Patent ID: 9054156
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a patterned structure comprising: forming a metal layer on a material layer; forming a hard mask portion on said metal layer; forming a plasma-resistant spacer on sidewalls of said hard mask portion by deposition and an anisotropic etch of a conformal dielectric layer, wherein, upon formation of said plasma-resistant spacer, said plasma-resistant spacer contacts, and laterally surrounds, said hard mask portion as a contiguous structure and a portion of a top surface of said metal layer is physically exposed; physically exposing at least one sidewall of said hard mask portion by removing a portion of said plasma-resistant spacer; converting a first surface portion of said metal layer into a dielectric metal-containing compound portion employing said hard mask portion and a remaining portion of said plasma-resistant spacer as masking structures; 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 while said etch-resistant spacer protects a portion of said hard mask portion from removal, wherein an outer edge of said second surface portion coincides with an inner edge of said dielectric metal-containing compound portion.