A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first conductive feature over a portion of the substrate, and an etch stop layer over the substrate and the first conductive feature. The etch stop layer includes a silicon-containing dielectric (SCD) layer and a metal-containing dielectric (MCD) layer over the SCD layer. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and a second conductive feature in the dielectric layer. The second conductive feature penetrates the etch stop layer and electrically connects to the first conductive feature.

A memory device including a plurality of first conductive lines arranged on a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate; a plurality of capping liners on sidewalls of each of the plurality of first conductive lines, the plurality of capping liners having top surfaces at a vertical level equal to top surfaces of the plurality of first conductive lines, and bottom surfaces at a vertical level higher than bottom surfaces of the plurality of first conductive lines; and an insulating layer on the substrate, the insulating layer filling spaces between the plurality of first conductive lines and covering sidewalls of the plurality of capping liners.

A barrier layer is selectively formed on a bottom surface of a recess (e.g., in which a back end of line (BEOL) conductive structure will be formed) using a combination of flash physical vapor deposition with atomic layer deposition. Additionally, a ruthenium liner is selectively deposited on sidewalls of the BEOL conductive structure using a blocking material. Accordingly, the barrier layer prevents diffusion of metal ions from the BEOL conductive structure and is thinner at the bottom surface as compared to the sidewalls in order to reduce contact resistance. Additionally, the ruthenium liner improves copper flow into the BEOL conductive structure and is thinner at the bottom surface in order to further reduce contact resistance.

An interconnection structure includes a conductive feature disposed in a first dielectric material, a first etch stop layer disposed over the first dielectric material, a second dielectric material disposed on the first etch stop layer, a conductive via extending through the second dielectric material and the first etch stop layer and in contact with at least a portion of the conductive feature, a first barrier layer disposed between the second dielectric material and the conductive via, a first liner disposed between and in contact with the first barrier layer and the conductive via, a third dielectric material disposed over the second dielectric material, a conductive line disposed in the third dielectric material and in direct contact with the conductive via, a second barrier layer disposed on the second dielectric material and in contact with the first barrier layer and the conductive line, and a second liner disposed between and in contact with the second barrier layer and the conductive line, wherein the second liner is separated from the first liner.

A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer has a via opening and a conductive line opening. The semiconductor device further includes a via in the via opening, wherein the via includes a first conductive material. The semiconductor device further includes a conductive line in the conductive line opening. The conductive line includes a first liner layer, wherein a first thickness of the first liner layer over the via is less than a second thickness of the first liner layer over the insulating layer, and a conductive fill comprising a second conductive material different from the first conductive material.

At least one opening having a biconvex shape is formed into a dielectric material layer. A void-free metallization region (interconnect metallic region and/or metallic contact region) is provided to each of the openings. The void-free metallization region has the biconvex shape and exhibits a low wire resistance.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having an inter-tier interconnecting structure having horizontal components, which is arranged within a semiconductor substrate and configured to electrically couple a first device tier to a second device tier. The integrated chip has a first device tier with a first semiconductor substrate. A first inter-tier interconnecting structure is disposed inside the first semiconductor substrate. The first inter-tier interconnecting structure has a first segment extending in a first direction and a second segment protruding outward from a sidewall of the first segment in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A second device tier is electrically coupled to the first device tier by the first inter-tier interconnecting structure.

In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate. The device further includes a first interconnect which includes a first layer provided on the substrate and formed of a first interconnect material, and a second layer provided on the first layer, formed of a second interconnect material different from the first interconnect material, and having a first lower face, and has a first width. The device further includes a second interconnect which includes a third layer provided on the substrate and formed of the first interconnect material, a fourth layer provided on the third layer, formed of the second interconnect material, and having a second lower face lower than the first lower face, and has a second width greater than the first width.

A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor structure; a second semiconductor structure on the first semiconductor structure; an active region between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure, wherein the active region includes multiple alternating well layers and barrier layers, wherein each of the barrier layers has a band gap, the active region further includes an upper surface facing the second semiconductor structure and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; an electron blocking region between the second semiconductor structure and the active region, wherein the electron blocking region includes a band gap, and the band gap of the electron blocking region is greater than the band gap of one of the barrier layers; a first aluminum-containing layer between the electron blocking region and the active region, wherein the first aluminum-containing layer has a band gap greater than the band gap of the electron blocking region; a confinement layer between the first aluminum-containing layer and the active region, wherein the confinement layer includes a thickness smaller than the thickness of one of the barrier layers; and a p-type dopant above the bottom surface of the active region and comprising a concentration profile comprising a peak shape having a peak concentration value, wherein the peak concentration value lies in the electron blocking region.

A method for fabricating an advanced metal conductor structure is described. A pattern in a dielectric layer is provided. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is created over the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is deposited over the adhesion promoting layer. Using a physical vapor deposition process, a cobalt layer is deposited over the ruthenium layer. A thermal anneal is performed which reflows the cobalt layer to fill the set of features to form a set of metal conductor structures. In another aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit device is formed using the method.