A barrier layer is formed in a portion of a thickness of sidewalls in a recess prior to formation of an interconnect structure in the recess. The barrier layer is formed in the portion of the thickness of the sidewalls by a plasma-based deposition operation, in which a precursor reacts with a silicon-rich surface to form the barrier layer. The barrier layer is formed in the portion of the thickness of the sidewalls in that the precursor consumes a portion of the silicon-rich surface of the sidewalls as a result of the plasma treatment. This enables the barrier layer to be formed in a manner in which the cross-sectional width reduction in the recess from the barrier layer is minimized while enabling the barrier layer to be used to promote adhesion in the recess.

Provided is a conductive structure and a method for forming such a structure. The method includes forming a treatable layer by depositing a layer comprising a metal over a structure; performing a directional treatment process on a targeted portion of the treatable layer to convert the targeted portion to a material different from a non-targeted portion of the treatable layer, wherein the directional treatment process is selected from the group consisting of nitridation, oxidation, chlorination, carbonization; and selectively removing the non-targeted portion from the structure, wherein the targeted portion remains over the structure.

An MLG (multilayer graphene) device layer structure is connected with a via. The structure includes an M1 MLG interconnect device layer upon a dielectric layer. Interlayer dielectric isolates the M1 MLG interconnect device layer. An M2 MLG interconnect device layer is upon the interlayer dielectric. A metal via penetrates through the M2 MLG interconnect device layer, the interlayer dielectric and the M1 MLG interconnect device layer and makes edge contact throughout the thickness of both M1 MLG and M2 MLG layers. A method diffuses carbon from a solid phase graphene precursor through a catalyst layer to deposit MLG on a dielectric or metal layer via application of mechanical pressure at a diffusion temperature to form MLG layers.

A semiconductor arrangement is provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes a dielectric layer defining an opening, an adhesion layer in the opening, and a conductive layer in the opening over the adhesion layer. A material of the conductive layer is a same material as an adhesion material of the adhesion layer.

There is provided a semiconductor device capable of capable of improving element performance and reliability. A semiconductor device includes a lower conductive pattern disposed on a substrate, an upper conductive pattern disposed on the lower conductive pattern, and a first plug pattern disposed between the lower conductive pattern and the upper conductive pattern and connected to the lower conductive pattern and the upper conductive pattern. The first plug pattern includes a first barrier pattern that defines a first plug recess and a first plug metal pattern that fills the first plug recess, and the first plug metal pattern includes a first molybdenum pattern and a first tungsten pattern disposed on the first molybdenum pattern.

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.

The embodiments herein relate to contact via structures of semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a conductive feature, and a contact via structure. The conductive feature is over the substrate. The contact via structure is electrically coupled to the conductive feature and includes a curved concave profile throughout a height of the contact via structure and an upper width wider than the width of the conductive feature.

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.

A semiconductor device includes a conductive feature part, a dielectric structure and a metal layer. The dielectric structure is formed over the conductive feature part. The dielectric structure includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer stacked on each other. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer include different dielectric materials. The metal layer is disposed in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The bottom surface of the metal layer is electrically connected to the conductive feature part, and the top surface of the metal layer is coplanar with the top surface of the dielectric structure. The bottom surface and the top surface of the metal layer have profiles of different sizes.

A method of fabricating a three-dimensional memory includes forming a laminated structure including stacked dummy gate layers and interlayer insulation layers on one side of a substrate. The respective adjacent dummy gate layers and interlayer insulation layers form staircase stairs. At least a part of the interlayer insulation layer of each of the staircase stairs is exposed. The method also includes forming a buffer layer covering the staircase stairs. The method further includes removing a part of the buffer layer covering the sidewalls of the staircase stairs to form spacing grooves. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer that fills the spacing grooves and covers the staircase stairs. The method further includes forming a contact hole penetrating through the dielectric layer and the buffer layer and extending to the dummy gate layer farthest from the substrate.