A plurality of first wiring layers are arranged on a main surface of a substrate, a first insulating film is arranged on upper faces of the plurality of first wiring layers, a second insulating film is arranged on an upper face of the first insulating film, and a plurality of second wiring layers are arranged on the second insulating film. A metal resistive element layer is arranged just below at least one second wiring layer among the plurality of second wiring layers. A plurality of conductive layers extend from the plurality of second wiring layers respectively to the metal resistive element layer in a Z direction perpendicular to the main surface. The metal resistive element layer includes a metal wiring layer. At least one part of a side face of at least one conductive layer among the plurality of conductive layers is connected to the metal wiring layer.

Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over a substrate. The method also includes forming a passivation layer over the interconnect structure. The method further includes forming an opening in the passivation layer to expose a portion of the interconnect structure. In addition, the method includes sequentially forming a lower barrier film, an upper barrier film, and an aluminum-containing layer in the opening. The lower barrier film and the upper barrier film are made of metal nitride, and the upper barrier film has a nitrogen atomic percentage that is higher than a nitrogen atomic percentage of the lower barrier film and has an amorphous structure.

A semiconductor structure and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a conductive structure that comprises: an upper conductive line arranged above and in electrical connection with a circuit component in a lower device layer through a via plug, wherein the upper conductive line extends laterally over the via plug; an interposing layer having a substantially uniform thickness arranged between the via plug and the upper conductive line, and extending laterally beyond a planar projection of the via plug, wherein the upper conductive line is in electrical connection with the via plug through the interposing layer; and an overlayer is disposed over the upper conductive line.

Semiconductor devices may include a structure on a substrate, an insulating interlayer, a metal silicide pattern, a first barrier pattern, a second barrier pattern and a metal pattern. The structure may include silicon. The insulating interlayer may include a contact hole exposing a surface of the structure. The metal silicide pattern may be in a lower portion of the contact hole, and the metal silicide pattern may directly contact the exposed surface of the structure. The first barrier pattern may directly contact an upper surface of the metal silicide pattern and a sidewall of the contact hole. The first barrier pattern may include a metal nitride. The second barrier pattern may be formed on the first barrier pattern. The second barrier pattern may include a metal nitride. The metal pattern may be formed on the second barrier pattern. The metal pattern may be in the contact hole.

A method for forming a multilayer barrier comprises forming a conductive line over a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer over the conductive line, forming a plug opening in the dielectric layer, forming a multilayer barrier through a plurality of deposition processes and corresponding plasma treatment processes.

A semiconductor structure including a first metal line and a second metal line in a dielectric layer, the first metal line and the second metal line are adjacent and within the same dielectric level; an air gap structure in the dielectric layer and between the first metal line and the second metal line, wherein the air gap structure includes an air gap oxide layer and an air gap; and a barrier layer between the air gap structure and the first metal line, wherein the barrier layer is an oxidized metal layer.

Image sensor devices, design methods thereof, and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a design method for an image sensor device includes providing an initial design for an image sensor device. The initial design includes a pixel array region and a through-via region disposed proximate the pixel array region. The initial design has a first length between the pixel array region and the through-via region. The initial design has a second length that is a width of the through-via region. The design method includes analyzing a ratio of the second length and the first length, and modifying the initial design to achieve an optimal ratio of the second length and the first length.

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer, a via, a first graphene layer, and a metal line. The dielectric layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The via extends through the dielectric layer. The first graphene layer extends along a top surface of the via. The metal line spans the first graphene layer. The metal line has a line width decreasing as a distance from the first graphene layer increases.

A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first interlayer insulating layer including a first trench, on a substrate a first liner layer formed along a side wall and a bottom surface of the first trench and including noble metal, the noble metal belonging to one of a fifth period and a sixth period of a periodic chart that follows numbering of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and belonging to one of eighth to tenth groups of the periodic chart, and a first metal wire filling the first trench on the first liner layer, a top surface of the first metal wire having a convex shape toward a bottom suffice of the first trench.

In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices including metallizations (e.g. a Re-Distribution Layer—RDL metallizations) includes providing a capping stack onto the metallizations. The stack includes a pair of nickel layers having therebetween a layer of ductile material such as palladium or gold.