Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of patterning a semiconductor wafer using extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). The method includes receiving an EUVL mask that includes a substrate having a low temperature expansion material, a reflective multilayer over the substrate, a capping layer over the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer over the capping layer. The method further includes patterning the absorber layer to form a trench on the EUVL mask, wherein the trench has a first width above a target width. The method further includes treating the EUVL mask with oxygen plasma to reduce the trench to a second width, wherein the second width is below the target width. The method may also include treating the EUVL mask with nitrogen plasma to protect the capping layer, wherein the treating of the EUVL mask with the nitrogen plasma expands the trench to a third width at the target width.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a reflective mask, a photo resist layer is formed over a mask blank. The mask blank includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer on the substrate, a capping layer on the reflective multilayer, an absorber layer on the capping layer and a hard mask layer, and the absorber layer is made of Cr, CrO or CrON. The photo resist layer is patterned, the hard mask layer is patterned by using the patterned photo resist layer, the absorber layer is patterned by using the patterned hard mask layer, and an additional element is introduced into the patterned absorber layer to form a converted absorber layer.

Abstract: A reflective mask includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer disposed on the substrate, a capping layer disposed on the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer disposed on the capping layer. The absorber layer includes one or more alternating pairs of a first Cr based layer and a second Cr based layer different from the first Cr based layer.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning a photo mask, the photo mask is placed on a support such that a pattered surface faces down, and an adhesive sheet is applied to edges of a backside surface of the photo mask.

Abstract: A reflective mask includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer disposed over the substrate, a capping layer disposed over the reflective multilayer, an intermediate layer disposed over the capping layer, an absorber layer disposed over the intermediate layer, and a cover layer disposed over the absorber layer. The intermediate layer includes a material having a lower hydrogen diffusivity than a material of the capping layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a reflective mask, a photo resist layer is formed over a mask blank. The mask blank includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer on the substrate, a capping layer on the reflective multilayer, an absorber layer on the capping layer and a hard mask layer, and the absorber layer is made of Cr, CrO or CrON. The photo resist layer is patterned, the hard mask layer is patterned by using the patterned photo resist layer, the absorber layer is patterned by using the patterned hard mask layer, and an additional element is introduced into the patterned absorber layer to form a converted absorber layer.

Abstract: A multi-layer reflective structure is disposed over the substrate. An amorphous capping layer is disposed over the multi-layer reflective structure. The amorphous capping layer may contain ruthenium, oxygen, niobium, nitrogen, tantalum, or zirconium. An amorphous layer may also be disposed between the multi-layer reflective structure and the amorphous capping layer. The amorphous layer includes amorphous silicon, amorphous silicon oxide, or amorphous silicon nitride.

Abstract: A method of removing a pellicle from a photomask includes removing a portion of a membrane from a pellicle frame, wherein the pellicle frame remains attached to the photomask following the removing of the portion of the membrane. The method further includes removing the pellicle frame from the photomask. The method further includes cleaning the photomask.

Abstract: A reflective mask includes a reflective multilayer over a substrate, a capping layer over the reflective multilayer, an absorber layer over the capping layer and including a top surface, and a protection layer directly on the top surface of the absorber layer. The absorber layer is formed of a first material and the protection layer is formed of a second material that is less easily to be oxidized than the first material.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: A photo mask for extreme ultra violet (EUV) lithography includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface, a multilayer Mo/Si stack disposed on the front surface of the substrate, a capping layer disposed on the multilayer Mo/Si stack, an absorber layer disposed on the capping layer, and a backside conductive layer disposed on the back surface of the substrate. The backside conductive layer is made of tantalum boride.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask, an etching mask layer having circuit patterns is formed over a target layer of the photo mask to be etched. The photo mask includes a backside conductive layer. The target layer is etched by plasma etching, while preventing active species of plasma from attacking the backside conductive layer.

Abstract: An extreme ultra-violet (EUV) mask and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. For example, the EUV mask includes a substrate, a multi-layered mirror layer formed on the substrate, a metal capping layer formed on the multi-layered mirror layer, and a multi-layered absorber layer formed on the metal capping layer. The multi-layered absorber layer includes features etched into the multi-layered absorber layer to define structures on a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A reflective mask includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer disposed on the substrate, a capping layer disposed on the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer disposed on the capping layer. The absorber layer includes one or more alternating pairs of a first Cr based layer and a second Cr based layer different from the first Cr based layer.

Abstract: A reflective mask blank includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer (RML) disposed on the substrate, a capping layer disposed on the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer disposed on the capping layer. The absorber layer has length or width dimensions smaller than the capping layer, and part of the capping layer is exposed by the absorber layer. The dimension of the absorber layer and the hard mask layer ranges between 146 cm to 148 cm. The dimensions of the substrate, the RML, and the capping layer range between 150 cm to 152 cm.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate having a low temperature expansion material, a reflective multilayer over the substrate, a capping layer over the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer over the capping layer. The method further comprises patterning the absorber layer to provide first trenches corresponding to circuit patterns on a wafer, and patterning the absorber layer, the capping layer, and the reflective multilayer to provide second trenches corresponding to a die boundary area on the wafer, thereby providing an extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) mask. The method further comprises treating the EUVL mask with a treatment chemical that prevents exposed surfaces of the absorber layer from oxidation.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of patterning a semiconductor wafer using extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). The method includes receiving an EUVL mask that includes a substrate having a low temperature expansion material, a reflective multilayer over the substrate, a capping layer over the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer over the capping layer. The method further includes patterning the absorber layer to form a trench on the EUVL mask, wherein the trench has a first width above a target width. The method further includes treating the EUVL mask with oxygen plasma to reduce the trench to a second width, wherein the second width is below the target width. The method may also include treating the EUVL mask with nitrogen plasma to protect the capping layer, wherein the treating of the EUVL mask with the nitrogen plasma expands the trench to a third width at the target width.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: A pellicle includes a frame. The frame includes a check valve, wherein the check valve is configured to permit gas flow from an interior of the pellicle to an exterior of the pellicle; and a bottom surface of the frame defines only a single recess therein. The pellicle further includes a gasket configured to fit within the single recess.