A dielectric layer and a method of forming thereof. An opening defined in a dielectric layer and a wire deposited within the opening, wherein the wire includes a core material surrounded by a jacket material, wherein the jacket material exhibits a first resistivity ρ1 and the core material exhibits a second resistivity ρ2 and ρ2 is less than ρ1.

In various embodiments, electronic devices such as thin-film transistors and/or touch-panel displays incorporate bilayer capping layers and/or barrier layers.

An integrated circuit device includes a metal film and a complex capping layer covering a top surface of the metal film. The metal film includes a first metal, and penetrates at least a portion of an insulating film formed over a substrate. The complex capping layer includes a conductive alloy capping layer covering the top surface of the metal film, and an insulating capping layer covering a top surface of the conductive alloy capping layer and a top surface of the insulating film. The conductive alloy capping layer includes a semiconductor element and a second metal different from the first metal. The insulating capping layer includes a third metal.

In one exemplary aspect, a method for semiconductor manufacturing comprises forming first and second silicon nitride features on sidewall surfaces of a contact hole, where the contact hole is disposed in a dielectric layer and above a source/drain (S/D) feature. The method further comprises forming a contact plug in the contact hole, the contact plug being electrically coupled to the S/D feature, removing a top portion of the contact plug to create a recess in the contact hole, forming a hard mask layer in the recess, and removing the first and second silicon nitride features via selective etching to form first and second air gaps, respectively.

The present disclosure provides a method that includes depositing a metal layer onto a substrate, subtractive patterning the metal layer into first metal lines, and forming at least one second metal line between two adjacent ones of the first metal lines using a damascene process. The first metal lines have a different metallization structure from the at least one second metal line.

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.

An interconnect structure and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, the structure includes a first dielectric layer and one or more first conductive features disposed in the first dielectric layer. The one or more first conductive features includes a first metal. The structure further includes a plurality of graphene layers disposed on each of the one or more first conductive features, the plurality of graphene layers include a second metal intercalated therebetween, and the second metal is different from the first metal.

Exemplary methods of electroplating may include providing a patterned substrate having at least one opening, where the opening includes one or more sidewalls and a bottom surface. The methods may also include plating a first portion of ruthenium-containing material on the bottom surface of the opening at a first deposition rate and a second portion of ruthenium-containing material on the sidewalls of the opening at a second deposition rate, where the first deposition rate is greater than the second deposition rate. The methods may be used to make integrated circuit devices that include void-free, electrically-conductive lines and columns of ruthenium-containing materials.

Interconnect structures and methods of forming the same are provided. An interconnect structure according to the present disclosure includes a conductive line feature over a substrate, a conductive etch stop layer over the conductive line feature, a contact via over the conductive etch stop layer, and a barrier layer disposed along a sidewall of the conductive line feature, a sidewall of the conductive etch stop layer, and a sidewall of the contact via.