Methods of and systems for reforming films comprising silicon nitride are disclosed. Exemplary methods include providing a substrate within a reaction chamber, forming activated species by irradiating a reforming gas with microwave radiation, and exposing substrate to the activated species. A pressure within the reaction chamber during the step of forming activated species can be less than 50 Pa.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, an exemplary semiconductor device includes two stacks of channel members; a source/drain feature extending between the two stacks of channel members along a direction; a source/drain contact disposed under and electrically coupled to the source/drain feature; two gate structures over and interleaved with the two stacks of channel members; a low-k spacer horizontally surrounding the source/drain contact; and a dielectric layer horizontally surrounding the low-k spacer.

The present disclosure relates integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a lower insulating structure disposed over a lower dielectric structure surrounding one or more lower interconnects. A bottom electrode via surrounded by one or more interior sidewalls of the lower insulating structure. The bottom electrode via includes a barrier surrounding a conductive core. A bottom electrode is arranged on the bottom electrode via, a data storage structure is over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode is over the data storage structure. The barrier includes a sidewall disposed along the one or more interior sidewalls of the lower insulating structure and a horizontally covering segment protruding outward from the sidewall to above a top surface of the lower insulating structure.

The present disclosure a method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor device. The method includes steps of providing a substrate; forming a gate electrode over the substrate; forming a source region and a drain region in the substrate; depositing an isolating layer over the substrate and the gate electrode; forming a plurality of contact holes in the isolating layer to expose the gate electrode, the source region, and the drain region; forming a plurality of metal contacts in the gate electrode, the source region, and the drain region; depositing a contact liner in the contact holes; and depositing a conductive material in the contact holes, wherein the conductive material is surrounded by the contact liner.

A method of forming a microelectronic device includes forming a microelectronic device structure. The microelectronic device structure includes a stack structure comprising insulative structures and electrically conductive structures vertically alternating with the insulative structures, pillar structures extending vertically through the stack structure, an etch stop material vertically overlaying the stack structure, and a first dielectric material vertically overlying the etch stop material. The method further includes removing portions of the first dielectric material, the etch stop material, and an upper region of the stack structure to form a trench interposed between horizontally neighboring groups of the pillar structures, forming a liner material within the trench, and substantially filling a remaining portion of the trench with a second dielectric material to form a dielectric barrier structure.

A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a pair of source/drain features formed in a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack formed over a portion of the semiconductor substrate that is between the pair of source/drain features. The semiconductor device structure also includes gate spacers extend along opposing sidewalls of the gate stack and protrude above an upper surface of the gate stack. Additionally, the semiconductor device structure includes a first capping layer formed over the gate stack and spaced apart from the upper surface of the gate stack by a gap. Opposing sidewalls of the first capping layer are covered by portions of the gate spacers that protrude above the upper surface of the gate stack.

A semiconductor device with a connection pad in a substrate, the connection pad having an exposed surface made of a metallic material that diffuses less readily into a dielectric layer than does a metal of a wiring layer connected thereto.

The method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over a substrate; forming a plurality of source/drain structures in the substrate and on opposite sides of the gate structure; forming a source/drain contact on one of the plurality of source/drain structures; etching back the source/drain contact; forming a protective structure over the etched back source/drain contact; forming a dielectric layer over the gate structure and the protective structure; etching the dielectric layer to form an opening that exposes the gate structure and the protective structure; selectively depositing a capping material on the protective structure; after selectively depositing the capping material, forming a gate contact in the opening.

A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate. The fin structure includes a protection layer and alternating first and second semiconductor layers over the protection layer. The method also includes etching the fin structure to form a source/drain recess, forming a sacrificial contact in the source/drain recess, forming a source/drain feature over the sacrificial contact in the source/drain recess, removing the first semiconductor layers of the fin structure, thereby forming a plurality of nanostructures, forming a gate stack wrapping around the nanostructures, removing the substrate thereby exposing the protection layer and the sacrificial contact and replacing the sacrificial contact with a contact plug.

An interconnect structure including a top via with a minimum line end extension comprises a cut filled with an etch stop material. The interconnect structure further comprises a line formed adjacent to the etch stop material. The interconnect structure further comprises a top via formed on the line adjacent to the etch stop material, wherein the top via utilizes the etch stop material to achieve minimum line extension.