Abstract: Methods are disclosed for etching a substrate. The method includes preferentially coating cover ring relative other chamber components in the processing chamber, while under vacuum, and while a substrate is not present in the processing chamber. The substrate is subsequently etched the processing chamber. After etching, the interior of the processing chamber is cleaned after the substrate has been removed.

Abstract: To provide a polishing composition that can be used as an alternative of a polishing composition containing cerium oxide abrasive grains in STI and other such CMP applications, and to provide a polishing method and a method for producing a substrate using this polishing composition. A polishing composition being used in applications for polishing a layer that contains a substance having a pH range presenting a positive zeta potential in an aqueous solution of pH 6 or lower, wherein the polishing composition contains abrasive grains (A), abrasive grains (B), and a pH adjusting agent, and the abrasive grains (B) has a negative zeta potential in an aqueous solution of pH 6 or lower, and the value of the average secondary particle diameter of the abrasive grains (B) is less than the value of the average secondary particle diameter of the abrasive grains (A) and is 15 nm or less and the polishing composition has a pH of 6 or lower.

Abstract: A micromachining process includes exposing the work piece surface to a precursor gas including a compound having an acid halide functional group; and irradiating the work piece surface with a beam in the presence of the precursor gas, the precursor gas reacting in the presence of the particle beam to remove material from the work piece surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of atomic layer etching (ALE) of metals including tungsten (W) and cobalt (Co). The methods disclosed herein provide precise etch control down to the atomic level, with etching a low as 1 ? to 10 ? per cycle in some embodiments. In some embodiments, directional control is provided without damage to the surface of interest. The methods may include cycles of a modification operation to form a reactive layer, followed by a removal operation to etch only this modified layer. The modification is performed without spontaneously etching the surface of the metal.

Abstract: A high-efficiency high-quality and safe alkaline cupric chloride etchant for printed circuit board, which includes cupric chloride and a sub-etchant. The sub-etchant contains (in percentage by weight) 10%-30% NH4Cl; 0.0002%-25% carboxylic acid and/or ammonium carboxylate; 0.3%-25% ammonium hydroxide. The etchant is used in connection with an automatic detection and charging control during the etching process in order to keep the concentration of copper ions in the etchant no less than a set value.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a FinFET structure involves forming gate cuts within a sacrificial gate layer prior to patterning and etching the sacrificial gate layer to form longitudinal sacrificial gate structures. By forming transverse cuts in the sacrificial gate layer before defining the sacrificial gate structures longitudinally, dimensional precision of the gate cuts at lower critical dimensions can be improved.

Abstract: The invention is a method for chemical mechanical polishing a semiconductor substrate having cobalt or cobalt alloy containing features containing Co0. The method mixes 0.1 to 2 wt % hydrogen peroxide oxidizing agent (?) into a slurry containing 0.5 to 3 wt % colloidal silica particles (?), the colloidal silica particles containing primary particles, 0.5 to 2 wt % complexing agent (?) selected from at least one of L-aspartic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, nitrilotri(methylphosphonic acid), ethylenediamine-N,N?-disuccinic acid trisodium salt, and ethylene glycol-bis (2aminoethylether)-N,N,N?,N?-tetraacetic acid, and balance water having a pH of 5 to 9 to create a polishing slurry for the semiconductor substrate. Oxidizing at least a surface portion of the Co0 to Co+3 of the semiconductor substrate to prevent runaway dissolution of the Co0 reduces polishing defects in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first hole in a first processed layer. A first sacrificial film is formed in the first hole. A hole portion is formed in the first sacrificial film. A second sacrificial film is formed in the hole portion. A second processed layer is formed above the first sacrificial film and the second sacrificial film, and a second hole is formed in the second processed layer to expose the second sacrificial film. A third sacrificial film is formed on an inner side surface of the second hole, and a fourth sacrificial film is formed on the third sacrificial film. The second sacrificial film is etched using the fourth sacrificial film as a mask. The third sacrificial film exposed by etching the second sacrificial film is etched. The second processed layer is etched using the third sacrificial film as a mask.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry, including an abrasive, a chelator, an oxidizing agent, and a surface modificator. The surface modificator is configured to modify a surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. The present disclosure also provides a method for reducing chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) surface defects. The method includes adding an additive into CMP slurry by at least 0.0001 wt %, wherein the additive modifies a surface to be polished from hydrophobic to hydrophilic.

Abstract: Provided is an etchant for a semiconductor process, which contains a sulfonic acid compound, a halogen ion, nitric acid or a nitric acid ion, an organic cation, and water.

Abstract: A method for orienting elongated objects arranged on the surface of a substrate, the elongated objects extending according to an initial orientation, the method including depositing on the surface of the substrate at least one layer of a soft material covering at least partially a portion of the elongated objects, and applying a mechanical stress on at least one portion of the layer of soft material in such a way as to modify the orientation of at least one portion of the elongated objects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal polishing liquid for polishing at least a part of metal in a substrate having the metal, comprising, component A: a metal solubilizer containing amino acids, component B: compounds having the benzotriazole skeleton, and component C: an acrylic acid polymer having the weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and having the mass ratio between the component B and the component C, (component B:component C), to be 1:1 to 1:5. Use of the metal polishing liquid can simultaneously yield high polishing rates and low etching rates at higher level, enabling to form an embedded pattern with higher reliability.

Abstract: Selective gas etching for self-aligned pattern transfer uses a first block and a separate second block formed in a sacrificial layer to transfer critical dimensions to a desired final layer using a selective gas etching process. The first block is a first hardmask material that can be plasma etched using a first gas, and the second block is a second hardmask material that can be plasma etched using a second gas separate from the first gas. The first hardmask material is not plasma etched using the second gas, and the second hardmask material is not plasma etched using the first gas.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of patterning a device layer are described, including operations of patterning a protector layer and forming a first opening in a first patterning layer to expose a first portion of the protector layer and a first portion of the hard mask layer, which are then are exposed to a first etch to form a first opening in the first portion of the hard mask layer. A second opening is formed in a second patterning layer to expose a second portion of the protector layer and a second portion of the hard mask layer. The second portion of the protector layer and the second portion of the hard mask layer are exposed to an etch to form a second opening in the second portion of the hard mask layer. Exposed portions of the device layer are then etched through the first opening and the second opening.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel, template-free process for the fabrication of metal nanowires of novel dimensions. The unconventional method produces highly ordered and freestanding aluminum nanowire arrays.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and apparatus for processing of the bottom surface of a substrate to counteract thermal stresses thereon. Correcting strains are applied to the bottom surface of the substrate which compensate for undesirable strains and distortions on the top surface of the substrate. Specifically designed films may be formed on the back side of the substrate by any combination of deposition, implant, thermal treatment, and etching to create strains that compensate for unwanted distortions of the substrate. In some embodiments, localized strains may be introduced by locally altering the hydrogen content of a silicon nitride film or a carbon film, among other techniques. Structures may be formed by printing, lithography, or self-assembly techniques. Treatment of the layers of film is determined by the stress map desired and includes annealing, implanting, melting, or other thermal treatments.

Abstract: A method for removing material from a substrate includes providing the substrate with first and second opposing major surfaces. A masking layer is disposed along one of the first major surface and the second major surface, and is provided with a plurality of openings. The substrate is placed within an etching apparatus and material is removed from the substrate through openings using the etching apparatus. The thickness of the substrate is measured within the etching apparatus using a thickness transducer. The measured thickness is compared to a predetermined thickness and the material removal step is terminated responsive to the measured thickness corresponding to the predetermined thickness. In one embodiment, the method is used to more accurately form recessed regions in semiconductor die, which can be used in, for example, stacked device configurations.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment implants impurities into a central portion of a polishing target film or an outer peripheral portion of the central portion of the polishing target film to cause an impurity concentration in the outer peripheral portion of the polishing target film and an impurity concentration in the central portion thereof to be different from each other, thereby modifying a surface of the polishing target film. The modified surface of the polishing target film is polished by a CMP method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mask includes forming a first hole in a base material using a laser, the first hole penetrating through the base material from a first surface to a second surface different than the first surface, and expanding the first hole using an etchant to form a second hole.

Abstract: A slurry composition for polishing tungsten is provided. The slurry composition for polishing tungsten may include a water-soluble polymer, abrasive particles and an etching adjuster.