A substrate has a front side including an electrical circuit and a rear side including an exposed zone that faces the electrical circuit. In an electrochemical treatment step, an electrical potential is laterally applied at least to the exposed zone of the rear side of the substrate, while the exposed zone is in contact with a chemically reactive substance. The electrical potential causes a lateral flow of electrical current at least in the exposed zone of the substrate. The lateral flow of current and the chemically reactive substance alter the substrate in at least the exposed zone.

A substrate has a front side including an electrical circuit and a rear side including an exposed zone that faces the electrical circuit. In an electrochemical treatment step, an electrical potential is laterally applied at least to the exposed zone of the rear side of the substrate, while the exposed zone is in contact with a chemically reactive substance. The electrical potential causes a lateral flow of electrical current at least in the exposed zone of the substrate. The lateral flow of current and the chemically reactive substance alter the substrate in at least the exposed zone.

A plating chuck for holding a substrate during plating processes, wherein the substrate has a notch area (3031) and a patterned region (3032) adjacent to the notch area (3031). The plating chuck comprises a cover plate (3033) configured to cover the notch area (3031) of the substrate to shield the electric field at the notch area (3031) when the substrate is being plated.

A plating chuck for holding a substrate during plating processes, wherein the substrate has a notch area (3031) and a patterned region (3032) adjacent to the notch area (3031). The plating chuck comprises a cover plate (3033) configured to cover the notch area (3031) of the substrate to shield the electric field at the notch area (3031) when the substrate is being plated.

A thin film forming method which forms a seed film and an impurity-containing silicon film on a surface of an object to be processed in a processing container configured to be vacuum exhaustible, the thin film forming method includes: performing a first step which forms the seed film formed of a compound of silicon, carbon and nitrogen on the surface of the object by supplying a seed film raw material gas comprising an aminosilane-based gas into the processing container; and performing a second step which forms the impurity-containing silicon film in an amorphous state on the seed film by supplying a silane-based gas and an impurity-containing gas into the processing container.

Methods of forming metal oxide structures and methods of forming metal oxide patterns on a substrate using a block copolymer system formulated for self-assembly. A block copolymer at least within a trench in the substrate and including at least one soluble block and at least one insoluble block may be annealed to form a self-assembled pattern including a plurality of repeating units of the at least one soluble block laterally aligned with the trench and positioned within a matrix of the at least one insoluble block. The self-assembled pattern may be exposed to a metal oxide precursor that impregnates the at least one soluble block. The metal oxide precursor may be oxidized to form a metal oxide. The self-assembled pattern may be removed to form a pattern of metal oxide lines on the substrate surface. Semiconductor device structures are also described.

A semiconductor manufacturing method by a semiconductor manufacturing device includes: positioning an anode, which causes an oxidation reaction, in a first end of a base material containing an aluminum oxide and a cathode, which causes a reduction reaction, in a second end of the base material; heating the base material to melt it with the anode being in contact with the first end of the base material and the cathode being in contact with the second end of the base material; causing a current to flow between the anode and the cathode to cause a molten salt electrolysis reaction for a whole of or a part of a period in which the base material is at least partially melted; and after the molten salt electrolysis reaction, cooling the base material to form a p-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer and an n-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: preparing a substrate made of a compound semiconductor containing a first element and a second element that is bonded to the first element and has an electronegativity smaller than that of the first element by 1.5 or more; causing an electric current to flow in the substrate; and dividing the substrate at a position including a current region where the electric current is caused to flow and along a cleavage plane of the substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: stacking a first substrate and a second substrate each made of the compound semiconductor; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate by causing an electric current to flow between the first substrate and the second substrate.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: preparing a substrate made of a compound semiconductor containing a first element and a second element that is bonded to the first element and has an electronegativity smaller than that of the first element by 1.5 or more; causing an electric current to flow in the substrate; and dividing the substrate at a position including a current region where the electric current is caused to flow and along a cleavage plane of the substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: stacking a first substrate and a second substrate each made of the compound semiconductor; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate by causing an electric current to flow between the first substrate and the second substrate.

A semiconductor manufacturing method by a semiconductor manufacturing device includes: positioning an anode, which causes an oxidation reaction, in a first end of a base material containing an aluminum oxide and a cathode, which causes a reduction reaction, in a second end of the base material; heating the base material to melt it with the anode being in contact with the first end of the base material and the cathode being in contact with the second end of the base material; causing a current to flow between the anode and the cathode to cause a molten salt electrolysis reaction for a whole of or a part of a period in which the base material is at least partially melted; and after the molten salt electrolysis reaction, cooling the base material to form a p-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer and an n-type aluminum oxide semiconductor layer.