In a variety of processes for forming electronic devices that use spin-on dielectric materials, properties of the spin-on dielectric materials can be enhanced by curing these materials using plasma doping. For example, hardness and Young's modulus can be increased for the cured material. Other properties may be enhanced. The plasma doping to cure the spin-on dielectric materials uses a mechanism that is a combination of plasma ion implant and high energy radiation associated with the species ionized. In addition, physical properties of the spin-on dielectric materials can be modified along a length of the spin-on dielectric materials by selection of an implant energy and dopant dose for the particular dopant used, corresponding to a selection variation with respect to length.

An upper surface of a plug (PL1) is formed so as to be higher than an upper surface of an interlayer insulating film (PIL) by forming the interlayer insulating film (PIL) on a semiconductor substrate (1S), completing a CMP method for forming the plug (PL1) inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), and then, making the upper surface of the interlayer insulating film (PIL) to recede. In this manner, reliability of connection between the plug (PL1) and a wiring (W1) in a vertical direction can be ensured. Also, the wiring (W1) can be formed so as not to be embedded inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), or a formed amount by the embedding can be reduced.

A method includes providing a substrate having a conductive column, a dielectric layer over the conductive column, and a plurality of sacrificial blocks over the dielectric layer, the plurality of sacrificial blocks surrounding the conductive column from a top view; depositing a sacrificial layer covering the plurality of sacrificial blocks, the sacrificial layer having a dip directly above the conductive column; depositing a hard mask layer over the sacrificial layer; removing a portion of the hard mask layer from a bottom of the dip; etching the bottom of the dip using the hard mask layer as an etching mask, thereby exposing a top surface of the conductive column; and forming a conductive material inside the dip, the conductive material being in physical contact with the top surface of the conductive column.

The present invention relates to an abrasive and a planarization method using the same, and more particularly, includes fumed silica. A BET specific surface area of the fumed silica is 200 m.sup.2/g to 450 m.sup.2/g, a shape of aggregates dispersed in the abrasive has an elongated shape or a round shape, and a ratio of the round shape of the aggregates is 50% to 90%.

Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC, and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a memory region and a logic region integrated in a substrate. A plurality of memory cell structures is disposed on the memory region. Each memory cell structure of the plurality of memory cell structures comprises a control gate electrode disposed over the substrate, a select gate electrode disposed on one side of the control gate electrode, and a spacer between the control gate electrode and the select gate electrode. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is disposed along an upper surface of the substrate, extending upwardly along and in direct contact with a sidewall surface of the select gate electrode within the memory region. A lower inter-layer dielectric layer is disposed on the CESL between the plurality of memory cell structures within the memory region.

The present disclosure provides a processing method for semiconductor surface defects and a preparation method for semiconductor devices. The processing method for semiconductor surface defects includes: placing a semiconductor device in a plasma processing device, the semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate and deposition layers formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, bubbles being formed in the deposition layers; and plasma bombarding the surface of the deposition layer to break the bubbles, so that the surface of the deposition layer is flat.

Methods of forming patterned features and structures including the patterned features are disclosed. Exemplary methods include selectively forming a surface energy modified surface on a sidewall of structures and/or forming a surface-energy tunable layer on a surface of the substrate. The surface energy modified surface can be formed by depositing material and/or by treating the sidewall surface and/or by treating a surface adjacent the sidewall surface.

Methods and apparatuses for selectively etching silicon-and-oxygen-containing material relative to silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material by selectively forming a carbon-containing self-assembled monolayer on a silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material relative to a silicon-and-oxygen-containing material are provided herein. Methods are also applicable to selectively etching silicon-and-nitrogen-containing material relative to silicon-and-oxygen-containing material.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure. For example, the method can include forming a stack of metal structures on a substrate, the stack of metal structures including multiple metal structures that are vertically stacked over and electrically separated from one another, each of the metal structures including a ring and one or more pad contacts extending from the ring, the rings of the metal structures being vertically aligned with one another. The method can also include forming one or more channel structures within the rings of the metal structures, the channel structures being electrically separated from one another and electrically separated from the substrate. The method can also include forming one or more interconnections that extend from a position above the stack of metal structures to corresponding one or more of the pad contacts of the metal structures.

Methods of forming patterned features on a surface of a substrate are disclosed. Exemplary methods include gas-phase formation of a layer comprising an oxalate compound on a surface of the substrate. Portions of the layer comprising the oxalate compound can be exposed to radiation or active species that form exposed and unexposed portions. Material can be selectively deposed onto the exposed or the unexposed portions.