A self-assembled nanostructure comprises first domains and second domains. The first domains comprise a first block of a block copolymer material and an activatable catalyst. The second domains comprise a second block and substantially without the activatable catalyst. The activatable catalyst is capable of generating catalyst upon application of activation energy, and the generated catalyst is capable of reacting with a metal oxide precursor to provide a metal oxide. A semiconductor structure comprises such self-assembled nanostructure on a substrate.

A method includes simultaneously forming a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack on a first portion and a second portion of a protruding fin, simultaneously removing a first gate electrode of the first dummy gate stack and a second gate electrode of the second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench, respectively, forming an etching mask, wherein the etching mask fills the first trench and the second trench, patterning the etching mask to remove the etching mask from the first trench, removing a first dummy gate dielectric of the first dummy gate stack, with the etching mask protecting a second dummy gate dielectric of the second dummy gate stack from being removed, and forming a first replacement gate stack and a second replacement gate stack in the first trench and the second trench, respectively.

A semiconductor processing system includes a layout database that stores a plurality of layouts indicating features to be formed in a wafer. The semiconductor processing system includes a layout analyzer that analyzes the layouts and determines, for each layout, whether a non-perpendicular particle bombardment process should be utilized in conjunction with a photolithography process for forming the features of the layout in a wafer.

A method of forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a resist structure over a substrate. The resist structure includes an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer and a photoresist layer over the ARC layer. The method further includes patterning the photoresist layer to form a trench therein. The method further includes performing a hydrogen plasma treatment to the patterned photoresist layer. The hydrogen plasma treatment is configured to smooth sidewalls of the trench without etching the ARC layer. The method further includes patterning the ARC layer using the patterned photoresist layer as a etch mask.

A lithography mask including a substrate, a phase shift layer on the substrate and an etch stop layer is provided. The phase shift layer is patterned and the substrate is protected from etching by the etch stop layer. The etch stop layer can be a material that is semi-transmissive to light used in photolithography processes or it can be transmissive to light used in photolithography processes.

A method of processing a substrate that includes receiving a patterned photoresist formed over a substrate, the patterned photoresist defining initial openings, each of the initial openings including a first side and an opposite second side along a first direction; depositing a mask material preferentially on the first side within the initial openings using an oblique deposition process performed at a first angle inclined from the first side; and removing a portion of the patterned photoresist using an oblique etch process performed at a second angle inclined from the second side, the mask material and a remaining portion of the patterned photoresist defining final openings.

A pattern formation method includes forming an organic film on a substrate, processing the organic film to form an organic film pattern, exposing the organic film pattern to an organic gas, and exposing the organic film pattern to a metal-containing gas, and after (i) exposing the organic film pattern to the organic gas and (ii) exposing the organic film pattern to the metal-containing gas, treating the organic film pattern with an oxidizing agent.

A photoresist composition and manufacturing method thereof, a manufacturing method of a metal pattern, and a manufacturing method of an array substrate are provided. The photoresist composition includes a base material and an ion adsorbent, and the ion adsorbent is chelating resin.

The present application relates to a method for preparing a patterned substrate. The method may be applied to a process of manufacturing devices such as, for example, electronic devices and integrated circuits, or other applications, such as manufacture of integrated optical systems, guidance and detection patterns of magnetic domain memories, flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), thin film magnetic heads or organic light emitting diodes, and the like, and may also be used to build a pattern on a surface used in manufacture of discrete track media, such as integrated circuits, bit-patterned media and/or magnetic storage devices such as hard drives.

A technique for suppressing a metal component from remaining at a bottom of a mask pattern when the mask pattern is formed using a metal-containing resist film. A developable anti reflection film 103 is previously formed below a resist film 104. Further, after exposing and developing the wafer W, TMAH is supplied to the wafer W to remove a surface of the anti-reflection film 103 facing a bottom of the recess pattern 110 of the resist film 104. Therefore, the metal component 105 can be suppressed from remaining at the bottom of the recess pattern 110. Therefore, when the SiO.sub.2 film 102 is subsequently etched using the pattern of the resist film 104, the etching is not hindered, so that defects such as bridges can be suppressed.