Method and apparatus of patterning a semiconductor device

1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a material layer over a substrate;

forming a photoresist over the material layer, the photoresist having a photo acid generator and a polymer having a backbone that is breakable, the backbone including a plurality of repeating segments with each of the repeating segments comprising a carbon chain having a plurality of carbon atoms, a linking group coupled to the carbon chain and breakable from the carbon chain, and a chemical connected to the carbon chain and the linking group, wherein the carbon chain and the chemical have different chemical structures;

patterning the photoresist to form a patterned photoresist layer;

performing a fabrication process to the material layer, the patterned photoresist layer serving as a mask in the fabrication process;

thereafter treating the patterned photoresist layer to break the backbone of the polymer, wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer to break the backbone of the polymer includes treating the patterned photoresist layer with a process selected from the group of a chemical process and a thermal process; and

removing the patterned photoresist layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the photoresist is carried out in a manner so that the backbone has a multidendate structure before the treating, and wherein the treating the patterned photoresist layer is carried out in a manner so that the backbone has a monodendate structure after the treating.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical process includes applying one of HCl, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , HF, or H 3 PO 4 , to the patterned photoresist layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal process includes heating the patterned photoresist layer to a temperature that is in a range from 22 degrees Celsius to 250 degrees Celsius.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing the patterned photoresist layer includes dissolving the patterned photoresist layer with an organic solvent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the fabrication process includes one of:

etching the material layer; and

implanting dopants into the material layer.

7. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a material layer over a substrate;

forming a photoresist over the material layer, the photoresist having a photo acid generator and a polymer having a backbone that is breakable, the backbone including a plurality of repeating segments with each of the repeating segments comprising a carbon chain having a plurality of carbon atoms, a linking group coupled to the carbon chain and breakable from the carbon chain, and a chemical connected to the carbon chain and the linking group, wherein the carbon chain and the chemical have different chemical structures;

patterning the photoresist to form a patterned photoresist layer; and

thereafter applying a chemical treatment to the patterned photoresist layer that breaks the backbone of the polymer.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the forming of the photoresist is carried out in a manner so that the backbone of the polymer has a chemical formula:

and wherein:

Z is the linking group, which includes one of carboxylic, oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, thio, sulfoxide, sulfone, amide, or imine;

R 1 and R 2 each include one of: hydrogen, hydroxide, halide, aromatic carbon ring, alkyl, alkoxyl, fluoro alkyl, or fluoroalkoxyl chain having a carbon chain with a number of carbon atoms in a range from 1 to 12;

R f is the chemical, which includes one of: aromatic carbon ring, alkyl, alkoxyl, fluoro alkyl, or fluoroalkoxyl chain having a carbon chain with a number of carbon atoms in a range from 1 to 4; and

x is in a range from 2 to 6, and y is in a range from 8 to 40.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applying of the chemical treatment comprises applying one of HCl, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , HF, or H 3 PO 4 , to the patterned photoresist layer.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applying of the chemical treatment to the patterned photoresist layer includes applying an acid to the patterned photoresist layer.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applying of the chemical treatment to the patterned photoresist layer includes applying an oxidant or a surfactant to the patterned photoresist layer.

12. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a photoresist over a material layer over a substrate, the photoresist comprising a polymer having a breakable backbone, the backbone including a plurality of repeating segments with each of the segments comprising a carbon chain that includes a plurality of carbon atoms, a linking group coupled to the carbon chain and breakable from the carbon chain, and a chemical connected to the carbon chain and the linking group, wherein the carbon chain and the chemical have different chemical structures;

patterning the photoresist to form a patterned photoresist layer;

performing a fabrication process to at least the material layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer serves as a mask in the fabrication process; and

after the fabrication process, treating the patterned photoresist layer to break the backbone of the polymer, wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer to break the backbone of the polymer includes treating the patterned photoresist layer with a process selected from the group consisting of a chemical process and a thermal process; and

removing the patterned photoresist layer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the backbone of the polymer has a chemical formula:

and wherein:

Z is the linking group, which includes one of carboxylic, oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, thio, sulfoxide, sulfone, amide, or imine;

R 1 and R 2 each include one of: hydrogen, hydroxide, halide, aromatic carbon ring, alkyl, alkoxyl, fluoro alkyl, or fluoroalkoxyl chain having a carbon chain with a number of carbon atoms in a range from 1 to 12;

R f is the chemical, which includes one of: aromatic carbon ring, alkyl, alkoxyl, fluoro alkyl, or fluoroalkoxyl chain having a carbon chain with a number of carbon atoms in a range from 1 to 4; and

x is in a range from 2 to 6, and y is in a range from 8 to 40.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the backbone has a multidendate structure before the treating, and a monodendate structure after the treating.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the linking group is breakable from the carbon chain in response to exposure to one of acid, thermal energy, and electromagnetic radiation.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer with the chemical process includes applying an acid to the patterned photoresist layer.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer with the chemical process includes applying an oxidant or a surfactant to the patterned photoresist layer.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the photoresist further comprises a photo acid generator.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer with the thermal process includes heating the patterned photoresist layer to a temperature that is sufficiently high for the patterned photoresist layer to produce an acid.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the treating of the patterned photoresist layer with the chemical process includes applying one of HCl, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , HF, or H 3 PO 4 , to the patterned photoresist layer.