Abstract: Described herein are IC devices include tight-pitched patterned metal layers, such as metal gratings, and processes for forming such patterned metal layers. The processes include subtractive metal patterning, where portions of a metal layer are etched and replaced with an insulator to form the metal grating. Masks for etching portions of the metal layer are generated using directed self-assembly (DSA). In some examples, multiple etching steps are performed, e.g., to generate metal lines at a first pitch, and to add additional lines at half of the first pitch. In some examples, additive metal patterning is performed in addition to subtractive metal patterning.

Abstract: Advanced lithography techniques including sub-10 nm pitch patterning and structures resulting therefrom are described. Self-assembled devices and their methods of fabrication are described.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compounds for using an adhesively switchable underlayer beneath a photoresist in a lithographic process for making a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Described herein are IC devices include patterned conductive layers, such as metal gratings and gate layers, and patterned layers formed over the patterned conductive layers using a directed self-assembly (DSA)-enabled process with DSA assisting features. A patterned conductive layer may have non-uniform features, such as large regions of insulator within a metal grating, or varying gate lengths across a gate layer. The DSA assisting features enable the formation of patterned layers, e.g., layers with different hard mask materials replicating the structure of the conductive layer below, even over non-uniform features.

Abstract: Contact over active gate (COAG) 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 trench insulating layer thereon. A remnant of a di-block-co-polymer is over a portion of the plurality of gate structures or the plurality of conductive trench contact structures. An interlayer dielectric material is over the di-block-co-polymer, over the plurality of gate structures, and over the plurality of conductive trench contact structures. An opening in the interlayer dielectric material. A conductive structure is in the opening, the conductive structure in direct contact with a corresponding one of the trench contact structures or with a corresponding one of the gate contact structures.

Abstract: Described herein are IC devices include vias deposited in a regular array, e.g., a hexagonal array, and processes for depositing vias in a regular array. The process includes depositing a guiding pattern over a metal grating, depositing a diblock copolymer over the guiding pattern, and causing the diblock copolymer to self-assemble such one polymer forms an array of cylinders over metal portions of the metal grating. The polymer layer can be converted into a hard mask layer, with one hard mask material forming the cylinders, and a different hard mask material surrounding the cylinders. A cylinder can be selectively etched, and a via material deposited in the cylindrical hole to form a via.

Abstract: Advanced lithography techniques including sub-10 nm pitch patterning and structures resulting therefrom are described. Self-assembled devices and their methods of fabrication are described.

Abstract: Techniques for selectively removing a metal or conductive material during processing of a semiconductor die for high-voltage applications are provided. In some embodiments, the techniques treat a metallized semiconductor die to transfer a feature from a patterned photoresist layer deposited on the metallized semiconductor die. In addition, the patterned metallized semiconductor die can be subjected to an etch process to remove an amount of metal according to the feature in the pattern, resulting in a treated metallized semiconductor die that defines an opening adjacent to at least a pair of neighboring metal interconnects in the die. The treated metallized semiconductor die can be further treated to backfill the opening with a dielectric material, resulting in a metallized semiconductor die having a backfilled dielectric member.

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: 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: Disclosed herein are colored gratings in microelectronic structures. For example, a microelectronic structure may include first conductive structures alternating with second conductive structures, wherein individual ones of the first conductive structures include a bottom portion and a top portion, individual cap structures are on individual ones of the second conductive structures, the bottom portions of the first conductive structures are laterally spaced apart from and aligned with the second conductive structures, and the top portions of the first conductive structures are laterally spaced apart from and aligned with the cap structures. In some embodiments, a microelectronic structure may include one or more unordered lamellar regions laterally spaced apart from and aligned with the first conductive structures.

Abstract: Contact over active gate structure with metal oxide layers are described 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. A portion of one of the plurality of trench contact structures has a metal oxide layer 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 the metal oxide layer.

Abstract: Described herein are IC devices include vias deposited in a regular array, e.g., a hexagonal array, and processes for depositing vias in a regular array. The process includes depositing a guiding pattern over a metal grating, depositing a diblock copolymer over the guiding pattern, and causing the diblock copolymer to self-assemble such one polymer forms an array of cylinders over metal portions of the metal grating. The polymer layer can be converted into a hard mask layer, with one hard mask material forming the cylinders, and a different hard mask material surrounding the cylinders. A cylinder can be selectively etched, and a via material deposited in the cylindrical hole to form a via.

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: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a semiconductor device including an interconnect structure. The interconnect structure may have a segment of a passivant layer including a SAM. The SAM may include head groups, and chains attached to the head groups. The chains include functional groups that are cross-linkable at end or side of the chains to result in chain extension by reacting with another SAM or polymer, densification by crosslinking with an adjacent SAM, or polymerization having an initiator as the SAM or the SAM attached to another SAM. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: In-situ formation of a block copolymer through deprotection can provide patterns with flexible pitches. A layer of a protected polymer including a protecting group is formed. One or more portions of the layer may be exposed to light. The exposed portion(s) may be baked after the light exposure. The protecting group is removed after the light exposure or bake so that the protected polymer becomes a deprotected polymer in the exposure portion(s). The deprotected polymer is bonded with the protected polymer in the unexposed portion(s) of the layer but has a different solubility from the protected polymer so that phases of the block copolymer are separated. The phase separation can provide a periodic pattern with various pitches. The solution and roughness of the pattern can be enhanced by using CARs formed with a protected, cross-linked polymer that includes a protective group and a function group with a ratio of 50:50.

Abstract: Metal lines are formed through serial DSA processes. A first DSA process may define a pattern of first hard masks. First metal lines are fabricated based on the first hard masks. A metal cut crossing one or more first metal lines may be formed. A width of the metal cut is no greater than a pitch of the first metal lines. After the metal cut is formed, a second DSA process is performed to define a pattern of second hard masks. Edges of a second hard mask may align with edges of a first metal line. An insulator may be formed around a second hard mask to form an insulative structure. An axis of the insulative structure may be aligned with an axis of a first metal line. Second metal lines are formed based on the second hard masks and have a greater height than the first metal lines.

Abstract: DSA-based spacers and liners can provide shorting margins for vias connected to conductive structures. Self-assembly of a diblock copolymer may be performed over a layer including conductive structures and insulative structures separating the conductive structures from each other. Spacers may be formed based on the self-assembly of the diblock copolymer. Each spacer includes an electrical insulator and is over an insulative structure. Each liner may wrap around one or more side surfaces of a spacer. Each pair of spacer and liner constitutes an insulative spacing structure that provides a shorting margin to avoid short between a via and a conductive structure not connected to the via. The insulative spacing structures may include a different electrical insulator from the insulative structures. The conductive structures may be arranged in parallel along a direction and have the same or similar heights in the direction and function as different contacts of a device.

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: A cross-linkable diblock copolymer can facilitate multi-pitch patterning for forming an IC device. The IC device may include a metal layer with different pitches. The metal layer may include a first region having a first pitch and a second region having a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch. The cross-linkable diblock copolymer may be deposited over the metal layer. The portion of the diblock copolymer over the second region may be exposed to light (e.g., UV), which causes cross-linking of functional groups in the diblock copolymer. The cross-linking may form a structure that includes an amorphous phase of the diblock copolymer. The structure may be over and aligned with the second region of the metal layer. After the structure is formed, the diblock copolymer over the first region may self-assemble and form lamellar structures that are aligned with metal lines and insulative structures in the first region.