Embodiments herein provide for oxygen based treatment of low-k dielectric layers deposited using a flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) process. Oxygen based treatment of the FCVD deposited low-k dielectric layers desirably increases the Ebd to capacitance and reliability of the devices while removing voids. Embodiments include methods and apparatus for making a semiconductor device including: etching a metal layer disposed atop a substrate to form one or more metal lines having a top surface, a first side, and a second side; depositing a passivation layer atop the top surface, the first side, and the second side under conditions sufficient to reduce or eliminate oxygen contact with the one or more metal lines; depositing a flowable layer of low-k dielectric material atop the passivation layer in a thickness sufficient to cover the one or more metal lines; and contacting the flowable layer of low-k dielectric material with oxygen under conditions sufficient to anneal and increase a density of the low-k dielectric material.

The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a porous insulating layer positioned above the substrate, a first conductive feature positioned in the porous insulating layer, and covering liners including two top segments and two side segments. The two side segments are positioned on sidewalls of the first conductive feature, and the two top segments are positioned on top surfaces of the porous insulating layer.

Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming, over a workpiece, a dummy gate stack comprising a first semiconductor material, depositing a first dielectric layer over the dummy gate stack using a first process, implanting the workpiece with a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material, annealing the dummy gate stack after the implanting, and replacing the dummy gate stack with a metal gate stack.

Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The methods may include forming a stacked structure that may include a stacking area and a stepped area and may include first layers and second layers alternately stacked. The second layers may have a stepped shape in the stepped area, and the stepped area may include at least one flat area and at least one inclined stepped area. The methods may also include forming a capping insulating layer covering the stacked structure. The capping insulating layer may include a first capping region having a first upper surface and a second capping region having a second upper surface at a lower level than the first upper surface. The methods may further include patterning the capping insulating layer to form protrusions at least one of which overlaps the stepped area and then planarizing the capping insulating layer.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first pattern structure having a first opening on a lower structure comprising a semiconductor substrate. The first pattern structure includes a stacked pattern and a first spacer layer covering at least a side surface of the stacked pattern. A first flowable material layer including a SiOCH material is formed on the first spacer layer to fill the first opening and cover an upper portion of the first pattern structure. A first curing process including supplying a gaseous ammonia catalyst into the first flowable material layer is performed on the first flowable material layer to form a first cured material layer that includes water. A second curing process is performed on the first cured material layer to form a first low-k dielectric material layer. The first low-k dielectric material layer is planarized to form a planarized first low-k dielectric material layer.

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a bitline on a semiconductor structure comprising a conductive feature therein. A spacer is formed adjacent to a sidewall of the bitline, and the spacer has a dielectric contact in a range of about 2 to about 3. A sacrificial layer is formed over the semiconductor structure and covering the spacer. A portion of the sacrificial layer over the bitline is etched to form a first trench to expose a top surface of the bitline. A dielectric layer is formed in the first trench and over the bitline. After forming the dielectric layer, a remaining portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to form a second trench over the semiconductor structure and an outer sidewall of the first spacer is exposed. A contact is formed in the second trench and connected to the conductive feature of the semiconductor structure.

An integrated circuit includes a plurality of transistors and an interlevel dielectric layer formed over the transistors. The interlevel dielectric layer includes a first region and a second region with a higher dielectric constant than the first region. The difference in dielectric constant is produced by curing the first region shielding the second region from the curing. Metal signal lines are formed in the first region. Metal-on-metal capacitors are formed in the second region.

A method and structure for forming an enhanced metal capping layer includes forming a portion of a multi-level metal interconnect network over a substrate. In some embodiments, the portion of the multi-level metal interconnect network includes a plurality of metal regions. In some cases, a dielectric region is disposed between each of the plurality of metal regions. By way of example, a metal capping layer may be deposited over each of the plurality of metal regions. Thereafter, in some embodiments, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) may be deposited, where the SAM forms selectively on the metal capping layer, while the dielectric region is substantially free of the SAM. In various examples, after selectively forming the SAM on the metal capping layer, a thermal process may be performed, where the SAM prevents diffusion of the metal capping layer during the thermal process.

A semiconductor device includes a lower structure including a substrate and a cell structure on the substrate and a plurality of interconnection layers, which are stacked on the lower structure in a first direction extending perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. An uppermost interconnection layer of the plurality of interconnection layers includes uppermost conductive lines. Each of the uppermost conductive lines includes a lower metal compound pattern, a metal pattern, an upper metal compound pattern, and a capping pattern, which are sequentially stacked in the first direction. The lower metal compound pattern, the metal pattern, and the upper metal compound pattern include a same metallic element.

An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, and a conductive layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion adj acent the first portion, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a first barrier layer in contact with the first portion of the conductive layer, a second barrier layer in contact with the second portion of the conductive layer, and a support layer in contact with the first and second barrier layers. An air gap is located between the first and second barrier layers, and the dielectric layer and the support layer are exposed to the air gap.