Abstract:
A shallow trench isolation structure has a trench formed in a substrate, a silicon oxynitride layer conformally formed on the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, and a high density plasma (HDP) oxide layer substantially filling the trench.
Abstract:
A photoresist material having a polymer that turns soluble to a base solution in response to reaction with acid. The material includes a photo-acid generator (PAG) that decomposes to form acid in response to radiation energy and a quencher capable of neutralizing acid and having a reduced mobility. The photoresist material can thereby prevent water mark defects from immersion lithography.
Abstract:
A method for forming an etch-resistant photoresist pattern on a semiconductor substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a photoresist layer is formed on the substrate. The photoresist layer is exposed and developed to form a photoresist pattern. A polymer-containing layer is formed over the photoresist pattern. The photoresist pattern and the polymer-containing layer are thermally treated so that polymer is substantially diffused into the photoresist pattern thereby enhancing the etch resistance of the photoresist pattern. The polymer-containing layer is thereafter removed.
Abstract:
A method of forming an overlay mark is provided. A first material layer is formed on a substrate, and then a first trench serving as a trench type outer mark is formed in the first material layer. The first trench is partially filled with the first deposition layer. A second material is formed over the first trench and the first deposition layer. A second trench is formed exposing the first deposition layer within the first trench. The second trench is partially filled with a second deposition layer forming a third trench. A third material layer is formed on the substrate to cover the second deposition layer and the second material layer. A step height is formed on the third deposition layer between the edge of the first trench and the center of the first trench. A raised feature serving as an inner mark is formed on the third deposition layer.
Abstract:
A Mask ROM and a method for fabricating the same are described. The Mask ROM comprises a substrate, a plurality of gates on the substrate, a gate oxide layer between the gates and the substrate, a plurality of buried bit lines in the substrate between the gates, an insulator on the buried bit lines and between the gates, a plurality of word lines each disposed over a row of gates perpendicular to the buried bit lines, and a coding layer between the word lines and the gates.
Abstract:
A method comprises forming a photoresist on a substrate, rinsing the photoresist using a rinse liquid agitated with at least one megasonic source, exposing the photoresist to radiation while immersed in a liquid, and developing the photoresist.
Abstract:
A method of forming a photolithographic mask for use in fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a layer of photoresist material on a wafer and exposing the photoresist material to a light source. The photoresist material is developed, and before the wafer dries, the wafer is cleaned with one or more cleaning liquids. The cleaning liquid may be a surfactant, an acid, a dissolved gas solution (e.g., CO2, SO2, SO3, NH3, NO2, or the like), deionized water, or the like. Thereafter, the wafer is dried. The wafer may be dried, for example, by a spin dry process, a gas purge process using, for example, compressed dry air, N2, CO2, Ar, or the like, or a drying alcohol such as IPA vapor.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory is provided. A longitudinal strip of stacked layer is formed over a substrate. The longitudinal strip is a stacked layer including a gate dielectric layer, a conductive layer and a cap layer. A buried bit line is formed in the substrate on each side of the longitudinal strip. The longitudinal strip is patterned to form a plurality of stacked blocks. Thereafter, a dielectric layer is formed over the substrate. The dielectric layer exposes the cap layer of the stacked blocks. Some cap layers of the stacked blocks are removed to expose the conductive layer underneath. A word line is formed over the dielectric layer to connect stacked blocks in the same row serially together.
Abstract:
A method of enhancing photoresist anti-etching ability, at least includes follows. Provide a substrate, form a photoresist with a pattern on the substrate, put both photoresist and substrate in a low pressure environment, and treat photoresist by an electron beam to let at least part of photoresist is hardened. This method usually is performed before etch process, but the method also could be modified as follows. Expose photoresist by an electron beam while an etching process being performed, or alternately expose photoresist by an electron beam and perform an etch process.