Investigation into excimer laser radiation damage of deep ultraviolet optical phase masking films

Autor: Lena Zavyalova, C. Fonseca, Anatoly Bourov, Bruce W. Smith, S. Butt
Rok vydání: 1997
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures. 15:2444
ISSN: 0734-211X
Popis: A variety of materials based on various oxides, nitrides, fluorides, and composites have been found to be potentially suitable for use as attenuated phase masking materials for use at excimer laser wavelengths. Presented here are results from the investigation into 193 nm excimer laser radiation of zirconium–nitride-based, aluminum–nitride-based, chrome–fluoride, amorphous-carbon, and tantalum–silicon–nitride (TaN/Si3N4) attenuated phase-shift mask materials at fluence levels mask materials experience during wafer exposure. Spectroscopic photometric and ellipsometric methods were utilized to quantify damage through measurement of transmission and reflection properties and extraction of optical constants. Results show that understoichiometric zirconium– and aluminum–nitride materials are susceptible to radiation-induced modification through oxidation effects while tantalum–silicon–nitride and chrome–fluoride films are able to withstand exposure to several thousand J/cm2 without significant degradation.
Databáze: OpenAIRE