Small sized and closely pitched features can be formed by patterning a layer to have holes therein and then expanding the layer so that the holes shrink. If the expansion is sufficient to pinch off the respective holes, multiple holes can be formed from one larger hole. Holes smaller and of closer pitch than practical or possible may be obtained in this way. One process for expanding the layer includes implanting a dopant species having a larger average atomic spacing than does the material of the layer.

A method for making a semiconductor structure, including: forming a conductive layer; forming a patterned mask layer on the conductive layer; patterning the conductive layer to form a recess and a conductive feature; forming a first dielectric layer over the patterned mask layer and filling the recess with the first dielectric layer; patterning the first dielectric layer to form an opening; selectively forming a blocking layer in the opening; forming an etch stop layer to cover the first dielectric layer and exposing the blocking layer; forming on the etch stop layer a second dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the etch stop layer; patterning the second dielectric layer to form a through hole and exposing the conductive feature; and filling the through hole with an electrically conductive material to form an interconnect electrically connected to the conductive feature.

A device comprises a non-insulator structure, a dielectric layer, a metal via, a metal line, and a dielectric structure. The dielectric layer is over the non-insulator structure. The metal via is in a lower portion of the dielectric layer. The metal line is in an upper portion of the dielectric layer. The dielectric structure is embedded in a recessed region in the lower portion of the dielectric layer. The dielectric structure has a tapered top portion interfacing the metal via.

The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate; a conductive structure including a conductive concave layer positioned on the substrate and including a top surface having a V-shaped cross-sectional profile; and a conductive filling layer positioned on the conductive concave layer; and a top conductive layer positioned on the conductive structure. The conductive filling layer includes germanium or silicon germanium.

A device includes a channel layer, a gate structure, a first source/drain structure, a second source/drain structure, and a backside via. The gate structure surrounds the channel layer. The first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure ate connected to the channel layer. The backside via is connected to a backside of the first source/drain structure. The backside via includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is connected to the backside of the first source/drain structure. The third portion tapers from the second portion to the first portion. A sidewall of the third portion is more inclined than a sidewall of the second portion.

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.

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.

A stack-type semiconductor device includes: a first nanosheet stack structure arranged on a substrate; a first source/drain region extending on a side surface of the first nanosheet stack structure; a second nanosheet stack structure stacked on the first nanosheet stack structure; a second source/drain region extending on a side surface of the second nanosheet stack structure; a contact hole adjacent to a side surface of the second source/drain region and a side surface of the first source/drain region and extending in a vertical direction with respect to a surface of the substrate; and a contact electrode disposed in the contact hole, wherein the contact electrode contacts the side surface of the first source/drain region.

An apparatus comprises a first metal feature in a first dielectric layer over a substrate, wherein a sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer is over a top surface of the first metal feature, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a second metal feature extending through the second dielectric layer, wherein a bottom of a first portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the top surface of the first metal feature and a bottom of a second portion of the second metal feature is in contact with the sidewall portion of the first dielectric layer.

A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first conductive structure surrounded by a first dielectric layer and forming a second dielectric layer over the first conductive structure and the first dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a via hole in the second dielectric layer, and the via hole exposes the first conductive structure. The method further includes partially removing the first conductive structure through the via hole to form a recess in the first conductive structure. In addition, the method includes forming a second conductive structure filling the recess and the via hole.