Patent ID: 8828869
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: forming a seed layer above a structure, said seed layer being comprised of a metal-containing material; forming a nucleation layer on said seed layer, said nucleation layer comprising a transition metal oxide ceramic material; performing at least one thermal treatment process at a temperature so as to generate a plurality of spaced-apart, vertically oriented alloy structures, wherein said alloy structures are comprised of at least one material from said seed layer and at least one material from said nucleation layers; after forming said alloy structures, forming a sacrificial material layer above said nucleation layer and around said alloy structures; performing at least one etching process to remove said alloy structures and portions of said seed layer so as to thereby define a plurality of openings; forming an initial masking structure in each of said openings; performing at least one etching process to remove said sacrificial material layer and said nucleation layer so as to thereby expose said structure and define a masking layer comprised of at least said initial masking structures; and performing at least one process operation on said structure through said masking layer.