Skhynix Inc.

Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

Jung Gun Heo

Cheol Kyu Bok

Keun Do Ban

Hong Ik Kim

Myoung Soo Kim

Ki Lyoung Lee

Jong Cheon Park

Young Sik Kim

Keum Do Ban

A nanoscale structure includes an array of pillars over an underlying layer, a separation wall layer including first separation walls formed over sidewalls of the pillars, and a block co-polymer (BCP) layer formed over the separation wall layer and filling gaps between the pillars. The BCP layer is phase-separated to include first domains that provide second separation walls formed over the first separation walls and second domains that are separated from each other by the first domains.

Nano-scale structures

A method of forming fine patterns includes forming pillars arrayed in rows and columns on an underlying layer and forming a spacer layer on the underlying layer to cover the pillars. Portions of the spacer layer respectively covering the pillars arrayed in each row or in each column are in contact with each other to provide first interstitial spaces disposed between the pillars arrayed in a diagonal direction between a row direction and a column direction as well as to provide cleavages at corners of each of the first interstitial spaces in a plan view. A healing layer is formed on the spacer layer to fill the cleavages of the first interstitial spaces. The healing layer is formed to provide second interstitial spaces respectively located in the first interstitial spaces as well as to include a polymer material.

Methods of forming fine patterns

A method includes forming a template portion to provide a first opening trench portion surrounding a first isolated pattern, and forming an array of pillars on an underlying layer; forming a separation wall layer including first separation wall portions surrounding sidewalls of the pillars, and forming second separation wall portions covering sidewalls of the first opening trench portion; forming a block copolymer layer on the separation wall layer; forming first domains in gaps between the pillars, and forming second domains surrounding and separating the first domains by annealing the block copolymer layer; forming second openings by selectively removing the first domains; forming third openings between the second openings, and forming a fourth opening adjacent to the first isolated pattern by selectively removing the pillars and the template portion; and forming fifth openings, which extend from the second and third openings and penetrate the underlying layer, and forming a sixth opening, which extends from the fourth opening and penetrates the underlying layer.

Methods of forming different sized patterns

A method of forming patterns includes forming an array of pillars on an underlying layer stacked on an etch target layer, forming a separation wall layer on the pillars to provide separation walls covering sidewalls of the pillars, forming a block copolymer layer on the separation wall layer, annealing the block copolymer layer to form first domains located between the pillars, and a second domain surrounding and isolating the first domains, selectively removing the first domains to form second openings, selectively removing the pillars to form fourth openings, forming fifth openings that extend from the second and fourth openings to penetrate the underlying layer, forming a sealing pattern that covers and seals dummy openings among the fifth openings, and forming seventh openings that extend from the fifth openings exposed by the sealing pattern to penetrate the etch target layer.

Methods of forming patterns

A method of forming patterns includes forming a guide pattern and first peripheral patterns on an underlying layer. The guide pattern provides first openings and the first peripheral patterns provide a fifth opening used in alignment of the guide pattern. An alignment status of the guide pattern is verified using the fifth opening. A block copolymer layer is formed to fill the first and fifth openings. The block copolymer layer is annealed to provide a blocking portion sealing the fifth opening and to form first domains in each first opening and a second domain surrounding the first domains formed in each first opening. The first domains are removed to form third openings. The underlying layer is etched using the blocking portion and sidewalls of the second domains as etch barriers to form fourth openings that extend from the third openings to penetrate the underlying layer.

Methods of forming patterns with block copolymer

Methods of forming patterns includes guide patterns on a neutral layer. A self-assembling block copolymer (BCP) layer on the guide patterns and the neutral layer. By annealing the self-assembling BCP layer, first polymer block domains and second polymer block domains are formed The guide patterns are formed of a developable antireflective material. The neutral layer is formed of a cross-linked polymeric material.

A method of forming patterns includes: forming guide patterns on an underlying layer, forming a self-assembling block copolymer (BCP) layer on the guide patterns and the underlying layer, annealing the self-assembling BCP layer to form first polymer block domains and second polymer block domains which are alternately and repeatedly arrayed, and selectively removing the first polymer block domains. The guide patterns are formed of a developable antireflective material. In addition, the guide patterns are spaced apart from each other such that a width of each of the guide patterns is less than a distance between the guide patterns.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an etch-target layer over a semiconductor substrate having a lower structure, forming a first mask pattern over the etch-target layer, forming a spacer material layer with a uniform thickness over the etch-target layer including the first mask pattern, forming a second mask pattern on an indented region of the space material layer, and etching the etch-target layer with the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern as an etch mask to form a fine pattern.

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device

A fine pattern structure includes a layer having or including alternating protrusion portions and recess portions, polymer patterns disposed in recess regions formed by the recess portions, brush patterns disposed on top surfaces of the protrusion portions, and a block co-polymer layer including first polymer block patterns formed on the brush patterns and second polymer block patterns formed on the polymer patterns.

Fine pattern structures having block co-polymer materials

Various embodiments are directed to fine pattern structures, such as fine pattern structures having block co-polymer materials, methods of forming fine pattern structures with block co-polymer materials, and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including fine pattern structures with block co-polymer materials. According to some embodiments, a method of fabricating a fine pattern structure includes providing a layer of alternating protrusion portions and recess portions, forming polymer patterns in recess regions formed in the recess portions, forming brush patterns on top surfaces of the protrusion portions, forming first polymer block patterns on the brush patterns and second polymer block patterns on the polymer patterns, and removing the second polymer block patterns and the polymer patterns.

The method includes forming an array of first separation walls on an underlying layer. A block co-polymer (BCP) layer is formed to fill inside regions of the first separation walls and gaps between the first separation walls. The BCP layer is phase-separated to include first domains that provide second separation walls covering inner sidewalls and outer sidewalls of the first separation walls and second domains that are separated from each other by the first domains.

Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby

A method for forming a dual damascene pattern includes preparing a multi-functional hard mask composition including a silicon resin as a base resin, wherein the silicon resin comprises about 20 to 45% silicon molecules by weight, based on a total weight of the resin; forming a deposition structure by sequentially forming a self-arrangement contact (SAC) insulating film, a first dielectric film, an etching barrier film, and a second dielectric film over a hardwiring layer; etching the deposition structure to expose the hardwiring layer, thereby forming a via hole; coating the multi-functional hard mask composition over the second dielectric film and in the via hole to form a multi-functional hard mask film; and etching the resulting structure to expose a part of the first dielectric film using a photoresist pattern as an etching mask, thereby forming a trench having a width greater than that of the via hole.

Method for forming dual damascene pattern

A method for forming a pattern of a semiconductor device includes: forming a first mask film and a second mask film over an underlying layer; partially etching the first and second mask films using a photoresist mask pattern as an etching mask to form a intermediate mask pattern having a protrusion shape and including first and second mask film layers, over a remaining portion of the first mask film; forming a first spacer at sidewalls of the intermediate mask pattern etching the remaining portion of the first mask film and the first mask film layer of the intermediate mask pattern using the first spacer and the second mask film layer of the intermediate mask pattern as an etching mask to expose the underlying layer and form a mask pattern having first and second mask film layers; forming a second spacer at sidewalls of the mask pattern; and removing the mask pattern to form a symmetrical spacer pattern.

Growing community of inventors

Icheon, South Korea

Jung Gun Heo