A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A substrate having a dummy gate thereon is prepared. A spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the dummy gate. A source/drain region is disposed adjacent to the dummy gate. A sacrificial layer is then formed on the source/drain region. A cap layer is then formed on the sacrificial layer. A top surface of the cap layer is coplanar with a top surface of the dummy gate. A replacement metal gate (RMG) process is performed to transform the dummy gate into a replacement metal gate. An opening is then formed in the cap layer to expose a top surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed through the opening, thereby forming a lower contact hole exposing a top surface of the source/drain region. A lower contact plug is then formed in the lower contact hole.

A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on a substrate; forming a stop layer between the dielectric layer and the substrate, wherein the stop layer contacts the substrate directly and the dielectric layer covers the top surface of the stop layer; forming an opening in the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a damaged layer adjacent to the opening; forming a dielectric protective layer in the opening; forming a metal layer in the opening; removing the damaged layer and the dielectric protective layer to form a void, wherein the void exposes a top surface of the substrate; and forming a cap layer on and covering the dielectric layer, the void, and the metal layer.

A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first conductive feature embedded within a first dielectric layer, a via disposed over the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature disposed over the via, and a graphene layer disposed over at least a portion of the first conductive feature. The via electrically couples the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature.

A method provides a structure having a FinFET in an Rx region, the FinFET including a channel, source/drain (S/D) regions and a gate, the gate including gate metal. A cap is formed over the gate having a high-k dielectric liner and a core. Trench silicide (TS) is disposed on sides of the gate. The TS is recessed to a level above a level of the gate and below a level of the cap. An oxide layer is disposed over the structure. A CB trench is patterned into the oxide layer within the Rx region to expose the core and liner at an intermediate portion of the CB trench. The core is selectively etched relative to the liner to extend the CB trench to a bottom at the gate metal. The CB trench is metalized to form a CB contact.

A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate including a cell area and a peripheral area, a plurality of capacitors including a plurality of lower electrodes arranged in the cell area, a plurality of capacitor dielectric layers covering the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode on the plurality of capacitor dielectric layers, an etch stop layer covering the upper electrode, a filling insulation layer covering the etch stop layer and arranged in the cell area and the peripheral area, a plurality of wiring lines on the filling insulation layer, and a first wiring contact plug electrically connecting at least one of the plurality of wiring lines to the upper electrode. The upper electrode includes a first upper electrode layer covering the plurality of capacitor dielectric layers and including a semiconductor material and a second upper electrode layer covering the first upper electrode layer and including a metallic material.

A semiconductor device includes a source/drain region, a source/drain silicide layer formed on the source/drain region, and a first contact disposed over the source/drain silicide layer. The first contact includes a first metal layer, an upper surface of the first metal layer is at least covered by a silicide layer, and the silicide layer includes a same metal element as the first metal layer.

A film forming method includes: preparing a substrate that includes a base substrate and a first conductive film that is formed on the base substrate; forming, on the first conductive film, a composite layer that includes layers of graphene and includes, as dopant atoms, a transition metal from 4th period to 6th period in a periodic table, excluding lanthanoids, between the layers of graphene; and forming, on the composite layer, a second conductive film which is electrically connected to the first conductive film via the composite layer.

A method of forming a semiconductor memory device includes the following steps. First of all, a substrate is provided, and a plurality of gates is formed in the substrate, along a first direction. Next, a semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate, covering the gates, and a plug is then in the semiconductor layer, between two of the gates. Then, a deposition process is performed to from a stacked structure on the semiconductor layer. Finally, the stacked structure is patterned to form a plurality of bit lines, with one of the bit lines directly in contact with the plug.

A semiconductor device includes an active region. A metal gate electrode is disposed over the active region. A conductive layer is disposed over the metal gate electrode. A silicon-containing layer is disposed over a first portion of the conductive layer. A dielectric layer is disposed over a second portion of the conductive layer. A gate via vertically extends through the silicon-containing layer. The gate via is disposed over, and electrically coupled to, the metal gate electrode.

Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes a device including tiers of materials located one over another, the tiers of materials including respective memory cells and control gates for the memory cells. The control gates include respective portions that collectively form part of a staircase structure. The staircase structure includes first regions and second regions coupled to the first regions. The second regions include respective sidewalls in which a portion of each of the first regions and a portion of each of the second regions are part of a respective control gate of the control gates. The device also includes conductive pads electrically separated from each other and located on the first regions of the staircase structure, and conductive contacts contacting the conductive pads.