A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A photoresist layer is formed over a material layer on a substrate. The photoresist layer is exposed. An organic treatment is performed to the photoresist layer by a hydrophobic organic compound. After performing the organic treatment, the photoresist layer is developed. The material layer is etched using the photoresist layer as a mask.

A device includes a semiconductor fin, a gate structure, gate spacers, and a dielectric feature. The semiconductor fin is over a substrate. The gate structure is over the semiconductor fin and includes a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin and a gate metal covering the gate dielectric layer. The gate spacers are on opposite sides of the gate structure. The dielectric feature is over the substrate. The dielectric feature is in contact with the gate metal, the gate dielectric layer, and the gate spacers, and an interface between the gate metal and the dielectric feature is substantially aligned with an interface between the dielectric feature and one of the gate spacers.

A method of processing a substrate that includes: depositing a photoresist layer over the substrate; performing a cyclic direct-write lithographic process using a direct-write lithography tool, the cyclic direct-write lithographic process including a plurality of cycles, each of the plurality of cycles including: exposing the photoresist layer to a patterned actinic radiation without using a photomask, defining one of a plurality of coupon regions, where the plurality of coupon regions are configured to generate a plurality of test samples on the substrate for evaluating process conditions of a fabrication process; exposing the one of the plurality of coupon regions; and performing the fabrication process on the one of the plurality of coupon regions.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a method of fabricating the same, the semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a target layer. The target layer is disposed on the substrate and includes a target boundary and a plurality of target patterns. The target patterns are disposed within the target boundary, and arranged in a first direction and a second direction which are not perpendicular with each other, into an array. The target patterns include a plurality of odd columns and a plurality of even columns in a vertical direction, the target boundary includes a first arc edge and a second arc edge being protruded toward the vertical direction, and a central point of the first arc edge and a central point of the second arc edge are not on a same plane in a horizontal direction.

Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, the method including exposing a first pattern corresponding to a mask pattern to light in a first shot region of a substrate by using a photomask including the mask pattern, the first pattern extends in a first direction, and exposing a second pattern corresponding to the mask pattern to the light in a second shot region disposed adjacent to the first shot region of the substrate by using the photomask, the second pattern extends in a second direction, wherein the first direction crosses the second direction.

A method of forming a via is provided. A lower metal element is formed, and a first patterned photoresist is used to form a sacrificial element over the lower metal element. A dielectric region including a dielectric element projection extending upwardly above the sacrificial element is formed. A second patterned photoresist including a second photoresist opening is formed, wherein the dielectric element projection is at least partially located in the second photoresist opening. A dielectric region trench opening is etched in the dielectric region. The sacrificial element is removed to define a via opening extending downwardly from the dielectric region trench opening. The dielectric region trench opening and the via opening are filled to define (a) an upper metal element in the dielectric region trench opening and (b) a via in the via opening, wherein the via extends downwardly from the upper metal element.

A method includes forming a protective layer over a substrate edge and a photoresist over a substrate. Protective layer removed and photoresist exposed to radiation. Protective layer made of composition including acid generator and polymer having pendant acid-labile groups. Pendant acid-labile groups include polar functional groups; acid-labile groups including polar switch functional groups; acid-labile groups, wherein greater than 5% of pendant acid-labile groups have structure ##STR00001##
wherein R1 is C6-C30 alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, hydroxylalkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxyl alkyl group, acetyl group, acetylalkyl group, carboxyl group, alkyl carboxyl group, cycloalkyl carboxyl group, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, or heterocyclic group; and R2 is C4-C9 alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, hydroxylalkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxyl alkyl group, acetyl group, acetylalkyl group, carboxyl group, alkyl carboxyl group, or cycloalkyl carboxyl group; polymer having pendant acid-labile groups and lactone pendant groups; or polymer having pendant acid-labile groups and carboxylic acid groups.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a hydrophobizing part configured to perform a hydrophobizing process of forming a hydrophobic film on a front surface of a substrate through vapor deposition of a hydrophobizing gas, an ultraviolet radiation part configured to radiate ultraviolet rays to a removal area on a rear surface of the substrate so as to remove the hydrophobic film formed in the removal area in the hydrophobizing process, and a resin-film forming part configured to form a fluororesin film in the removal area after the hydrophobic film is removed.

A method of microfabrication includes providing a substrate having an existing pattern, wherein the existing pattern comprises features formed within a base layer such that a top surface of the substrate has features uncovered and the base layer is uncovered, depositing a selective attachment agent on the substrate, wherein the selective attachment agent includes a solubility-shifting agent, depositing a first resist on the substrate, activating the solubility shifting agent such that a portion of the first resist becomes insoluble to a first developer, developing the first resist using the first developer such that a relief pattern comprising openings is formed, wherein the openings expose the features of the existing layer, and executing a selective growth process that grows a selective-deposition material on the features and within the openings of the relief pattern to provide self-aligned selective deposition features.

A method for producing a device including a deposition of a first resin layer of lithography above or on a protective layer such that the protective layer is included between a conductive layer and the first resin layer; a first lithography of the first resin layer, the protective layer and the conductive layer; preserving, in at least one preserving area of the first lithography, the superposition of the first resin layer, the protective layer and the conductive layer, and depositing, at least on the at least one preserving area of the first lithography, a second resin layer of lithography without removing the first resin layer; a second lithography of the second resin and the first resin, in particular for the production of electrodes. One of the possible aims is to obtain a device without introducing an impurity into the conductive layer.