A method for forming a patterned mask layer is provided. The method includes forming a first layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first strip structure and a second strip structure over the first layer. The method includes forming a spacer layer conformally covering the first strip structure, the second strip structure, and the first layer. The method includes forming a block structure in the first trench. The method includes removing a first portion of the spacer layer, which is under the first trench and not covered by the block structure, and a second portion of the spacer layer, which is over the first strip structure and the second strip structure. The method includes forming a third strip structure in the second trench and the third trench. The method includes removing the block structure. The method includes removing the spacer layer.

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a metal layer, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer. The metal layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The ILD layer is over the semiconductor substrate and laterally surrounding the metal layer, in which the ILD layer has a first portion in contact with a first sidewall of the metal layer and a second portion in contact with a second sidewall of the metal layer opposite to the first sidewall of the metal layer, and a width of the first portion of the ILD layer decreases as a distance from the semiconductor substrate increases.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a multilayer stack used as a mask in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and methods for forming a multilayer stack. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a carbon layer over a film stack, forming a metal rich oxide layer on the carbon layer by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, forming a metal oxide photoresist layer on the metal rich oxide layer, and patterning the metal oxide photoresist layer. The metal oxide photoresist layer is different from the metal rich oxide layer and is formed by a process different from the PVD process. The metal rich oxide layer formed by the PVD process improves adhesion of the metal oxide photoresist layer and increases the secondary electrons during EUV lithography, which leads to decreased EUV dose energies.

Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for processing substrates using one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. In one aspect, film stress is altered while facilitating enhanced etch selectivity. In one implementation, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers onto the substrate, and conducting a rapid thermal anneal operation on the substrate after depositing the one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. The rapid thermal anneal operation lasts for an anneal time that is 60 seconds or less. The rapid thermal anneal operation includes heating the substrate to an anneal temperature that is within a range of 600 degrees Celsius to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The method includes etching the substrate after conducting the rapid thermal anneal operation.

Disclosed herein is a method for forming metal-oxides in the photoresist to improve profile control. The method includes infiltrating a metal oxide in a photoresist layer by pressurizing a methyl-containing material in a processing environment proximate a film stack. The film stack includes the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer being disposed on top of and in contact with an underlayer. The underlayer disposed on top of a substrate. The method includes etching the film stack including the photoresist layer implanted with the metal oxide.

An exemplary semiconductor fabrication stack includes underlying layers; an organic planarization layer atop the underlying layers; a metal oxide hardmask atop the organic planarization layer and doped with both carbon and nitrogen; and an organic photoresist directly atop the doped metal oxide hardmask. In one or more embodiments, the doped metal oxide hardmask exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 80°.

A method of forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a masking structure with first openings over a semiconductor substrate and correspondingly forming metal layers in the first openings. The method also includes recessing the masking structure to form second openings between the metal layers and forming a sacrificial layer surrounded by a first liner in each of the second openings. In addition, after forming a second liner over the sacrificial layer in each of the second openings, the method includes removing the sacrificial layer in each of the second openings to form a plurality of air gaps therefrom.

Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices are described. The memory devices comprise a silicon nitride hard mask layer on a ruthenium layer. Forming the silicon nitride hard mask layer on the ruthenium comprises pre-treating the ruthenium layer with a plasma to form an interface layer on the ruthenium layer; and forming a silicon nitride layer on the interface layer by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Pre-treating the ruthenium layer, in some embodiments, results in the interface layer having a reduced roughness and the memory device having a reduced resistivity compared to a memory device that does not include the interface layer.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a to-be-etched layer, forming a core layer over the to-be-etched layer, the core layer including a first trench extending along a first direction, forming a sidewall spacer layer on a top surface of the core layer and on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the first trench, forming a block cut structure in the first trench after forming the sidewall spacer layer, and after forming the block cut structure, etching back the sidewall spacer layer until exposing the top surface of the core layer, thereby leaving a sidewall spacer on the sidewalls of the first trench. The block cut structure extends through the first trench along a second direction. The second direction and the first direction are different. The block cut structure includes a first block-cut layer and a second block-cut layer.

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes: providing a base, a pattern transfer material layer being formed above the base; performing first ion implantation, to dope first ions into the pattern transfer material layer, to form first doped mask layers arranged in a first direction; forming first trenches in the pattern transfer material layer on two sides of the first doped mask layer in a second direction, to expose side walls of the first doped mask layer; forming mask spacers on side walls of the first trenches; performing second ion implantation, to dope second ions into some regions of the pattern transfer material layer that are exposed from the first doped mask layers and the first trenches, to form second doped mask layers; removing the remaining pattern transfer material layer, to form second trenches; and etching the base along the first trenches and the second trenches, to form a target pattern. The present disclosure improves the accuracy of pattern transfer.