A method of forming a metallization layer of an IC having a lower via level and an upper trench level is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes applying a dual damascene process to a stack of two layers. The bottom layer includes a porous low-k dielectric in which the pores have been filled by a template material. The top layer is a template layer. This stack is obtained by depositing a template layer on top of a porous low-k dielectric and annealing in order to let the template material diffuse into the pores of the low-k layer. At the end of the anneal process, a stack of a pore-filled layer and a template layer is obtained. Vias are etched in the low-k layer and trenches are etched in the template layer. The template pore-filling protects the low-k dielectric during plasma etching, metal barrier deposition and metal deposition.

A method for forming trenches of an interconnect network in a substrate. The method includes forming a first trench in the substrate, which has a first width. The method also includes forming a second trench in the substrate, which has a second width that is greater than the first width. The method also includes depositing a metal layer into the trenches, applying a dielectric over the metal, and diffusing metal atoms from the trenches to the dielectric. The dielectric absorbs a majority of the metal atoms from the first trench while simultaneously absorbing only a minority of metal atoms from the second trench.

Methods for enhancing mechanical strength of back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectrics to prevent crack propagation within interconnect stacks are provided. After forming interconnect structures in a dielectric material layer, a pore filling material is introduced into pores of a portion of the dielectric material layer that is located in a crack stop region present around a periphery of a chip region. By filling the pores of the portion of the dielectric material layer located in the crack stop region, the mechanical strength of the dielectric material layer is selectively enhanced in the crack stop region.

A semiconductor structure including a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, an etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer and a second conductive feature is provided. The first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first conductive feature is disposed in the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, wherein the etch stop layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer is located between the first dielectric layer and the silicon-containing layer, the metal-containing layer comprises a nitride-containing region and an oxide-containing region, and the nitride-containing region contacts the first conductive feature. The second dielectric layer is disposed over the etch stop layer. The second conductive feature penetrates the second dielectric layer and electrically connects with the first conductive feature.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a method of forming a semiconductor interconnect structure and the interconnect structure. The method includes etching an opening in a first interconnect dielectric material. The method includes performing a nitridation process that converts the surfaces of the opening into nitride residues, and forms a nitrided interconnect dielectric material surface in the opening. The method includes depositing tantalum to create a tantalum layer on the nitrided interconnect dielectric surface region. The method includes depositing copper to fill the opening and planarizing the surface of the first dielectric material.

A highly reliable semiconductor device suitable for miniaturization and high integration is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulator; a transistor over the first insulator; a second insulator over the transistor; a first conductor embedded in an opening in the second insulator; a barrier layer over the first conductor; a third insulator over the second insulator and over the barrier layer; and a second conductor over the third insulator. The first insulator, the third insulator, and the barrier layer have a barrier property against oxygen and hydrogen. The second insulator includes an excess-oxygen region. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The barrier layer, the third insulator, and the second conductor function as a capacitor.

Examples of an integrated circuit with a strain-generating liner and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a fin extending from the substrate, and a gate disposed on the fin. The gate has a bottom portion disposed towards the fin and a top portion disposed on the bottom portion. A liner is disposed on a side surface of the bottom portion of the gate such that the top portion of the gate is free of the liner. In some such examples, the liner is configured to produce a channel strain.

A semiconductor device having favorable electrical characteristics is provided. A first oxide is formed over a substrate; a first insulator is formed over the first oxide; an opening reaching the first oxide is formed in the first insulator; a first oxide film is deposited in contact with the first oxide and the first insulator in the opening; a first insulating film is deposited over the first oxide film; microwave treatment is performed from above the first insulating film; heat treatment is performed on one or both of the first insulating film and the first oxide; a first conductive film is deposited over the first insulating film; and part of the first oxide film, part of the first insulating film, and part of the first conductive film are removed until a top surface of the first insulator is exposed, so that a second oxide, a second insulator, and a first conductor are formed. The microwave treatment is performed using a gas containing oxygen under reduced pressure, and the heat treatment is performed under reduced pressure.

An embodiment contact plug includes a bilayer structure and a diffusion barrier layer on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the bilayer structure. The bilayer structure includes a conductive core and a conductive liner on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the conductive core. In the embodiment contact plug, the conductive liner comprises cobalt or ruthenium.

An interconnect structure and a method of fabrication of the same are introduced. In an embodiment, a post passivation interconnect (PPI) structure is formed over a passivation layer of a substrate. A bump is formed over the PPI structure. A molding layer is formed over the PPI structure. A film is applied over the molding layer and the bump using a roller. The film is removed from over the molding layer and the bump, and the remaining material of the film on the molding layer forms the protective layer. A plasma cleaning is preformed to remove the remaining material of the film on the bump.