An object of the present invention is to improve a substrate processing apparatus using the CARE method. The present invention provides a substrate processing apparatus for polishing a processing target region of a substrate by bringing the substrate and a catalyst into contact with each other in the presence of processing liquid. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holding unit configured to hold the substrate, a catalyst holding unit configured to hold the catalyst, and a driving unit configured to move the substrate holding unit and the catalyst holding unit relative to each other with the processing target region of the substrate and the catalyst kept in contact with each other. The catalyst is smaller than the substrate.

A finFET device and a method of forming are provided. The method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a transistor. The method also includes forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a first opening in the second dielectric layer to expose at least a portion of a gate electrode of the transistor. The method also includes forming a second opening in the first dielectric layer to expose at least a portion of a source/drain region of the transistor. The second opening is connected to the first opening, and the first opening is formed before the second opening. The method also includes forming an electrical connector in the first opening and the second opening.

A method includes providing a first wafer including a first substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed over the first substrate and a first component formed within the first dielectric layer; providing a second wafer including a second substrate, a second dielectric layer disposed over the second substrate, and a second component formed within the second dielectric layer; removing a first portion of the first dielectric layer to form a first recess; removing a second portion of the second dielectric layer to form a second recess; disposing the second wafer over the first wafer to bond the first dielectric layer to the second dielectric layer; removing a third portion of the second substrate and the second dielectric layer to form a third recess coupled to the second recess; and disposing a conductive material to fill the first recess, the second recess and the third recess to form a conductive structure.

Techniques are disclosed for providing a decoupled via fill. Given a via trench, a first barrier layer is conformally deposited onto the bottom and sidewalls of the trench. A first metal fill is blanket deposited into the trench. The non-selective deposition is subsequently recessed so that only a portion of the trench is filled with the first metal. The previously deposited first barrier layer is removed along with the first metal, thereby re-exposing the upper sidewalls of the trench. A second barrier layer is conformally deposited onto the top of the first metal and the now re-exposed trench sidewalls. A second metal fill is blanket deposited into the remaining trench. Planarization and/or etching can be carried out as needed for subsequent processing. Thus, a methodology for filling high aspect ratio vias using a dual metal process is provided. Note, however, the first and second fill metals may be the same.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure may include a front side and back side opposing the front side, the integrated circuit structure comprising: a through-silicon-via (TSV) at least partially within a dielectric layer extending away from the front side; a first metal adjacent to the TSV and within the dielectric layer, the first metal being substantially surrounded by a first seed layer; a conductive pad over the first metal and the TSV and extending away from the front side, wherein the conductive pad provides electrical connection between the TSV and the first metal and includes a second seed layer substantially surrounding a second metal, wherein the second seed layer separates the second metal from the first metal and the TSV.

The CMP polishing liquid of the invention comprises a metal salt containing at least one type of metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups 8, 11, 12 and 13, 1,2,4-triazole, a phosphorus acid, an oxidizing agent and abrasive grains. The polishing method of the invention comprises a step of polishing at least a palladium layer with an abrasive cloth while supplying a CMP polishing liquid between the palladium layer of a substrate having the palladium layer and the abrasive cloth, wherein the CMP polishing liquid comprises a metal salt containing at least one type of metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups 8, 11, 12 and 13, 1,2,4-triazole, a phosphorus acid, an oxidizing agent and abrasive grains.

A method of improving the surface of an object treats the surface with a neutral beam formed from a gas cluster ion mean to create a surface texture and/or increase surface area.

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a multi-layered sidewall spacer (MLSS) around a vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure, wherein the MLSS comprises a non-sacrificial innermost first spacer (a high-k insulating material), a sacrificial outermost spacer and at least one non-sacrificial second spacer (a metal-containing material) positioned between the innermost spacer and the outermost spacer, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial outermost spacer from the MLSS while leaving the at least one non-sacrificial second spacer and the non-sacrificial innermost first spacer in position and forming a final conductive gate electrode in place of the removed sacrificial outermost spacer.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus in accordance with one embodiment. The apparatus includes a wafer stage that is operable to secure and rotate a wafer; a polish head configured to polish a backside surface of the wafer; an air bearing module configured to apply an air pressure to a front surface of the wafer; and an edge sealing unit configured to seal edges of the wafer.

Transistors and method of forming he same include forming a fin on a bottom source/drain region having a channel region and a sacrificial region on the channel region. A gate stack is formed on sidewalls of the channel region. A gate conductor is formed in contact with the gate stack that has a top surface that meets a middle point of sidewalls of the sacrificial region. The sacrificial region is trimmed to create gaps above the gate stack. A top spacer is formed on the gate conductor having airgaps above the gate stack.