Patent · US Active

Patterning material film stack comprising hard mask layer having high metal content interface to resist layer

US10395925B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 2017
Grant dateAug 27, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 28, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/30
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A lithographic patterning method includes forming a multi-layer patterning material film stack on a semiconductor substrate. Forming the patterning material film stack includes forming a hard mask layer and forming a resist layer over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is formed such that an interface portion of the hard mask layer proximate the resist layer has a higher metal content than other portions of the hard mask layer. The method further includes exposing the patterning material film stack to patterning radiation to form a desired pattern in the resist layer, developing the pattern formed in the resist layer, etching the hard mask layer in accordance with the developed pattern, and removing remaining portions of the resist layer. The hard mask layer illustratively includes metal oxide, metal nitride and/or metal oxynitride, and may exhibit an elevated surface hydrophobicity due to its high metal content interface portion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.