A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins protruding through a trench isolation region above a substrate. A first gate structure is formed over a first of the plurality of semiconductor fins. A second gate structure is formed over a second of the plurality of semiconductor fins. A gate edge isolation structure is formed laterally between and in contact with the first gate structure and the second gate structure, the gate edge isolation structure on the trench isolation region and extending above an uppermost surface of the first gate structure and the second gate structure. A precision resistor is formed on the gate edge isolation structure, wherein the precision resistor and the first gate structure and second gate structure comprise a same material layer.

The current disclosure describes techniques of protecting a metal interconnect structure from being damaged by subsequent chemical mechanical polishing processes used for forming other metal structures over the metal interconnect structure. The metal interconnect structure is receded to form a recess between the metal interconnect structure and the surrounding dielectric layer. A metal cap structure is formed within the recess. An upper portion of the dielectric layer is strained to include a tensile stress which expands the dielectric layer against the metal cap structure to reduce or eliminate a gap in the interface between the metal cap structure and the dielectric layer.

Semiconductor structures and methods for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes forming a first active semiconductor region disposed in a first vertical level of the semiconductor structure, forming a second active semiconductor region disposed in the first vertical level, where the second active semiconductor region is separated from the first active semiconductor region by a distance in a first direction, forming a first conductive structure disposed in a second vertical level that is adjacent to the first vertical level. The first conductive structure extends along the first direction and electrically couples the first active semiconductor region to the second active semiconductor region.

Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures having local interconnects, and methods of fabricating SAGE architectures having local interconnects, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first gate structure over a first semiconductor fin, and a second gate structure over a second semiconductor fin. A gate endcap isolation structure is between the first and second semiconductor fins and laterally between and in contact with the first and second gate structures. A gate plug is over the gate endcap isolation structure and laterally between and in contact with the first and second gate structures. A local gate interconnect is between the gate plug and the gate endcap isolation structure, the local gate interconnect in contact with the first and second gate structures.

Gate patterns are formed on a semiconductor layer and a conductive film is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to cover the gate patterns. By performing a polishing process to the conductive film and patterning the polished conductive film, pad layers are formed between the gate patterns via sidewall spacers.

The present disclosure describes a method for the fabrication of ruthenium conductive structures over cobalt conductive structures. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a first opening in a dielectric layer to expose a first cobalt contact and filling the first opening with ruthenium metal to form a ruthenium contact on the first cobalt contact. The method also includes forming a second opening in the dielectric layer to expose a second cobalt contact and a gate structure and filling the second opening with tungsten to form a tungsten contact on the second cobalt contact and the gate structure. Further, the method includes forming a copper conductive structure on the ruthenium contact and the tungsten contact, where the copper from the copper conductive structure is in contact with the ruthenium metal from the ruthenium contact.

A cross-couple contact structure is provided that is located on, and physically contacts, a topmost surface of a functional gate structure that is located laterally adjacent to a gate cut region. The cross-couple contact structure extends into the laterally adjacent gate cut region and physically contacts a sidewall of the functional gate structure, an upper portion of a first sidewall of a dielectric plug that is present in the gate cut region, and an upper surface of a dielectric liner that is located on a lower portion of the first sidewall of the dielectric plug.

A semiconductor structure includes semiconductor devices located on a top surface of a substrate semiconductor layer, lower-level metal interconnect structures embedded in lower-level dielectric material layers, source-level material layers, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers overlying the source-level material layer, memory stack structures, a vertically alternating sequence of insulating plates and dielectric material plates laterally surrounded by the alternating stack, an isolation trench fill structure interposed between the alternating stack and the vertically alternating sequence and including a trench fill material portion and a capping dielectric structure overlying the trench fill material portion, and a first through-memory-level interconnection via structure vertically extending through each plate within the vertically alternating sequence and contacting a top surface of one of the lower-level metal interconnect structures.

A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes first and second semiconductor chips stacked one on top of the other. First power supply lines in the first semiconductor chip are connected with second power supply lines in the second semiconductor chip through a plurality of first vias. The directions in which the first power supply lines and the second power supply lines extend are orthogonal to each other.

A method of manufacturing a FinFET includes at last the following steps. A semiconductor substrate is patterned to form trenches in the semiconductor substrate and semiconductor fins located between two adjacent trenches of the trenches. Gate stacks is formed over portions of the semiconductor fins. Strained material portions are formed over the semiconductor fins revealed by the gate stacks. First metal contacts are formed over the gate stacks, the first metal contacts electrically connecting the strained material portions. Air gaps are formed in the FinFET at positions between two adjacent gate stacks and between two adjacent strained materials.