This paper describes the effect of process condition on the resist profile in the DESIRE process[1,21 ,which is one of the surface imaging process, has some advantages compared with conventional photo lithography process. In our previous study on the resist profile, it was indicated that pattern formation was strongly depended on the silylated layer and the degree of sidewall protection during dry-development [3]. Then, we studied the effect of sidewall protection under various process factors such as soft-bake, silylation, and various resist materials. From the results of the study, it was found that the degree of sidewall protection could be controlled by the process conditions, attributed to silylated profile and the degree of silylation. Clear tendency that silylated profile leaving a trail gave a vertical sidewall profile was observed. Furthermore, it was found that silicon dioxide was observed on the sidewall surface of resist pattern by Micro Auger Electron Spectroscopy. The silicon dioxide seems to act as an inhibiting layer for lateral etching during Oxygen RIE. We will also report the mechanism consideration of sidewall protection during dry-development. Consequently, through the whole process optimization, 0.3jim L/S resist pattern resolution and 1.4im wide focus range at 0.36prn L/S with a thickness 1.2tm are successfully obtained even in a single layer using i-line stepper with NA 0.50.
INTRODUCTIONThe DESIRE process which is one of the surface imaging process is one of the most promising lithography techniques for the development for half or sub-half micron devices such as MM and 256Mbit DRAMs[4,5,6,7]. It is consisted of selective silylation, that is to say, which proceeds only in the exposed region near the surface of resist film, followed by drydevelopment process with utilizing the silylated layer as an etching mask. The resist profile, however, was strongly influenced by its silylated profile. In our previous study, it was found that silylated profile with having a thin shape and a gentle slope at the edge of it gave a vertical resist profile after dry-development. Furthermore, resist profile with vertical sidewall exhibited higher sidewall protection than that of undercut one[3,8}.In this study, we investigated the relation between final resist profile and silylated one obtained under various process conditions with also various resist materials. In order to elucidate these effects, we examined such process factors as soft-bake, silylation, and also resist materials. And through the analysis of the silylated region and resist sidewall, mechanism of sidewall protection was discussed.3. EXPERIMENTAL UJE(UCB-JSR Electronics) PLASMASK 200GC and 250G resists composed of novolak type resin, naphtoquinonediazide(NQD) compound and other additives, were spin-coated on a silicon wafer up to 1 .5itm thickness followed by softbake on a hot-plate at the temperature in the range of 90 to 120°C for 60s. Exposures were carried out by a NIKON g-line stepper with a 0.54 NA lens and a NIKON i-line stepper with a...