Patent ID: 8969213
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a patterned structure comprising: forming a metal layer on an underlying material layer; forming a hard mask portion on said metal layer; converting a first surface portion of said metal layer into a dielectric metal-containing compound portion employing said hard mask portion as a masking structure; and physically exposing a top surface of a second surface portion of said metal layer by isotropically recessing physically exposed surfaces of said hard mask portion, wherein an outer periphery of said second surface portion coincides with an inner periphery of said dielectric metal-containing compound portion and an inner periphery of said second surface portion coincided with a set of bottom edges of sidewalls of a remaining portion of said hard mask portion that overlies a third surface portion of said metal layer which is laterally bounded by said second surface portion after a process that isotropically recessing physically exposed surfaces of said hard mask portion is terminated.