Methods and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing metal contacts under ground-up contact pads within a device. A device may comprise a bottom metal layer with a bottom metal contact, a top metal layer with a top metal contact, and a plurality of middle metal layers. Any given metal layer of the plurality of middle metal layers comprises a metal contact, the metal contact is substantially vertically below the top metal contact, substantially vertically above the bottom metal contact, and substantially vertically above a metal contact in any metal layer that is below the given metal layer. The metal contacts may be of various and different shapes. All the metal contacts in the plurality of middle metal layers and the bottom metal contact may be smaller than the top metal contact, therefore occupying less area and saving more area for other functions such as device routing.

In various embodiments a method for manufacturing a metallization layer on a substrate is provided, wherein the method may include providing a structured layer of a catalyst material on the substrate, the catalyst material may include a first layer of material arranged over the substrate and a second layer of material arranged over the first layer of material, wherein the structured layer of catalyst material having a first set of regions including the catalyst material over the substrate and a second set of regions free of the catalyst material over the substrate, and forming a plurality of groups of nanotubes over the substrate, each group of the plurality of groups of nanotubes includes a plurality of nanotubes formed over a respective region in the first set of regions.

Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

The present disclosure provides methods for forming conductive features in a dielectric layer without using adhesion layers or barrier layers and devices formed thereby. In some embodiments, a structure comprising a dielectric layer over a substrate, and a conductive feature disposed through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a lower surface near the substrate and a top surface distal from the substrate. The conductive feature is in direct contact with the dielectric layer, and the dielectric layer comprises an implant species. A concentration of the implant species in the dielectric layer has a peak concentration proximate the top surface of the dielectric layer, and the concentration of the implant species decreases from the peak concentration in a direction towards the lower surface of the dielectric layer.

A metallization stack and a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the metallization stack are provided. The metallization stack may include at least one interconnection line layer and at least one via hole layer arranged alternately on a substrate. At least one pair of adjacent interconnection line layer and via hole layer in the metallization stack includes: an interconnection line in the interconnection line layer, and a via hole in the via hole layer. The interconnection line layer is closer to the substrate than the via hole layer. A peripheral sidewall of a via hole on at least part of the interconnection line does not exceed a peripheral sidewall of the at least part of the interconnection line.

Disclosed are a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device and an electronic system including the same. A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a cell array structure including a plurality of electrodes stacked on the substrate, a vertical channel structure that penetrates the cell array structure and is connected to the substrate, a conductive pad in an upper portion of the vertical channel structure, an interlayer insulating layer on the cell array structure, a bit line on the cell array structure, a bit line contact electrically connecting the bit line to the conductive pad, and a first stress release layer between the cell array structure and the bit line on a top surface of the interlayer insulating layer. The first stress release layer includes organosilicon polymer, and a carbon concentration of the first stress release layer is higher than that of the interlayer insulating layer.

A dual-sided embedded multi-die interconnect bridge provides power and source conduits from the bridge bottom at a silicon portion, in short paths to dice on a die side of an integrated-circuit package substrate. Signal traces are in a metallization on the silicon portion of the dual-sided EMIB. Power, ground and signal vias all emanate from the dual-sided embedded multi-die interconnect bridge, with power and ground entering the bridge from central regions of the silicon portion.

A semiconductor storage device includes first and second stacked bodies, a first semiconductor layer, a first charge storage layer, a conductive layer, and a first silicon oxide layer. The first stacked body includes first insulation layers and first gate electrode layers that are alternately stacked in a first direction. The first semiconductor layer extends in the first stacked body in the first direction. The first charge storage layer is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the first gate electrode layers. The conductive layer is provided between the first stacked body and the second stacked body and extends in the first direction and a second direction. The first silicon oxide layer is provided between the conductive layer and the first gate electrode layers. The first silicon oxide layer containing an impurity being at least one of phosphorus, boron, carbon, and fluorine.

A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first metallic feature over the first dielectric layer, an air gap over the first dielectric layer and adjacent to the first metallic feature, a second dielectric layer disposed above the air gap and on a sidewall of the first metallic feature, and a third dielectric layer disposed above the air gap and on a sidewall of the second dielectric layer. A lower portion of the first metallic feature is exposed in the air gap. The third and the second dielectric layers are substantially co-planar.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a semiconductor device with air gaps between conductive lines (e.g., bit lines). The method includes forming a first dielectric structure and a second dielectric structure over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a conductive material over the first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure. The conductive material extends into a first opening between the first dielectric structure and the second dielectric structure. The method also includes partially removing the conductive material to form a first bit line and a second bit line in the first opening and forming a sealing dielectric layer over the first bit line and the second bit line such that an air gap is formed between the sealing dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate.