3D AFM method for characterization of resist effect of aerial image contrast on side wall roughness

Yong-ha Lee; Sang-Joon Cho; Sang-il Park; R. Ayothi; Y. Hishiro

doi:10.1117/12.2013657

10 April 2013 3D AFM method for characterization of resist effect of aerial image contrast on side wall roughness

Yong-ha Lee, Sang-Joon Cho, Sang-il Park, R. Ayothi, Y. Hishiro

Proceedings Volume 8681, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XXVII; 86812Y (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2013657
Event: SPIE Advanced Lithography, 2013, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

We characterized the roughness and side wall morphology of lithographically produced nanostructures of resistmultilayer materials using the recently developed three-dimensional atomic force microscopy (3D-AFM), which has an independent Z scanner intentionally tilted to a certain angle access the sidewall. In order to produce different degrees of Line Edge Roughness (LER) in a given photoresist sample, we systematically varied the Aerial Image Contrast (AIC) at a constant dose for optically imaged resists. We describe herein the effects of AIC on KrF resists that were observed by using 3D-AFM and Critical Dimension-Scanning Electron Microscopy (CD-SEM). High-resolution sidewall images and line profiles obtained by the 3D-AFM technique demonstrate its advantages to characterize the shape and roughness of device patterns throughout the development and pattern transfer process. Taken together, we demonstrate that AFM imaging can identify a trend in Sidewall Roughness (SWR) as a function of AIC effects on photoresist sample, and CDSEM imaging provided supporting evidence to establish the LER trend.

Citation Download Citation

Yong-ha Lee, Sang-Joon Cho, Sang-il Park, R. Ayothi, and Y. Hishiro "3D AFM method for characterization of resist effect of aerial image contrast on side wall roughness", Proc. SPIE 8681, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XXVII, 86812Y (10 April 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2013657

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