Abstract: A method for preparing a photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a chromium-containing film contiguous thereto involves the step of depositing the chromium-containing film by sputtering a metallic chromium target having an Ag content of up to 1 ppm. When a photomask prepared from the photomask blank is repeatedly used in patternwise exposure to ArF excimer laser radiation, the number of defects formed on the photomask is minimized.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask including an absorber structure is disclosed. The absorber structure may include at least one slanted and/or concave sidewall. The absorber structure may include a sidewall including a step. A method of forming an absorber for an EUV mask is disclosed. The method may include etching an absorber layer using a mask to form an absorber structure having a sidewall wherein an outer edge of the top surface of the sidewall is closer to a central vertical axis of the absorber structure than an outer edge of the bottom surface of the sidewall. The method may include performing additional etching steps to form a step along the sidewall of the absorber structure. The etching may include combinations of anisotropic etching in different directions, and/or isotropic etching. The method may include etching an absorber layer including multiple absorber layers having different material properties on the ML reflector.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a photoresist and utilizing the photoresist are provided. In an embodiment a deposition chamber is utilized along with a first precursor material comprising carbon-carbon double bonds and a second precursor material comprising repeating units to deposit the photoresist onto a substrate. The first precursor material is turned into a plasma in a remote plasma chamber prior to being introduced into the deposition chamber. The resulting photoresist comprises a carbon backbone with carbon-carbon double bonds.

Abstract: The present specification relates to a photomask, a laminate including the photomask, a method for manufacturing the photomask and a method for forming a pattern using the photomask.

Abstract: The present specification relates to a photomask, a laminate including the photomask, a method for manufacturing the photomask, a device for forming a pattern using the photomask, and a method for forming a pattern using the photomask.

Abstract: A method of forming fine patterns includes forming a mask on an etching target, forming an anti-reflective layer on the mask, forming fixing patterns such that top surfaces of the anti-reflective layer and fixing patterns are exposed, forming a block copolymer layer including first and second polymer blocks, and phase-separating the block copolymer layer to form first patterns and second patterns on the anti-reflective layer and the fixing patterns. The first and second patterns include the first and second polymer blocks, respectively. The anti-reflective layer has a neutral, i.e., non-selective, interfacial energy with respect to the first and second polymer blocks. The fixing patterns have a higher interfacial energy with respect to the first polymer block than the second polymer block.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern is disclosed. The method includes preparing a composition that includes a solvent and a polymer including a repeating unit in which at least one isocyanurate unit having a first structure is connected to another isocyanurate unit having a second structure different from the first structure; applying the composition on a substrate to form an underlayer; forming a photoresist layer on the underlayer; etching the photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern; and patterning the substrate using the photoresist pattern.

Abstract: An immersion liquid is provided comprising an ion-forming component, e.g. an acid or a base, which has a relatively high vapor pressure. Also provided are lithography processes and lithography systems using the immersion liquid.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are provided an organic treatment solution for patterning chemically amplified resist films, an organic treatment solution containing 1 ppm or less of an alkyl olefin having a carbon number of 22 or less and having a metal element concentration of 5 ppm or less for each of Na, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mg, Mn, Li, Al, Cr, Ni and Zn, a pattern formation method, an electronic device manufacturing method, and an electronic device use the same.

Abstract: Pellicle-mask systems for advanced lithography, such as extreme ultraviolet lithography, are disclosed herein. An exemplary pellicle-mask system includes a mask having an integrated circuit (IC) pattern, a pellicle membrane, and a pellicle frame. The pellicle frame has a first surface attached to the pellicle membrane and a second surface opposite the first surface attached to the mask, such that the IC pattern of the mask is positioned within an enclosed space defined by the mask, the pellicle membrane, and the pellicle frame. A void is defined between the pellicle frame and the mask, where the void is defined by a portion of the second surface of the pellicle membrane not attached to the mask. The void is not in communication with the enclosed space and is not in communication with an exterior space of the pellicle-mask system.

Abstract: Various methods are disclosed herein for reducing (or eliminating) printability of mask defects during lithography processes. An exemplary method includes performing a first lithography exposing process and a second lithography exposing process using a mask to respectively image a first set of polygons oriented substantially along a first direction and a second set of polygons oriented substantially along a second direction on a target. During the first lithography exposing process, a phase distribution of light diffracted from the mask is dynamically modulated to defocus any mask defect oriented at least partially along both the first direction and a third direction that is different than the first direction. During the second lithography exposing process, the phase distribution of light diffracted from the mask is dynamically modulated to defocus any mask defect oriented at least partially along both the second direction and a fourth direction that is different than the third direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for patterning nail polish are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a source of light, and a programmable mask that can selectively transmit light to a photoresist nail polish. In some embodiments, the programmable mask is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a digital light processing screen (DLP). The system may also include a controller configured for controlling the light transmission properties of the programmable mask.

Abstract: Techniques related to multi-pass patterning lithography, device structures, and devices formed using such techniques are discussed. Such techniques include exposing a resist layer disposed over a grating pattern with non-reflecting radiation to generate an enhanced exposure portion within a trench of the grating pattern and developing the resist layer to form a pattern layer having a pattern structure within the trench of the grating pattern.

Abstract: An all solution-processed deposition includes a non-water soluble, non-self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), a water soluble, self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), cracking of the film, and filling the cracks with a metal that is deposited in solution (e.g., by electroless disposition). A transparent substrate having a cracked water insoluble, non-self-cracking film surface coating includes a plurality of fissures therein extending to and exposing portions of the surface of the underlying transparent substrate is useful for producing a transparent conducting film.

Abstract: A method of producing a layer structure and a method of forming a pattern, the method of producing a layer structure including coating a first composition on a substrate that has a pattern thereon; curing the coated first composition to form a first organic layer; applying a liquid material to the first organic layer to remove a part of the first organic layer; and coating a second composition on remaining parts of the first organic layer; and curing the coated second composition on the remaining parts of the first organic layer to form a second organic layer: wherein the first composition and the second composition each independently include a solvent, and a polymer including a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1, *A1-B1*.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photomask comprising providing a photomask blank including a phase shifting layer, a first light blocking layer, a first resist layer, a second light blocking layer and a second resist layer stacked sequentially in this order on a substrate, forming second resist patterns, forming second light blocking patterns, forming first resist patterns, forming first light blocking patterns and phase shifting patterns, removing the first resist patterns, and selectively removing at least one of the first light blocking patterns, wherein the second resist layer has a thickness such that all of the second resist layer is removed while the first resist layer is patterned for exposing the second light blocking layer.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first polymerization process on a monomer solution to form a partially processed resin solution, the partially processed resin solution comprising a solvent and a silicon-based resin, spin coating the partially processed resin solution on a substrate, and performing a second polymerization process on the partially processed resin solution to shrink the partially processed resin solution to form a conformal silicon-based resin layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a resist stripper for stripping resist from a substrate with a metallic line and/or a metal oxide film, which has excellent stripping properties and shows reduced reattachment of stripped resist, and which is also excellent in antifoaming properties. The resist stripper contains: (A) an amine; (B) an organic solvent; and (C) 5.0 wt % or less of a sulfonic or carboxylic acid having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000 or a salt thereof, and the resist stripper is free of (D) water, or contains (D) 60 wt % or less of water.

Abstract: A system for fabricating a semiconductor device includes a first supplier, a second supplier, a mixer, and an applier. The first supplier is configured to supply a developer solution having a first chemical. The second supplier is configured to supply the second chemical to the mixer. The mixer is configured to mix the developer solution with a second chemical, in which the second chemical is configured to form a plurality of bubbles in the developer solution. The applier is configured to apply the developer solution mixed with the bubbles onto a photoresist layer formed on a substrate, in which the photoresist layer has an exposed region, and the first chemical is configured to dissolve the exposed region of the photoresist layer through a chemical reaction.

Abstract: Organometallic radiation resist compositions are described based on tin ions with alkyl ligands. Some of the compositions have branched alkyl ligands to provide for improved patterning contrast while maintaining a high degree of solution stability. Blends of compounds with distinct alkyl ligands can provide further improvement in the patterning. High resolution patterning with a half-pitch of no more than 25 nm can be achieved with a line width roughness of no more than about 4.5 nm. Synthesis techniques have been developed that allow for the formation of alkyl tin oxide hydroxide compositions with very low metal contamination.