Abstract: One or more embodiments described herein include systems, and/or methods that facilitate fabrication of a semiconductor device using a spacer lithography-etch process. According to an embodiment, a method can comprise performing a first lithography exposure and etch over a first layer of a semiconductor device, where the first lithography exposure and etch comprises forming one or more mandrels on a first region of a second layer by employing a first photoresist layer. The method can further comprise forming one or more spacers on a sidewall of the one or more mandrels and covering a second region of the second layer, where the second region is adjacent to the one or more mandrels. The method can further comprise forming a cut over a third region of the second layer and filling the third region with first material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to resist underlayer surface modifications. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a photoresist patterning stack includes a resist underlayer on a substrate. The resist underlayer includes a surface modification having one or more moieties. The moieties can include acid quencher moieties that limit acid diffusion during a post exposure bake. The acid quencher moieties can include a tert-butoxycarbonyl protecting group (tBOC)-blocked amine that can be copolymerized with an acid generating underlayer. The moieties can also include base-catalyzed crosslinking moieties selected such that base-catalyzed crosslinking can occur upon exposure to a predetermined developer. The base-catalyzed crosslinking moieties can include an acetal group and the predetermined developer can include tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses related to the deposition of a protective layer selective to an interlayer dielectric layer so that the protective layer is formed onto a top portion associated with the interlayer dielectric layer. In some embodiments, a method comprises: forming an interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate; covering a trench region with a metal liner, wherein the trench region is situated above the substrate and formed within the interlayer dielectric layer; and depositing a protective layer selective to the interlayer dielectric layer so that the protective layer is formed onto a top portion associated with the interlayer dielectric layer. In various embodiments, the depositing the protective layer comprises: repeatedly depositing the protective layer via a multi-deposition sequence; or depositing a self-assembled monolayer onto the top portion.

Abstract: An initial semiconductor structure includes an underlying substrate, a hard mask stack, an organic planarization layer (OPL), a first complementary material, and a patterned photoresist layer patterned into a plurality of photoresist pillars defining a plurality of photoresist trenches. The first material is partially etched inward of the trenches, to provide trench regions, and the photoresist is removed. The trench regions are filled with a second complementary material, preferentially etchable with respect to the first material. A polymer brush is grafted on the second material but not the first material, to form polymer brush regions with intermediate regions not covered by the brush. The first material is anisotropically etched the at the intermediate regions but not the brush regions. The OPL is etched inward of the intermediate regions, to provide a plurality of OPL pillars defining a plurality of OPL trenches inverted with respect to the photoresist pillars.

Abstract: Techniques for integrating an embedded MRAM device with a BEOL interconnect structure are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an embedded MRAM device includes: depositing a cap layer onto a substrate; forming a metal line and metal pad on the cap layer; patterning the metal line to form first top vias, and the metal pad to form a second top via; depositing a dielectric material onto the substrate surrounding the first/second top vias; recessing the second top via to form a bottom contact via self-aligned to the metal pad which serves as a bottom contact; forming an MRAM cell over the bottom contact via; and forming first/second top contacts in contact with the first top vias/the MRAM cell. An embedded MRAM device is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for selective CD shrink for source and drain contact trench to optimize FET device performance are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor FET device includes: at least one gate; source and drains on opposite sides of the at least one gate; recesses in the source and drains; and metal contacts disposed over the source and drains and in the recesses, wherein the metal contacts are in direct contact with a bottom and sidewalls of each of the recesses in both a first direction and a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the at least one gate, and wherein the second direction is parallel to the at least one gate. A method of forming a semiconductor FET device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a memorization layer over a substrate, forming a first self-aligned double patterning (SADP) stack including a first organic planarization layer (OPL), masking layer, set of mandrels, and set of spacers, and forming a patterned memorization layer by transferring a first pattern of the first set of spacers to the memorization layer. The method also includes forming a second SADP stack comprising a second OPL, masking layer, set of mandrels, and set of spacers, and forming an array of pillars by transferring a second pattern of the second set of spacers to the patterned memorization layer. The first and second OPL and the first and second sets of mandrels are a spin-on coated OPL material, and the memorization layer and first and second masking layers are a material configured for removal selective to the spin-on coated OPL material.

Abstract: Techniques for lithography process delay characterization and effective dose compensation are provided. In one aspect, a method of analyzing a lithography process includes: applying a photoresist to a wafer; performing a post-apply bake of the photoresist; patterning the photoresist with sequences of open frame base line exposures performed at doses of from about 92% E0 to about 98% E0, and ranges therebetween, at multiple fields of the wafer separated by intervening programmed delay intervals, wherein E0 is the photoresist dose-to-clear; performing a post-exposure bake of the photoresist; developing the photoresist; performing a full wafer inspection to generate a grayscale map of the wafer; and analyzing the grayscale map to determine whether the intervening programmed delay intervals had an effect on the open frame base line exposures during the lithography process. Exposure dose compensation can then be applied to maintain a constant effective dose.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to fabrication method and resulting structures for placing self-aligned top vias at line ends of an interconnect structure. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a line feature is formed in a metallization layer of an interconnect structure. The line feature can include a line hard mask. A trench is formed in the line feature to expose line ends of the line feature. The trench is filled with a host material and a growth inhibitor is formed over a first line end of the line feature. A via mask is formed over a second line end of the line feature. The via mask can be selectively grown on an exposed surface of the host material. Portions of the line feature that are not covered by the via mask are recessed to define a self-aligned top via at the second line end.

Abstract: A lithographic patterning method includes forming a multi-layer patterning material film stack on a semiconductor substrate, the patterning material film stack including a resist layer formed over one or more additional layers, and forming a metal-containing top coat over the resist layer. The method further includes exposing the multi-layer patterning material film stack to patterning radiation through the metal-containing top coat to form a desired pattern in the resist layer, removing the metal-containing top coat, developing the pattern formed in the resist layer, etching at least one underlying layer in accordance with the developed pattern, and removing remaining portions of the resist layer. The metal-containing top coat can be formed, for example, by atomic layer deposition or spin-on deposition over the resist layer, or by self-segregation from the resist layer.

Abstract: One or more embodiments described herein include systems, and/or methods that facilitate fabrication of a semiconductor device using a spacer lithography-etch process. According to an embodiment, a method can comprise performing a first lithography exposure and etch over a first layer of a semiconductor device, where the first lithography exposure and etch comprises forming one or more mandrels on a first region of a second layer by employing a first photoresist layer. The method can further comprise forming one or more spacers on a sidewall of the one or more mandrels and covering a second region of the second layer, where the second region is adjacent to the one or more mandrels. The method can further comprise forming a cut over a third region of the second layer and filling the third region with first material.

Abstract: A novel dielectric cap structure for VTFET device fabrication is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VTFET device includes: patterning fins in a substrate using fin hardmasks, including a first fin(s) and a second fin(s); depositing a liner over the fins and the fin hardmasks; selectively forming first hardmask caps on top of the fin hardmasks/liner over the first fin(s); forming first bottom source and drain at a base of the first fin(s) while the fin hardmasks/liner over the first fin(s) are preserved by the first hardmask caps; selectively forming second hardmask caps on top of the fin hardmasks/liner over the second fin(s); and forming second bottom source and drains at a base of the second fin(s) while the fin hardmasks/liner over the second fin(s) are preserved by the second hardmask caps. A device structure is also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary semiconductor fabrication stack includes underlying layers; an organic planarization layer atop the underlying layers; a metal oxide hardmask atop the organic planarization layer and doped with both carbon and nitrogen; and an organic photoresist directly atop the doped metal oxide hardmask. In one or more embodiments, the doped metal oxide hardmask exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 80°.

Abstract: An initial semiconductor structure includes an underlying substrate, a hard mask stack, an organic planarization layer (OPL), a first complementary material, and a patterned photoresist layer patterned into a plurality of photoresist pillars defining a plurality of photoresist trenches. The first material is partially etched inward of the trenches, to provide trench regions, and the photoresist is removed. The trench regions are filled with a second complementary material, preferentially etchable with respect to the first material. A polymer brush is grafted on the second material but not the first material, to form polymer brush regions with intermediate regions not covered by the brush. The first material is anisotropically etched the at the intermediate regions but not the brush regions. The OPL is etched inward of the intermediate regions, to provide a plurality of OPL pillars defining a plurality of OPL trenches inverted with respect to the photoresist pillars.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses related to the deposition of a protective layer selective to an interlayer dielectric layer so that the protective layer is formed onto a top portion associated with the interlayer dielectric layer. In some embodiments, a method comprises: forming an interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate; covering a trench region with a metal liner, wherein the trench region is situated above the substrate and formed within the interlayer dielectric layer; and depositing a protective layer selective to the interlayer dielectric layer so that the protective layer is formed onto a top portion associated with the interlayer dielectric layer. In various embodiments, the depositing the protective layer comprises: repeatedly depositing the protective layer via a multi-deposition sequence; or depositing a self-assembled monolayer onto the top portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconducting channel having a plurality of vertical nanowires and a second semiconducting channel having a plurality of vertical nanowires. The first semiconducting channel and the second semiconducting channel are configured to be in a stacked configuration. The plurality of vertical nanowires of the first semiconducting channel are configured to be in alternating positions relative to the plurality of vertical nanowires of the second semiconducting channel.

Abstract: Techniques for integrating an embedded MRAM device with a BEOL interconnect structure are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming an embedded MRAM device includes: depositing a cap layer onto a substrate; forming a metal line and metal pad on the cap layer; patterning the metal line to form first top vias, and the metal pad to form a second top via; depositing a dielectric material onto the substrate surrounding the first/second top vias; recessing the second top via to form a bottom contact via self-aligned to the metal pad which serves as a bottom contact; forming an MRAM cell over the bottom contact via; and forming first/second top contacts in contact with the first top vias/the MRAM cell. An embedded MRAM device is also provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with multiple threshold voltages includes masking a substrate structure to selectively form work-function metal layers on vertical field effect transistors. In the method, a first work function metal layer is formed on a high-k dielectric layer of a substrate structure comprising vertical field effect transistors. The first work function metal layer and the high-k dielectric layer are etched to form gate regions for each vertical field effect transistor. A resist mask is formed over a first of the vertical field effect transistors. The resist mask isolates the first of the vertical field effect transistors from a second of the vertical field effect transistors. A second work function metal layer is selectively formed on the first work function metal layer of the gate region of the second of the vertical field effect transistors. The resist mask is then removed.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a lithographic process for semiconductor fabrication includes determining that a semiconductor wafer experienced a photoresist exposure delay. At least one operating parameter of a post exposure baking process is adjusted based on the semiconductor wafer having experienced the photoresist exposure delay. The post exposure baking process is performed on the semiconductor wafer utilizing the adjusted at least one operating parameter.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a memorization layer over a substrate, forming a first self-aligned double patterning (SADP) stack including a first organic planarization layer (OPL), masking layer, set of mandrels, and set of spacers, and forming a patterned memorization layer by transferring a first pattern of the first set of spacers to the memorization layer. The method also includes forming a second SADP stack comprising a second OPL, masking layer, set of mandrels, and set of spacers, and forming an array of pillars by transferring a second pattern of the second set of spacers to the patterned memorization layer. The first and second OPL and the first and second sets of mandrels are a spin-on coated OPL material, and the memorization layer and first and second masking layers are a material configured for removal selective to the spin-on coated OPL material.