A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor structure also includes a conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. The conductive feature includes a high-k dielectric layer and a metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, and a top surface of the metal layer is below a top surface of the high-k dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal-semiconductor compound layer formed on the epitaxial structure. In addition, the semiconductor structure includes a first metal contact structure formed on the top surface of the metal layer of the conductive feature. The semiconductor structure further includes a second metal contact structure formed on the metal-semiconductor compound layer.

A method and a structure for determining a blocking ability of a copper diffusion blocking layer are disclosed. The method includes: a step S1 of forming an a-Si semiconductor layer, the copper diffusion blocking layer, and a copper electrode layer on a glass substrate; a step S2 of forming a transparent electrode layer on the glass substrate; a step S3 of performing a high temperature deterioration process to the glass substrate; and a step S4 of observing a degree of forming the black copper-silicon alloy layer on a surface of a composite film layer sample of the glass substrate.

The present disclosure describes a method for forming capping layers configured to prevent the migration of out-diffused cobalt atoms into upper metallization layers In some embodiments, the method includes depositing a cobalt diffusion barrier layer on a liner-free conductive structure that includes ruthenium, where depositing the cobalt diffusion barrier layer includes forming the cobalt diffusion barrier layer self-aligned to the liner-free conductive structure. The method also includes depositing, on the cobalt diffusion barrier layer, a stack with an etch stop layer and dielectric layer, and forming an opening in the stack to expose the cobalt diffusion barrier layer. Finally, the method includes forming a conductive structure on the cobalt diffusion barrier layer.

A semiconductor device includes a work piece comprising a first material, a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (first CTE). Recesses extend into the work piece from the first side and includes a pattern. A second material having a second CTE is within the recesses and is over the first material between the recesses; and A third material having a third CTE is over one of the second side or the second material. The third CTE and the second CTE are different than the first CTE.

A method of gap filling a feature on a substrate decreases the feature-to-feature gap fill height variation by using a tungsten halide soak treatment. In some embodiments, the method may include heating a substrate to a temperature of approximately 350 degrees Celsius to approximately 450 degrees Celsius, exposing the substrate to a tungsten halide gas at a process pressure of approximately 5 Torr to approximately 25 Torr, soaking the substrate for a soak time of approximately 5 seconds to approximately 60 seconds with the tungsten halide gas, and performing a metal preclean process and a gap fill deposition on a plurality of features on the substrate after soaking of the substrate has completed.

Disclosed are methods and systems for filling a gap. An exemplary method comprises providing a substrate to a reaction chamber. The substrate comprises the gap. The method further comprises forming a convertible layer on the substrate and exposing the substrate to a conversion reactant. Accordingly, at least a part of the convertible layer is converted into a gap filling fluid. The gap filling fluid at least partially fills the gap. The methods and systems are useful, for example, in the field of integrated circuit manufacture.

A method and system for forming material within a gap on a surface of a substrate using metal material are disclosed. An exemplary method includes forming a layer of meltable material overlying the substrate and heating the meltable material to a flow temperature to form molten material that flows within the gap.

A method includes providing a substrate having a conductive column, a dielectric layer over the conductive column, and a plurality of sacrificial blocks over the dielectric layer, the plurality of sacrificial blocks surrounding the conductive column from a top view; depositing a sacrificial layer covering the plurality of sacrificial blocks, the sacrificial layer having a dip directly above the conductive column; depositing a hard mask layer over the sacrificial layer; removing a portion of the hard mask layer from a bottom of the dip; etching the bottom of the dip using the hard mask layer as an etching mask, thereby exposing a top surface of the conductive column; and forming a conductive material inside the dip, the conductive material being in physical contact with the top surface of the conductive column.

Methods of depositing platinum group metal films of high purity, low resistivity, and good conformality are described. A platinum group metal film is formed in the absence of an oxidant. The platinum group metal film is selectively deposited on a conductive substrate at a temperature less than 200° C. by using an organic platinum group metal precursor.

Methods of mitigating line bending during feature fill include deposition of an amorphous layer and/or an inhibition treatment during fill.