Patent ID: 6929982

Claim:
A method for forming a hardmask comprising: depositing at least one polymeric preceramic precursor film atop a substrate having at least one layer; converting said at least one polymeric preceramic precursor film into at least one ceramic layer, said at least one ceramic layer having a composition of Si v N w C x O y H z , where 0.1≦v≦0.9, 0≦w≦0.5, 0.05≦x≦0.9, 0≦y≦0.5, 0.05≦z≦0.8 for v+w+x+y+z=1; forming a patterned photoresist atop said at least one ceramic layer; patterning said at least one ceramic layer to expose one or more regions of said underlying substrate, where a remaining region of said underlying substrate is protected by at least one patterned ceramic layer; etching said one or more exposed region of said substrate.