Patent · US Active

Sub-lithographic feature patterning using self-aligned self-assembly polymers

US7605081B2 · kind B2 · utility

87Cited by
2References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 2006
Grant dateOct 20, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L23/485
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for conducting sub-lithography feature patterning of a device structure is provided. First, a lithographically patterned mask layer that contains one or more mask openings of a diameter d is formed by lithography and etching over an upper surface of the device structure. Next, a layer of a self-assembling block copolymer is applied over the lithographically patterned mask layer and then annealed to form a single unit polymer block of a diameter w inside each of the mask openings, provided that w<d. Each single unit polymer block of the present invention is embedded in a polymeric matrix and can be selectively removed against the polymeric matrix to form a single opening of the diameter w in the polymeric matrix inside each of the mask openings. Sub-lithography feature patterning can then be conducted in the device structure using the single openings of diameter w.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.