Representative methods for sealing MEMS devices include depositing insulating material over a substrate, forming conductive vias in a first set of layers of the insulating material, and forming metal structures in a second set of layers of the insulating material. The first and second sets of layers are interleaved in alternation. A dummy insulating layer is provided as an upper-most layer of the first set of layers. Portions of the first and second set of layers are etched to form void regions in the insulating material. A conductive pad is formed on and in a top surface of the insulating material. The void regions are sealed with an encapsulating structure. At least a portion of the encapsulating structure is laterally adjacent the dummy insulating layer, and above a top surface of the conductive pad. An etch is performed to remove at least a portion of the dummy insulating layer.

A microelectromechanical system structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. A method for fabricating a MEMS structure includes the following steps. A first substrate is provided, wherein a transistor, a first dielectric layer and an interconnection structure are formed thereon. A second substrate is provided, wherein a second dielectric layer and a thermal stability layer are formed on the second substrate. The first substrate is bonded to the second substrate, and the second substrate removed. A conductive layer is formed within the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the interconnection structure. The thermal stability layer is located between the conductive layer and the interconnection structure. A growth temperature of a material of the thermal stability layer is higher than a growth temperature of a material of the conductive layer and a growth temperature of a material of the interconnection structure.

A micro-structured organic sensor device which has the following layers oriented in parallel to one another: a substrate layer for supporting the further layers; an organic sensor layer for converting a technical quantity to be detected to an electrical quantity; a first electrode layer for contacting the organic sensor layer on a side of the organic sensor layer facing the substrate layer; a second electrode layer for contacting the organic sensor layer on a side of the organic sensor layer facing away from the substrate layer; and one or several functional layers; wherein the sensor layer is structured such that a plurality of horizontally spaced sensor segments are formed; wherein at least one of the electrode layers is structured such that a plurality of horizontally spaced electrode segments are formed so that at least one of the electrode segments of the respective electrode layer is associated to each of the sensor segments; and wherein the one or several functional layers at least partly fill gaps located horizontally between the sensor segments.

A NEMS device structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The NEMS device structure includes a first dielectric layer formed over a substrate, and a first conductive layer formed in the first dielectric layer. The NEMS device structure includes a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer, and a first supporting electrode a second supporting electrode and a beam structure formed in the second dielectric layer. The beam structure is formed between the first supporting electrode and the second supporting electrode, and the beam structure has a T-shaped structure. The NEMS device structure includes a first through hole formed between the first supporting electrode and the beam structure, and a second through hole formed between the second supporting electrode and the beam structure.

An electromechanical power switch device and methods thereof. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are devices including a semiconductor substrate, at least one integrated circuit device on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer on the at least one integrated circuit device, and an electromechanical power switch on the insulating layer. By way of example, the electromechanical power switch may include a source and a drain, a body region disposed between the source and the drain, and a gate including a switching metal layer. In some embodiments, the body region includes a first body portion and a second body portion spaced a distance from the first body portion and defining a body discontinuity therebetween. Additionally, in various examples, the switching metal layer may be disposed over the body discontinuity.

A method for manufacturing a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, includes forming a cavity in a bulk semiconductor substrate; defining a movably suspended mass in the bulk semiconductor substrate by one or more trenches extending from a main surface area of the bulk semiconductor substrate to the cavity; arranging a cap structure on the main surface area of the bulk semiconductor substrate; and forming a capacitive structure. Forming the capacitive structure includes arranging a first electrode structure on the movably suspended mass; and providing a second electrode structure at the cap structure such that the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the main surface area of the bulk semiconductor substrate.

Methods for forming an electrode structure, which can be used as a biosensor, are provided in which the electrode structure has non-random topography located on one surface of an electrode base. In some embodiments, an electrode structure is obtained that contains no interface between the non-random topography of the electrode structure and the electrode base of the electrode structure. In other embodiments, electrode structures are obtained that have an interface between the non-random topography of the electrode structure and the electrode base of the electrode structure.

A method of fabricating a MEMS structure includes providing a substrate comprising a logic element region and a MEMS region. Next, a logic element is formed within the logic element region. A nitrogen-containing material layer is formed to cover the logic element region and the MEMS region conformally. Then, part of the nitrogen-containing material layer within the MEMS region is removed to form at least one shrinking region. Subsequently, a dielectric layer is formed to cover the logic element region and MEMS region, and the dielectric layer fills in the shrinking region. After that, the dielectric layer is etched to form at least one releasing hole, wherein the shrinking region surrounds the releasing hole. Finally, the substrate is etched to form a chamber.

In accordance with various embodiments, a method for processing a layer structure is provided, where the layer structure includes a first layer, a sacrificial layer arranged above the first layer, and a second layer arranged above the sacrificial layer, where the second layer includes at least one opening, and the at least one opening extends from a first side of the second layer as far as the sacrificial layer. The method includes forming a liner layer covering at least one inner wall of the at least one opening; forming a cover layer above the liner layer, where the cover layer extends at least in sections into the at least one opening; and wet-chemically etching the cover layer, the liner layer and the sacrificial layer using an etching solution, where the etching solution has a greater etching rate for the liner layer than for the cover layer.

In accordance with various embodiments, a method for processing a layer structure is provided, where the layer structure includes a first layer, a sacrificial layer arranged above the first layer, and a second layer arranged above the sacrificial layer, where the second layer includes at least one opening, and the at least one opening extends from a first side of the second layer as far as the sacrificial layer. The method includes forming a liner layer covering at least one inner wall of the at least one opening; forming a cover layer above the liner layer, where the cover layer extends at least in sections into the at least one opening; and wet-chemically etching the cover layer, the liner layer and the sacrificial layer using an etching solution, where the etching solution has a greater etching rate for the liner layer than for the cover layer.