A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a conductive structure in a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. A conductive contact is formed in the second dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is etched to form a recess on a top surface of the conductive structure. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface and a sidewall of the second dielectric layer, the top surface of the conductive structure, and a sidewall of the conductive contact. A first plasma process is performed to form a first material layer over the native oxide layer by using a first plasma gas. A second plasma process is performed to form a second material layer over the first material layer by a second plasma gas different from the first plasma gas. A spacer layer is formed on the second material layer.

Disclosed herein are methods of forming a microelectronic component. In some embodiments, the methods include providing a substrate having a first surface, forming a first metal feature on the first surface, forming a second metal feature on the first metal feature, forming a dielectric layer over the substrate such that the dielectric layer directly contacts sidewalls of the first and second metal features, and planarizing the dielectric layer to form a second surface for hybrid bonding. After planarizing the dielectric layer, the second metal feature is exposed at the second surface.

A package includes a first die, a second die, an encapsulant, and through insulating vias (TIV). The first die has a first bonding structure. The first bonding structure includes a first dielectric layer and first connectors embedded in the first dielectric layer. The second die has a semiconductor substrate and a second bonding structure over the semiconductor substrate. The second bonding structure includes a second dielectric layer and second connectors embedded in the second dielectric layer. Sidewalls of the second dielectric layer are aligned with sidewalls of the semiconductor substrate. The first connectors are in physical contact with the second connectors. The first connectors and the second connectors are arranged on two opposite sides of an interface between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The encapsulant laterally encapsulates the second die. The TIVs are aside the second die.

The present application discloses a semiconductor device including a substrate, an active area in the substrate, a first plug positioned above the active area, second plugs positioned above the active area, metal spacers positioned above the first plug and the plurality of second plugs, and air gaps respectively positioned between the plurality of metal spacers. The active area includes a narrow portion having a first width and two side portions having a second width, wherein the narrow portion is disposed between the two side portions, and the first width is less than the second width from a top view.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, a method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure and a system for manufacturing the semiconductor structure. The method includes several operations. A substrate including a device region and a scribe line region is provided. A first layer is formed over the substrate. A first photoluminescent layer is formed over the first layer in the scribe line region. The first layer and the first photoluminescent layer are patterned to form a first pattern in the scribe line region. A first patterned mask layer is formed over a second layer. An alignment of the first patterned mask layer with the first pattern is detected. A pattern of the first patterned mask layer is transferred to the second layer to form a second pattern in the scribe line region.

A semiconductor structure comprises two or more interconnect lines of a first width in a given interconnect level, and two or more interconnect lines of a second width in the given interconnect level. The two or more interconnect lines of the second width are disposed between a first one of the two or more interconnect lines of the first width and a second one of the two or more interconnect lines of the second width. The two or more interconnect lines of the first width have sidewalls with a negative taper angle. The two or more interconnect lines of the second width have sidewalls with a positive taper angle.

The disclosure relates to a metallization process for an integrated circuit. One example metallization process includes a method for forming an integrated circuit that includes providing a semiconductor structure having two transistor structures, a gate structure, electrically conductive contacts, a first electrically conductive line, a first electrically conductive via, a second electrically conductive via. The method further includes providing a planar dielectric material in contact with the first electrically conductive line, forming an opening in the planar dielectric material, filling the opening with a planar electrically conductive material, forming an electrically conductive layer arranged within a second metallization level, the electrically conductive layer being in physical contact with the planar dielectric material and in physical and electrical contact with the electrically conductive material, providing a hard mask comprising a set of parallel lines, and etching the electrically conductive layer and the planar electrically conductive material by using the hard mask lines as a mask.

Provided is a semiconductor structure, a test structure, a manufacturing method and a test method. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, which includes multiple pillars spaced along a first direction by first trenches; second trenches formed at opposite sides along a second direction of each of the pillars; target conductive structures extending along the second direction in the substrate directly below adjacent second trenches; and a first dielectric layer, a conductive layer and a second dielectric layer sequentially stacked in the first trenches and the second trenches. A depth of the first trenches is greater than that of the second trenches. The first direction intersects the second direction.

A semiconductor device is described herein. The semiconductor device generally includes a metal fabrication layer disposed on a substrate. The semiconductor device generally includes a dielectric layer having a first plurality of vias aligned with a first metallization region of the metal fabrication layer and a second plurality of vias aligned with a second metallization region of the metal fabrication layer, the dielectric layer disposed on top of the metal fabrication layer. The semiconductor device generally includes a metal layer disposed on the dielectric layer and having a plurality of metal routings, each of the metal regions disposed over both the first metallization region and the second metallization region, each of the plurality of metal routings have a same width. The semiconductor device generally includes an insulation layer disposed on the metal layer, the insulation layer having a plurality of openings to the metal routings of the metal layer.