As semiconductor optical lithography is pushed to smaller dimensions, resolution enhancement techniques have been required to maintain process yields. For some time, the customization of illumination coherence at the source plane has allowed for the control of diffraction order distribution across the projection lens pupil. Phase shifting at the photomask plane has allowed for some phase control as well. Geometries smaller than the imaging wavelength introduce complex wavefront effects that cannot be corrected at source or mask planes. Three-dimensional photomask topography effects can cause a loss of both focal depth and exposure latitude across geometry of varying density. Wavefront manipulation at the lens pupil plane becomes necessary to provide the degrees of freedom needed to correct for such effects. The focus of this research is the compensation of the wavefront phase error introduced by the topographical photomask structures of high resolution phase shift masking combined with off-axis illumination. The compensation is realized through phase manipulation of the lens pupil plane, specifically in the form of spherical aberration. Subwavelength resolution optimization and imaging is presented showing how phase pupil filtering can measurably improve the depth of focus for several photomask structures and types.

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This paper presents a feasibility study on patterning the critical layers of Bit-Line Periphery (BLP) and Storage Node Landing Pad (SNLP) for advanced 10nm node DRAM with sub-40nm pitch using a single EUV patterning. Source Mask Optimization (SMO) and aerial image-based Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) were initially conducted to classify image data and identify potential weak points of the primary patterning mask. A secondary patterning mask was then produced based on the resist model and design split using the obtained data on the primary mask to address these issues. Results obtained through PV-band and intensity analysis of each area in simulation, as well as ADI and AEI (After Etch Inspection) using photoresists with 2 kinds of different tones (PTD CAR and Spin-on MOR PR), demonstrated the feasibility of patterning BLP and SNLP with a single EUV mask. Additionally, Process Window Discovery (PWD) wafers were fabricated to analyze and review process margins and potential weak points through KLA inspection for systematic patterning defectivity. Furthermore, our experiments confirmed that the performance of EUV patterning with DRAM BLP/SNLP layer can be expected to improve by reducing the dose (in mJ/cm2) by approximately 30% using a secondary mask by retarget bias split and resist model OPC.

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Among several critical layers of DRAM (dynamic random-access memory), capacitor holes of honeycomb arrays and bit-line-periphery (BLP) with Storage Node Landing Pad (SNLP) are the most critical layers in terms of patterning difficulty level. The honeycomb array hole layer has the highest density among various hole array types, and it is a complex lithography step since this layer is key in determining the performance of the DRAM. BLP with SNLP includes hole type and bi-directional line/space (L/S) design, and industry is considering a single exposure solution, compared to a three-mask solution using ArF immersion [1]. This BLP layer of 10nm DRAM has 2 different types of pattern topologies, hole array and bi-direction line/space: it is a very challenging single exposure level. In this paper, we discuss patterning challenges that come as consequences of industry trends in DRAM cell size reduction [2,3]. To keep up with this trend and to propose a single mask solution for bit-line-periphery, storage node landing pads and aggressive cell array pitches are considered along with resolution enhancement techniques (RET) for high-NA anamorphic EUV (NA=0.55) lithography. This study uses computational lithography such as source mask optimization (SMO) to find optimal off-axis illumination and optimal placement of sub-resolution assist features (SRAF) on the mask whilst considering the manufacturing rules checks (MRC constraints) for anamorphic EUV masks. In order to achieve that, a screening Design Technology Co-optimization (DTCO) experiment is done. The purpose is to identify cell array pitches in between 24nm and 32nm which satisfy both scaling requirements and patterning fidelity, preferred orientation of layout, and mask biasing scheme for various cell arrays. Lithography metrics like common depth of focus (cDoF), exposure latitude (EL), image contrast, and image log slope (ILS) are used to decide what is optimal way to expose on wafer. For the sake of completeness of the study, mask materials are compared. Indeed, in EUV domain there is interest to use alternative mask absorbers like Ruthenium alloys as an alternative to Tantalum-based absorbers [4,5,6].