A two-year study on the feasibility of High-n Immersion Lithography shows very promising results. This
paper reports the findings of the study.
The evaluation shows the tremendous progress made in the development of second-generation
immersion fluid technology. Candidate fluids from several suppliers have been evaluated. All the
commercial fluids evaluated are viable, so there are a number of options. Life tests have been conducted on
bench top fluid-handling systems and the results referenced to full-scale systems. Parameters such as Dose
per Laser Pulse, Pulse Rate, Fluid Flow Rate, and Fluid Absorbency at 193nm, and Oxygen/Air
Contamination Levels were explored. A detailed evaluation of phenomena such as Last Lens Element
(LLE) contamination has been conducted. Lens cleaning has been evaluated.
A comparison of High-n fluid-based technology and water-based immersion technology shows
interesting advantages of High-n fluid in the areas of Defect and Resist Interaction. Droplet Drying tests,
Resist Staining evaluations, and Resist Contrast impact studies have all been run. Defect-generating
mechanisms have been identified and are being eliminated. The lower evaporation rate of the High-n fluids
compared with water shows the advantages of High-n Immersion.
The core issue for the technology, the availability of High-n optical material for use as the final
lens element, is updated. Samples of LuAG material have been received from development partners and
have been evaluated. The latest status of optical materials and the technology timelines are reported.
The potential impact of the availability of the technology is discussed. Synergy with technologies
such as Double Patterning is discussed. The prospects for <22nm (hp) are evaluated.
In this paper we report the status of our feasibility work on high index immersion. The development of high
index fluids (n>1.64) and high index glass materials (n>1.9) is reported. Questions answered are related to
the design of a high NA optics immersion system for fluid containment and fluid handling, and to the
compatibility of the fluid with ArF resist processes.
Optical design and manufacturing challenges are related to the use of high index glass materials
such as crystalline LuAG or ceramic Spinel. Progress on the material development will be reviewed.
Progress on immersion fluids development has been sustained. Second-generation fluids are
available from many suppliers. For the practical use of second-generation fluids in immersion scanners, we
have evaluated and tested fluid recycling concepts in combination with ArF radiation of the fluids. Results
on the stability of the fluid and the fluid glass interface will be reported. Fluid containment with immersion
hood structures under the lens has been evaluated and tested for several scan speeds and various fluids.
Experimental results on scan speed limitations will be presented.
The application part of the feasibility study includes the imaging of 29nm L/S structures on a 2-beam interference printer, fluid/resist interaction testing with pre- and post-soak testing. Immersion defect
testing using a fluid misting setup was also carried out. Results of these application-related experiments
will be presented and discussed.
Immersion Lithography is now the most important technique for extending optical lithography's capabilities and meeting the requirements of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) roadmap. The introduction of water as an immersion fluid will allow optical lithography to progress as far as the 45nm (half pitch) node using ArF scanning systems such as the XT1700i. Developments are under way to explore the use of immersion lithography beyond this performance level and toward the 32nm (half pitch) node. This paper examines the progress that has been made, particularly with the use of 2nd-generation immersion fluids. The requirements of the exposure system are defined. Issues associated with achieving the requirements are reviewed and discussed. Special attention is given to clarifying the optical materials and the issues associated with extending optical designs to hyper-numerical aperture (NA) levels. A number of threshold levels for the numerical apertures are set by the refractive index of the available materials in the lithographic film stack. These are defined. The requirements of high refractive index fluids are detailed. The performance of experimental samples is compared to system requirements. Fluid interaction with photoresists and topcoats are examined. The results of stain tests and soak tests for fluid samples on resist are reported. Data is supplied on resist imaging for 32nm line and space L/S.
Water-based immersion lithography using ArF illumination is able to provide optical solutions as far as the 45-nm node, but is not able to achieve the 38- or 32-nm nodes as currently defined. Achieving these lithographic nodes will require new, higher refractive index fluids to replace the water used in first-generation immersion systems. We have developed a number of such second-generation high-index fluids for immersion lithography at 193 nm. These highly transparent fluids have 193-nm indices up to 1.664. To understand the behavior and performance of different fluid classes, we use spectral index measurements to characterize the index dispersion, coupled with Urbach absorption edge analysis and Lorentz Oscillator modeling. Interference imaging printers have long been available, and they now have a new use: a rapid, cost-effective way to develop immersion lithography, particularly at extremely high resolutions. Although interference printers will never replace classical lens-based lithography systems for semiconductor device production, they do offer a way to develop resist and fluid technology at a relatively low cost. Their simple image-forming format offers easy access to the basic physics of advanced imaging. Issues such as polarization of the image-forming light rays, fluid/resist interaction during exposure, topcoat film performance, and resist line edge roughness (LER) at extremely high resolutions, can all be readily studied. 32-nm 1:1 line/space (L/S) imaging is demonstrated using two of the second-generation fluids. These resolutions are well beyond current lens-based system capabilities. Results on the performance of various resists and topcoats are also reported for 32-nm L/S features.
The 38nm and 32nm lithography nodes are the next major targets for optical lithography on the Semiconductor Industry Roadmap. The recently developed water-based immersion lithography using ArF illumination will be able to provide an optical solution for lithography at the 45nm node, but it will not be able to achieve the 38nm or the 32nm nodes as currently defined. To achieve these next lithographic nodes will require new, very high refractive index fluids to replace the water used in current immersion systems. This paper describes tests and experiments using an interference immersion lithography test jig to develop key technology for the 32nm node. Interference imaging printers have been available for years, and with the advent of Immersion Lithography, they have a new use. Interference immersion image printing offers users a rapid, cost-effective way to develop immersion lithography, particularly at extremely high resolutions. Although it can never replace classical lens-based lithography systems for semiconductor device production, it does offer a way to develop resist and fluid technology at a relatively low cost. Its simple image-forming format offers easy access to the basic physics of advanced imaging. Issues such as: Polarization of the image forming light rays; Fluid/resist interaction during exposure; Topcoat film performance; and the Line Edge Roughness (LER) of resists at extremely high resolutions can all be readily studied. Experiments are described and results are provided for work on: 32nm imaging tests; high refractive index fluid testing using 193nm wavelength at resolutions well beyond current lens-based system capabilities; and polarization configuration testing on 45nm, 38nm, and 32nm L/S features. Results on the performance of resists and topcoats are reported for 32nm L/S features.
The evolution of microlithography to 0.25 micrometers and below has driven the need for performance enhancements in several critical areas. Among these are imaging, illumination, and overlay. This paper briefly reviews MicrascanTM III system concepts. The main body of the paper presents system level performance and discusses the key subsystems which enable 0.25 micron imaging and 55 nm overlay. Autocal, MicrascanTM III's image, reticle and wafer position reference subsystem is discussed with respect to functionality and performance with a pulsed illumination source. MicrascanTM III illuminator performance, including automated off axis illumination module are presented. Performance of the magnetically levitated Monostage and its interaction with overlay and imaging is discussed. System performance with respect to resolution, image quality and overlay on product levels is presented and analyzed.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.