Patent ID: 7807233

Claim:
A method of forming a silicon dioxide cap layer, the method comprising: forming at least one layer on a substrate; forming an amorphous carbon layer above the at least one layer; performing a deposition process for depositing silicon dioxide from TEOS in a plasma atmosphere on said amorphous carbon layer at a temperature of approximately 370° C. or less to form said cap layer with a thickness in the range of approximately 5-50 nm, said amorphous carbon layer and said cap layer cooperating to form an anti-reflective layer; controlling a deposition rate of the silicon dioxide from TEOS in the deposition process by adjusting a pressure of said plasma atmosphere to a range of approximately 4.5-6.5 Torr; and patterning the at least one layer formed on said substrate in the presence of said anti-reflective layer, wherein said deposition process reduces an occurrence of defects in said at least one layer arising from said patterning.