Novel resist development system for photomasks

Masamitsu Itoh; Hideaki Sakurai; Yukihiko Esaki; Kotaro Ooishi; Kazuo Sakamoto

doi:10.1117/12.467260

27 December 2002 Novel Resist Development System for Photomasks

Masamitsu Itoh, Hideaki Sakurai, Yukihiko Esaki, Kotaro Ooishi, Kazuo Sakamoto

Proceedings Volume 4889, 22nd Annual BACUS Symposium on Photomask Technology; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.467260
Event: Photomask Technology 2002, 2002, Monterey, CA, United States

Abstract

CDs of photomasks include errors caused by photomask-making processes, namely, writing process, baking process in chemically amplified resist, resist development process, and etching process. Recently, the conventional resist develop methods, such as spray development, have raised issues concerning uneven pattern density on photomasks. Dependency of resist coverage is caused by low solubility of developer containing dissolved resist. In the ideal development process, only fresh developer would be on the resist surface at all times. To realize this ideal development process, we propose a development method, Proximity Gap Suction Development (PGSD), based on a new concept. PGSD involves the use of a scanning nozzle having five slits located in its surface facing the resist surface, a scanning mechanism keeping proximity gap between resist surface and the nozzle surface with slits, and a photomask holder. The nozzle is scanned from end to end of photomask on the holder. Developer spouts from a center slit of the nozzle. Slits at both sides of the center slit suck developer on resist surface with rinse fluid spouting from slits located outside of suction slits on the nozzle. Because proximity gap is kept between resist surface and the nozzle surface, spouted fresh developer reaches resist surface directly and it runs over resist surface at high speed. Then, developer on resist surface is excluded immediately with rinse fluid by suction slits. PGSD can produce CDs of resist pattern controlled precisely on photomask having uneven pattern density. We report details of the PGSD system, and compare the results for CDs obtained by PGSD with those obtained using the conventional method.

Citation Download Citation

Masamitsu Itoh, Hideaki Sakurai, Yukihiko Esaki, Kotaro Ooishi, and Kazuo Sakamoto "Novel Resist Development System for Photomasks", Proc. SPIE 4889, 22nd Annual BACUS Symposium on Photomask Technology, (27 December 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.467260

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KEYWORDS

Photoresist processing

Photomasks

Sensors

Cadmium sulfide

Critical dimension metrology

Chemically amplified resists

Etching

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