Abstract: Etching a refractory metal or other high surface binding energy material on a substrate can maintain or increase the smoothness of the metal/high EO surface, in some cases produce extreme smoothing. A substrate having an exposed refractory metal/high EO surface is provided. The refractory metal/high EO surface is exposed to a modification gas to modify the surface and form a modified refractory metal/high EO surface. The modified refractory metal/high EO surface is exposed to an energetic particle to preferentially remove the modified refractory metal/high EO surface relative to an underlying unmodified refractory metal/high EO surface such that the exposed refractory metal/high EO surface after removing the modified refractory metal/high EO surface is as smooth or smoother than the substrate surface before exposing the substrate surface to the modification gas.

Abstract: A method for selectively etching a first region of a structure with respect to a second region of the structure is provided. The method comprises at least one cycle. Each cycle comprises selectively depositing an inhibitor layer on the first region of the structure, providing an atomic layer deposition over the structure, wherein the atomic layer deposition selectively deposits a mask on the second region of the structure with respect to the inhibitor layer, and selectively etching the first region of the structure with respect to the mask. The selectively depositing an inhibitor layer on the first region of the structure comprises providing an inhibitor layer gas and forming the inhibitor layer gas into inhibitor layer radicals, wherein the inhibitor layer radicals selectively deposit on the first region of the structure with respect to the second region of the structure.

Abstract: The present application provides an image sensor, a global shutter control method and a computer storage medium. The image sensor includes a pixel array, where the pixel array includes a plurality of columns of pixels, or the pixel array includes a plurality of groups of sub-pixel arrays, each group of sub-pixel arrays including a plurality of columns/rows of pixels; and a processor module which triggers the pixel array on the basis of an instruction. According to the control method, consistency of an average delay of the columns/rows or groups in the pixel array is achieved by dynamic averaging. In addition, the consistency cannot be affected by external conditions such as a process, a power supply or the temperature. A high instantaneous current caused by using a global shutter manner is avoided, and at the same time, there is no need for a digital processor to perform column-by-column or row-by-row correction at a back end after exposure is not required, so as to reduce hardware cost and test cost.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes: providing a substrate having one or more mandrels comprising a mandrel material, wherein a layer of a spacer material coats horizontal surfaces and sidewalls of the one or more mandrels; and etching and completely removing the layer of the spacer material from the horizontal surfaces of the one or more mandrels and thereby exposing the mandrel material, without completely removing the spacer material residing at the sidewalls of the one or more mandrels. The etching includes exposing the substrate to a plasma formed using a mixture comprising a first gas and a polymer-forming gas, and wherein the etching comprises forming a polymer on the substrate. Polymer-forming gas may include carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).

Abstract: An opening and closing device for curtains and a system based on the same, mounted on a curtain track, comprises a main engine and a roller mechanism, The main engine comprises a shell with a cavity, a driving wheel mounted in the cavity and partially exposed the shell, a motor arranged in the cavity and controlling the driving wheel to rotate, a controller lied in the cavity and controlling the motor to start and stop, and a signal transceiver module coupled electrically with the controller and receiving starting and stopping signals of the motor; the driving wheel is used for driving the curtains to move along the curtain track; a roller mechanism is mounted on the shell, an end, far away from the shell, of the roller mechanism is hung on the curtain track and presses the driving wheel closely on the curtain track.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a gate structure over a first side of the substrate, forming a recess adjacent to the gate structure, and forming in the recess a first semiconductor layer having a dopant, the first semiconductor layer being non-conformal, the first semiconductor layer lining the recess and extending from a bottom of the recess to a top of the recess. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer having the dopant in the recess and over the first semiconductor layer, a second concentration of the dopant in the second semiconductor layer being higher than a first concentration of the dopant in the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method for selectively etching a stack with respect to a mask is provided. An atomic layer etch is provided to at least partially etch the stack, wherein the atomic layer etch forms at least some residue. An ion beam is provided to etch the stack, wherein the ion beam etch removes at least some of the residue from the atomic layer etch.

Abstract: Development of resists are useful, for example, to form a patterning mask in the context of high-resolution patterning. Development can be accomplished using a halide-containing chemistry such as a hydrogen halide. A metal-containing resist film may be deposited on a semiconductor substrate using a dry or wet deposition technique. The resist film may be an EUV-sensitive organo-metal oxide or organo-metal-containing thin film resist. After exposure, the photopatterned metal-containing resist is developed using wet or dry development.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for reducing roughness of an EUV resist and improving etched features. The methods involve descumming an EUV resist, filling divots of the EUV resist, and protecting EUV resists with a cap. The resulting EUV resist has smoother features and increased selectivity to an underlying layer, which improves the quality of etched features. Following etching of the underlying layer, the cap may be removed.

Abstract: A method for selectively etching a first region of a structure with respect to a second region of the structure is provided. The method comprises at least one cycle. Each cycle comprises selectively depositing an inhibitor layer on the first region of the structure, providing an atomic layer deposition over the structure, wherein the atomic layer deposition selectively deposits a mask on the second region of the structure with respect to the inhibitor layer, and selectively etching the first region of the structure with respect to the mask. The selectively depositing an inhibitor layer on the first region of the structure comprises providing an inhibitor layer gas and forming the inhibitor layer gas into inhibitor layer radicals, wherein the inhibitor layer radicals selectively deposit on the first region of the structure with respect to the second region of the structure.

Abstract: A method for atomic layer etching a metal containing layer is provided. At least a region of a surface of the metal containing layer is modified to form a modified metal containing region by exposing a surface of the metal containing layer to a modification gas, wherein adjacent to the modified metal containing region remains an unmodified metal containing region. The modified metal containing region is selectively removed with respect to the unmodified metal containing region by exposing the surface of the metal containing layer to an inert bombardment plasma generated from an inert gas.

Abstract: Most protective masks are not designed to follow individual facial contours and have a limited ability to adjust to various facial sizes and shapes. A sealing cushion for use with surgical face masks and the like has a pliant body with a tacky surface and a wire embedded within, which together create a frame-like structure having a central aperture. The wire encased within the body of the cushion allows the apparatus to be shaped and fitted to the contours of the face to create a substantially airtight seal between the face and the mask. The sealing cushion can prevent or reduce entry of airborne contaminants around the sides and edges of the mask.

Abstract: Tin oxide films are used as mandrels in semiconductor device manufacturing. In one implementation the process starts by providing a substrate having a plurality of protruding tin oxide features (mandrels) residing on an exposed etch stop layer. Next, a conformal layer of spacer material is formed both on the horizontal surfaces and on the sidewalls of the mandrels. The spacer material is then removed from the horizontal surfaces exposing the tin oxide material of the mandrels, without fully removing the spacer material residing at the sidewalls of the mandrel (e.g., leaving at least 50%, such as at least 90% of initial height at the sidewall). Next, mandrels are selectively removed (e.g., using hydrogen-based etch chemistry), while leaving the spacer material that resided at the sidewalls of the mandrels. The resulting spacers can be used for patterning the etch stop layer and underlying layers.

Abstract: Tin oxide film on a semiconductor substrate is etched selectively with an etch selectivity of at least 10 in a presence of silicon (Si), carbon (C), or a carbon-containing material (e.g., photoresist) by exposing the substrate to a process gas comprising hydrogen (H2) and a hydrocarbon (e.g., at a hydrogen/hydrocarbon ratio of at least 5), such that a carbon-containing polymer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments an apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate includes a process chamber configured for housing the semiconductor substrate and a controller having program instructions on a non-transitory medium for causing selective etching of a tin oxide layer on a substrate in a presence of silicon, carbon, or a carbon-containing material by exposing the substrate to a plasma formed in a process gas that includes H2 and a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a gate structure over a first side of the substrate, forming a recess adjacent to the gate structure, and forming in the recess a first semiconductor layer having a dopant, the first semiconductor layer being non-conformal, the first semiconductor layer lining the recess and extending from a bottom of the recess to a top of the recess. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer having the dopant in the recess and over the first semiconductor layer, a second concentration of the dopant in the second semiconductor layer being higher than a first concentration of the dopant in the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an exemplary fin structure formed on a substrate. The disclosed fin structure comprises an n-type doped region formed on a top portion of the substrate, a silicon epitaxial layer on the n-type doped region, and an epitaxial stack on the silicon epitaxial layer, wherein the epitaxial stack comprises a silicon-based seed layer in physical contact with the silicon epitaxial layer. The fin structure can further comprise a liner surrounding the n-type doped region, and a dielectric surrounding the liner.

Abstract: Tin oxide film on a semiconductor substrate is etched selectively in a presence of silicon (Si), carbon (C), or a carbon-containing material (e.g., photoresist) by exposing the substrate to a process gas comprising hydrogen (H2) and a hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon significantly improves the etch selectivity. In some embodiments an apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate includes a process chamber configured for housing the semiconductor substrate and a controller having program instructions on a non-transitory medium for causing selective etching of a tin oxide layer on a substrate in a presence of silicon, carbon, or a carbon-containing material by exposing the substrate to a plasma formed in a process gas that includes H2 and a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) cells includes providing a substrate including a memory medium arranged on an underlying layer; creating channel holes in the memory medium having a first critical dimension in a range from 1 nm to 20 nm; depositing switching material defining a filament of the RRAM cells in the channel holes; depositing a top electrode of the RRAM cells on the memory medium and the switching material; and separating adjacent ones of the RRAM cells by etching the top electrode and the memory medium between adjacent ones of the channel holes.

Abstract: An opening and closing device for a curtain mounted on a guiding part, the guiding part is provided with the curtain; the opening and closing device is used for driving automatic opening and closing of the curtain; the opening and closing device includes a mainframe and a connecting mechanism. The mainframe includes a shell, a driver and a driving wheel; the driving wheel and the driver are mounted in the shell, the driver drive the driving wheel to rotate. The connecting mechanism includes a hanging piece and a bracket; a first end of the bracket is inserted into the shell, the hanging piece is movably connected with a second end of the bracket and hung on the guiding part; the hanging piece can be moved vertically relative to the bracket so that the driving wheel is attached closely to the outer wall of the guiding part.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an exemplary method to form p-type fully strained channel (PFSC) or an n-type fully strained channel (NFSC) that can mitigate epitaxial growth defects or structural deformations in the channel region due to processing. The exemplary method can include (i) two or more surface pre-clean treatment cycles with nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and ammonia (NH3) plasma, followed by a thermal treatment; (ii) a prebake (anneal); and (iii) a silicon germanium epitaxial growth with a silicon seed layer, a silicon germanium seed layer, or a combination thereof.