric element projection is at least partially located in the second photoresist opening. A dielectric region trench opening is etched in the dielectric region. The sacrificial element is removed to define a via opening extending downwardly from the dielectric region trench opening. The dielectric region trench opening and the via opening are filled to define (a) an upper metal element in the dielectric region trench opening and (b) a via in the via opening, wherein the via extends downwardly from the upper metal element.

A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer on a substrate, a conductive structure disposed in the first dielectric layer and including a terminal portion and an extending portion connecting the terminal portion and extending away from the terminal portion, a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, a conductive via through the second dielectric layer and directly contacting the extending portion, and a dummy via through the second dielectric layer and directly contacting the terminal portion. In a cross-sectional view, a width of the dummy via is smaller than 50% of a width of the conductive via.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure improve integration degree of semiconductor devices by simultaneously forming interconnections extending in various directions through a single gap-fill process. The embodiments of the present invention provide an interconnection structure that is capable of simplifying semiconductor processing, a semiconductor device including the interconnection structure, and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an interconnection structure comprises: a stack of a plurality of interconnections, wherein at least two layers of the plurality of interconnections extend in different directions, and a portion of a top surface of a lower interconnection of the at least two layers is in direct contact with a portion of a bottom surface of an upper interconnection of the at least two layers.

A method of forming a semiconductor device can comprise providing a first shift region in which to determine a first displacement. A second shift region may be provided in which to determine a second displacement. A unique electrically conductive structure may be formed comprising traces to account for the first displacement and the second displacement. The electrically conductive structure may comprise traces comprising a first portion within the first shift region and a second portion of traces in the second shift region laterally offset from the first portion of traces. A third portion of the traces may be provided in the routing area between the first shift region and the second shift region. A unique variable metal fill may be formed within the fill area. The variable metal fill may be electrically isolated from the unique electrically conductive structure.

A method includes forming a plurality of first line-shaped mask patterns over a substrate including a memory cell region and an array edge region; forming a plurality of second line-shaped mask patterns over the plurality of first line-shaped mask patterns; removing first portions from the plurality of first line-shaped mask patterns in the memory cell region to leave a plurality of island-shaped mask patterns above the memory cell region; removing second portions from the plurality of first line-shaped mask patterns in the array edge region to leave a holes-provided mask pattern above the array edge region; forming a mask pattern which includes a plurality of holes provided on portions; and forming, with the mask pattern which includes the plurality of holes, a plurality of contact holes in the array edge region to provide a plurality of contact electrodes connected to a plurality of word-lines.

A variety of applications can include apparatus having a memory device with an array of vertical strings of memory cells for the memory device with data lines coupled to the vertical strings, where the data lines have been formed by a metal liner deposition process. In the metal liner deposition, a metal can be formed on a patterned dielectric region. The metal liner deposition process allows for construction of the height of the data lines to be well controlled with selection of a thickness for the dielectric region used in forming the metal liner. Use of a metal liner deposition provides a controlled mechanism to reduce data line capacitance by being able to select liner thickness in forming the data lines. The use of the dielectric region with the metal liner deposition can allow the fabrication of the data lines to avoid pitch double or pitch quad processes.