A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure with dummy fin structures and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes an isolation structure over a substrate, and a first fin structure extended above the isolation structure. The fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure includes a second fin structure adjacent to the first fin structure, and a material layer formed over the fin structure. The material layer and the isolation structure are made of different materials, the material layer has a top surface with a top width and a bottom surface with a bottom width, and the bottom width is greater than the top width.

Examples of an integrated circuit with a contacting gate structure and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a memory cell that includes a plurality of fins and a gate extending over a first fin of the plurality of fins and a second fin of the plurality of fins. The gate includes a gate electrode that physically contacts the first fin and a gate dielectric disposed between the gate electrode and the second fin. In some such examples, the first fin includes a source/drain region and a doped region that physically contacts the gate electrode.

The present disclosure describes a method for the formation of gate stacks having two or more titanium-aluminum (TiAl) layers with different Al concentrations (e.g., different Al/Ti ratios). For example, a gate structure can include a first TiAl layer with a first Al/Ti ratio and a second TiAl layer with a second Al/Ti ratio greater than the first Al/Ti ratio of the first TiAl layer.

Embodiments herein include semiconductor structures with a first source/drain (S/D) connected to a first field-effect transistor (FET) region, a second S/D connected to a second FET region, and a buried power rail (BPR) region. The BPR region may include a BPR, a first dielectric liner lining a first lateral side of the BPR region, and a second dielectric liner lining a second lateral side. The first dielectric liner isolates the BPR from the first FET region and the first S/D, and the second dielectric liner isolates the BPR from the second FET region. Embodiments may also include a contact electrically connecting the second S/D and the BPR through a second lateral side of the BPR region. The liners enable the BPR to be formed after the formation of gates and the S/Ds, so that the BPR does not cause problems during annealing processes of the gates and the S/Ds.

An integrated circuit (IC) chip package and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The IC chip package includes a device layer on a first surface of a substrate, a first interconnect structure on the device layer, and a second interconnect structure on the second surface of the substrate. The first interconnect structure includes a fault detection line in a first metal line layer and configured to emit an electrical or an optical signal that is indicative of a presence or an absence of a defect in the device layer, a metal-free region on the fault detection line, and a metal line adjacent to the fault detection line in the first metal line layer. The fault detection line is electrically connected to the device layer.

Gate fabrication techniques are disclosed herein for providing gate stacks and/or gate structures (e.g., high-k/metal gates) with improved profiles (e.g., minimal to no warping, bending, bowing, and necking and/or substantially vertical sidewalls), which may be implemented in various device types. For example, gate fabrication techniques disclosed herein provide gate stacks with stress-treated glue layers having a residual stress that is less than about 1.0 gigapascals (GPa) (e.g., about -2.5 GPa to about 0.8 GPa). In some embodiments, a stress-treated glue layer is provided by depositing a glue layer over a work function layer and performing a stress reduction treatment, such as an ion implantation process and/or an annealing process in a gas ambient, on the glue layer. In some embodiments, a stress-treated glue layer is provided by forming at least one glue sublayer/metal layer pair over a work function layer, performing a poisoning process, and forming a glue sublayer over the pair.

In an embodiment, a device includes: an isolation region on a substrate; a first semiconductor fin protruding above the isolation region; a first gate dielectric on a first channel region of the first semiconductor fin, the first gate dielectric including a first interfacial layer and a first high-k dielectric layer; a second semiconductor fin protruding above the isolation region; and a second gate dielectric on a second channel region of the second semiconductor fin, the second gate dielectric including a second interfacial layer and a second high-k dielectric layer, a first portion of the first interfacial layer on the first channel region having a greater thickness than a second portion of the second interfacial layer on the second channel region, the second channel region having a greater height than the first channel region.

A semiconductor device including a substrate, a first layer over the substrate, and a second layer over the first layer. The first layer including a first fin structure, a first gate structure that overlaps the first fin structure to form a first pass-gate transistor, and a second gate structure that is separate from the first gate structure and that overlaps the first fin structure to form a first pull-down transistor. The second layer including a third gate structure disposed over the second gate structure and connected to the second gate structure, a first semiconductor oxide structure disposed on the third gate structure, and a first drain/source region and a second drain/source region disposed on the first semiconductor oxide structure, wherein the third gate structure, the first semiconductor oxide structure, the first drain/source region, and the second drain/source region constitute a first pull-up transistor.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, and the semiconductor device includes a substrate, active areas, and an isolation structure. The active areas are parallel and separately disposed with each other in the substrate, and each of the active areas includes an active fin and active ends disposed at two sides of the active fin. The active fin and the active ends include different materials. The isolation structure is disposed in the substrate to surround the active areas. With this arrangement, the extending area of the active areas may be improved, so as to make sure the storage node contacts formed subsequently may directly and stably contact with the active areas.

Reliability test macros for contact over active gate (COAG) layout designs are provided. In one aspect, a COAG layout design reliability test macro includes: gate-shaped dielectric structures disposed over an active area of a substrate; source/drain regions present on opposite sides of the gate-shaped dielectric structures; source/drain contacts in direct contact with the source/drain regions; a dielectric fill material disposed on the source/drain contacts; and gate contacts present over, and in direct contact with, the gate-shaped dielectric structures in the active area, wherein the dielectric fill material is present in between the gate contacts and the source/drain contacts. Methods of forming and using the present COAG layout design reliability test macros are also provided.