A method includes depositing a dielectric cap over a gate structure. A source/drain contact is formed over a source/drain region after forming the dielectric cap. A top of the dielectric cap is doped to form a doped region in the dielectric cap. After doping the top of the dielectric cap, a etch stop layer and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer are deposited over the dielectric cap. A via opening is formed to extend though the ILD layer and the etch stop layer to expose the source/drain contact. A source/drain via is filled in the via opening.

In an example of the present disclosure, a three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes a memory array structure and a staircase structure dividing the memory array structure into a first memory array structure and a second memory array structure along a lateral direction. The staircase structure includes a plurality of stairs, and a bridge structure in contact with the first memory array structure and the second memory array structure. A stair of the plurality of stairs includes a conductor portion on a top surface of the stair and electrically connected to the bridge structure, and a dielectric portion at a same level and in contact with the conductor portion. The stair is electrically connected to at least one of the first memory array structure and the second memory array structure. The conductor portion includes a portion overlapping with an immediately-upper stair and in contact with the dielectric portion and the bridge structure.

A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a source/drain region, and forming a source/drain contact plug over and electrically connecting to the source/drain region. A top portion of the source/drain contact plug has a first lateral dimension. An implantation process is performed to implant a dopant into the first dielectric layer. The implantation process results in the source/drain contact plug to have a second lateral dimension smaller than the first lateral dimension. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and forming a gate contact plug adjacent to the source/drain contact plug.

Approaches based on differential hardmasks for modulation of electrobucket sensitivity for semiconductor structure fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes forming a hardmask layer above an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer formed above a substrate. A plurality of dielectric spacers is formed on the hardmask layer. The hardmask layer is patterned to form a plurality of first hardmask portions. A plurality of second hardmask portions is formed alternating with the first hardmask portions. A plurality of electrobuckets is formed on the alternating first and second hardmask portions and in openings between the plurality of dielectric spacers. Select ones of the plurality of electrobuckets are exposed to a lithographic exposure and removed to define a set of via locations.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first metal plug, a second metal plug, a third metal plug, and a fourth metal plug over a semiconductor substrate. The method also includes depositing a boron nitride layer over the first metal plug, the second metal plug, the third metal plug, and the fourth metal plug. A first portion of the boron nitride layer extends between the first metal plug and the second metal plug such that the first portion of the boron nitride layer and the semiconductor substrate are separated by an airgap while a second portion of the boron nitride layer extends between the third metal plug and the fourth metal plug such that the second portion of the boron nitride layer is in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.

The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate comprising a surface; depositing a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate; performing a first treatment by introducing a trap-repairing element on the first and second dielectric layers; forming a dummy gate electrode over the second dielectric layer; forming a gate spacer surrounding the dummy gate electrode; forming lightly-doped source/drain (LDD) regions in the substrate on two sides of the gate spacer; forming source/drain regions in the respective LDD regions; removing the dummy gate electrode to form a replacement gate; and forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer over the replacement gate and the source/drain regions.

A semiconductor device includes transistors on a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer on the transistors, a lower interconnection line in an upper portion of the first interlayer insulating layer, an etch stop layer on the first interlayer insulating layer and the lower interconnection line, a second interlayer insulating layer on the etch stop layer, an upper interconnection line in the second interlayer insulating layer, the upper interconnection line including a via portion penetrating the etch stop layer to contact the lower interconnection line, and an etch stop pattern on the etch stop layer and in contact with a first sidewall of the via portion. The second interlayer insulating layer extends on the etch stop pattern and a top surface of the etch stop layer free of the etch stop pattern. A dielectric constant of the etch stop pattern is higher than a dielectric constant of the etch stop layer.

There is provided a structure manufacturing method, including: preparing a wafer at least whose surface comprises Group III nitride crystal in a state of being immersed in an etching solution containing peroxodisulfate ions; and irradiating the surface of the wafer with light through the etching solution; wherein the group III nitride crystal has a composition in which a wavelength corresponding to a band gap is 310 nm or more, and during irradiation of the light, the surface of the wafer is irradiated with a first light having a wavelength of 200 nm or more and less than 310 nm under a first irradiation condition, and is irradiated with a second light having a wavelength of 310 nm or more and less than a wavelength corresponding to the band gap under a second irradiation condition controlled independently of the first irradiation condition.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with an air gap and a boron nitride cap for reducing capacitive coupling in a pattern-dense region and a method for preparing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first metal plug and a second metal plug disposed over a pattern-dense region of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a third metal plug and a fourth metal plug disposed over a pattern-loose region of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a boron nitride layer disposed over the pattern-dense region and the pattern-loose region of the semiconductor substrate. A first portion of the boron nitride layer between the first metal plug and the second metal plug is separated from the semiconductor substrate by an air gap, and a second portion of the boron nitride layer between the third metal plug and the fourth metal plug is in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.