An object is to shorten the time for rewriting data in memory cells. A memory module includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell, a selection transistor, and a wiring WBL1. The first memory cell includes a first memory node. The second memory cell includes a second memory node. One end of the first memory cell is electrically connected to the wiring WBL1 through the selection transistor. The other end of the first memory cell is electrically connected to one end of the second memory cell. The other end of the second memory cell is electrically connected to the wiring WBL1. When the selection transistor is on, data in the first memory node is rewritten by a signal supplied through the selection transistor to the wiring WBL1. When the selection transistor is off, data in the first memory node is rewritten by a signal supplied through the second memory node to the wiring WBL1.

Semiconductor device structures having dielectric features and methods of forming dielectric features are described herein. In some examples, the dielectric features are formed by an ALD process followed by a varying temperature anneal process. The dielectric features can have high density, low carbon concentration, and lower k-value. The dielectric features formed according to the present disclosure has improved resistance against etching chemistry, plasma damage, and physical bombardment in subsequent processes while maintaining a lower k-value for target capacitance efficiency.

A semiconductor device with a small variation in characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device includes an oxide, a first conductor and a second conductor over the oxide, a first insulator over the first conductor, a second insulator over the second conductor, a third insulator over the first insulator and the second insulator, a fourth insulator over the third insulator, a fifth insulator that is over the oxide and placed between the first conductor and the second conductor, a sixth insulator over the fifth insulator, and a third conductor over the sixth insulator. The third conductor includes a region overlapping the oxide. The fifth insulator includes a region in contact with the oxide, the first conductor, the second conductor, and each of the first insulator to the fourth insulator. The fifth insulator contains nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon.

An integrated circuit (IC) including a semiconductor surface layer of a substrate including functional circuitry having circuit elements formed in the semiconductor surface layer configured together with a Metal-Insulator-Metal capacitor (MIM) capacitor on the semiconductor surface layer for realizing at least one circuit function. The MIM capacitor includes a multilevel bottom capacitor plate having an upper top surface, a lower top surface, and sidewall surfaces that connect the upper and lower top surfaces (e.g., a bottom plate layer on a three-dimensional (3D) layer or the bottom capacitor plate being a 3D bottom capacitor plate). At least one capacitor dielectric layer is on the bottom capacitor plate. A top capacitor plate is on the capacitor dielectric layer, and there are contacts through a pre-metal dielectric layer to contact the top capacitor plate and the bottom capacitor plate.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a gate structure over a fin that protrudes above a substrate; forming source/drain regions over the fin on opposing sides of the gate structure; forming a recess between gate spacers of the gate structure by recessing the gate structure below upper surfaces of the gate spacers; depositing a first layer of a dielectric material in the recess along sidewalls and a bottom of the recess; after depositing the first layer, performing a first etching process to remove portions of the first layer of the dielectric material; and after the first etching process, depositing a second layer of the dielectric material in the recess over the first layer of the dielectric material.

A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor protruding structure over a substrate and surrounding the semiconductor protruding structure with an insulating layer. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer over the insulating layer. The method further includes partially removing the dielectric layer and insulating layer using a planarization process. As a result, topmost surfaces of the semiconductor protruding structure, the insulating layer, and the dielectric layer are substantially level with each other. In addition, the method includes forming a protective layer to cover the topmost surfaces of the dielectric layer. The method includes recessing the insulating layer after the protective layer is formed such that the semiconductor protruding structure and a portion of the dielectric layer protrude from a top surface of a remaining portion of the insulating layer.

A method for transferring a thin layer onto a carrier substrate comprises preparing a carrier substrate using a preparation method involving supplying a base substrate having, on a main face, a charge-trapping layer and forming a dielectric layer having a thickness greater than 200 nm on the charge-trapping layer. Once the dielectric layer is formed, the ionized deposition and sputtering of the dielectric layer are simultaneously performed. The transfer method also comprises assembling, by way of molecular adhesion and with an unpolished free face of the dielectric layer, a donor substrate to the dielectric layer of the carrier substrate, the donor substrate having an embrittlement plane defining the thin layer. Finally, the method comprises splitting the donor substrate at the embrittlement plane to release the thin layer and to transfer it onto the carrier substrate.

A method of depositing nitride films is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a PEALD process for depositing nitride films which utilizes separate reaction and nitridation plasmas. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved growth per cycle (GPC) relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved film quality relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure.

A substrate processing method capable of achieving uniform etch selectivity in the entire thickness range of a thin film formed on a stepped structure includes: forming a thin film on a substrate by performing a plurality of cycles including forming at least one layer and applying plasma to the at least one layer under a first process condition; and applying plasma to the thin film under a second process condition different from the first process condition.

Semiconductor device structures having low-k features and methods of forming low-k features are described herein. Some examples relate to a surface modification layer, which may protect a low-k feature during subsequent processing. Some examples relate to gate spacers that include a low-k feature. Some examples relate to a low-k contact etch stop layer. Example methods are described for forming such features.