Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming a stack of epitaxial layers over a substrate, forming a first fin-like structure and a second fin-like structure from the stack, forming an isolation feature between the first fin-like structure and the second fin-like structure, forming a cladding layer over the first fin-like structure and the second fin-like structure, conformally depositing a first dielectric layer over the cladding layer, depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, planarizing the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer until the cladding layer are exposed, performing an etch process to etch the second dielectric layer to form a helmet recess, performing a trimming process to trim the first dielectric layer to widen the helmet recess, and depositing a helmet feature in the widened helmet recess.

A semiconductor structure includes a substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a buffer layer over the substrate, wherein the buffer layer comprises a plurality of III-V layers, and a dopant type of each III-V layer of the plurality of III-V layers is opposite to a dopant of adjacent III-V layers of the plurality of III-V layers. The semiconductor structure further includes an active layer over the buffer layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a dielectric layer over the active layer.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes peripheral and logic cell regions, a device isolation layer that defines a first active pattern on the peripheral region and second and third active patterns on the logic cell region, and first to third transistors on the first to third active patterns. Each of the first to third transistors includes a gate electrode, a gate spacer, a source pattern and a drain pattern. The second active pattern includes a semiconductor pattern that overlaps the gate electrode. At least a portion of a top surface of the device isolation layer is higher than a top surface of the second and third active patterns. A profile of the top surface of the device isolation layer includes two or more convex portions between the second and third active patterns.

A light sensing device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, a shielding electrode, a insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The gate electrode and the shielding electrode are disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from each other. The insulating layer is disposed over the gate electrode and the shielding electrode. The semiconductor layer is disposed over the insulating layer. The source and drain electrodes are respectively connected to the semiconductor layer, and the semiconductor layer has a channel region between the source and drain electrodes. The channel region is divided into a first region adjacent to the drain electrode and overlapping the gate electrode and a second region adjacent to the source electrode and not overlapping the gate electrode, and the second region partially overlaps the shielding electrode.

Provided is a solar cell, including: an N-type semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; a boron diffusion layer arranged on the front surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate, a first passivation layer is provided on a surface of the boron diffusion layer, and a first electrode is provided passing through the first passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the N-type semiconductor substrate; and a phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer arranged on the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate. A silicon oxide layer containing nitrogen and phosphorus is provided between the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate and the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, a second passivation layer is provided on a surface of the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, and a second electrode is provided passing through the second passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer.

A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a fin protruding from a semiconductor substrate, forming gate spacers on sidewalls of the dummy gate stack, forming source/features over portions of the fin, forming a gate trench between the gate spacers, which includes trimming top portions of the gate spacers to form a funnel-like opening in the gate trench, and forming a metal gate structure in the gate trench. A semiconductor structure includes a fin protruding from a substrate, a metal gate structure disposed over the fin, gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the metal gate structure, where a top surface of each gate spacer is angled toward the semiconductor fin, a dielectric layer disposed over the top surface of each gate spacer, and a conductive feature disposed between the gate spacers to contact the metal gate structure, where sidewalls of the conductive feature contact the dielectric layer.

A bonding apparatus includes a body part; a vacuum hole disposed in the body part; a first protruding part protruding in a first direction from a first surface of the body part; a second protruding part protruding from the first surface of the body part in the first direction and spaced farther apart from a center of the first surface of the body part than the first protruding part in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a trench defined by the first surface of the body part and second surfaces of the first protruding part, the second surfaces protruding in the first direction from the first surface of the body part, and the trench being connected to the vacuum hole, wherein the second protruding part protrudes farther from the first surface of the body part in the first direction than the first protruding part.

A semiconductor device includes a first source/drain structure coupled to an end of a first conduction channel that extends along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a second source/drain structure coupled to an end of a second conduction channel that extends along the first direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure extending through an interlayer dielectric and electrically coupled to the first source/drain structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure extending through the interlayer dielectric and electrically coupled to the second source/drain structure. The semiconductor device includes a first isolation structure disposed between the first and second source/drain structures and extending into the interlayer dielectric.

A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with stacked grid shifting is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid segment is arranged over the pixel sensor and has a metallic grid opening therein. A center of the metallic grid opening is laterally shifted from a center of the pixel sensor. A dielectric grid segment is arranged over the metallic grid and has a dielectric grid opening therein. A center of the dielectric grid opening is laterally shifted from the center of the pixel sensor. A method for manufacturing the BSI image sensor is also provided.

The present disclosure relates an integrated circuit (IC) and a method for manufacturing same. A polysilicon layer is formed over a first region of a substrate and has a plurality of polysilicon structures that are packed with respect to one another to define a first packing density. A dummy layer is formed over a second region of the substrate and has a plurality of dummy structures that are packed with respect to one another to define a second packing density, where the first packing density and second packing density are substantially similar. An inter-layer dielectric layer is formed over the first region and second region of the substrate. Dishing of at least the second region of the substrate concurrent with a chemical-mechanical polish is generally inhibited by the first packing density and second packing density after forming the inter-layer dielectric layer.