Abstract: A pellicle structure, a pellicle-mask structure, and a method for forming the pellicle structure are provided. The pellicle structure includes a pellicle film made of a carbon-based material. In addition, the pellicle film is configured to protect a mask structure in a lithography process. The pellicle-mask structure includes a mask substrate having a mask pattern formed over the mask substrate and the pellicle frame disposed on the mask substrate. The pellicle-mask structure further includes the pellicle film disposed on the pellicle frame.

Abstract: A lithography system for an extreme ultra violet (EUV) mask is provided. The lithography system includes a coupling module. The coupling module includes at least one mask contact element configured to touch a peripheral area of the EUV mask. The lithography system also includes an ammeter having an end electrically connected to the EUV mask through the at least one mask contact element and another end connected to a ground potential. The ammeter includes a sensor configured to measure a current conducting from the EUV mask to the ground potential and a compensation circuit configured to provide a compensation current that is opposite to the current measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A reticle and a method of fabricating the reticle are provided. In various embodiments, the reticle includes a substrate, a patterned first attenuating layer, a patterned second attenuating layer, and a patterned third attenuating layer. The patterned first attenuating layer is disposed on the substrate. The patterned second attenuating layer is disposed on the patterned first attenuating layer. The patterned third attenuating layer is disposed on the patterned second attenuating layer. A first part of the patterned first attenuating layer, a first part of patterned second attenuating layer, and the patterned third attenuating layer are stacked on the substrate as a binary intensity mask portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of EUV photomasks and methods for forming a EUV photomask are provided. The method comprises providing a substrate, a reflective layer, a capping layer, a hard mask layer, and forming an opening therein. An absorber layer is then filled in the opening and over the top surface of the hard mask layer. A planarized process is provided to remove the absorber layer above the top surface of the hard mask layer and form an absorber in the opening, wherein the absorber has a top portion wider than a bottom portion.

Abstract: A photomask having a partial-thickness assist feature and a technique for manufacturing the photomask are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the photomask includes a mask substrate, a reflective structure disposed on the mask substrate, and an absorptive layer formed on the reflective structure. A printing feature region and an assist feature region are defined on the mask. The absorptive layer has a first thickness in the printing feature region and a second thickness in the assist feature region that is different from the first thickness. In some such embodiments, the second thickness is configured such that radiation reflected by the assist feature region does not exceed an exposure threshold of a photoresist of a target.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask includes providing a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) layer. A reflective multiple-layer (ML) is deposited over the LTEM layer. A flowable-photosensitive-absorption-layer (FPhAL) is spin coated over the reflective ML. The FPhAL is patterned by a lithography process to form a patterned absorption layer.

Abstract: A pellicle mounting method is provided. The method includes aligning a mounting apparatus with a top surface of a pellicle frame, the mounting apparatus having a continuous duct extending therethrough and a plurality of contact pins projecting from the mounting apparatus. The method also includes introducing a pressurizing fluid into the continuous duct that causes each of the plurality of contact pins to engage the top surface of the pellicle frame with a substantially equal force, a combined force of the plurality of contact pins urging a bottom surface of the pellicle frame against a top surface of a photomask, the combined force being adjustable based on a pressure within the continuous duct. Further, the method includes adjusting the pressure within the continuous duct until the pressure is approximately equal to a pre-determined optimal pressure.

Abstract: A photomask having a machine-readable identifying mark and suitable for manufacturing integrated circuit devices and a method for forming the photomask and identifying mark are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a design layout corresponding to a pattern to be formed on a photomask blank. A specification of an identifying code is also received along with the photomask blank, which includes a substrate, a reflective layer, and an absorptive layer. A first patterning is performed using the design layout. A second patterning is performed using the specification of the identifying code.

Abstract: A photomask having a partial-thickness assist feature and a technique for manufacturing the photomask are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the photomask includes a mask substrate, a reflective structure disposed on the mask substrate, and an absorptive layer formed on the reflective structure. A printing feature region and an assist feature region are defined on the mask. The absorptive layer has a first thickness in the printing feature region and a second thickness in the assist feature region that is different from the first thickness. In some such embodiments, the second thickness is configured such that radiation reflected by the assist feature region does not exceed an exposure threshold of a photoresist of a target.

Abstract: A method and a system for inspection of a patterned structure are provided. In various embodiments, the method for inspection of a patterned structure includes transferring the patterned structure into a microscope. The method further includes acquiring a top-view image of the patterned structure by the microscope. The method further includes transferring the patterned structure out of the microscope and exporting the top-view image to an image analysis processor. The method further includes measuring a difference between a contour of the top-view image and a predetermined layout of the patterned structure by the image analysis processor.

Abstract: A reflective mask is described. The mask includes a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) substrate, a conductive layer deposited on a first surface of the LTEM substrate, a stack of reflective multilayers (ML) deposited on a second surface of the LTEM substrate, a capping layer deposited on the stack of reflective ML, a first absorption layer deposited on the first capping layer, a main pattern, and a border ditch. The border ditch reaches to the capping layer, a second absorption layer deposited inside the border ditch, and where the second absorption layer contacts the capping layer. In some instances, the border ditch crosses the capping layer and partially enters the reflective multilayer.

Abstract: A reticle and a method of fabricating the reticle are provided. In various embodiments, the reticle includes a substrate, a patterned first attenuating layer, a patterned second attenuating layer, and a patterned third attenuating layer. The patterned first attenuating layer is disposed on the substrate. The patterned second attenuating layer is disposed on the patterned first attenuating layer. The patterned third attenuating layer is disposed on the patterned second attenuating layer. A first part of the patterned first attenuating layer, a first part of patterned second attenuating layer, and the patterned third attenuating layer are stacked on the substrate as a binary intensity mask portion.

Abstract: A lithography system for an extreme ultra violet (EUV) mask is provided. The lithography system includes a coupling module. The coupling module includes at least one mask contact element configured to touch a peripheral area of the EUV mask. The lithography system also includes an ammeter having an end electrically connected to the EUV mask through the at least one mask contact element and another end connected to a ground potential. The ammeter includes a sensor configured to measure a current conducting from the EUV mask to the ground potential and a compensation circuit configured to provide a compensation current that is opposite to the current measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A pellicle structure, a pellicle-mask structure, and a method for forming the pellicle structure are provided. The pellicle structure includes a pellicle film made of a carbon-based material. In addition, the pellicle film is configured to protect a mask structure in a lithography process. The pellicle-mask structure includes a mask substrate having a mask pattern formed over the mask substrate and the pellicle frame disposed on the mask substrate. The pellicle-mask structure further includes the pellicle film disposed on the pellicle frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a structure of a photomask. The photomask includes a substrate; and a conductive material layer dispose over the substrate and patterned to include a plurality of openings and a recess structure surrounding the plurality of openings.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lithography mask comprising a substrate, a reflective multiplayer (ML) on the substrate, a barrier layer on the reflective ML, and an absorber layer over the barrier layer. In some embodiments, a thickness of the barrier layer is less than or equal to about 10 nm. In some embodiments, a portion of the absorber layer and a portion of the barrier layer are removed. The present disclosure also provides a method for fabricating a lithography mask, and a method for patterning a substrate using a lithography mask.

Abstract: A photomask includes a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) substrate, a patterned opaque layer over the LTEM substrate, and a patterned capping layer over the opaque layer. The patterned capping layer includes a transition metal material for suppressing haze growth, such as metal oxide, metal nitride, or metal oxynitride. The material in the capping layer reacts with a hydrogenic compound from a lithography environment to for an atomic level hydrogen passivation layer. The passivation layer has superior ability to suppress photo-induced haze defect growth on the photomask surface, to improve production cycle time and reduce the production cost.

Abstract: A photomask having a machine-readable identifying mark and suitable for manufacturing integrated circuit devices and a method for forming the photomask and identifying mark are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a design layout corresponding to a pattern to be formed on a photomask blank. A specification of an identifying code is also received along with the photomask blank, which includes a substrate, a reflective layer, and an absorptive layer. A first patterning is performed using the design layout. A second patterning is performed using the specification of the identifying code.

Abstract: Structure of mask blanks and masks, and methods of making masks are disclosed. The new mask blank and mask comprise a tripe etching stop layer to prevent damages to the quartz substrate when the process goes through etching steps three times. The triple etching stop layer may comprise a first sub-layer of tantalum containing nitrogen (TaN), a second sub-layer of tantalum containing oxygen (TaO), and a third sub-layer of TaN. Alternatively, the triple etching stop layer may comprise a first sub-layer of SiON material, a second sub-layer of TaO material, and a third sub-layer of SiON material. Another alternative may be one layer of low etching rate MoxSiyONz material which can prevent damages to the quartz substrate when the process goes through etching steps three times. The island mask is defined on the mask blank by using various optical proximity correction rules.

Abstract: A reflective mask is described. The mask includes a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) substrate, a conductive layer deposited on a first surface of the LTEM substrate, a stack of reflective multilayers (ML) deposited on a second surface of the LTEM substrate, a capping layer deposited on the stack of reflective ML, a first absorption layer deposited on the first capping layer, a main pattern, and a border ditch. The border ditch reaches to the capping layer, a second absorption layer deposited inside the border ditch, and where the second absorption layer contacts the capping layer. In some instances, the border ditch crosses the capping layer and partially enters the reflective multilayer.