An exemplary device includes a dielectric layer and a transmission line structure disposed in the dielectric layer. The transmission line structure includes a first metal line disposed between a second metal line and a third metal line. Dielectric islands are disposed in a first region and a second region of the dielectric layer. The first region of the dielectric layer is between the first metal line and the second metal line. The second region of the dielectric layer is between the first metal line and the third metal line. A dielectric constant of the dielectric islands is greater than a dielectric constant of the dielectric layer. The dielectric islands may be doped sections of the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the dielectric islands in the first region are aligned with the dielectric islands in the second region along a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the first metal line.

A semiconductor device includes: an isolation insulating layer; fin structures protruding from the isolation insulating layer; gate structures, each having a metal gate and a cap insulating layer disposed over the metal gate; a first source/drain epitaxial layer and a second source/drain epitaxial layer disposed between two adjacent gate structures; and a first conductive contact disposed on the first source/drain epitaxial layer, and a second conductive contact disposed on the second source/drain epitaxial layer; a separation isolation region disposed between the first and second conductive contact; and an insulating layer disposed between the separation isolation region and the isolation insulating layer. The separation isolation region is made of a different material than the insulating layer.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first pattern structure having a first opening and a second pattern structure having a second opening on a substrate, forming a gap fill layer in the second opening, forming fences and contact structures in the first opening, removing the gap fill layer in the second opening, forming an upper conductive layer to cover the first and second pattern structures, the fences, and the contact structures, forming a mask pattern based on a photolithography process using the second pattern structure covered by the upper conductive layer as an align mark, and etching the upper conductive layer using the mask pattern to form upper conductive patterns. A width of the second opening is larger than a width of a first opening. A thickness of the upper conductive layer is smaller than a depth of the second opening.

PECVD methods for depositing a film at a low deposition rate comprising intermittent activation of the plasma are disclosed. The flowable film can be deposited using at least a polysilane precursor and a plasma gas. The deposition rate of the disclosed processes may be less than 500 Å/min.

An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, and a conductive layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a first barrier layer in contact with the first portion of the conductive layer, a second barrier layer in contact with the second portion of the conductive layer, and a support layer in contact with the first and second barrier layers. An air gap is located between the first and second barrier layers, and the dielectric layer and the support layer are exposed to the air gap.

A method is provided for sealing a seam in a self-aligned contact (SAC) layer that is disposed on a gate of a semiconductor structure. The method includes depositing a filler in the seam to seal the seam.

An interconnect structure and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, the structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, and a second conductive feature disposed over the first conductive feature. The second conductive feature includes a first sidewall, a first bottom, and a first angle between the first sidewall and the first bottom. The structure further includes a third conductive feature disposed over the dielectric layer and adjacent the second conductive feature. The third conductive feature includes a second sidewall, a second bottom, and a second angle between the second sidewall and the second bottom, the second angle is substantially different from the first angle, and the second and third conductive features are partially overlapping in an axis substantially parallel to a major surface of the substrate.

A method of making a semiconductor structure includes depositing a first passivation material between adjacent conductive elements on a substrate, wherein a bottommost surface of the first passivation material is coplanar with a bottommost surface of each of the adjacent conductive elements. The method further includes depositing a second passivation material on the substrate, wherein the second passivation material contacts a sidewall of each of the adjacent conductive elements and a sidewall of the first passivation material, a bottommost surface of the second passivation material is coplanar with the bottommost surface of each of the adjacent conductive elements, and the second passivation material is different from the first passivation material.

A semiconductor device includes an ultra-thick metal (UTM) structure. The semiconductor device includes a passivation layer including a first passivation oxide. The first passivation oxide includes an unbias film and a first bias film, where the unbias film is on portions of the UTM structure and on portions of a layer on which the UTM structure is formed, and the first bias film is on the unbias film. The passivation layer includes a second passivation oxide consisting of a second bias film, the second bias film being on the first bias film. The passivation layer includes a third passivation oxide consisting of a third bias film, the third bias film being on the second bias film.

A metallic stack and a preparing method therefor, and an electronic device including the metallic stack. The metallic stack includes at least one interconnection wire layer and at least one via layer alternately arranged on a substrate. At least one pair of interconnection wire layer and via layer in the metallic stack includes interconnection wires in the interconnection wire layer and conductive vias in the via layer, wherein the interconnection wire layer is closer to the substrate than the via layer. At least a part of the interconnection wires is integrated with the conductive vias on the at least a part of the interconnection wires.