Patent ID: 8048788

Claim:
A method for treating a structure, comprising: forming said structure on a substrate, said structure having a plurality of surfaces including one or more first surfaces lying substantially parallel to a first plane parallel with said substrate, and one or more second surfaces lying substantially perpendicular to said first plane; growing and/or depositing a screening layer on at least a portion of said one or more first surfaces; thereafter, directing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a material source toward said substrate with a controlled directionality to place at least said one or more second surfaces in a path of said GCIB, wherein said directionality is controlled by orienting said substrate relative to a direction of incidence of said GCIB and/or adjusting a beam divergence of said GCIB; and treating at least said one or more second surfaces with said GCIB, wherein said screening layer is at least partially in said path of said GCIB and has a thickness greater than a penetration depth of said GCIB whereby treatment by said GCIB is avoided in said at least a portion of said one or more first surfaces underlying said screening layer.