A method of performing metrology analysis of a thin film includes coupling a radiation into an optical element disposed adjacent to a surface of the thin film. The radiation is coupled such that the radiation is totally internally reflected at an interface between the optical element and the thin film. An evanescent radiation generated at the interface penetrates the thin film. The method furthers include analyzing the evanescent radiation scattered by the thin film to obtain properties of the thin film.

A fabricating method of reducing photoresist footing includes providing a silicon nitride layer. Later, a fluorination process is performed to graft fluoride ions onto a top surface of the silicon nitride layer. After the fluorination process, a photoresist is formed to contact the top surface of the silicon nitride layer. Finally, the photoresist is patterned to remove at least part of the photoresist contacting the silicon nitride layer.

A nanostructure-based substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method for manufacturing the nanostructure-based substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy includes preparing a substrate, depositing a zinc oxide (ZnO) seed layer on the substrate, growing a zinc oxide nanostructure through a synthesis manner of applying a zinc (Zn) solution to the zinc oxide (ZnO) seed layer, and coating the grown zinc oxide nanostructure with a metal.

Methods of forming optical devices using nanoimprint lithography and etch processes are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes depositing a first resist layer on a substrate, the substrate having a hardmask disposed thereon, imprinting a first resist portion of the first resist layer with a first single-height stamp, etching the first resist portion of the first resist layer, etching a first hardmask portion of the hardmask corresponding to the first resist portion of the first resist layer, removing the first resist layer and depositing a second resist layer, imprinting a second resist portion of the second resist layer with a second single-height stamp, etching the second resist portion of the second resist layer, and etching a second hardmask portion of the hardmask corresponding to the second resist portion of the second resist layer.

A film-forming composition for forming a resist underlayer film for a solvent development type resist that is capable of forming a good resist pattern which contains a hydrolysis-condensation product of a hydrolyzable silane compound, at least one substance that is selected from the group consisting of an aminoplast crosslinking agent and a phenoplast crosslinking agent, and a solvent, and wherein the hydrolyzable silane compound contains a hydrolyzable silane represented by formula (1).

The inventive concept provides a substrate treating apparatus. The substrate treating apparatus includes a first process treating unit configured to treat a substrate in a single-type method; a second process treating unit configured to treat a substrate in a batch-type method; and a posture changing unit provided between the first process treating unit and the second process treating unit and configured to change a posture of the substrate between a vertical posture and a horizontal posture, and wherein the substrate is loaded to and unloaded from the first process treating unit.

A set of tracking devices can be placed within a geographic area as part of a scavenger hunt. A user with a mobile device can traverse the area, and when the user moves within a threshold proximity or communicative range of a tracking device, the mobile device can receive a communication from the tracking device identifying the tracking device. In response to determining that the tracking device is part of the set of tracking devices and thus part of the scavenger hunt, the mobile device can modify a tracking device interface displaying a representation of the tracking device to indicate that the tracking device has been found. In response to each tracking device being found, the mobile device can modify the tracking device interface to indicate that the scavenger hunt has been completed.

A method for etching a curved substrate is provided, including: forming a conductive thin film layer with an etched pattern on the curved substrate; supplying power to the conductive thin film layer such that the conductive thin film layer has an equal potential at each position of the conductive thin film layer; etching each position of the curved substrate to an etching depth corresponding to the potential at each position of the conductive thin film layer based on the etched pattern of the conductive thin film layer, so as to obtain the curved substrate having a consistent etching depth at each position of the curved substrate. With the etching method, it is possible to etch an arbitrary curved surface to obtain a microstructure with a uniform processing depth.

In immersion exposure, a resist pattern forming method suppressing resist pattern defects comprises mounting a substrate formed a resist film thereon and a reticle formed a pattern thereon onto an exposure apparatus, supplying a first chemical solution onto the resist film to selectively form a first liquid film in a local area on the resist film and draining the solution, the first liquid film having a flow and being formed between the resist film and a projection optical system, transferring the pattern of the reticle to the resist film through the first liquid film to form a latent image, supplying a second chemical solution onto the resist film to clean the resist film, heating the resist film, and developing the resist film to form a resist pattern from the resist film.

The present application relates to an apparatus for processing a photolithographic mask, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one time-varying particle beam, which is embodied for a local deposition reaction and/or a local etching reaction on the photolithographic mask; (b) at least one first means for providing at least one precursor gas, wherein the precursor gas is embodied to interact with the particle beam during the local deposition reaction and/or the local etching reaction; and (c) at least one second means, which reduces a mean angle of incidence (φ) between the time-varying particle beam and a surface of the photolithographic mask.