Patent ID: 8084319

Claim:
A method for fabricating a device, comprising: forming a first layer; forming a hardmask on the first layer, wherein the hardmask is configured to be oxidized by oxygen and the first layer is configured not to be oxidized by oxygen; patterning features on the hardmask, wherein the features comprise at least one of trenches, channels, holes, pores, and vias, wherein the features penetrate through the hardmask exposing the first layer without penetrating the first layer, such that the features form a first sidewall and a second sidewall having an inner distance there between in the hardmask; and reducing a size of the features in the hardmask by applying a plasma treatment process with oxygen to form reduced size features, wherein the reduced size features have an another inner distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, in which the another inner distance of the reduced size features is smaller than the inner distance of the features; wherein the plasma treatment process on the hardmask causes oxidized material to grow from the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the hardmask in order to reduce the inner distance there between, such that growing the oxidized material from the first sidewall and the second sidewall results in the another inner distance being smaller than the inner distance.