Abstract: Chain scission resist compositions suitable for EUV lithography applications may include monomer functional groups that improve the kinetics and/or thermodynamics of the scission mechanism. Chain scission resists may include monomer functional groups that reduce the risk that leaving groups generated through the scission mechanism may chemically corrode processing equipment.

Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnect structure includes a first metallization level including a first metal line having a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending a length in a first direction. A second metal line is adjacent to the first metal line and a dielectric is between the first metal line and the second metal line. A second metallization level is above the first metallization level where the second metallization level includes a third metal line extending a length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The third metal line extends over the first metal line and the second metal line but not beyond the first sidewall. A conductive via is between the first metal line and the third metal line where the conductive via does not extend beyond the first sidewall or beyond the second sidewall.

Abstract: Lined photoresist structures to facilitate fabricating back end of line (BEOL) interconnects are described. In an embodiment, a hard mask has recesses formed therein, wherein liner structures are variously disposed each on a sidewall of a respective recess. Photobuckets comprising photoresist material are also variously disposed in the recesses. The liner structures variously serve as marginal buffers to mitigate possible effects of misalignment in the exposure of photoresist material to photons or an electron beam. In another embodiment, a recess has disposed therein a liner structure and a photobucket that are both formed by self-assembly of a photoresist-based block-copolymer.

Abstract: A chemical composition includes a polymer chain having a surface anchoring group at a terminus of the polymer chain. The surface anchoring group is metal or dielectric selective and the polymer chain further includes at least one of a photo-acid generator, quencher, or a catalyst. In some embodiments, the surface anchoring group is metal selective or dielectric selective. In some embodiments, the polymer chain includes side polymer chains where the side polymer chains include polymers of photo-acid generators, quencher, or catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures and techniques utilizing directed self-assembly for microelectronic device fabrication. For example, a microelectronic structure may include a patterned region including a first conductive line and a second conductive line, wherein the second conductive line is adjacent to the first conductive line; and an unordered region having an unordered lamellar pattern, wherein the unordered region is coplanar with the patterned region.

Abstract: Lined photoresist structures to facilitate fabricating back end of line (BEOL) interconnects are described. In an embodiment, a hard mask has recesses formed therein, wherein liner structures are variously disposed each on a sidewall of a respective recess. Photobuckets comprising photoresist material are also variously disposed in the recesses. The liner structures variously serve as marginal buffers to mitigate possible effects of misalignment in the exposure of photoresist material to photons or an electron beam. In another embodiment, a recess has disposed therein a liner structure and a photobucket that are both formed by self-assembly of a photoresist-based block-copolymer.

Abstract: Chain scission resist compositions suitable for EUV lithography applications may include monomer functional groups that improve the kinetics and/or thermodynamics of the scission mechanism. Chain scission resists may include monomer functional groups that reduce the risk that leaving groups generated through the scission mechanism may chemically corrode processing equipment.

Abstract: A first etch stop layer is deposited on a plurality of conductive features on an insulating layer on a substrate. A second etch stop layer is deposited over an air gap between the conductive features. The first etch stop layer is etched to form a via to at least one of the conductive features.

Abstract: Contact over active gate structures with metal oxide cap structures are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate structures above substrate, each of the gate structures including a gate insulating layer thereon. A plurality of conductive trench contact structures is alternating with the plurality of gate structures, each of the conductive trench contact structures including a metal oxide cap structure thereon. An interlayer dielectric material is over the plurality of gate structures and over the plurality of conductive trench contact structures. An opening is in the interlayer dielectric material and in a gate insulating layer of a corresponding one of the plurality of gate structures. A conductive via is in the opening, the conductive via in direct contact with the corresponding one of the plurality of gate structures, and the conductive via on a portion of one or more of the metal oxide cap structures.

Abstract: Fabrication schemes based on triblock copolymers for forming self-aligning vias or contacts for back end of line interconnects, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure for a semiconductor die includes forming a lower metallization layer including alternating metal lines and dielectric lines above a substrate. The method also includes forming a triblock copolymer layer above the lower metallization layer. The method also includes segregating the triblock copolymer layer to form a first segregated block component over the dielectric lines of the lower metallization layer, and to form alternating second and third segregated block components disposed over the metal lines of the lower metallization layer, where the third segregated block component is photosensitive.

Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnect structure includes a first metallization level including a first metal line having a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending a length in a first direction. A second metal line is adjacent to the first metal line and a dielectric is between the first metal line and the second metal line. A second metallization level is above the first metallization level where the second metallization level includes a third metal line extending a length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The third metal line extends over the first metal line and the second metal line but not beyond the first sidewall. A conductive via is between the first metal line and the third metal line where the conductive via does not extend beyond the first sidewall or beyond the second sidewall.

Abstract: Multifunctional molecules for selective polymer formation on conductive surfaces, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a lower metallization layer including alternating metal lines and dielectric lines above the substrate. A molecular brush layer is on the metal lines of the lower metallization layer, the molecular brush layer including multifunctional molecules. A triblock copolymer layer is above the lower metallization layer. The triblock copolymer layer includes a first segregated block component over the dielectric lines of the lower metallization layer, and alternating second and third segregated block components on the molecular brush layer on the metal lines of the lower metallization layer, where the third segregated block component is photosensitive.

Abstract: Approaches based on photobucket floor colors with selective grafting for semiconductor structure fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. For example, a grating structure is formed above an ILD layer formed above a substrate, the grating structure including a plurality of dielectric spacers separated by alternating first trenches and second trenches, grafting a resist-inhibitor layer in the first trenches but not in the second trenches, forming photoresist in the first trenches and in the second trenches, exposing and removing the photoresist in select ones of the second trenches to a lithographic exposure to define a set of via locations, etching the set of via locations into the ILD layer, and forming a plurality of metal lines in the ILD layer, where select ones of the plurality of metal lines includes an underlying conductive via corresponding to the set of via locations.

Abstract: Selective hardmask-based approaches for conductive via fabrication are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. The plurality of conductive lines includes alternating non-recessed conductive lines and recessed conductive lines. The non-recessed conductive lines are substantially co-planar with the ILD layer, and the recessed conductive lines are recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A dielectric capping layer is in recess regions above the recessed conductive lines. A hardmask layer is over the non-recessed conductive lines but not over the dielectric capping layer of the recessed conductive lines. The hardmask layer differs in composition from the dielectric capping layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the dielectric capping layer and on one of the recessed conductive lines. A portion of the conductive via is on a portion of the hardmask layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes an active region containing more active semiconductor devices, wherein the active region comprises a first grating of metal and dielectric materials with only vertically aligned structures thereon. A transition region containing inactive structures is adjacent to the active region, wherein the transition region comprises a second grating of metal and dielectric materials having at least one of vertical aligned structures and vertical random structures thereon. Both the active regions and the transition regions have an absence of non-uniform gratings with horizontal parallel polymer sheets thereon.

Abstract: An interconnect structure is disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a first line of interconnects and a second line of interconnects. The first line of interconnects and the second line of interconnects are staggered. The individual interconnects of the second line of interconnects are laterally offset from individual interconnects of the first line of interconnects. A dielectric material is adjacent to at least a portion of the individual interconnects of at least one of the first line of interconnects and the second line of interconnects.

Abstract: A photoresist is disclosed. The photoresist includes a polymer with one repeating unit and an absorbing unit.

Abstract: Selective hardmask-based approaches for conductive via fabrication are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. The plurality of conductive lines includes alternating non-recessed conductive lines and recessed conductive lines. The non-recessed conductive lines are substantially co-planar with the ILD layer, and the recessed conductive lines are recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A dielectric capping layer is in recess regions above the recessed conductive lines. A hardmask layer is over the non-recessed conductive lines but not over the dielectric capping layer of the recessed conductive lines. The hardmask layer differs in composition from the dielectric capping layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the dielectric capping layer and on one of the recessed conductive lines. A portion of the conductive via is on a portion of the hardmask layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first material block comprising a first block insulator layer and a first multilayer stack on the first block insulator layer, the first multilayer stack comprising interleaved pillar electrodes and insulator layers. A second material block is stacked on the first material block and comprises a second block insulator layer, and a second multilayer stack on the second block insulator layer, the second multilayer stack comprising interleaved pillar electrodes and insulator layers. At least one pillar extends through the first material block and the second material block, wherein the at least one pillar has a top width at a top of the first and second material blocks that is greater than a bottom width at a bottom of the first and second material blocks.

Abstract: Conductive cap-based approaches for conductive via fabrication is described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive lines in an ILD layer above a substrate. Each of the conductive lines is recessed relative to an uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A plurality of conductive caps is on corresponding ones of the plurality of conductive lines, in recess regions above each of the plurality of conductive lines. A hardmask layer is on the plurality of conductive caps and on the uppermost surface of the ILD layer. The hardmask layer includes a first hardmask component on and aligned with the plurality of conductive caps, and a second hardmask component on an aligned with regions of the uppermost surface of the ILD layer. A conductive via is in an opening in the hardmask layer and on a conductive cap of one of the plurality of conductive lines.