The disclosure provides a double patterning technology to define peripheral patterns in a DRAM cell. Due to the consideration of line width, the peripheral pattern lines need to undergo two lithographic processes and two etch processes. The presence of additional photoresist patterns in the array region while fabricating peripheral patterns on the M0 layer can increase the stability of peripheral pattern lines. Peripheral pattern lines will not collapse after being subjected to the rinse of developing agent. Moreover, the photoresist coverage of patterns in the array region is not excessive, so the loading effect during etch processes is reduced and the occurrence of photoresist residues is avoided.

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 of forming an array comprising using two different composition masking materials in forming a pattern of spaced repeating first features of substantially same size and substantially same shape relative one another. A pattern-interrupting second feature of at least one of different size or different shape compared to that of the first features is within and interrupts the pattern of first features. The pattern of the first features with the pattern-interrupting second feature are translated into lower substrate material that is below the first features and the pattern-interrupting second feature. Material of the first features and of the pattern-interrupting second feature that is above the lower substrate material is removed at least one of during or after the translating. After the removing, the pattern-interrupting second feature in the lower substrate material is used as a reference location to reckon which of the two different composition masking materials was used to make first spaces between the first features in an analysis area in the material that was above the lower substrate material or which of the two different composition masking materials was used to make second spaces between the first features in the analysis area that alternate with the first spaces. Structure independent of method is disclosed.

The disclosure provides a method for manufacturing shallow trench isolations, providing a substrate comprising a storage cell area and a peripheral area of a storage device; etching the upper part of the substrate of the storage cell area using a first etching process to form a first shallow trench, and filling the first shallow trench with silicon oxide using a first deposition process; and etching the upper part of the substrate of the peripheral area using a second etching process to form a second shallow trench, and filling the second shallow trench with silicon oxide using a second deposition process; wherein the depth and characteristic dimension of the first shallow trench are smaller than the depth and characteristic dimension of the second shallow trench. The disclosure can avoid the silicon dislocation defect of the peripheral area and ensure the device shape and characteristic dimension of the storage cell area.

A method includes forming a polymer layer on a patterned photo resist. The polymer layer extends into an opening in the patterned photo resist. The polymer layer is etched to expose the patterned photo resist. The polymer layer and a top Bottom Anti-Reflective Coating (BARC) are etched to pattern the top BARC, in which the patterned photo resist is used as an etching mask. The top BARC is used as an etching mask to etching an underlying layer.

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 additional non-photoresist layer may be formed on patterned photoresist layers. The additional layer may be preferentially formed on the tops of the photoresist layer versus the sidewalls of the photoresist layer. In addition, the additional layer may be preferential formed on the tops of the photoresist layer versus exposed surfaces of layers underlying the photoresist layer. In this manner, the patterned structures formed by the photoresist layer are less likely to have line opens due to photoresist height variability or the relative thinness of the photoresist height used. Further, the formation of the additional layer may be through a cyclic deposition/trim process. The trim step of the cyclic process may also serve as a descum step that helps reduce line bridging and scumming. In one embodiment, the additional non-photoresist layer may be an organic polymer layer.

The disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure with strengthened patterns. The method includes forming a masking layer on the substrate, the masking layer including a peripheral region and an array region adjacent to the peripheral region; forming a first etched peripheral pattern in the peripheral region and a first etched array pattern in the array region, wherein the first etched peripheral pattern and the first etched array pattern have a top surface, a sidewall and a bottom surface, the sidewall connecting the top surface to the bottom surface; forming a second peripheral pattern on the first etched peripheral pattern and forming a second array pattern on the first etched array pattern; and etching the masking layer using the first etched peripheral pattern and the second peripheral pattern as an etching mask to form an etched masking layer in the peripheral region.

A composition for forming a resist underlayer film that enables the formation of a desired resist pattern; and a method for producing a resist pattern and a method for producing a semiconductor device, each of which uses the resist underlayer film-forming composition. The resist underlayer film-forming composition comprises an organic solvent and the reaction product of (A) a hydantoin-containing compound that has two epoxy groups and (B) a hydantoin-containing compound different from (A). This reaction product is preferably the reaction product of a secondary amino group present in the hydantoin-containing compound (B) and the epoxy group present in the hydantoin-containing compound (A).

A method for preparing a semiconductor device structure includes forming a target layer over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a plurality of first mask patterns over the target layer. The method also includes forming a lining layer conformally covering the first mask patterns and the target layer. A first opening is formed over the lining layer and between the first mask patterns. The method further includes filling the first opening with a second mask pattern, and performing an etching process on the lining layer and the target layer using the first mask patterns and the second mask pattern as a mask such that a plurality of second openings are formed in the target layer.