J. Foray, B. Bellet, S. HadjRabah, J. Palisson, E. Veran, M. Davenet, A. Favre, P. Sergent, M. Tissier, V. Baudiquez, P. Nesladek, E. Foca, S. Gopalakrishnan, I. Hollein, F. Dufaye, S. Gough
Within the frame of the European R&D project the so called "HYMNE" project, lead by STM, advanced vacuum decontamination processes had been demonstrated to be efficient on wafer substrates in order to remove airborne molecular contamination (moisture, VOC..), to avoid crystalline defects after dry etching process and to improve yield for sub 90 nm technologies.
Further to these significant results on wafers, a pool of partners investigated new methods and processes based on vacuum technology for photomask decontamination. These studies were carried out in the frame of the European R&D CRYSTAL project, focusing on photomask defect reduction.
Today, vacuum process is not very widespread in photomask environment: in fab environment nor in mask manufacturing cycle. However such vacuum substrate decontamination could be also efficiently applied in order to reduce AMC contamination, which is one of the root causes of haze and crystalline defects. In this paper, we report for the first time, vacuum process investigations on pellicled photomasks that could be applied in fab environment, as well as vacuum process investigations on patterned blank that could be integrated into mask manufacturing cycle.
First, vacuum process had been investigated on pellicled photomasks, including parameter influences. Goal is to renew and replace the environment under the pellicle by clean environment. During the process, specific care has to be taken on pellicle behavior under vacuum. The challenge is indeed to manage the pellicle during the vacuum process without damaging it, especially after several decontamination cycles. Finally, repeatability tests have also been successfully carried out and will be reported.
We also report advanced vacuum process on patterned blank that could be integrated into mask manufacturing flow. Such procedure is an efficient complementary process in order to outgas contaminants from photomasks, and in order to reduce AMC residues (especially sulfate) in mask manufacturing cycle. Experimental results will be reported.
Within the PREUVE project, the GAP of CEA Saclay has developed an EUV source that should meet (alpha) -tool specifications by the end of this year. In particular, a laser-produced plasma source has been developed that uses a dense and confined xenon jet target. Our technical solution is based on a specific target injector design and the use of well adapted nozzle materials to avoid debris formation by plasma erosion. After injection, the xenon is recycled and highly purified to reach a low cost round- the-clock operation. This source provides both high conversion efficiency and low debris flux. These are necessary conditions for its industrial application in the future EUV microlithography. The conception of the so-called ELSA (EUV Lithography Source Apparatus) prototype allows in principal 2 years full operation on the French lithography test bench BEL (Banc d'essai pour la lithographie) that has been developed during PREUVE. In parallel, the EXULITE consortium that is coordinated by Alcatel Vacuum Technology France (AVTF) has started its activities in the frame of the European MEDEA+ initiative on EUV source development. In collaboration with Thales and the CEA, AVTF develops a prototype power source for EUV lithography production tools by the end of 2004. A low cost and modular high power laser system architecture has been chosen and is developed by Thales and the CEA to pump the laser plasma- produced EUV source.
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