The present application discloses a method for fabricating a semiconductor device with a pad structure. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a capacitor structure above the substrate, forming a plurality of passivation layers above the capacitor structure, forming a pad opening in the plurality of passivation layers, performing a passivation process comprising soaking the pad opening in a precursor, and forming a pad structure in the pad opening. The precursor is dimethylaminotrimethylsilane or tetramethylsilane. Forming the pad structure in the pad opening comprises forming a pad bottom conductive layer comprising nickel in the pad opening and forming a pad top conductive layer on the pad bottom conductive layer. The pad top conductive layer comprises palladium, cobalt, or a combination thereof.

The present application discloses a method for fabricating a semiconductor device with a pad structure. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a capacitor structure above the substrate, forming a plurality of passivation layers above the capacitor structure, forming a pad opening in the plurality of passivation layers, performing a passivation process comprising soaking the pad opening in a precursor, and forming a pad structure in the pad opening. The precursor is dimethylaminotrimethylsilane or tetramethylsilane. Forming the pad structure in the pad opening comprises forming a pad bottom conductive layer comprising nickel in the pad opening and forming a pad top conductive layer on the pad bottom conductive layer. The pad top conductive layer comprises palladium, cobalt, or a combination thereof.

A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming a microelectronic device structure comprising a base structure, a doped semiconductive structure comprising a first portion overlying the base structure and second portions vertically extending from the first portion and into the base structure, a stack structure overlying the doped semiconductive structure, cell pillar structures vertically extending through the stack structure and to the doped semiconductive structure, and digit line structures vertically overlying the stack structure. An additional microelectronic device structure comprising control logic devices is formed. The microelectronic device structure is attached to the additional microelectronic device structure to form a microelectronic device structure assembly. The carrier structure and the second portions of the doped semiconductive structure are removed. The first portion of the doped semiconductive structure is then patterned to form at least one source structure coupled to the cell pillar structures. Devices and systems are also described.

A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming a microelectronic device structure comprising a base structure, a doped semiconductive structure comprising a first portion overlying the base structure and second portions vertically extending from the first portion and into the base structure, a stack structure overlying the doped semiconductive structure, cell pillar structures vertically extending through the stack structure and to the doped semiconductive structure, and digit line structures vertically overlying the stack structure. An additional microelectronic device structure comprising control logic devices is formed. The microelectronic device structure is attached to the additional microelectronic device structure to form a microelectronic device structure assembly. The carrier structure and the second portions of the doped semiconductive structure are removed. The first portion of the doped semiconductive structure is then patterned to form at least one source structure coupled to the cell pillar structures. Devices and systems are also described.

Embodiments of bonded unified semiconductor chips and fabrication and operation methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a method for forming a unified semiconductor chip is disclosed. A first semiconductor structure is formed. The first semiconductor structure includes one or more processors, an array of embedded DRAM cells, and a first bonding layer including a plurality of first bonding contacts. A second semiconductor structure is formed. The second semiconductor structure includes an array of NAND memory cells and a second bonding layer including a plurality of second bonding contacts. The first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure are bonded in a face-to-face manner, such that the first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at a bonding interface.

Embodiments of bonded unified semiconductor chips and fabrication and operation methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a method for forming a unified semiconductor chip is disclosed. A first semiconductor structure is formed. The first semiconductor structure includes one or more processors, an array of embedded DRAM cells, and a first bonding layer including a plurality of first bonding contacts. A second semiconductor structure is formed. The second semiconductor structure includes an array of NAND memory cells and a second bonding layer including a plurality of second bonding contacts. The first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure are bonded in a face-to-face manner, such that the first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at a bonding interface.

A memory device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The memory device further includes a bonding structure between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure, the bonding structure comprising a first bonding pattern and a second bonding pattern in contact with each other, the first semiconductor structure being electrically connected with the second semiconductor structure through the bonding structure. The memory device further includes a shielding structure between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure and surrounding the bonding structure, the shielding structure comprising a third bonding pattern and a fourth bonding pattern in contact with each other, the shielding structure being electrically connected with a biased voltage.

A memory device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The memory device further includes a bonding structure between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure, the bonding structure comprising a first bonding pattern and a second bonding pattern in contact with each other, the first semiconductor structure being electrically connected with the second semiconductor structure through the bonding structure. The memory device further includes a shielding structure between the first semiconductor structure and the second semiconductor structure and surrounding the bonding structure, the shielding structure comprising a third bonding pattern and a fourth bonding pattern in contact with each other, the shielding structure being electrically connected with a biased voltage.

Embodiments of semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first bonding layer having a plurality of first bonding contacts, and a first via structure extending vertically through the first bonding layer and into the first semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure includes a second bonding layer having a plurality of second bonding contacts, and a second via structure extending vertically through the second bonding layer and into the second semiconductor structure. The first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at the bonding interface, the first via structure is in contact with the second via structure, and sidewalls of the first via structure and the second via structures have a staggered profile at the bonding interface.

Embodiments of semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first bonding layer having a plurality of first bonding contacts, and a first via structure extending vertically through the first bonding layer and into the first semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure includes a second bonding layer having a plurality of second bonding contacts, and a second via structure extending vertically through the second bonding layer and into the second semiconductor structure. The first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at the bonding interface, the first via structure is in contact with the second via structure, and sidewalls of the first via structure and the second via structures have a staggered profile at the bonding interface.