Abstract: In a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film according to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of recessed portions is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate, an insulating film including silicon oxide is formed across the surface of the silicon substrate including the inner surfaces of the recessed portions, the top surfaces of side wall portions of recessed portions of the insulating film form flat surfaces, a single-crystal silicon carbide film is joined on the flat surfaces, and the recessed portions below the single-crystal silicon carbide film form holes.

Abstract: A method and a structure for reworking an antireflective coating (ARC) layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes providing a substrate having a material layer, forming a planarization layer on the material layer, forming an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, forming an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer, forming a pattern in the ARC layer, and removing the organic solvent soluble layer and the ARC layer with an organic solvent while leaving the planarization layer unremoved. The structure includes a substrate having a material layer, a planarization layer on the material layer, an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, and an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal-semiconductor alloy layer uses particular thermal annealing conditions to provide a stress free metal-semiconductor alloy layer through interdiffusion of a buried semiconductor material layer and a metal-semiconductor alloy forming metal layer that contacts the buried semiconductor material layer within an aperture through a capping layer beneath which is buried the semiconductor material layer. A resulting semiconductor structure includes the metal-semiconductor alloy layer that further includes an interconnect portion beneath the capping layer and a contiguous via portion that penetrates at least partially through the capping layer. Such a metal-semiconductor alloy layer may be located interposed between a substrate and a semiconductor device having an active doped region.

Abstract: Methods for removing particles from a wafer for photolithography. A method is provided including providing a semiconductor wafer; attaching a polyimide layer to a backside of the semiconductor wafer; and performing an etch on an active surface of the semiconductor wafer; wherein particles that impinge on the backside during the etch are captured by the polyimide layer. In another method, includes attaching a layer of polyimide film to a backside of a semiconductor wafer; dry etching a material on an active surface of the semiconductor wafer; depositing of an additional layer of material on the active surface of the semiconductor wafer; removing the layer of polyimide film from the backside of the semiconductor wafer; patterning the layer of material using an immersion photolithography process to expose a photoresist on the active surface of the wafer; and repeating the attaching, dry etching, depositing, removing and patterning steps.

Abstract: A method for realizing a nanometric circuit architecture includes: realizing plural active areas on a semiconductor substrate; realizing on the substrate a seed layer of a first material; realizing a mask-spacer of a second material on the seed layer in a region comprised between the active areas; realizing a mask overlapping the mask-spacer and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction thereto; selectively removing the seed layer exposed on the substrate; selectively removing the mask and the mask-spacer obtaining a seed-spacer comprising a linear portion extending in that region and a portion substantially orthogonal thereto; realizing by MSPT from the seed-spacer an insulating spacer reproducing at least part of the profile of the seed-spacer; realizing by MSPT a nano-wire of conductive material from the seed-spacer or insulating spacer, the nano-wire comprising a first portion at least partially extending in the region and a second portion contacting a respective active area.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image sensor includes forming circuitry including a metal line over a semiconductor substrate, forming a photodiode over the metal line, and forming a contact plug in the photodiode such that the contact plug is connected to the metal line. The forming of the contact plug includes performing a first etch process to etch a portion of the photodiode, and performing a second etch process to expose a portion of the metal line by using a byproduct generated in etching, to form a via hole for the contact plug in the photodiode.

Abstract: A method and a structure for reworking an antireflective coating (ARC) layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes providing a substrate having a material layer, forming a planarization layer on the material layer, forming an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, forming an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer, forming a pattern in the ARC layer, and removing the organic solvent soluble layer and the ARC layer with an organic solvent while leaving the planarization layer unremoved. The structure includes a substrate having a material layer, a planarization layer on the material layer, an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, and an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The methods include providing a semiconductor substrate having pFET and nFET regions, each having active areas and shallow trench isolation. A hardmask layer is formed overlying the semiconductor substrate. A photoresist layer is provided over the hardmask layer. The phoresist layer is patterned. An exposed portion of the hardmask layer is removed from one of the pFET region and nFET region with the patterned photoresist acting as an etch mask to define a masked region and an unmasked region. An epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the active area in the unmasked region. A protective oxide layer is formed overlying the epitaxial silicon layer. The hardmask layer is removed from the masked region with the protective oxide layer protecting the epitaxial silicon layer during such removal step. The protective oxide layer is removed from the epitaxial silicon layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a gate structure for an integrated circuit memory device include forming a first dielectric layer having a dielectric constant of under 7 on an integrated circuit substrate. Ions of a selected element from group 4 of the periodic table and having a thermal diffusivity of less than about 0.5 centimeters per second (cm2/s) are injected into the first dielectric layer to form a charge storing region in the first dielectric layer with a tunnel dielectric layer under the charge storing region. A metal oxide second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer. The substrate including the first and second dielectric layers is thermally treated to form a plurality of discrete charge storing nano crystals in the charge storing region and a gate electrode layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. Gate structures for integrated circuit devices and memory cells are also provided.

Abstract: In manufacturing a thin film transistor array substrate, a passivation film is formed over the transistors. A first photoresist pattern is formed over the passivation film, with a first portion partially overlying at least one source/drain electrode of each transistor and overlying each pixel electrode region, and with a second portion thicker than the first portion. The passivation film is patterned using the first photoresist pattern as a mask. The first photoresist pattern's first portion is removed to form a second photoresist pattern which protrudes upward around the pixel electrode regions. A transparent conductive film is formed with recesses in the pixel electrode regions. A masking pattern is formed over the transparent film in each pixel electrode region, the masking pattern's top surface being below a top of the transparent film. The transparent film is patterned using the masking pattern as a mask to form the pixel electrodes.

Abstract: In a method of forming micro patterns, an etch target layer, a hard mask layer, a silicon-containing bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer, and first auxiliary patterns are formed over a semiconductor substrate. The silicon-containing BARC layer is etched to form silicon-containing BARC patterns. Insulating layers are formed on a surface of the silicon-containing BARC patterns and the first auxiliary patterns. A second auxiliary layer is formed on the hard mask layer and the insulating layers. An etch process is performed such that the second auxiliary layer remains on the hard mask layer between the silicon-containing BARC patterns thereby forming second auxiliary patterns. The insulating layers on the first auxiliary patterns and between the silicon-containing BARC patterns and the second auxiliary patterns are removed. The hard mask layer is etched thereby forming hard mask patterns. The etch target layer is etched using the hard mask patterns as an etch mask.