Patent ID: 7687405
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for forming very small structures on a wafer, the method comprising: providing a substrate having a first surface energy; depositing a thin mask layer over the substrate, the thin mask layer having a second surface energy that is different from the first surface energy; photolithographically patterning and developing the thin mask layer to remove selected portions of the thin mask layer from the substrate while leaving other portions of the substrate covered with the thin mask layer; and depositing a hard mask material onto the substrate such that the hard mask material adheres to uncovered portions of the substrate and not to covered portions of the substrate based on the difference between the first and second surface energies; and after depositing the hard mask, removing the remaining thin mask layer, and then performing a material removal process to remove portions of the substrate that are not covered by the hard mask layer.