Abstract: A method of forming a photoresist pattern includes forming a protective layer over a photoresist layer formed on a substrate. The protective layer and the photoresist layer are selectively exposed to actinic radiation. The photoresist layer is developed to form a pattern in the photoresist layer. The protective layer includes a polymer without a nitrogen-containing moiety, and a basic quencher, an organic acid, a photoacid generator, or a thermal acid generator.

Abstract: A system and method utilize directed self-assembly films, including block copolymers and solvents, to form features on a wafer. The solvents have high boiling points. The high boiling points of the solvents enable directed self-assembly processes to utilize very high temperature, rapid thermal annealing processes to generate a pattern of first and second polymer structures over a wafer from the directed self-assembly films. The pattern of the first and second polymer structures can be utilized to form the features on the wafer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate. The photoresist layer includes a polymer, a photoacid initiator and a crosslinker containing at least two crosslinking sites. The photoresist layer is then cured to crosslink the polymer, thereby forming a crosslinked polymer. Next, the photoresist layer is exposed to a radiation. An acid produced from exposure of the photoacid generator de-crosslinks the crosslinked polymer in exposed portions of the photoresist layer. The exposed portions of the photoresist layer are subsequently removed to form a patterned photoresist layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of non-insulator structures on a substrate, the plurality of non-insulator structures being spaced apart by trenches, forming a sacrificial layer overfilling the trenches, reflowing the sacrificial layer at an elevated temperature, wherein a top surface of the sacrificial layer after the reflowing is lower than a top surface of the sacrificial layer before the reflowing, etching back the sacrificial layer to lower the top surface of the sacrificial layer to fall below top surfaces of the plurality of non-insulator structures, forming a dielectric layer on the sacrificial layer, and removing the sacrificial layer to form air gaps below the dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a reflective mask, an adhesion layer is formed over a mask blank. The mask blank includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer disposed over the substrate, a capping layer disposed over the reflective multilayer, an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer, and a hard mask layer disposed over the absorber layer. A photoresist pattern is formed over the adhesion layer, the adhesion layer is patterned, the hard mask layer is patterned, and the absorber layer is patterned using the patterned hard mask layer as an etching mask. The photoresist layer has a higher adhesiveness to the adhesion layer than to the hard mask layer.

Abstract: Photosensitive polymers and their use in photoresists for photolithographic processes are disclosed. The polymers are copolymers, with at least one monomer that includes pendant polycyclic aromatic groups and a second monomer that includes an acidic leaving group (ALG). The polymers have high resistance to etching and high development contrast.

Abstract: A high-resolution imaging lens proofed against high-temperature instability includes a first lens with a negative power, a second lens with a negative power, a third lens with a positive power, a fourth lens with a negative power, a fifth lens with a positive power, and a sixth lens with a positive power. The first to the sixth lenses satisfy conditions of F1<0; 0.8>|F2/F6|>0.6, F2<0, F6>0; ?3>F4/F5>?2, and 2.0<F/#. Each of the first lens, the third lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens is made of glass, each of the second lens and the sixth lens is made of plastic.

Abstract: A lens module includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens having a positive refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, a fifth lens having a negative refractive power, and an imaging surface, arranged in that sequence from an object side to an image side. The lens module uses infrared light which has a wavelength ranging from 920 to 970 nm, the lens module satisfies the following conditions: 0.0002<|1/F1|<0.01; D/TTL>1.1; CT4/ET4<1.8; F1 denotes a focal length of the first lens, D denotes a diameter of a largest imaging circle of the lens module, TTL denotes a distance between an object side surface of the first lens to the imaging surface, CT4 denotes a central thickness of the fourth lens, ET4 denotes an edge thickness of the fourth lens.

Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom layer of a multi-layer mask over a first gate structure extending across a fin; performing a chemical treatment to treat an upper portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask, while leaving a lower portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask untreated; forming a sacrificial layer over the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask; performing a polish process on the sacrificial layer, in which the treated upper portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask has a slower removal rate in the polish process than that of the untreated lower portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask; forming middle and top layers of the multi-layer mask; patterning the multi-layer mask; and etching an exposed portion of the first gate structure to break the first gate structure into a plurality of second gate structures.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment a bottom anti-reflective layer comprises a surface energy modification group which modifies the surface energy of the polymer resin to more closely match a surface energy of an underlying material in order to help fill gaps between structures. The surface energy of the polymer resin may be modified by either using a surface energy modifying group or else by using an inorganic structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a photoresist pattern includes forming a protective layer over a photoresist layer formed on a substrate. The protective layer and the photoresist layer are selectively exposed to actinic radiation. The photoresist layer is developed to form a pattern in the photoresist layer. The protective layer includes a polymer without a nitrogen-containing moiety, and a basic quencher, an organic acid, a photoacid generator, or a thermal acid generator.

Abstract: A high-resolution imaging lens proofed against high-temperature instability includes a first lens with a negative power, a second lens with a negative power, a third lens with a positive power, a fourth lens with a negative power, a fifth lens with a positive power, and a sixth lens with a positive power. The first to the sixth lenses satisfy conditions of F1<0; 0.8>|F2/F6|>0.6, F2<0, F6>0; ?3>F4/F5>?2, and 2.0<F/#. Each of the first lens, the third lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens is made of glass, each of the second lens and the sixth lens is made of plastic.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment a bottom anti-reflective layer comprises a surface energy modification group which modifies the surface energy of the polymer resin to more closely match a surface energy of an underlying material in order to help fill gaps between structures. The surface energy of the polymer resin may be modified by either using a surface energy modifying group or else by using an inorganic structure.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a photo resist layer is formed over a substrate with underlying structures. The first photo resist layer is exposed to exposure radiation. The exposed first photo resist layer is developed with a developing solution. A planarization layer is formed over the developed photo resist layer. The underlying structures include concave portions, and a part of the concave portions is not filled by the developed first photo resist.

Abstract: A method includes providing a photoresist solution that includes a first solvent having a first volume and a second solvent having a second volume, where the first solvent is different from the second solvent and where the first volume is less than the second volume; dispersing the photoresist solution over a substrate to form a film, where the dispersing evaporates a portion of the first solvent and a portion of the second solvent such that a remaining portion of the first solvent is greater than a remaining portion of the second solvent; baking the film; after baking the film, exposing the film to form an exposed film; and developing the exposed film.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment a bottom anti-reflective layer comprises a surface energy modification group which modifies the surface energy of the polymer resin to more closely match a surface energy of an underlying material in order to help fill gaps between structures. The surface energy of the polymer resin may be modified by either using a surface energy modifying group or else by using an inorganic structure.

Abstract: A lens module includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens having a positive refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, a fifth lens having a negative refractive power, and an imaging surface, arranged in that sequence from an object side to an image side. The lens module uses infrared light which has a wavelength ranging from 920 to 970 nm, the lens module satisfies the following conditions: 0.0002<|1/F1|<0.01; D/TTL>1.1; CT4/ET4<1.8; F1 denotes a focal length of the first lens, D denotes a diameter of a largest imaging circle of the lens module, TTL denotes a distance between an object side surface of the first lens to the imaging surface, CT4 denotes a central thickness of the fourth lens, ET4 denotes an edge thickness of the fourth lens.

Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom layer of a multi-layer mask over a first gate structure extending across a fin; performing a chemical treatment to treat an upper portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask, while leaving a lower portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask untreated; forming a sacrificial layer over the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask; performing a polish process on the sacrificial layer, in which the treated upper portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask has a slower removal rate in the polish process than that of the untreated lower portion of the bottom layer of the multi-layer mask; forming middle and top layers of the multi-layer mask; patterning the multi-layer mask; and etching an exposed portion of the first gate structure to break the first gate structure into a plurality of second gate structures.

Abstract: A method includes providing a photoresist solution that includes a first solvent having a first volume and a second solvent having a second volume, where the first solvent is different from the second solvent and where the first volume is less than the second volume; dispersing the photoresist solution over a substrate to form a film, where the dispersing evaporates a portion of the first solvent and a portion of the second solvent such that a remaining portion of the first solvent is greater than a remaining portion of the second solvent; baking the film; after baking the film, exposing the film to form an exposed film; and developing the exposed film.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having void-free dielectric structures and methods of fabricating same are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a plurality of fin structures disposed over a substrate having isolation features disposed therein and a plurality of gate structures disposed over the plurality of fin structures. The plurality of gate structures traverse the plurality of fin structures. The semiconductor device further includes a dielectric structure defined between the plurality of fin structures and the plurality of gate structures. The dielectric structure has an aspect ratio of about 5 to about 16. The dielectric structure includes a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate and a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are disposed on sidewalls of the plurality of fin structures and sidewalls of the plurality of gate structures.