The present invention relates to an abrasive and a planarization method using the same, and more particularly, includes fumed silica. A BET specific surface area of the fumed silica is 200 m.sup.2/g to 450 m.sup.2/g, a shape of aggregates dispersed in the abrasive has an elongated shape or a round shape, and a ratio of the round shape of the aggregates is 50% to 90%.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a memory region and a logic region integrated in a substrate. A plurality of memory cell structures is disposed on the memory region. Each memory cell structure of the plurality of memory cell structures comprises a control gate electrode disposed over the substrate, a select gate electrode disposed on one side of the control gate electrode, and a spacer between the control gate electrode and the select gate electrode. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is disposed along an upper surface of the substrate, extending upwardly along and in direct contact with a sidewall surface of the select gate electrode within the memory region. A lower inter-layer dielectric layer is disposed on the CESL between the plurality of memory cell structures within the memory region.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure. For example, the method can include forming a stack of metal structures on a substrate, the stack of metal structures including multiple metal structures that are vertically stacked over and electrically separated from one another, each of the metal structures including a ring and one or more pad contacts extending from the ring, the rings of the metal structures being vertically aligned with one another. The method can also include forming one or more channel structures within the rings of the metal structures, the channel structures being electrically separated from one another and electrically separated from the substrate. The method can also include forming one or more interconnections that extend from a position above the stack of metal structures to corresponding one or more of the pad contacts of the metal structures.

A method includes forming a first conductive feature, depositing a graphite layer over the first conductive feature, patterning the graphite layer to form a graphite conductive feature, depositing a dielectric spacer layer on the graphite layer, depositing a first dielectric layer over the dielectric spacer layer, planarizing the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and forming a second conductive feature in the second dielectric layer. The second conductive feature is over and electrically connected to the graphite conductive feature.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes a step of performing a chemical mechanical polishing process on a first silicon oxide layer to form a planar surface layer; surface treatment is performed on the planar surface layer to form a treated planarization layer, and a second silicon oxide layer is formed on the treated planarization layer.

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a doped region within the substrate; a pair of source/drain regions extending along a first direction on opposite sides of the doped region; a gate electrode disposed in the doped region, wherein the gate electrode has a plurality of first segments extending in parallel along the first direction; and a protection structure over the substrate and at least partially overlaps the gate electrode.

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a gate electrode disposed within the substrate; a gate dielectric layer disposed within the substrate and surrounding the gate electrode; a plurality of first protection structures disposed over the gate electrode; a second protection structure disposed over the gate dielectric layer; and a pair of source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate dielectric layer.

To provide modified colloidal silica capable of improving the stability of the polishing speed with time when used as abrasive grains in a polishing composition for polishing a polishing object that contains a material to which charged modified colloidal silica easily adheres, such as a SiN wafer, and to provide a method for producing the modified colloidal silica. Modified colloidal silica, being obtained by modifying raw colloidal silica, wherein the raw colloidal silica has a number distribution ratio of 10% or less of microparticles having a particle size of 40% or less relative to a volume average particle size based on Heywood diameter (equivalent circle diameter) as determined by image analysis using a scanning electron microscope.

Methods of cutting gate structures and fins, and structures formed thereby, are described. In an embodiment, a substrate includes first and second fins and an isolation region. The first and second fins extend longitudinally parallel, with the isolation region disposed therebetween. A gate structure includes a conformal gate dielectric over the first fin and a gate electrode over the conformal gate dielectric. A first insulating fill structure abuts the gate structure and extends vertically from a level of an upper surface of the gate structure to at least a surface of the isolation region. No portion of the conformal gate dielectric extends vertically between the first insulating fill structure and the gate electrode. A second insulating fill structure abuts the first insulating fill structure and an end sidewall of the second fin. The first insulating fill structure is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the second insulating fill structure.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over a substrate, a CMP stop layer is formed over the first ILD layer, a trench opening is formed by patterning the CMP stop layer and the first ILD layer, an underlying first process mark is formed by forming a first conductive layer in the trench opening, a lower dielectric layer is formed over the underlying first process mark, a middle dielectric layer is formed over the lower dielectric layer, an upper dielectric layer is formed over the middle dielectric layer, a planarization operation is performed on the upper, middle and lower dielectric layers so that a part of the middle dielectric layer remains over the underlying first process mark, and a second process mark by the lower dielectric layer is formed by removing the remaining part of the middle dielectric layer.