Embodiments herein provide apparatus and methods for performing an etching process on a spacer layer with good profile control in multiple patterning processes. In one embodiment, a method for patterning a spacer layer during a multiple patterning process includes conformally forming a spacer layer on an outer surface of a patterned structure disposed on a substrate, wherein the patterned structure has having a first group of openings defined therebetween and etching the spacer layer disposed on the substrate while forming an oxidation layer on the spacer layer.

The present disclosure describes methods for transferring a desired layout into a target layer. The method includes a step of forming a spacer, having a second width, around a first and a second desired layout feature pattern of the desired layout over a semiconductor substrate. The first desired layout feature pattern is formed using a first sub-layout and the second desired layout feature pattern is formed using a second sub-layout. The first and second desired layout feature patterns are separated by a first width. The method further includes forming a third desired layout feature pattern according to a third sub-layout. The third desired layout feature pattern is shaped in part by the spacer. The method further includes removing the spacer from around the first and second desired layout feature pattern and etching the target layer using the first, second, and third layout feature patterns as masking features.

A method of forming a fin-based field-effect transistor device includes forming one or more first fins comprising silicon on a substrate, forming epitaxial layers on sides of the one or more first fins, and removing the one or more first fins to form a plurality of second fins.

Techniques disclosed herein, provide a method and fabrication structure for accurately increasing feature density for creating high-resolution features and also for cutting on pitch of sub-resolution features. Techniques include using multiple materials having different etch characteristics to selectively etch features and create cuts or blocks where specified. A multiline layer is formed of three or more different materials that provide differing etch characteristics. Etch masks, including interwoven etch masks, are used to selectively etch cuts within selected, exposed materials. Structures can then be cut and formed. Forming structures and cuts can be recorded in a memorization layer, which can also be used as an etch mask.

A method of fabricating semiconductor fins, including, patterning a film stack to produce one or more sacrificial mandrels having sidewalls, exposing the sidewall on one side of the one or more sacrificial mandrels to an ion beam to make the exposed sidewall more susceptible to oxidation, oxidizing the opposite sidewalls of the one or more sacrificial mandrels to form a plurality of oxide pillars, removing the one or more sacrificial mandrels, forming spacers on opposite sides of each of the plurality of oxide pillars to produce a spacer pattern, removing the plurality of oxide pillars, and transferring the spacer pattern to the substrate to produce a plurality of fins.

A method for patterning a layer increases the density of features formed over an initial patterning layer using a series of self-aligned spacers. A layer to be etched is provided, then an initial sacrificial patterning layer, for example formed using optical lithography, is formed over the layer to be etched. Depending on the embodiment, the patterning layer may be trimmed, then a series of spacer layers formed and etched. The number of spacer layers and their target dimensions depends on the desired increase in feature density. An in-process semiconductor device and electronic system is also described.

An initial semiconductor structure includes an underlying substrate, a hard mask stack, an organic planarization layer (OPL), a first complementary material, and a patterned photoresist layer patterned into a plurality of photoresist pillars defining a plurality of photoresist trenches. The first material is partially etched inward of the trenches, to provide trench regions, and the photoresist is removed. The trench regions are filled with a second complementary material, preferentially etchable with respect to the first material. A polymer brush is grafted on the second material but not the first material, to form polymer brush regions with intermediate regions not covered by the brush. The first material is anisotropically etched the at the intermediate regions but not the brush regions. The OPL is etched inward of the intermediate regions, to provide a plurality of OPL pillars defining a plurality of OPL trenches inverted with respect to the photoresist pillars.

The disclosure provides a method for making a self-aligned double pattern, A silicon substrate with a first oxide layer, an amorphous silicon layer and an organic layer, etching the organic layer and the amorphous silicon layer, and covering them with a first silicon nitride layer; remove the first silicon nitride layer in the amorphous silicon pattern, forming first silicon nitride sidewall patterns on the amorphous silicon pattern's sidewalls; removing the amorphous silicon pattern between the first silicon nitride sidewall patterns; defining the morphology of a fin field-effect transistor, form core patterns and covering them with a thin silicon nitride layer; depositing a second oxide layer; defining the fin field-effect transistor's height, and etching back the second oxide layer till the height of the core patterns satisfies the defined fin field-effect transistor height; removing the thin silicon nitride layer, depositing a third oxide layer to cover the core patterns.

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, comprises the following steps: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a dummy insulation layer and a dummy electrode sequentially stacked on the semiconductor substrate; forming spacers on sidewalls of the dummy electrode; removing the dummy electrode to exposes inner sidewalls of the spacers; and performing an ion implantation process to the inner sidewalls of the spacers and the dummy insulation layer.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first film on a substrate; forming a second film containing at least carbon on the first film; forming a hole in the second film; and forming a recess, which communicates with the hole, in the first film by etching using the second film as a mask. In this method, the second film includes a first layer formed on the first film, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first layer having a higher oxygen concentration than the second layer.