Patent ID: 9209036
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of patterning a structure, said method comprising: forming a vertical stack, from bottom to top, comprising at least a material layer, a dielectric hard mask layer, a metallic hard mask layer, an organic planarization layer (OPL), and a photoresist layer; lithographically patterning said photoresist layer; transferring a pattern in said photoresist layer through said OPL employing a first anisotropic etch; transferring said pattern through said metallic hard mask layer employing a second anisotropic etch while forming a organo-metallic passivation spacer on sidewalls of an opening in said metallic hard mask layer, said organo-metallic passivation spacer including a compound of at least an elemental metal in said metallic hard mask layer and a halogen atom; transferring said pattern through said dielectric hard mask layer employing a third anisotropic etch; and simultaneously removing a residual portion of said OPL and said organo-metallic passivation spacer employing an ashing process, said ashing process employing a combination of Cl