A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first via structure in a first dielectric layer, the first via structure including a first contact via surface. At least a portion of the first via structure is in direct contact with the first dielectric layer. The second semiconductor structure includes a second via structure in a second dielectric layer, the second via structure including a second contact via surface. At least a portion of the second via structure is in direct contact with the second dielectric layer. The first contact via surface is bonded with the second contact via surface. The second contact via surface and the first contact via surface have an overlapping interface in the vertical direction. A first barrier layer is formed at a non-overlapping interface in the first contact via surface and the second contact via surface. The first barrier layer contains a multi-component oxide.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a first opening in a first dielectric material; forming a first barrier layer in the first opening; forming a first seed material including copper and manganese on the first barrier layer, in which the manganese in the first seed material is in a range of from 0.10 at % to 0.40 at %; forming a first conductive material on the first seed material; and moving at least some of the manganese of the first seed material to a location proximate an interface between the first seed material and the first barrier layer. Another method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure are also provided.

A method includes forming a trench within a dielectric layer, the trench comprising an interconnect portion and a via portion, the via portion exposing an underlying conductive feature. The method further includes depositing a seed layer within the trench, depositing a carbon layer on the seed layer, performing a carbon dissolution process to cause a graphene layer to form between the seed layer and the underlying conductive feature, and filling a remainder of the trench with a conductive material.

A high-electron mobility transistor includes a substrate; a channel layer on the substrate; a AlGaN layer on the channel layer; and a P—GaN gate on the AlGaN layer. The AlGaN layer comprises a first region and a second region. The first region has a composition that is different from that of the second region.

Techniques are disclosed for forming transistor devices having reduced parasitic contact resistance relative to conventional devices. The techniques can be implemented, for example, using a standard contact stack such as a series of metals on, for example, silicon or silicon germanium (SiGe) source/drain regions. In accordance with one example such embodiment, an intermediate boron doped germanium layer is provided between the source/drain and contact metals to significantly reduce contact resistance. Numerous transistor configurations and suitable fabrication processes will be apparent in light of this disclosure, including both planar and non-planar transistor structures (e.g., FinFETs), as well as strained and unstrained channel structures. Graded buffering can be used to reduce misfit dislocation. The techniques are particularly well-suited for implementing p-type devices, but can be used for n-type devices if so desired.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to improved methods for forming an interconnect structure in a substrate. In one implementation, the method includes forming a barrier layer on exposed surfaces of a feature in a dielectric layer, forming a liner layer on the barrier layer, forming a seed layer on the liner layer, forming a metal fill on the seed layer by a metal fill process and overburdening the feature using an electroplating process, performing a planarization process to expose a top surface of the dielectric layer, and selectively forming a cobalt-aluminum alloy cap layer on the barrier layer, the liner layer, the seed layer, and the metal fill by exposing the substrate to a cobalt-containing precursor and an aluminum-containing precursor.

A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor device includes an annealed cobalt plug over a silicide in a first opening of the semiconductor device, wherein the annealed cobalt plug has a repaired lattice structure. The annealed cobalt plug is formed by annealing a cobalt plug at a first temperature for a first duration, while exposing the cobalt plug to a first gas. The repaired lattice structure of the annealed cobalt plug is more regular or homogenized as compared to a cobalt plug that is not so annealed, such that the annealed cobalt plug has a relatively increased conductivity or reduced resistivity.

A vertical semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having at least one trench therein, and a superlattice layer extending vertically adjacent the at least one trench. The superlattice layer may comprise stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. Each at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of each group of layers may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The vertical semiconductor device may also include a doped semiconductor layer adjacent the superlattice layer, and a conductive body adjacent the doped semiconductor layer on a side thereof opposite the superlattice layer and defining a vertical semiconductor device contact.

A method comprises depositing a barrier layer on a dielectric layer to prevent oxidation of a metal layer to be deposited by electroplating due to an oxide present in the dielectric layer and depositing a doped liner layer on the barrier layer to bond with the metal layer to be deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating. The dopant forms a protective passivation layer on a surface of the liner layer and dissolves during the electroplating so that the metal layer deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating bonds with the liner layer. The dopant reacts with the dielectric layer and forms a layer of a compound between the barrier layer and the dielectric layer. The compound layer prevents oxidation of the barrier layer and the liner layer due to the oxide present in the dielectric layer and adheres the barrier layer to the dielectric layer.

The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a dielectric layer formed on the substrate; an opening, formed through the dielectric layer; a contact layer formed at bottom of the opening; a blocking layer formed on a sidewall surface of the opening; and a plug formed in the opening. The plug is formed on a sidewall surface of the blocking layer and in contact with the contact layer.