A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate, a first trench formed inside the first interlayer insulating layer, a contact plug disposed inside the first trench, a first wiring pattern disposed on the contact plug, a second wiring pattern which is disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer and spaced apart from the first wiring pattern in a horizontal direction, a second interlayer insulating layer which is disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer and surrounds each of side walls of the first wiring pattern and each of side walls of the second wiring pattern, and a first air gap formed on the contact plug inside the first trench.

Provided herein are methods of depositing molybdenum (Mo) films. The methods involve depositing a thin layer of a molybdenum (Mo)-containing film such a molybdenum oxide, a molybdenum nitride, or a molybdenum oxynitride. The Mo-containing film is then converted to an elemental Mo film. A bulk Mo film may then be deposited on the elemental Mo film. In some embodiments, the process is performed at relatively low temperatures.

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.

A method for fabricating an interconnect structure is disclosed. A substrate with a first dielectric layer is provided. A first conductor is formed in the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. A trench is formed in the second dielectric layer to expose the top surface of the first conductor. An annealing process is performed on the top surface of the first conductor. The annealing process includes the conditions of a temperature of 400-450 C., duration less than 5 minutes, and gaseous atmosphere comprising hydrogen and nitrogen.

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.

A connecting structure includes a first dielectric layer disposed over a substrate and a conductive feature, a doped dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, a first metal portion disposed in the first dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive feature, and a doped metal portion disposed over the first metal portion. The first metal portion and the doped metal portion include a same noble metal material. The doped dielectric layer and the doped metal portion include same dopants.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices by enhancing selective deposition are described. In some embodiments, a blocking layer is deposited on a metal surface before deposition of a barrier layer. The methods include exposing a substrate with a metal surface, a dielectric surface and an aluminum oxide surface or an aluminum nitride surface to a blocking molecule to form the blocking layer selectively on the metal surface over the dielectric surface and one of the aluminum oxide surface or the aluminum nitride surface.

A method is described. The method includes creating a partial through-substrate via (TSV) plug in a front side of a wafer, the partial TSV having a front side and a back side. The back side of the partial TSV extending toward a front side of a substrate but not into a bulk of the substrate. A cavity is etched in a back side of the wafer that exposes the partial TSV plug. An insulator is applied to the etched back side of the wafer. A portion of the partial TSV plug is exposed by removing a portion of the insulator. A conductive material is deposited to connect the exposed, partial TSV plug to a surface on the back side of the wafer.

A semiconductor device includes a lower structure, a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) on the lower structure, first pattern regions extending inside the first ILD in a first direction, the first pattern regions being spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the first pattern regions including at least one first pattern, and both ends of the at least one first pattern in the first direction being concave, and second pattern regions extending inside the first ILD in the first direction, the second pattern regions being spaced apart from each other in the second direction and alternating with the first pattern regions in the second direction, and each of the second pattern regions including at least one second pattern.

A microelectronic structure is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor portion that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The microelectronic structure can include a via structure that extends at least partially through the bulk semiconductor portion along a direction non-parallel to the first surface. The microelectronic structure can include a first dielectric barrier layer that is disposed on the first surface of the bulk semiconductor portion and extends to the via structure. The microelectronic structure can include a second dielectric layer that is disposed on the first dielectric barrier layer and extends to the via structure.