An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of metal lines on top of the semiconductor substrate, each line having a line width 5 nanometers or less: a plurality of dielectric features adjacent to the metal lines; and a plurality of metal vias on top of the metal lines. Out of a random sample of 1000 vias at least 950 vias are fully-aligned to corresponding metal lines.

Interconnect structures having dielectric layers with nitrogen-containing crusts and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a first interconnect opening in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer that exposes an underlying conductive feature, such as a source/drain, a gate, a contact, a via, or a conductive line. The method includes nitridizing sidewalls of the first interconnect opening, which are formed by the first ILD layer, before forming a first metal contact in the first interconnect opening. The nitridizing converts a portion of the first ILD layer into a nitrogen-containing crust. The first metal contact can include a metal plug and dielectric spacers between the metal plug and the nitrogen-containing crust of the first ILD layer. The method can include forming a second interconnect opening in a second ILD layer that exposes the first metal contact and forming a second metal contact in the second interconnect opening.

Integrated circuit devices are provided. An integrated circuit device includes an insulating layer and a metal via structure that is in the insulating layer. The metal via structure has a lower portion and an upper portion that is narrower than the lower portion. Moreover, the integrated circuit device includes a metal line that is on and electrically connected to the metal via structure. Related methods of forming integrated circuit devices are also provided.

An upper surface of a plug (PL1) is formed so as to be higher than an upper surface of an interlayer insulating film (PIL) by forming the interlayer insulating film (PIL) on a semiconductor substrate (1S), completing a CMP method for forming the plug (PL1) inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), and then, making the upper surface of the interlayer insulating film (PIL) to recede. In this manner, reliability of connection between the plug (PL1) and a wiring (W1) in a vertical direction can be ensured. Also, the wiring (W1) can be formed so as not to be embedded inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), or a formed amount by the embedding can be reduced.

Provided is a method of fabricating a package structure including: forming a first bonding layer over a first surface of a first die; forming a release structure over a first carrier; bonding the first die to the first carrier by contacting the first bonding layer with the release structure; performing a laser process to divide the release structure into a first portion and a second portion, thereby debonding the first carrier from the first die; and performing a first removal process on the first portion of the release structure over the first carrier to expose a surface of the first carrier. The cleaned first carrier can be reused to fabricate another package structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and be greener or more environmentally friendly.

A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a device, a first dielectric material disposed over the device, and an opening is formed in the first dielectric material. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive structure disposed in the opening, and the conductive structure includes a first sidewall. The semiconductor device structure further includes a surrounding structure disposed in the opening, and the surrounding structure surrounds the first sidewall of the conductive structure. The surrounding structure includes a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer adjacent the first spacer layer. The first spacer layer is separated from the second spacer layer by an air gap.

An interconnect structure including a contact via in an interlayer dielectric, a first conductive feature in a first dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer over the interlayer dielectric, a first liner in the first dielectric layer, the first liner comprising a first part in contact with a sidewall surface of the first conductive feature, and a second part in contact with a bottom surface of the first conductive feature. The interconnect structure includes a first cap layer in contact with a top surface of the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature in a second dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a second liner in the second dielectric layer, wherein the first and second conductive features comprise a first conductive material, and the contact via, first liner, first cap layer, and second liner comprise a second conductive material chemically different than the first conductive material.

There is provided a semiconductor device capable of improving the performance and reliability of a device. The semiconductor device may include a first interlayer insulating film containing therein a plurality of pores, a first line structure in the first interlayer insulating film, an inserted insulating film extending along and on a upper surface of the first interlayer insulating film and in contact with the first interlayer insulating film, a barrier insulating film in contact with the inserted insulating film and extending along an upper surface of the inserted insulating film and an upper surface of the first line structure, a second interlayer insulating film on the barrier insulating film and a second line structure disposed in the second interlayer insulating film and connected to the first line structure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semiconductor structure including a first metal contact, where at least a portion of the first metal contact extends vertically from a substrate to a top portion of the semiconductor structure. The first metal contact having an exposed surface at the top portion of the semiconductor structure. A dielectric cap may be configured around the first metal contact. The dielectric cap is configured to electrically separate a first area of the semiconductor structure from a second area of the semiconductor structure. The first area of the semiconductor structure includes the first metal contact.

Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate structure sandwiched between and in contact with a first spacer feature and a second spacer feature, a top surface of the first spacer feature and a top surface of the second spacer feature extending above a top surface of the gate structure, a gate self-aligned contact (SAC) dielectric feature over the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature, a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate SAC dielectric feature, a dielectric layer over the CESL, a gate contact feature extending through the dielectric layer, the CESL, the gate SAC dielectric feature, and between the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature to be in contact with the gate structure, and a liner disposed between the first spacer feature and the gate contact feature.