A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes: providing a substrate; forming a stacked structure on the substrate; forming a barrier layer on a sidewall of the stacked structure; forming a first dielectric layer covering the barrier layer and the stacked structure; removing a portion of the first dielectric layer to expose an upper portion of the stacked structure; forming a metal layer covering the stacked structure and the first dielectric layer; performing an annealing process to react the metal layer with the stacked structure to form a metal silicide layer at the upper portion of the stacked structure; removing an unreacted portion of the metal layer; removing a portion of the barrier layer to form a recess above the barrier layer; and forming a second dielectric layer covering the metal silicide layer and the first dielectric layer to form air gaps on both sides of the stacked structure.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure having different filling layers. The method includes forming a multi-layer stack in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the multi-layer stack has a first filling layer and a second layer, the semiconductor substrate has two through vias, and two top portions of the multi-layer stack are respectively exposed through the two through vias. The method further includes recessing the multi-layer stack from the two through vias to respectively form two blind holes in the first filling layer and the second filling layer; selectively etching the second filling layer to form a global cavity between the two blind holes; filling the global cavity and the two blind holes with dielectric filling material to form an air void in the multi-layer stack; and forming a switch device over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the air void is formed under the switch device.

Disclosed are semiconductor structure embodiments of a semiconductor-on-insulator region on a bulk substrate. The semiconductor-on-insulator region includes an upper semiconductor layer above and physically separated from the substrate by insulator-containing cavities (e.g., by dielectric layer and/or a pocket of trapped air, of trapped gas, or under vacuum) and, optionally, by a lower semiconductor layer. Disclosed method embodiments include forming openings that extend vertically through the upper semiconductor layer, through a sacrificial semiconductor layer and, optionally, through a lower semiconductor layer to the substrate. Then, a selective isotropic etch process is performed to form cavities, which extend laterally off the sides of the openings into the sacrificial semiconductor layer. Depending upon the embodiments, different process steps are further performed to form plugs in at least the upper portions of the openings and insulators (including dielectric layers and/or a pocket of trapped air, of trapped gas or under vacuum) in the cavities.

A semiconductor device may include a Silicon on Insulator (SOI) substrate, and a diode formed on the SOI substrate, the diode including a cathode region and an anode region. The semiconductor device may include at least one breakdown voltage trench disposed at an edge of the cathode region, and between the cathode region and the anode region.

The present disclosure relates to integrated circuits which include various structural elements designed to reduce the impact of strain on the electronic components of the circuit. In particular, a combination of trenches and cavities are used to mechanically isolate the integrated circuit from the surrounding substrate. The trenches may be formed such that they surround the integrated circuit, and the cavities may be formed under the integrated circuit. As such, the integrated circuit may be formed on a portion of the substrate that forms a platform. In order that the platform does not move, it may be tethered to the surrounding substrate. By including such mechanical elements, variation in the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit are reduced.

Structures for a bipolar junction transistor and methods of forming a structure for a bipolar junction transistor. The structure includes a dielectric layer having a cavity, a first semiconductor layer on the dielectric layer, a collector including a portion on the first semiconductor layer, an emitter including a portion on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer that includes a first section in the cavity and a second section. The second section of the second semiconductor layer is laterally positioned between the portion of the collector and the portion of the emitter.

Methods and devices for protecting against electrical discharges are provided. One such device for protecting against electrical discharges includes a semiconductor substrate and an isolation trench in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation trench includes an enclosed space that contains a gas.

A fin transistor structure is provided. The fin transistor structure includes a first substrate. An insulation layer is disposed on the first substrate. A plurality of fin structures are disposed on the insulation layer. A supporting dielectric layer fixes the fin structures at the fin structures at waist parts thereof. A gate structure layer is disposed on the supporting dielectric layer and covers a portion of the fin structures.

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. First patterned structures are formed on a substrate. Each of the first patterned structures includes a first semiconductor pattern and a first bottom protection pattern disposed between the first semiconductor pattern and the substrate. A first protection layer is formed on the first patterned structures and the substrate. A part of the first protection layer is located between the first patterned structures. A first opening is formed in the first protection layer between the first patterned structures. The first opening penetrates the first protection layer and exposes a part of the substrate. A first etching process is performed after forming the first opening. A part of the substrate under the first patterned structures is removed by the first etching process for suspending at least a part of each of the first patterned structures above the substrate.

A semiconductor device may include a Silicon on Insulator (SOI) substrate, and a diode formed on the SOI substrate, the diode including a cathode region and an anode region. The semiconductor device may include at least one breakdown voltage trench disposed at an edge of the cathode region, and between the cathode region and the anode region.