A bevel etching method includes forming a target layer over a semiconductor substrate, and forming an energy-sensitive layer over the target layer. The method also includes performing an energy treating process to form a treated portion in the energy-sensitive layer.

The treated portion is in a peripheral region. The method further includes removing the treated portion such that a remaining portion of the energy-sensitive layer is in a central region surrounded by the peripheral region, and transferring a pattern of the remaining portion of the energy-sensitive layer to the target layer.

A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a pattern having first and second line features extending in a first direction on a substrate. After depositing a photoresist layer on the substrate to cover the pattern, the photoresist layer is patterned to form a cut pattern including first and second cut features exposing portions of the respective first and second line features. In a top view, at least one of the first and second cut features is asymmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis of a corresponding first or second line feature. At least one angled ion implantation is performed to enlarge the first and second cut features in at least one direction perpendicular to the first direction. The portions of the first and second line features exposed by the respective first and second cut features are then removed.

A manufacturing method of a through substrate via includes at least the following steps. A protective liner is formed within an opening of a dielectric layer, where the opening exposes a portion of a semiconductor substrate underlying the dielectric layer. The portion of the semiconductor substrate is removed through the opening, where an overhang portion is formed at a top edge of the semiconductor substrate and masked by the protective liner after the removing. The overhang portion of the semiconductor substrate, the protective liner, and a portion of the dielectric layer adjoining the protective liner is removed to form a via hole. A conductive material is formed in the via hole.

It is to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including the following steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate having a silicon nitride film on the rear surface; forming an interlayer insulating film having a via hole on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and forming a via-fill selectively within the via hole. The method further includes the steps of: performing the wafer rear surface cleaning to expose the surface of the silicon nitride film formed on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate; and thereafter, forming a photoresist film made of chemical amplification type resist on the interlayer insulating film and the via-fill over the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, in which the semiconductor substrate is stored in an atmosphere with the ammonium ion concentration of 1000 μg/m.sup.3 and less.

A mark is formed over the surface of a silicon substrate. The mark includes a silicon oxide film, in which a plurality of rectangular groove patterns are concentrically arranged, and a silicon nitride film formed in the groove patterns. A P-type epitaxial layer is formed over the surface of the silicon substrate. Then, a photoresist pattern is formed. In the photoresist pattern, a rectangular opening pattern is formed in a mark region. Optical superposition inspection is performed for the base of the photoresist pattern.

A method may include forming a first grating and a second grating, disposed in a region of vertical overlap of the first and second gratings on different levels, respectively, having substantially the same pitch, and inclined with respect to each other, such that a bias value between the first and second gratings is changed along a length direction of the first and second gratings, using a lithography process. A method may include emitting a beam to the first and second gratings; and obtaining trend information associated with a diffracted beam from an image pattern of a beam from the first and second gratings, using the emitted beam, in which the trend information may concern changes in the intensity of the diffracted beam according to the bias value. An overlay error in at least one grating may be determined based on the trend information and an intensity of a diffracted beam.

Examples of the disclosure relate to a sequential infiltration synthesis apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate at least one substrate; a first precursor flow path to provide the first precursor to the reaction chamber when a first flow controller is activated; a second precursor flow path to provide a second precursor to the reaction chamber when a second flow controller is activated; a removal flow path to allow removal of gas from the reaction chamber; a removal flow controller to create a gas flow in the reaction chamber to the removal flow path when the removal flow controller is activated; and, a sequence controller operably connected to the first, second and removal flow controllers and the sequence controller being programmed to enable infiltration of an infiltrateable material provided on the substrate in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be provided with a heating system.

A pattern-forming method includes forming a base pattern including a first polymer on a front face side. A composition is applied on at least a lateral face of the base pattern. The composition includes at least one polymer that is capable of interacting with the first polymer. The composition is heated such that a portion of the at least one polymer interacts with the first polymer and that a coating film is formed on the lateral face of the base pattern. Another portion of the at least one polymer not having interacted with the first polymer is removed to form a resist pattern. The base pattern in a planar view has a shape with a long axis and a short axis, and a ratio of lengths of the long axis to the short axis is no less than 1.5 and no greater than 10.

A method includes inspecting a mask to locate a defect region for a defect of the mask. A phase distribution of an aerial image of the defect region is acquired. A point spread function of an imaging system is determined. One or more repair regions of the mask are identified based on the phase distribution of the aerial image of the defect region and the point spread function. A repair process is performed to the one or more repair regions of the mask to form one or more repair features.

An interconnect for electrically coupling pads formed on adjacent chips or on packaging material adjacent the chips, with an electrically conductive heat sink being disposed between the pads, the interconnect comprising a metallic membrane layer disposed between two adjacent pads and disposed or bridging over the electrically conductive heat sink so as to avoid making electrical contact with the electrically conductive heat sink. An electroplated metallic layer is disposed on the metallic membrane layer. Fabrication of interconnect permits multiple interconnects to be formed in parallel using fabrication techniques compatible with wafer level fabrication of the interconnects. The interconnects preferably follow a smooth curve to electrically connect adjacent pads and following that smooth curve they bridge over the intervening electrically conductive heat sink material in a predictable fashion.