Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices are described herein. A method includes forming a first etch stop layer from a portion of a gate mask, the gate mask extending between spacers adjacent a gate electrode, the gate electrode overlying a semiconductor fin. The method further includes forming a second etch stop layer adjacent the first etch stop layer, forming an opening through the second etch stop layer, and exposing the first etch stop layer by performing a first etching process. The method further includes extending the opening through the first etch stop layer and exposing the gate electrode by performing a second etching process. Once the gate electrode has been exposed, the method further includes forming a gate contact in the opening.

The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device that includes nanostructures on a substrate and a source/drain region in contact with the nanostructures. The source/drain region includes (i) a first epitaxial structure embedded in the substrate; (ii) a nitride layer on the first epitaxial structure; and a second epitaxial structure on the first epitaxial structure. The semiconductor device also includes a gate structure formed on the nanostructures.

A method for etching at least one layer of a gallium nitride (GaN)-based material is provided, the method including: providing the GaN-based layer having a front face; and at least one cycle including the following successive steps: modifying, by implanting hydrogen (H)- and/or helium (He)-based ions, at least some of a thickness of the GaN-based layer to form in the layer at least one modified portion extending from the front face, the implanting being carried out from a plasma, the modifying by implanting being carried out such that the modified portion extends from the front face and over a depth greater than 3 nm; oxidizing at least some of the modified portion by exposing the layer to an oxygen-based plasma, to define in the layer, at least one oxidized portion and at least one non-oxidized portion; and etching the oxidized portion selectively at the non-oxidized portion.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an improved apparatus and methods for nitridation of stacks of materials. In one embodiment, a method for processing a substrate in a processing region of a process chamber is provided. The method includes generating and flowing plasma species from a remote plasma source to a delivery member having a longitudinal passageway, flowing plasma species from the longitudinal passageway to an inlet port formed in a sidewall of the process chamber, wherein the plasma species are flowed at an angle into the inlet port to promote collision of ions or reaction of ions with electrons or charged particles in the plasma species such that ions are substantially eliminated from the plasma species before entering the processing region of the process chamber, and selectively incorporating atomic radicals from the plasma species in silicon or polysilicon regions of the substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure includes: providing a substrate, where a plurality of contact pads are formed on the substrate; depositing a dielectric layer on the substrate, where the dielectric layer fills gaps between the contact pads and covers the contact pads; and etching the dielectric layer through a plasma etching process to expose the contact pads, where an etching gas used in the plasma etching process includes an oxygen-free etching gas. The manufacturing method can avoid the formation of metal oxides on the contact pads, and avoid residual conductive metal particles or metal compounds on surfaces of the contact pads and the adjacent dielectric layers, which is beneficial to ensure the electrical performance of the semiconductor structure, thereby improving the use reliability of the semiconductor structure.

The present application provides a semiconductor structure and a forming method thereof. The method of forming the semiconductor structure includes: forming a capacitor base, the capacitor base including a plurality of capacitor switching structures and an isolation layer located between adjacent capacitor switching structures and covering top surfaces of the capacitor switching structures; removing the isolation layer covering the top surfaces of the capacitor switching structures, and exposing the capacitor switching structures; oxidizing a surface of the capacitor base exposing the capacitor switching structures, and forming an oxide layer; and removing the oxide layer, and exposing the capacitor switching structures.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

The present disclosure provides semiconductor devices, fin field-effect transistors and fabrication methods thereof. An exemplary fin field-effect transistor includes a semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer configured for inhibiting a short channel effect and increasing a heat dissipation efficiency of the fin field-effect transistor formed over the semiconductor substrate; at least one fin formed over the insulation layer; a gate structure crossing over at least one fin and covering top and side surfaces of the fin formed over the semiconductor substrate; and a source formed in the fin at one side of the gate structure and a drain formed in the fin at the other side of the gate structure.

A three-dimensional stacking structure is described. The stacking structure includes at least a bottom die, a top die and a spacer protective structure. The bottom die includes contact pads in the non-bonding region. The top die is stacked on the bottom die without covering the contact pads of the bottom die and the bottom die is bonded with the top die through bonding structures there-between. The spacer protective structure is disposed on the bottom die and covers the top die to protect the top die. By forming an anti-bonding layer before stacking the top dies to the bottom dies, the top die can be partially removed to expose the contact pads of the bottom die for further connection.

Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a remote plasma source. The remote plasma source may include a first plasma block segment defining an inlet to an internal channel of the first plasma block segment. The first plasma block segment may also define a cooling channel between the internal channel of the first plasma block segment and a first exterior surface of the first plasma block segment. The remote plasma source may include a second plasma block segment defining an outlet from an internal channel of the second plasma block segment. The second plasma block segment may also define a cooling channel between the internal channel of the second plasma block segment and a first exterior surface of the second plasma block segment. The systems may include a semiconductor processing chamber defining an inlet fluidly coupled with the outlet from the remote plasma source.