Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a precursor having a substrate and gate stacks over the substrate, wherein each of the gate stacks includes an electrode layer, a first hard mask (HM) layer over the electrode layer, and a second HM layer over the first HM layer. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate and the gate stacks and filling spaces between the gate stacks; and performing a first chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process to partially remove the dielectric layer. The method further includes performing an etching process to remove the second HM layer and to partially remove the dielectric layer, thereby exposing the first HM layer. The method further includes performing a second CMP process to at least partially remove the first HM layer.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the aromatic sulfonic acid is of general formula (I): wherein: Ar1 represents an aromatic group; R1 independently represents a halogen atom, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, or a combination thereof, wherein adjacent R1 groups together optionally form a fused ring structure with Ar1; a represents an integer of 2 or more; and b represents an integer of 1 or more, provided that a+b is at least 3 and is not greater than the total number of available aromatic carbon atoms of Ar1, and two or more of R1 are independently a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring carbon atom.

Abstract: A rolled metal sheet includes an obverse surface and a reverse surface that is a surface located opposite to the obverse surface. At least either one of the obverse surface and the reverse surface is a processing object. A method for manufacturing a metal mask substrate includes reducing a thickness of the rolled metal sheet to 10 ?m or less by etching the processing object by 3 ?m or more by use of an acidic etching liquid, and roughening the processing object so that the processing object becomes a resist formation surface that has a surface roughness Rz of 0.2 ?m or more, thereby obtaining a metal mask sheet.

Abstract: A polishing composition includes an abrasive; an optional pH adjuster; a barrier film removal rate enhancer; a TEOS removal rate inhibitor; a cobalt removal rate enhancer; an azole-containing corrosion inhibitor; and a cobalt corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: A method of post-deposition treatment for silicon oxide film includes: providing in a reaction space a substrate having a recess pattern on which a silicon oxide film is deposited; supplying a reforming gas for reforming the silicon oxide film to the reaction space in the absence of a film-forming precursor, said reforming gas being composed primarily of He and/or H2; and irradiating the reforming gas with microwaves in the reaction space having a pressure of 200 Pa or less to generate a direct microwave plasma to which the substrate is exposed, thereby reforming the silicon oxide film.

Abstract: Processes are provided herein for deposition of organic films. Organic films can be deposited, including selective deposition on one surface of a substrate relative to a second surface of the substrate. For example, polymer films may be selectively deposited on a first metallic surface relative to a second dielectric surface. Selectivity, as measured by relative thicknesses on the different layers, of above about 50% or even about 90% is achieved. The selectively deposited organic film may be subjected to an etch process to render the process completely selective. Processes are also provided for particular organic film materials, independent of selectivity. Masking applications employing selective organic films are provided. Post-deposition modification of the organic films, such as metallic infiltration and/or carbon removal, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Polishing compositions comprising ceria coated silica particles and organic acids having one selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acid group, phosphonic acid group, pyridine compound, and combinations thereof, with pH between 5 and 10 and electrical conductivity between 0.2 and 10 millisiemens per centimeter provide very high silicon oxide removal rates for advanced semiconductor device manufacturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing agent including: a water-soluble polymer including a copolymer of a monomer (A) which includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, a derivative thereof, and salts of the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and the derivative thereof and a monomer (B) other than the monomer (A), comprising an ethylenic double bond and no acidic group; a cerium oxide particle; and water, in which the polishing agent has a pH of 4 to 9.

Abstract: The method of dry-etching silicon oxide of the present disclosure includes reacting silicon oxide with any one of the following (A) to (C): (A) a gaseous hydrogen fluoride and a gaseous organic amine compound, (B) a gaseous hydrogen fluoride salt of an organic amine compound, and (C) a gaseous hydrogen fluoride, a gaseous organic amine compound, and a gaseous hydrogen fluoride salt of an organic amine compound in a non-plasma state.

Abstract: A method for the dry removal of a material on a microelectronic workpiece is described. The method includes receiving a substrate having a working surface exposing a metal layer and having at least one other material exposed or underneath the metal layer; and differentially etching the metal layer relative to the other material by exposing the substrate to a controlled gas-phase environment containing an anhydrous halogen compound.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for lithography patterning. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a target layer over the substrate. A patterning layer is formed by depositing a first layer having an organic composition; depositing a second layer including over 50 atomic percent of silicon; and depositing a photosensitive layer on the second layer. In some implementations, the second layer is deposited by ALD, CVD, or PVD processes.

Abstract: Compositions useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride materials relative to polysilicon, silicon oxide materials and/or silicide materials from a microelectronic device having same thereon are provided. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful in the etching of 3D NAND structures.

Abstract: A shaped ceramic abrasive particle, in particular on the basis of alpha-Al2O3, includes at least three faces, at least two faces of which form a common vertex on which at least one corner common to the three faces lies. The abrasive particle has at least one structural weakening element. The disclosure also relates to an abrasive article including the abrasive particles, and a method for producing the abrasive particles.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned mask layer is provided. The method includes forming a first layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first strip structure and a second strip structure over the first layer. The method includes forming a spacer layer conformally covering the first strip structure, the second strip structure, and the first layer. The method includes forming a block structure in the first trench. The method includes removing a first portion of the spacer layer, which is under the first trench and not covered by the block structure, and a second portion of the spacer layer, which is over the first strip structure and the second strip structure. The method includes forming a third strip structure in the second trench and the third trench. The method includes removing the block structure. The method includes removing the spacer layer.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to selective removal of material of a layer, such as a carbon-containing layer. The layer can be over a patterned structure of two different materials. Treating the layer to cause the removal agent to be catalytically activated by a first area of the patterned structure to remove material of the organic material over the first area at a greater rate than over a second area of the patterned structure having a different composition from the first area.

Abstract: A storage container storing a treatment liquid for manufacturing a semiconductor is provided, wherein the occurrence of defects on the semiconductor, such as particles, is suppressed and a fine resist pattern or a fine semiconductor element is manufactured. The storage container includes a storage portion that stores a treatment liquid for manufacturing a semiconductor, and the treatment liquid for manufacturing a semiconductor includes one kind or two or more kinds of metal atoms and a total content of particulate metal is 0.01 to 100 mass ppt with respect to a total mass of the treatment liquid.

Abstract: An intermediate raw material according to the present invention includes a charge control agent having a critical packing parameter of 0.6 or more and a dispersing medium and a pH of the intermediate raw material is less than 7.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ruthenium wiring including (i) treating a metal surface including ruthenium using a first chemical solution including a compound having a functional group capable of coordinating to a ruthenium atom, and (ii) carrying out an etching treatment on the metal surface including ruthenium treated with the first chemical solution, using a second chemical solution.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a polishing composition that includes at least one abrasive; at least one nitride removal rate reducing agent, an acid or a base; and water. The at least one nitride removal rate reduce agent can include a hydrophobic portion containing a C4 to C40 hydrocarbon group; and a hydrophilic portion containing at least one group selected from the group consisting of a sulfinite group, a sulfate group, a sulfonate group, a carboxylate group, a phosphate group, and a phosphonate group; in which the hydrophobic portion and the hydrophilic portion are separated by zero to ten alkylene oxide groups. The polishing composition can have a pH of from about 2 to about 6.5.

Abstract: In method of patterning a substrate, a first relief pattern is formed based on a first layer deposited over a substrate. Openings in the first relief pattern are filled with a reversal material. The first relief pattern is then removed from the substrate and the reversal material remains on the substrate to define a second relief pattern. A fill material is deposited over the substrate that is in contact with the second relief pattern, and sensitive to a photo-acid generated from a photo-acid generator in the second relief pattern. Selected portions of the second relief pattern are exposed to a first actinic radiation to generate the photo-acid in the selected portions of the second relief pattern. The photo-acid are driven from the selected portions of the second relief pattern into portions of the fill material so that the portions of the fill material to become soluble to a predetermined developer.