US Patent 12131945 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

The method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over a substrate; forming a plurality of source/drain structures in the substrate and on opposite sides of the gate structure; forming a source/drain contact on one of the plurality of source/drain structures; etching back the source/drain contact; forming a protective structure over the etched back source/drain contact; forming a dielectric layer over the gate structure and the protective structure; etching the dielectric layer to form an opening that exposes the gate structure and the protective structure; selectively depositing a capping material on the protective structure; after selectively depositing the capping material, forming a gate contact in the opening.