A semiconductor device with reduced contact resistance is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region and a source/drain region, a source/drain contact structure over the source/drain region, a conductive structure over the source/drain contact structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the conductive structure and source/drain contact structure, a dielectric liner between the ILD layer and the conductive structure, and a diffusion barrier between the dielectric liner and the conductive structure.

A layer of carbon (e.g., graphite or graphene) at a metal interface (e.g., between an MEOL interconnect and a gate contact or a source or drain region contact, between an MEOL contact plug and a BEOL metallization layer, and/or between BEOL conductive structures) is used to reduce contact resistance at the metal interface, which increases electrical performance of an electronic device. Additionally, in some implementations, the layer of carbon may help prevent heat transfer from a second metal to a first metal when the second metal is deposited over the first metal. This results in more symmetric deposition of the second metal, which reduces surface roughness and contact resistance at the metal interface. As an alternative, in some implementations, the layer of carbon is etched before deposition of the second metal in order to reduce contact resistance at the metal interface.

The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a porous insulating layer positioned above the substrate, a first conductive feature positioned in the porous insulating layer, and covering liners including two top segments and two side segments. The two side segments are positioned on sidewalls of the first conductive feature, and the two top segments are positioned on top surfaces of the porous insulating layer.

A stacked device is provided. The stacked device includes a reduced height active device layer, and a plurality of lower source/drain regions in the reduced height active device layer. The stacked device further includes a lower interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the plurality of lower source/drain regions, and a conductive trench spacer in the lower interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, wherein the conductive trench spacer is adjacent to one of the plurality of lower source/drain regions. The stacked device further includes a top active device layer adjacent to the lower interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, and an upper source/drain section in the top active device layer. The stacked device further includes a shared contact in electrical connection with the upper source/drain section, the conductive trench spacer, and the one of the plurality of lower source/drain regions.

Provided are an interconnect structure and an electronic device including the same. The interconnect structure may include a first dielectric layer including a trench, a conductive wire filling an inside of trench, and a cap layer on a top surface of the conductive wire. The cap layer may include graphene doped with a group V element. A second dielectric layer may be on a top surface of the first cap layer.

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first insulating interlayer disposed on a first surface of a substrate; a pad pattern disposed on a lower surface of the first insulating interlayer, the pad pattern including a first copper pattern; and a through silicon via passing through the substrate and the first insulating interlayer, and contacting the first copper pattern of the pad pattern. The through silicon via includes a first portion passing through the substrate and the first insulating interlayer, and a second portion under the first portion and extending to a portion of the first copper pattern in the pad pattern. A boundary of the through silicon via has a bent portion between the first portion and the second portion.

A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming an etch stop layer over a conductive feature, forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, forming an opening in the dielectric layer to reveal the etch stop layer, and etching the etch stop layer through the opening using an etchant comprising an inhibitor. An inhibitor film comprising the inhibitor is formed on the conductive feature. The method further includes depositing a conductive barrier layer extending into the opening, performing a treatment to remove the inhibitor film after the conductive barrier layer is deposited, and depositing a conductive material to fill a remaining portion of the opening.

A method of making a semiconductor component includes forming a lower level including an interconnect structure. The method includes forming an upper level including a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a barrier layer arranged between the first and second dielectric layers. The method includes forming a cavity in the upper level such that a portion of the interconnect structure and a portion of the barrier layer are exposed. The method includes forming a barrier material on all surfaces exposed by the formation of the cavity. The method includes removing the barrier material from all substantially horizontal surfaces exposed by the formation of the cavity. The method includes filling the cavity with an interconnect material such that the interconnect material is in direct contact with the interconnect structure and the barrier layer.

Semiconductor devices includes a first interlayer insulating layer, a lower interconnection line in the first interlayer insulating layer, an etch stop layer on the first interlayer insulating layer and the lower interconnection line, a second interlayer insulating layer on the etch stop layer, and an upper interconnection line in the second interlayer insulating layer. The upper interconnection line includes a via portion extending through the etch stop layer and contacting the lower interconnection line. The via portion includes a barrier pattern and a conductive pattern. The barrier pattern includes a first barrier layer between the conductive pattern and the second interlayer insulating layer, and a second barrier layer between the conductive pattern and the lower interconnection line. A resistivity of the first barrier layer is greater than that of the second barrier layer. A nitrogen concentration of the first barrier layer is greater than that of the second barrier layer.

Methods of depositing a metal film are discussed. A metal film is formed on the bottom of feature having a metal bottom and dielectric sidewalls. Formation of the metal film comprises exposure to a metal precursor and an alkyl halide catalyst while the substrate is maintained at a deposition temperature. The metal precursor has a decomposition temperature above the deposition temperature. The alkyl halide comprises carbon and halogen, and the halogen comprises bromine or iodine.