Patent ID: 7473644

Claim:
A method for forming hardmask elements on a substrate comprising: forming a first material layer on a substrate; forming a second material layer on the first material layer; forming a plurality of laterally-spaced, discrete structures comprising the first and second material layers on the substrate and leaving intervening portions of the substrate exposed, the plurality of laterally-spaced, discrete structures each having a geometry defined by a top surface and substantially vertical sidewalls; depositing a hardmask material layer over the top surfaces and sidewalls of the plurality of laterally-spaced, discrete structures and the intervening, exposed portions of the substrate; removing portions of the hardmask material layer over the top surfaces of the laterally-spaced, discrete structures and the intervening portions of the substrate while leaving spacers of the hardmask material layer on the sidewalls of the laterally-spaced, discrete structures; planarizing the plurality of laterally-spaced, discrete structures to remove all of the second material layer and adjacent portions of the spacers; and removing the first material layer to form a plurality of hardmask elements.