Molecular resists are expected to offer the advantages of high resolution and low line width roughness (LWR) for the
next-generation lithography. We developed a new molecular resist that showed high resolution by introducing an
efficient acid-leaving group to an amorphous molecule, 1,3,5-Tris(p-(p-hydroxy- phenyl) phenyl) benzene (THTPPB).
The lithographic properties such as sensitivity, developing rate, and adhesion are considered to be controlled using a
suitable acid-leaving group. A molecular resist of THTPPB to which is attached with an alicyclic acid-leaving group,
hyperlactyl vinyl ether group (HPVE) showed a high resolution for electron beam (EB) lithography and good etch resistance. Half-pitch 36 nm line-and-space (1:1) positive pattern was fabricated using 100 keV EB with chemically amplified molecular resist based on HPVETPPB.
This work concerns the readiness of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) for high-volume manufacturing based on accelerated development in critical areas, and the construction of a process liability (PL) test site that integrates results in these areas. Overall lithography performance is determined from the performance of the exposure tool, the printability obtainable with the resist, mask fabrication with accurate critical dimension (CD) control, and correction technology for mask data preparation. The EUV1 exposure tool can carry out exposure over the full field (26 × 33 mm) at a resolution high enough for 32-nm line-and-space patterns when Selete Standard Resist 3 (SSR3) is used. The effect of flare on CD variation is a critical issue in EUVL, so flare is compensated for based on the point spread function for the projection optics of the EUV1 and aerial simulations that take resist blur into account. Production readiness of EUVL based on the integration of results in these areas is evaluated by electrical tests on low-resistance tungsten wiring. We find the PL test site to be very useful for determining where further improvements need to be made and for evaluating the production readiness of EUVL.
Nanoimprint lithography has advantages such as good resolution, CD uniformity and LER. However, nanoimprint
lithography involves risks. In particular, defectivity is the most critical issue for nanoimprint lithography. Above all, the
"non-fill defects" dominate such defects for UV nanoimprint.
At the filling process of imprint resist, the capillary force that occurs between an imprint-resist and surface of template
plays an important role. Our experience, suggests there is a relationship between the filling characteristics and pattern
size of template. We also think the resist properties and the environmental conditions such as atmosphere pressure play
important roles in the filling process. This paper explains the filling process dependency on the properties mentioned
above.
We analyzed the filling process using fluid simulation. At first, we assumed several pattern sizes with the same pattern
height. Then, the filling times were estimated for each pattern size with various resist properties and the environmental
conditions. An important attribute of our simulation model is the consideration accorded to the dissolution of gas
between the template and imprint resist.
As a result, the filling time of smaller pattern was found to be shorter than that of larger pattern. The assumed patterns
are space and via on template ranging in size from 22nm width to 1000nm-width. The pattern height is 60nm.
In this paper, we studied characteristics of filling mechanism by using fluid simulation. The relations between CD and
filling time were obtained. We found that the gas dissolution rate is the dominant parameter for filling time.
This paper concerns the readiness of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) for high-volume manufacture based on
accelerated development in critical areas and the construction of a process liability (PL) test site that integrates results in
these areas. The overall lithography performance was determined from the performance of the exposure tool, the
printability obtainable with the resist, mask fabrication with accurate critical dimension (CD) control, and correction
technology for mask data preparation. The EUV1 exposure tool can carry out exposure over the full field (26 mm × 33
mm) at a resolution high enough for 32-nm line-and-space patterns when Selete Standard Resist 3 (SSR3) is used. Thus,
the test site was designed for the full-field exposure of various pattern sizes [half-pitch (hp) 32-50 nm]. The CD variation
of the mask was found to be as good as 2.8 nm (3σ); and only one printable defect was detected. The effect of flare on
CD variation is a critical issue in EUVL; so flare was compensated for based on the point spread function for the
projection optics of the EUV1 and aerial simulations that took resist blur into account. The accuracy obtained when an
electronic design automation (EDA) tool was used for mask resizing was found to be very good (error ≤ ±2 nm). Metal
wiring patterns with a size of hp 32 nm were successfully formed by wafer processing. The production readiness of
EUVL based on the integration of results in these areas was evaluated by electrical tests on low-resistance tungsten
wiring. The yield for the electrically open test for hp 50 nm (32-nm logic node) and hp 40 nm (22-nm logic node) were
found to be over 60% and around 50%, respectively; and the yield tended to decrease as patterns became smaller. We
found the PL test site to be very useful for determining where further improvements need to be made and for evaluating
the production readiness of EUVL.
We have investigated three candidate lithography technologies for 2x nm HP generation and beyond for the
application to LSI, namely, double patterning technology (DPT), EUV lithography (EUVL) and nanoimprint
lithography (NIL). In terms of lithography unit technologies and lithography integration technologies, each technology
has advantages and disadvantages from the viewpoint of difficulty, development resources, extendability, process cost,
and so on. Using a development matrix consisting of development steps and development stages, we clarified the
current development status for each technology. This matrix indicates the items for which technological critical
breakthroughs are necessary to realize LSI production. From this study, we made three lithography development
scenarios for the feasibility stage and the production stage for 2x nm HP generation and beyond.
A novel molecular resist based on a new amorphous molecule, a truxene derivative, was designed and synthesized.
Truxene is characterized as an amorphous solid with a high glass transition temperature (Tg). 70 nm line-and-space (1 : 1) positive pattern was fabricated by the exposure of a low-energy electron beam (5 keV) using the new molecular resist.
The new molecular design of resists based on the truxene derivative is promising with regard to development of more
efficient molecular resists.
Nanoimprint lithography is one of the candidates for NGL. Recently, the "S-FIL TM" (Step and Flash Imprint
Lithography) has been developed by MII (Molecular Imprints, Inc.). Accordingly, it is necessary to build next-generation
devices and study unit processes without delay. Because of good resolution, CD uniformity and LER, nanoimprint
lithography is attractive. However, nanoimprint lithography (S-FIL) involves risks. In order to judge whether the S-FIL
is applicable to the study of unit processes and test device fabrication, we had studied the feasibility of S-FIL technology.
As a result of previous work, we obtained the results of basic evaluation and confirmed the applicability of nanoimprint
lithography for unit process study and basic test device fabrication.
However, application of nanoimprint lithography to various test devices requires the template resolution of 22nmHP, OL
accuracy on multilayer resist, and defect density for various patterns. Therefore, in order to judge whether the S-FIL
application is extendable to various test devices, we studied the characteristics of S-FIL.
As a result of this work, we confirmed that the nanoimprint application is extendable to fabrication of various test
devices. And as a result of basic evaluation, improvement of template resolution is confirmed and the value of 22nmHP
is obtained. We confirmed the robustness of the alignment process. The defect density is related in pattern density and
spread time. Thus, reduced DD without throughput loss is required.
KEYWORDS: Amplifiers, Semiconducting wafers, Data conversion, Distortion, Electron beam direct write lithography, Optical alignment, Control systems, Electrons, Data processing, Process control
We have developed a Character Projection (CP)-type, low-energy Electron-Beam Direct Writing (EBDW) system for a
quick turnaround time and mask-less device fabrication of small production lots with a variety of designs. The exposure
time has been decreasing because the irradiation time of electrons is being reduced by development of high-sensitivity
resist and by decrease in the number of EB shots with the CP method, and the amplifiers of the deflectors have attained
specifications required by EBIS. In order to further increase the throughput, overhead time, that is, the exposure waiting
time, must be shortened. This paper describes our strategy for reducing the exposure waiting time. The reduction ratio of
the exposure waiting time was about 60% and the throughput was increased about 20%.
KEYWORDS: Monte Carlo methods, Virtual colonoscopy, Silicon, Scattering, Polymethylmethacrylate, Electron beams, Computing systems, Scanning electron microscopy, Lithography, 3D image processing
Using Monte Carlo simulation, we studied voltage contrast (VC) image caused by negative charging. In order to simulate
the VC image, we have developed an electron scattering program based on a consideration of the spatial charge
conduction model. Also we have established a cluster computing system of 60 CPUs to shorten the processing time.
Using a Monte Carlo simulator, we succeeded in obtaining the simulated VC image. Comparison between simulated
images and experimental images reveals that the simulated images are in good agreement with some experimental images.
KEYWORDS: Virtual colonoscopy, Optical alignment, Signal detection, Silicon, Metals, Image analysis, Overlay metrology, Lithography, Distortion, Back end of line
We have developed the EBIS (Electron Beam Integrated System), which is a character projection (CP) type low-energy electron-beam direct writing (LEBDW) system. In this system, the proximity effect due to backscattering electrons is very small under the condition that the energy of primary electron is 5 keV. However, there is a serious problem, in that the signal of the mark buried under a thick insulator couldn't be detected. To overcome this problem, we adopted a mark detection method using Voltage Contrast (VC) image with negative charge on the sample surface.
So far, we have detected the signal of alignment mark buried under 600nm-thick (nmt) tri-layer resist using VC image on EBIS. Then we exposed overlay patterns with alignment using the mark detection with VC image. The mark image is very clear with a sufficiently high contrast. The asymmetry originating from VC is mitigated by means of FB scanning. Using this VC mark detection method, EB drawing was performed with alignment with 600nmt tri-layer resist on Si substrate. Moreover, VC mark detection with 600nmt tri-layer resist on the substrates of back-end-of-line (BEOL) of logic device was performed and the mark images with sufficient contrast were obtained. Although the characteristic distortion of VC image exists, mark detection is possible by using X/Y separate scanning, which consists of X-direction scanning to get an X position and Y-direction scanning to get a Y position in non-charged area.
KEYWORDS: Semiconducting wafers, Electron beam direct write lithography, Control systems, Electron beams, Vestigial sideband modulation, Data conversion, Beam shaping, Photomasks, Optical alignment, Amplifiers
A character projection (CP)-type, low energy, electron beam direct writing (EBDW) system, for quick-turn-around-time and mask-less device fabrications of small production lots featuring a variety of designs has been developed. This system, named the EBIS (Electron Beam Integrated System), can satisfy a set of requirements for EBDWs, including higher throughput and mask-less exposure. A standardized CP aperture method that enables reduction in the number of EB shots without frequent aperture making has been applied as a means for attaining effective CP and mask-less fabrication. This breakthrough was able to be realized only by using low energy EB with the advantage of the free proximity effect. To resolve critical low energy EB issues, a compact EB column, equipped with monolithic deflectors and lenses for restricting beam blur caused by Coulomb interaction, was developed and put to use. Sufficient resolution, corresponding to 100 nm L/S patterns, was attained by using a thin-layered resist process. As the mark detection method, voltage contrast imaging using a micro channel plate was used. This method made it possible to detect buried marks when using low energy EB. The authors are currently verifying the basic performance of this EBIS. This paper outlines and discusses geometrical details and performance data of this system.
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