Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography mask may be heated locally to change its reflectivity and to adjust for proximity and other optical disturbances. The localized heating may result in the formation of silicide at the molybdenum silicon interface in the multilayer stack that makes up the extreme ultraviolet lithography mask.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include protecting a photomask from particle defects by heating the photomask to initiate a thermophoretic force.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) mask blank may include a multilayer (ML) capping structure on the ML reflective coatings on the substrate. The ML capping structure may include alternating layers of a capping material, e.g., ruthenium, and a material with a lower EUV absorption coefficient, e.g., silicon. The top layer of the ML structure may be a layer of the capping material. Capping interfaces between the layers may provide constructive interference of reflected light.

Abstract: A composite extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask absorber structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A first mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a highly-selective second mask absorber layer, to produce a mask absorber with desirable hybrid performance properties.

Abstract: A composite extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask absorber structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A first mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a highly-selective second mask absorber layer, to produce a mask absorber with desirable hybrid performance properties.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an EUV mask having an improved absorber layer with a certain thickness that is formed from a metal and a nonmetal in which the ratio of the metal to the nonmetal changes through the thickness of the improved absorber layer and a method of forming such an EUV mask.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a thin ruthenium layer, to produce a mask obviating the need for a conventional buffer or cap layer.

Abstract: An attenuated phase-shifting photomask (APSM) provides adjustment of attenuation from mask to mask. The APSM includes a multilayer substrate, a buffer thin film coupled to the substrate, and a top layer thin film on top of the buffer thin film. The thin films are etched with a circuit pattern to form a photomask, and are chosen to have certain thicknesses which would provide adjustment of attenuation within a specified attenuation operating range and appropriate phase shift without changing said buffer thin film and said top layer thin film.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography mask may be heated locally to change its reflectivity and to adjust for proximity and other optical disturbances. The localized heating may result in the formation of silicide at the molybdenum silicon interface in the multilayer stack that makes up the extreme ultraviolet lithography mask.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography mask may be formed of a multilayered stack covered by a spacer layer, such as silicon or boron carbide, in turn covered by a thin layer to prevent inter-diffusion, and finally covered by a capping layer of ruthenium. By optimizing the spacer layer thickness based on the capping layer, the optical properties may be improved.

Abstract: A method of making a photolithographic mask includes forming a metal-silicon layer on a substrate, and processing at least a portion of the metal-silicon layer. The metal-silicon layer has a first thickness and the portions of the metal-silicon layer are processed to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. The method also includes forming a reflector layer on the metal-silicon layer to produce a mask blank and then forming the mask from the mask blank. The mask blank includes the substrate, metal-silicon layer, and reflector layer.

Abstract: A photolithographic mask is used in a photolithography imaging system for patterning a semiconductor wafer. The photolithographic mask includes a substrate, and an absorber on the substrate. The absorber is selectively etched to form mask features. In one implementation, the mask includes a thin layer on the substrate, a thickness and material of the thin layer producing a phase correction that offsets a phase error such that a common process window of the mask is maintained above a threshold level. In another implementation, the mask includes a multilayer reflector and portions of the multilayer reflector are etched adjacent to features of the mask. In a further implementation, an index of refraction of the absorber matches or nearly matches an index of refraction of the atmosphere at which the photolithography imaging occurs.

Abstract: An attenuated phase-shifting photomask (APSM) provides adjustment of attenuation from mask to mask. The APSM includes a multilayer substrate, a buffer thin film coupled to the substrate, and a top layer thin film on top of the buffer thin film. The thin films are etched with a circuit pattern to form a photomask, and are chosen to have certain thicknesses which would provide adjustment of attenuation within a specified attenuation operating range and appropriate phase shift without changing said buffer thin film and said top layer thin film.

Abstract: A reflective mask may include an anti-reflective (AR) coating on an absorber layer to improve inspection contrast in an inspection system using deep ultraviolet (DUV) light. A silicon nitride (Si3N4) AR coating may be used on a chromium (Cr) or tantalum nitride (TaN) absorber layer.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a thin ruthenium layer, to produce a mask obviating the need for a conventional buffer or cap layer.

Abstract: A mask having a first region and a second region; the first region having a multilayer mirror over a substrate, the multilayer mirror having alternating layers of a first material and a second material, the first material having a high index of refraction, the second material having a low index of refraction; and the second region having a compound of the first material and the second material over the substrate.

Abstract: A composite extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) mask absorber structure and method are disclosed to address the structural and processing requirements of EUV lithography. A first mask absorber layer anisotropically etched with minimal etch bias at a relatively fast etch rate, is combined with a highly-selective second mask absorber layer, to produce a mask absorber with desirable hybrid performance properties.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes an outer capping layer, a multilayer (ML) stack, and an inner capping layer. The outer capping layer is made of an outer material and has an outer thickness. The multilayer (ML) stack is below the outer capping layer. The inner capping layer is made of an inner material and has an inner thickness and is located between the ML stack and a ML reflector. The inner thickness is selected to enable constructive interference between the ML stack and the ML reflector.

Abstract: A mask having a first region and a second region; the first region having a multilayer mirror over a substrate, the multilayer mirror having alternating layers of a first material and a second material, the first material having a high index of refraction, the second material having a low index of refraction; and the second region having a compound of the first material and the second material over the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of increasing the contrast of an EUV mask at inspection by forming a multilayer mirror over a substrate; forming an absorber layer over the multilayer mirror; forming a top layer over the absorber layer; patterning the mask into a first region and a second region; and removing the top layer and the absorber layer in the first region.