Patent ID: 9218970
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: B81B,B81C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining a number of a metal nitride sub-layers and a duration of a treatment process to be performed in the formation of each of the metal nitride sub-layers, wherein the determination is made in such a way that when a hard mask is formed in accordance with the metal nitride sub-layer number and the duration of the treatment process, the hard mask will have an internal stress that counter-balances an external stress to be exerted on the hard mask to be formed over a substrate; and forming the hard mask over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the hard mask is formed of the number of determined metal nitride sub-layers and wherein each of the metal nitride sub-layers is successively formed by a cycle of processes that includes depositing a metal nitride and performing treatment process for the determined duration.