Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using an immersion lithography process is disclosed. The immersion lithography process includes forming a photoresist film over an underlying layer of a semiconductor substrate; exposing the photoresist film to light without using an exposure mask; and performing an exposure process using an exposure mask. After exposure using the immersion lithography, a water mark generated from the exposure layer consumes a part of the acid of the exposure layer but the residual acid remains in the exposure layer to prevent generation of pattern defects such as T-top or pattern bridges.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate conductive layer, a first mask layer, a second mask layer, and a third mask layer over a semiconductor substrate that includes a cell region and a peripheral region. The method also includes forming a second mask pattern and a third mask pattern using a gate mask. The method further includes trimming the second mask pattern in the peripheral region to form a fourth mask pattern having a size smaller than that of the second mask pattern. Still further, the method includes removing the third mask pattern, and patterning the first mask layer and the gate conductive layer using the fourth mask pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate conductive layer, a first mask layer, a second mask layer, and a third mask layer over a semiconductor substrate that includes a cell region and a peripheral region. The method also includes forming a second mask pattern and a third mask pattern using a gate mask. The method further includes trimming the second mask pattern in the peripheral region to form a fourth mask pattern having a size smaller than that of the second mask pattern. Still further, the method includes removing the third mask pattern, and patterning the first mask layer and the gate conductive layer using the fourth mask pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using an immersion lithography process is disclosed. The immersion lithography process includes forming a photoresist film over an underlying layer of a semiconductor substrate; exposing the photoresist film to light without using an exposure mask; and performing an exposure process using an exposure mask. After exposure using the immersion lithography, a water mark generated from the exposure layer consumes a part of the acid of the exposure layer but the residual acid remains in the exposure layer to prevent generation of pattern defects such as T-top or pattern bridges.