A method for etching a metal containing feature is provided. Using a pattern mask, layers of material are etched to expose a portion of a metal containing feature. At least a portion of the exposed metal containing feature is etched, and is replaced by the growth of a filler dielectric. The etched portion of the metal containing feature and the filler dielectric reduce the unwanted conductivity between adjacent metal containing features.

The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes depositing an etch-stop layer (ESL) over a first dielectric layer. The ESL layer deposition can include: flowing a first precursor over the first dielectric layer; purging at least a portion of the first precursor; flowing a second precursor over the first dielectric layer to form a sublayer of the ESL layer; and purging at least a portion of the second precursor. The method can further include depositing a second dielectric layer on the ESL layer and forming a via in the second dielectric layer and through the ESL layer.

Processing methods may be performed to form a fan-out interconnect structure. The methods may include forming a semiconductor active device structure overlying a first substrate. The semiconductor active device structure may include first conductive contacts. The methods may include forming an interconnect structure overlying a second substrate. The interconnect structure may include second conductive contacts. The methods may also include joining the first substrate with the second substrate. The joining may include coupling the first conductive contacts with the second conductive contacts. The interconnect structure may extend beyond the lateral dimensions of the semiconductor active device structure.

The present disclosure describes a method for forming a nitrogen-rich protective layer within a low-k layer of a metallization layer to prevent damage to the low-k layer from subsequent processing operations. The method includes forming, on a substrate, a metallization layer having conductive structures in a low-k dielectric. The method further includes forming a capping layer on the conductive structures, where forming the capping layer includes exposing the metallization layer to a first plasma process to form a nitrogen-rich protective layer below a top surface of the low-k dielectric, releasing a precursor on the metallization layer to cover top surfaces of the conductive structures with precursor molecules, and treating the precursor molecules with a second plasma process to dissociate the precursor molecules and form the capping layer. Additionally, the method includes forming an etch stop layer to cover the capping layer and top surfaces of the low-k dielectric.

A barrier layer is formed in a portion of a thickness of sidewalls in a recess prior to formation of an interconnect structure in the recess. The barrier layer is formed in the portion of the thickness of the sidewalls by a plasma-based deposition operation, in which a precursor reacts with a silicon-rich surface to form the barrier layer. The barrier layer is formed in the portion of the thickness of the sidewalls in that the precursor consumes a portion of the silicon-rich surface of the sidewalls as a result of the plasma treatment. This enables the barrier layer to be formed in a manner in which the cross-sectional width reduction in the recess from the barrier layer is minimized while enabling the barrier layer to be used to promote adhesion in the recess.

A preferred aim of the invention is to provide technique for improving reliability of semiconductor devices when using a low-dielectric-constant film having a lower dielectric constant than a silicon oxide film to a part of an interlayer insulating film. More specifically, to achieve the preferred aim, an interlayer insulating film IL1 forming a first fine layer is formed of a middle-Young's-modulus film, and thus it is possible to separate an integrated high-Young's-modulus layer (a semiconductor substrate 1S and a contact interlayer insulating film CIL) and an interlayer insulating film (a low-Young's-modulus film; a low-dielectric-constant film) IL2 forming a second fine layer not to let them directly contact with each other, and stress can be diverged. As a result, film exfoliation of the interlayer insulating film IL2 formed of a low-Young's-modulus film can be prevented and thus reliability of semiconductor devices can be improved.

Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating first and second levels. A panel extends through the stack. The first levels have proximal regions adjacent the panel, and have distal regions further from the panel than the proximal regions. The distal regions include conductive structures. The conductive structures have a first thickness. The proximal regions include insulative structures. The insulative structures have a second thickness at least about as large as the first thickness. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip (IC). The IC comprises a substrate. A semiconductor device is disposed on the substrate. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure is disposed over the substrate and the semiconductor device. A first intermetal dielectric (IMD) structure is disposed over the substrate and the ILD structure. An opening is disposed in the first IMD structure, wherein the opening overlies at least a portion of the semiconductor device.

Structures and methods for reducing thermal expansion mismatch during chip scale packaging are disclosed. In one example, a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a first metal layer over a substrate, a dielectric region, and a polymer region. The first metal layer comprises a first device metal structure. The dielectric region is formed over the first metal layer. The polymer region is formed over the dielectric region. The dielectric region comprises a plurality of metal layers and an inter-metal dielectric layer comprising dielectric material between each pair of two adjacent metal layers in the plurality of metal layers. Each of the plurality of metal layers comprises a dummy metal structure over the first device metal structure. The dummy metal structures in each pair of two adjacent metal layers in the plurality of metal layers shield respectively two non-overlapping portions of the first device metal structure from a top view of the semiconductor structure.

A device includes plural semiconductor fins, a gate structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, and an isolation dielectric. The gate structure is across the semiconductor fins. The ILD surrounds the gate structure. The isolation dielectric is at least between the semiconductor fins and has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the ILD layer.