Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.

Tel Epion Corporation

Applied Materials, Inc.

Steven Robert Sherman

John J Hautala

Simon Ruffell

Robert Michael Geffken

Arthur J Learn

Noel Russell

Rajesh Prasad

Kyu-Ha Shim

Ying Di Zhang

Regina Germanie Freed

Tristan Yonghui Ma

Adam Brand

Alexander C Kontos

Andrew Michael Waite

Sungho Jo

Guy Oteri

Lin Zhou

Somchintana Norasetthekul

Nadine Alexis

Min Gyu Sung

Sony Varghese

Maureen Petterson

Arvind Kumar

Todd Henry

Disclosed are methods for reducing transfer pattern defects in a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, a method includes providing a semiconductor device including a plurality of photoresist lines on a stack of layers, wherein the plurality of photoresist lines includes a bridge defect extending between two or more photoresist lines of the plurality of photoresist lines. The method may further include forming a plurality of mask lines by etching a set of trenches in a first layer of the stack of layers, and removing the bridge defect by etching the bridge defect at a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of an upper surface of the stack of layers.

Methods for reducing transfer pattern defects in a semiconductor device

A method of treating a substrate includes directing ions to the substrate along at least one non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to a substrate surface in a presence of a reactive ambient containing a reactive species where the substrate includes a surface feature. At least one surface of the surface feature is etched using the ions in combination with the reactive ambient at a first etch rate that is greater than a second etch rate when the ions are directed to the substrate without the reactive ambient and greater than a third etch rate when the reactive ambient is provided to the substrate without the ions.

Techniques for processing substrates using directional reactive ion etching

A method may include providing a substrate, comprising a patterning layer. The method may include forming a first pattern of first linear structures in the patterning layer, the first linear structures being elongated along a first direction. The method may include forming a mask over the patterning layer, the mask comprising a second pattern of second linear structures, elongated along a second direction, forming a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction. The method may include selectively removing a portion of the patterning layer while the mask is in place, wherein a first etch pattern is formed in the patterning stack, the first etch pattern comprising a two-dimensional array of cavities. The method may include directionally etching the first etch pattern using an angled ion beam, wherein a second etch pattern is formed, comprising the two-dimensional array of cavities, elongated along the first direction.

Techniques and structure for forming dynamic random-access device using angled ions

As etching processes become more aggressive, increased etch resistivity of the hard mask is desirable. Methods of modulating the etch rate of the mask and optionally the underlying material are disclosed. An etch rate modifying species is implanted into the hard mask after the mask etching process is completed. This etch rate modifying species increases the difference between the etch rate of the mask and the etch rate of the underlying material to help preserve the integrity of the mask during a subsequent etching process. In some embodiments, the etch rate of the mask is decreased by the etch rate modifying species. In certain embodiments, the etch rate of the underlying material is increased by the etch rate modifying species.

Etch rate modulation through ion implantation

A method for patterning a substrate, comprising: providing a photoresist patterning feature on the substrate, the substrate defining a substrate plane, the photoresist patterning feature having a softening temperature below 200&#xb0; C. The method may include directing a first ion species into the photoresist patterning feature during a first exposure; and depositing a sidewall layer on the patterning feature after the directing at a deposition temperature, the deposition temperature being 200&#xb0; C. or greater.

Multiple patterning approach using ion implantation

A method of patterning a substrate. The method may include: providing a first surface feature and a second surface feature in a staggered configuration within a layer, the layer being disposed on the substrate, and directing first ions in a first exposure to a first side of the first surface feature and a first side of the second surface feature, in a presence of a reactive ambient containing a reactive species, wherein the first exposure etches the first side of the first surface feature and the first side of the second surface feature, wherein after the directing, the first surface feature and the second surface feature merge to form a third surface feature.

Techniques for forming patterned features using directional ions

Provided herein are approaches for forming a gate oxide layer for a DRAM device, the method including providing a finned substrate having a recess formed therein, and performing an ion implant into a sidewall surface of the recess to form a gate oxide layer having a non-uniform thickness, wherein a thickness of the gate oxide layer at a top section of the sidewall surface is greater than a thickness of the gate oxide layer at a bottom section of the sidewall surface. In some approaches, the ion implant is provided as a series of ion implants at multiple different implant angles, varied along with an ion implantation energy and/or an ion dose to increase the thickness of the gate oxide of the top section of the sidewall surface. In some approaches, the finned substrate is also exposed to a plasma, either during or after, the ion implantation.

Non-uniform gate oxide thickness for DRAM device

A replacement metal gate transistor is described. Various examples provide a replacement metal gate transistor including a trench, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A layer is disposed in the trench where the layer has a bottom section disposed on a bottom of the trench and sidewall sections disposed on the first and second sidewalls, wherein the sidewall sections of the layer are at least 50% thinner than the bottom section of the layer.

Replacement metal gate transistor

Methods of processing a workpiece are disclosed. Variability of the critical dimension of semiconductor structures may be affected by the critical dimension of the patterned mask. Ions may be implanted into the patterned mask to change the critical dimension. The ions may be implanted in accordance with an ion implant map, which determines an appropriate dose, energy and type based on the measured critical dimension of the patterned mask at a plurality of locations.

Method for improving critical dimension variability by implanting argon or silicon ions into a patterned mask

A replacement metal gate transistor and methods of forming replacement metal gate transistors are described. Various examples provide methods of manufacturing a replacement metal gate transistor that includes depositing a dielectric layer into a trench, wherein the dielectric layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench, depositing a first metal layer into the trench, wherein the first metal layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench over the dielectric layer, depositing a second metal layer into the trench, wherein the second metal layer is deposited onto the bottom of the trench and the sidewalls of the trench over the first metal layer, removing at least a portion of the second metal layer from the sidewalls of the trench, and depositing a conducting layer into the trench. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Process flow for replacement metal gate transistors

A method of forming a magnetic memory includes providing a layer stack comprising a plurality of magnetic layers and a plurality of electrically conducting layers on a base portion of a substrate; forming a first mask feature on an outer surface of the layer stack above a first protected region and a second mask feature on the outer surface of the layer stack above a second protected region, the first mask feature and second mask feature defining an exposed region of the layer stack in portions of the layer stack therebetween; and directing ions towards exposed the region of the layer stack in an ion exposure that is effective to magnetically isolate the first protected region from the second protected region and to electrically isolate the first protected region from the second protected region without removal of the exposed region of the layer stack.

Magnetic memory and method of fabrication

In one embodiment a magnetic memory includes a memory device base and a plurality of memory cells disposed on the memory cell base, where each memory cell includes a layer stack comprising a plurality of magnetic and electrically conductive layers arranged in a stack of layers common to each other memory cell. The magnetic memory further includes an implanted matrix disposed between the memory cells and surrounding each memory cell, where the implanted matrix includes component material of the layer stack of each memory cell inter mixed with implanted species, where the implanted matrix comprises a non-conducting material and a non-magnetic material, wherein each memory cell is electrically and magnetically isolated from each other memory cell.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, MA, United States of America

Steven Robert Sherman