An aspect of the disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first electrically conductive structure, a thin film crystal layer located on the first electrically conductive structure, and a second electrically conductive structure including metal e.g. copper. The second electrically conductive structure is located on the thin film crystal layer. The first electrically conductive structure is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive structure through the thin film crystal layer. The thin film crystal layer may be provided as a copper diffusion barrier.

A method for preparing a recessed gate structure includes forming a recessed structure, wherein the recessed structure comprises a substrate with the recess extending into the substrate from a topmost surface of the substrate; forming a first functional layer to at least cover a sidewall of a recess of the recessed structure; forming a second functional layer to cover the first functional layer; performing a rapid thermal treatment to form an interfacial layer extending along an interface between the first functional layer and the second functional layer; and forming a conductive feature to fill up the recess.

A recessed gate structure includes a recessed structure, wherein the recessed structure comprises a substrate with the recess extending into the substrate from a topmost surface of the substrate; a conductive feature, filled in the recess of the recessed structure; a first functional layer, extending between the conductive feature and the recessed structure, and comprising a first element; a second functional layer, extending between the first functional layer and the conductive feature, and comprising a second element; and an interfacial layer, extending along an interface between the first functional layer and the second functional layer, and comprising the first element and the second element.

A semiconductor device includes a predetermined number of leads, a semiconductor element electrically connected to the leads and supported by one of the leads, and a sealing resin that covers the semiconductor element and a part of each lead. Each lead includes some portions exposed from the sealing resin. A surface plating layer is formed on at least one of the exposed portions of the respective leads.

Integrated circuit interconnect structures including an interconnect metallization feature with a barrier material comprising a metal and a chalcogen. Introduction of the chalcogen may improve diffusion barrier properties at a given barrier material layer thickness with increasing the barrier layer thickness. A barrier material, such as TaN, may be deposited at minimal thickness, and doped with a chalcogen before or after one or more fill materials are deposited over the barrier material. During thermal processing mobile chalcogen impurities may collect within regions within the barrier material to high enough concentrations for at least a portion of the barrier material to be converted into a metal chalcogenide layer. The metal chalcogenide layer may have greater crystallinity than a remainder of the barrier layer.

Embodiments and methods of an interconnect structure are provided. The interconnect structure includes a via, a trench that has an overlapping area with a top of the via, and a first layer of conducting material that has an overlapping area with a bottom of the via. The interconnect also includes a second layer of conducting material formed in the via, and a third layer of conducting material formed in the trench. The second layer of conducting material is in contact with the first layer of conducting material without a barrier in between the two conducting materials. The absence of the barrier at the bottom of the via can reduce the contact resistance of the interconnect structure.

A method includes forming a trench within a dielectric layer, the trench comprising an interconnect portion and a via portion, the via portion exposing an underlying conductive feature. The method further includes depositing a seed layer within the trench, depositing a carbon layer on the seed layer, performing a carbon dissolution process to cause a graphene layer to form between the seed layer and the underlying conductive feature, and filling a remainder of the trench with a conductive material.

A semiconductor structure manufacturing method according to the embodiments of the present application includes the following steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first reaction layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a second reaction layer on the first reaction layer; and thermally reacting at least a portion of the first reaction layer with at least a portion of the second reaction layer, to form an amorphous diffusion barrier layer. This amorphous diffusion barrier layer is an amorphous body with no grain boundary therein. As a result, the diffusion path for metal atoms is cut off, thereby improving the barrier effect of the barrier layer efficiently and solving the circuit performance issue caused by metal atom diffusion.

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.

An electrically conductive structure in an integrated circuit (IC) includes recessed features in a dielectric layer filled with metal. The recessed features include a conformal, self-forming diffusion barrier and seed layer to limit oxidation of the metal into ions that will diffuse through the dielectric. The self-forming diffusion barrier and seed layer may also form a surface oxide layer that can be removed by an acidic solution