A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes depositing a first polish stop layer above a memory device, in which the first polish stop layer has a first portion over the memory device and a second portion that is not over the memory device; removing the second portion of the first polish stop layer; depositing an inter-layer dielectric layer over the first polish stop layer after removing the second portion of the first polish stop layer; and polishing the inter-layer dielectric layer until reaching the first portion of the first polish stop layer.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a middle-of-line (MOL) oxide layer in the semiconductor structure. The MOL oxide layer including multiple gate stacks formed on a substrate. A nitride layer is formed over a silicide in the MOL oxide layer. At least one self-aligned contact area (CA) element is formed within the nitride layer. The MOL oxide layer is selectively recessed on a first side and a second side of the at least one self-aligned CA element leaving remaining portions of the MOL oxide layer on the nitride layer and a nitride. A nitride cap of the plurality of gate stacks is selectively recessed. An air-gap oxide layer is deposited for introducing one or more air-gaps in the deposited air-gap oxide layer. The air gap oxide layer is reduced to the at least one self-aligned CA element and the nitride layer.

This disclosure relates to a polishing composition that includes at least one abrasive; at least one nitride removal rate reducing agent, an acid or a base; and water. The at least one nitride removal rate reduce agent can include a hydrophobic portion containing a C.sub.12 to C.sub.40 hydrocarbon group; and a hydrophilic portion containing at least one group selected from the group consisting of a sulfinite group, a sulfate group, a sulfonate group, a carboxylate group, a phosphate group, and a phosphonate group; in which the hydrophobic portion and the hydrophilic portion are separated by zero to ten alkylene oxide groups. The polishing composition can have a pH of about 2 to about 6.5.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, and first and second electrodes provided on front and back surfaces of the semiconductor body, respectively. The semiconductor body includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer selectively provided between the first electrode and the first semiconductor layer. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming a mask layer on a first insulating film provided on the front surface of the semiconductor body, the mask layer including an opening above the first semiconductor layer; selectively removing the first insulating film to expose the semiconductor body, the mask layer being entirely removed together with the first insulative film; and forming a second insulating film to contact the first insulating film and the semiconductor body. The first insulative film is selectively removed through the opening. The second insulating film is formed to be semi-insulative and contact the first semiconductor layer.

A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a pair of first fins extending from the substrate, a pair of second fins extending from the substrate, an isolation feature over the substrate and separating bottom portions of the first and the second fins, a pair of first epitaxial semiconductor features over the pair of first fins respectively, a pair of second epitaxial semiconductor features over the pair of second fins respectively, and a first dielectric feature sandwiched between and separating the pair of first epitaxial semiconductor features. The pair of second epitaxial semiconductor features merge with each other.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, and first and second electrodes provided on front and back surfaces of the semiconductor body, respectively. The semiconductor body includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer selectively provided between the first electrode and the first semiconductor layer. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming a mask layer on a first insulating film provided on the front surface of the semiconductor body, the mask layer including an opening above the first semiconductor layer; selectively removing the first insulating film to expose the semiconductor body, the mask layer being entirely removed together with the first insulative film; and forming a second insulating film to contact the first insulating film and the semiconductor body. The first insulative film is selectively removed through the opening. The second insulating film is formed to be semi-insulative and contact the first semiconductor layer.

A planarization method is provided and includes the following steps. A substrate having a main surface is provided. A protruding structure is formed on the main surface. An insulating layer is formed conformally covering the main surface and the top surface and the sidewall of the protruding structure. A stop layer is formed on the insulating layer and at least covers the top surface of the protruding structure. A first dielectric layer is formed blanketly covering the substrate and the protruding structure and a chemical mechanical polishing process is then performed to remove a portion of the first dielectric layer until a portion of the stop layer is exposed thereby obtaining an upper surface. A second dielectric layer having a pre-determined thickness is formed covering the upper surface.

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space. The first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space to cover the inner spacer. A lateral end of each of the first semiconductor layers has a V-shape cross section after the first semiconductor layers are laterally etched.

A static random-access memory structure includes a substrate, a first conductive type transistor, a second conductive type transistor and a capacitor unit. The first conductive type transistor and the second conductive type transistor are disposed on the surface of the substrate, and the capacitor unit is positioned between the transistors. The capacitor unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a plurality of first protrudent portions and a planar portion. The first protrudent portions are connected to the first planar portion and protrude from the top surface of the planar portion. The second electrode covers the top surface of the first protrudent portions and formed between adjacent first protrudent portions.

This disclosure relates to a polishing composition that includes at least one abrasive; at least one nitride removal rate reducing agent, an acid or a base; and water. The at least one nitride removal rate reduce agent can include a hydrophobic portion containing a C.sub.12 to C.sub.40 hydrocarbon group; and a hydrophilic portion containing at least one group selected from the group consisting of a sulfinite group, a sulfate group, a sulfonate group, a carboxylate group, a phosphate group, and a phosphonate group; in which the hydrophobic portion and the hydrophilic portion are separated by zero to ten alkylene oxide groups. The polishing composition can have a pH of about 2 to about 6.5.