| CPC H10D 64/62 (2025.01) [H10D 64/01 (2025.01)] | 19 Claims | 

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               1. A contact structure, comprising: 
            an intervening conductive layer having a top surface; 
                a bottom conductive layer positioned on the intervening conductive layer, wherein a bottom surface of the bottom conductive layer is in contact with the top surface of the intervening conductive layer; 
                a conductive capping layer positioned on the bottom conductive layer, wherein the bottom conductive layer is positioned between the conductive capping layer and the intervening conductor layer; and 
                a top conductive layer positioned on the conductive capping layer; 
                wherein the intervening conductor layer, the bottom conductive layer, the conductive capping layer, and the top conductive layer are equal in width; 
                wherein the bottom conductive layer comprises germanium or silicon germanium; 
                wherein the bottom conductive layer comprises n-type dopants or p-type dopants; 
                wherein the top conductive layer comprises a metal and the conductive capping layer comprises a metal nitride derivatized from the metal of the top conductive layer; 
                wherein the p-type dopants comprise boron, aluminum, gallium, or indium; and the n-type dopants comprise antimony, arsenic, or phosphorus; 
                wherein a thickness ratio of a thickness of the intervening conductive layer to a thickness of the bottom conductive layer is between about 0.01 and about 0.15. 
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