EUVL Research Activity at Center for EUV Lithography

Abstract

The advanced feature size patterning process of semiconductor conductor devices has been strongly charged in the information-technology oriented society. Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is expected as a leading candidate of the next generation lithography for semiconductor electronic devices. The technology issues in EUV lithographic are the development of 1) EUV light source with high power and high stability, 2) EUV resist with simultaneous achievement of high resolution, high sensitivity, low line width roughness (LWR), and low outgassing. Center for EUVL in University of Hyogo has played an important role in the research and development of EUV lithography in two decades. Research and development of EUV lithography toward HVM was started its development just before twenty years ago to develop full field exposure tool employing tree aspherical imaging optics. In University of Hyogo developed 1) large reflectometer for the reflectivity measurement of the collector mirror for the EUV light source, 2) the EUV resist evaluation system such as the EUV interference lithography and outgassing system using in-situ ellipsometer for the evaluation of EUV resist of 10 nm and below, and X-ray absorption fine structure for EUV resist chemical reaction analysis to increase EUV exposure sensitivity, 4) the defects inspection of the actinic blanks and patterned mask. As the results, those evaluation tool could contribute EUV lithographic technology to lead to the HVM of electronic devices.