Abstract: Methods of self-aligned multiple patterning. A hardmask is deposited over an interlayer dielectric layer. A mandrel is formed over the hardmask. A block mask is formed that covers a first lengthwise section of the mandrel and that exposes second and third lengthwise sections of the mandrel. After forming the block mask, the second and third lengthwise sections of the mandrel are removed to define a pattern including respective first and second mandrel lines that are separated from each other by the first lengthwise section of the mandrel. The first mandrel line and the second mandrel line expose respective portions of the hardmask, and the first lengthwise section of the mandrel line covers another portion of the hardmask. The pattern is transferred to the hardmask with an etching process, and subsequently transferred to the interlayer dielectric layer with another etching process.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for removing nitride may include flowing a fluorine-containing precursor into a remote plasma region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may further include forming a plasma within the remote plasma region to generate plasma effluents of the fluorine-containing precursor and flowing the plasma effluents into a processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber housing a substrate. The substrate may include a high-aspect-ratio feature. The substrate may further include a region of exposed nitride and a region of exposed oxide. The methods may further include providing a hydrogen-containing precursor to the processing region to produce an etchant. At least a portion of the exposed nitride may be removed with the etchant.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a processing container capable of being vacuum-exhausted, a lower electrode, and an upper electrode. A target substrate can be placed on the lower electrode. The upper electrode is disposed in the processing container so as to face the lower electrode. A substrate processing method of the present disclosure includes performing a first process on the target substrate using an AC voltage without using a DC pulse voltage, and performing a second process on the target substrate using the DC pulse voltage.

Abstract: Provided are Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) formulations that offer high and tunable Cu removal rates and low copper dishing for the broad or advanced node copper or Through Silica Via (TSV). The CMP compositions provide high selectivity of Cu film vs. other barrier layers, such as Ta, TaN, Ti, and TiN, and dielectric films, such as TEOS, low-k, and ultra low-k films. The CMP polishing formulations comprise solvent, abrasive, at least three chelators selected from the group consisting of amino acids, amino acid derivatives, organic amine, and combinations therefor; wherein at least one chelator is an amino acid or an amino acid derivative. Additionally, organic quaternary ammonium salt, corrosion inhibitor, oxidizer, pH adjustor and biocide are used in the formulations.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for conducting a silicon containing material removal process on a workpiece are provided. In one example implementation, the method can include generating species from a process gas in a first chamber using an inductive coupling element. The method can include introducing a fluorine containing gas with the species to create a mixture. The mixture can include exposing a silicon structure of the workpiece to the mixture to remove at least a portion of the silicon structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing slurry composition for an STI process, the polishing slurry composition comprising: a polishing solution including polishing particles; and an additive solution containing a nitride film polishing barrier inclusive of a polymer having an amide bond.

Abstract: A phosphoric acid-free etchant composition and a method of forming a wiring, the composition including about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % of an organic acid compound; about 6 wt % to about 12 wt % of a glycol compound; about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or hydrochloric acid; about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of a nitrate salt compound; and water, all wt % being based on a total weight of the phosphoric acid-free etchant composition.

Abstract: An etching method for etching a silicon-containing film formed in a substrate by supplying an etching gas to the substrate is provided. The method includes supplying an amine gas to the substrate, in which the silicon-containing film, a porous film, and a non-etching target film that is a film not to be etched but is etchable by the etching gas are sequentially formed adjacent to each other, so that amine is adsorbed onto walls of pores of the porous film. The method further includes supplying the etching gas for etching the silicon-containing film to the substrate in which the amine is adsorbed onto the walls of the pores of the porous film.

Abstract: A process for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate containing tungsten and titanium is provided comprising: providing the substrate; providing a polishing composition, containing, as initial components: water; an oxidizing agent; a chitosan; a dicarboxylic acid, wherein the dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of propanedioic acid and 2-hydroxypropanedioic acid; a source of iron ions; a colloidal silica abrasive with a positive surface charge; and, optionally pH adjusting agent; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad, having a polishing surface; creating dynamic contact at an interface between the polishing pad and the substrate; and dispensing the polishing composition onto the polishing surface at or near the interface between the polishing pad and the substrate; wherein some of the tungsten (W) and some of the titanium (Ti) is polished away from the substrate with a removal selectivity for the tungsten (W) relative to the titanium (Ti).

Abstract: A pattern-forming method includes: forming a pattern on an upper face side of a substrate; applying a first composition to a sidewall of the pattern; forming a resin layer by applying a second composition to an inner face side of the sidewall of the pattern coated with the first composition; allowing the resin layer to separate into a plurality of phases; and removing at least one of the plurality of phases. The first composition contains a first polymer. The second composition contains a second polymer. The second polymer includes a first block having a first structural unit and a second block having a second structural unit. The polarity of the second structural unit is higher than the polarity of the first structural unit. Immediately before forming of the resin layer, a static contact angle ? (°) of water on the sidewall of the pattern satisfies inequality (1).

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of plasma processing includes etching a refractory metal by flowing oxygen into a plasma processing chamber, intermittently flowing a passivation gas into the plasma processing chamber, and supplying power to sustain a plasma in the plasma processing chamber.

Abstract: A pattern forming material according to an embodiment is a pattern forming material comprising a polymer composed of a plurality of monomer units bonded to each other. Each of the monomer units includes an ester structure having a first carbonyl group and at least one second carbonyl group bonded to the ester structure. A second carbonyl group farthest from a main chain of the polymer constituting the pattern forming material among second carbonyl groups is in a linear chain state.

Abstract: A method of controlling a substrate etching process includes disposing a bottom surface or a top surface of a substrate adjacent to volume of etching fluid to produce an etchant-substrate interface and heating the etchant-substrate interface via spatially controlled electromagnetic radiation. The method also includes transmitting a monitoring beam through the substrate, the substrate and volume of etching fluid being at least partially transparent at the wavelength range of the monitoring beam and measuring a property of the substrate surface during the substrate etching process via the monitoring beam to produce a real-time measured property for the substrate. A corresponding etching system and computer-program product is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for processing a product layer includes providing a dielectric layer over a substrate, etching to remove a portion of the dielectric layer, forming a product layer over the etched dielectric layer, and removing the product layer by providing a dissolving solution and using the dissolving solution to rinse or soak the product layer to dissolve the product layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mattifying a turbine engine part (10) comprising a metal material, the method comprising a step of immersing said part in a chemical bath (14) for mattifying said metal part (10), the bath (14) comprising at least sodium fluoride (NaF) and hydrofluoric (HF) acid, characterised in that the immersion step lasts between 2 and 15 minutes.

Abstract: A plasma etching method using a Faraday cage, comprising: providing a Faraday cage having a mesh portion on an upper surface thereof in a plasma etching apparatus; providing a quartz substrate having a metal mask with an opening provided on one surface of the metal mask in the Faraday cage; and patterning the quartz substrate with plasma etching.

Abstract: A pattern-forming method includes applying a first composition on a surface layer of a substrate to form a first coating film. The surface layer includes a first region which includes a metal atom, and a second region which includes a silicon atom. The first coating film is heated. A portion other than a portion formed on the first region or a portion other than a portion formed on the second region of the first coating film heated is removed, thereby forming a first lamination portion. A second composition is applied on the substrate on which the first lamination portion is formed to form a second coating film. The second coating film is heated or exposed. A portion other than a portion formed on the first lamination portion of the second coating film heated or exposed is removed, thereby forming a second lamination portion.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for conducting a hardmask (e.g., carbon containing hardmask) removal process on a workpiece are provided. In one example implementation, a process can include admitting a process gas into a plasma chamber, generating a plasma in the plasma chamber from the process gas using an inductively coupled plasma source, and exposing the carbon containing hardmask to the plasma to remove at least a portion of the carbon containing hardmask. The process gas can include a sulfur containing gas. The process gas does not include a halogen containing gas. The inductively coupled plasma source can be separated from the plasma chamber by a grounded electrostatic shield to reduce capacitive coupling between the inductively coupled plasma source and the plasma.

Abstract: Plasma processing systems and methods are provided. In one example, a system includes a processing chamber having a workpiece support. The workpiece is configured to support a workpiece. The system includes a plasma source configured to induce a plasma from a process gas in a plasma chamber to generate one or more species of negative ions. The system includes a grid structure configured to accelerate the one or more negative ions towards the workpiece. The grid structure can include a first grid plate, a second grid plate, and one or more magnetic elements positioned between the first grid plate and second grid plate to reduce electrons accelerated through the first grid plate. The system can include a neutralizer cell disposed downstream of the grid structure configured to detach extra electrons from ions of the one or more species of negative ions to generate energetic neutral species for processing the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and equipment for forming gaps in a material layer are provided. The equipment includes a supporter and an etching device. The supporter is configured to support a semiconductor device. In the method for forming gaps in a material layer, at first, the semiconductor device is provided. Then, a material layer of the semiconductor device is etched to form vertical gaps in the material layer. Thereafter, the vertical sidewall of each of the vertical gaps is etched in accordance with a predetermined gap profile by using directional charged particle beams. The directional charged particle beams are provided by the etching device, and each of the directional charged particle beams has two energy peaks.