Processes for treating a substrate and removing resist from a substrate
The invention includes a process whereby a solvent is utilized to remove soluble portions of a resist, and subsequently the solvent can be removed with a gas-fortified liquid. In particular aspects, the gas-fortified liquid emits bubbles during the removal of the solvent. Additionally, the gas-fortified liquid can be utilized to remove residual resist scum, and in such aspects the gas-fortified liquid can emit bubbles during the scum removal.
The invention relates to processes for preparing semiconductor substrates, and more particularly, methods for preparing and removing resist from semiconductor substrates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe manufacture of integrated circuits is heavily reliant on a process known as “photolithography.” Through photolithography, a precise mask of photosensitive material (photoresist) can be patterned over a substrate. The mask can be subsequently used for the fabrication of highly complex circuits.
Photolithography typically involves the following steps. Initially, a layer of resist is formed over a substrate. A reticle is subsequently placed above the resist and radiation is allowed to pass through the reticle exposing the resist to radiation in patterns defined by the reticle. Depending on whether the resist is a negative resist or a positive resist, the radiation renders exposed portions of the resist more or less soluble in a solvent relative to unexposed portions. The solvent is subsequently utilized to remove the more soluble portions of the resist while leaving the less soluble portions as a patterned mask. A pattern can be transferred from the mask to the underlying substrate with a suitable etch.
A continuing goal of semiconductor processing is increased miniaturization while maintaining high performance. It is known in the art that to achieve high resolution a thin layer of resist is preferred. However, a thin layer of resist typically does not withstand significant etching of the substrate material. Therefore, thicker layers of resist, or resists having high aspect ratios, are utilized, but such use creates problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,510 to Messick, et al. describes a problem of collapse when using a photoresist having a high aspect ratio, and the desirability of overcoming this adverse phenomenon. Referring to
Another problem encountered when removing resist from over a substrate is sometimes referred to as “scumming.” Scumming typically occurs when soluble resist is not completely removed from the substrate. Residual undissolved resist remaining after development can inhibit subsequent etching of an underlying substrate. This can lead to poor resolution and less than precise substrate processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention includes a process for treating a substrate having resist thereon. A gas-fortified liquid is applied to the resist. The pH of the liquid applied to the resist can be adjusted with the gas, and/or the surface tension of the liquid applied to the resist can be adjusted with the gas.
In one aspect, the invention includes a process for treating a substrate. A resist layer is formed over the substrate. A first portion of the resist layer is exposed to radiation while a second portion of the resist layer is not exposed. One of the first or second portions is selectively removed relative to the other with a solvent. The solvent is removed with a gas-fortified liquid.
In one aspect, the invention includes a process for removing residual resist from a substrate. A gas-fortified liquid is applied to the resist. The gas-fortified liquid emits bubbles. Subsequently, the liquid is removed while it continues to emit bubbles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSPreferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
The invention provides new processes for treating a semiconductor substrate with a gas-fortified liquid. In one aspect, the gas-fortified liquid has a surface tension and/or pH that has been altered by introducing the gas. The gas can be introduced to the liquid prior to treating the substrate with the gas-fortified liquid and/or the gas can be introduced to the liquid at the substrate. Carbon dioxide is a gas that, when introduced according to the invention, alters the surface tension and/or the pH of the liquid. An exemplary process is described with reference to
Referring to
It is preferred that resist 15 is a uniform layer. Exemplary methods of providing this uniform layer include photoresist spinning, static spin processes, dynamic dispense processes, moving-arm dispense processes, and manual and automatic spinning. In the context of this document, the term “resist” defines material which is capable of having its solubility changed by exposure to a suitable energy such as, by way of example only, radiation, including light and ultraviolet radiation. Resist may be referred to as “photoresist.” Resist also includes both positive and negative resist. It is understood that negative resists are those resists that are soluble prior to the application of radiation. Alternatively, positive resists are those resists that are insoluble prior to the application of radiation. Either resist may be utilized in various aspects of the invention.
Referring to
The utilization of a liquid to remove a portion of the resist subsequent to irradiation of the resist is typically referred to as development of the resist and the liquid used to develop the resist is typically referred to as developing liquid. For purposes of this disclosure, developing liquids can include the gas-fortified liquid of the present invention.
Exemplary liquids which can be used during negative resist development include xylene and stoddard solvents. Exemplary liquids which can be used during positive resist development include sodium hydroxide and tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide solutions. Exemplary methods used to apply developing liquids to resist include immersion, spray and puddle development. Persons having ordinary skill in the art of photolithography will recognize that the selection of the method used to apply liquids can be dependent on, for example, resist polarity, the feature size, defect density considerations, the thickness of the layer to eventually be etched and desired productivity.
According to the shown aspect of the invention, gas-fortified liquid 47 is utilized to remove a portion of the resist subsequent to irradiation of the resist. Additionally, or alternatively, gas-fortified liquid 47 can effervesce during the development process to produce bubbles 50 (only some of which are labeled). Gas-fortified liquid 47 can have a low surface tension. As shown in
Referring to
Exemplary gases which can be utilized to fortify the liquid are carbon dioxide, ammonia and isopropyl alcohol. Carbon dioxide can be preferred because of its low impact on the environment. In an aspect of the invention, gas 100 of gas-fortified liquid 47 comprises, consists essentially of, and/or consists of carbon dioxide.
Liquid 110 can be, for example, predominantly aqueous or predominantly organic. For purposes of this disclosure liquids include, at least, both developing liquids and rinsing liquids. The liquid utilized in accordance with the present invention can be free of particular contaminants and only contain volatile contaminants, if any.
Liquids used during resist development can further include liquids used to remove or rinse developing liquids from the resist. The utilization of a liquid to remove or rinse developing liquids from resist subsequent to the application of the developing liquid to the resist is typically referred to as rinsing of the resist and the liquid used to rinse the resist is typically referred to as rinsing liquid. An exemplary liquid useful for rinsing positive resist includes water, and an exemplary liquid useful for rinsing negative resist includes n-butylacetate. In an aspect of the invention liquid 110 of gas-fortified liquid 47 comprises, consists essentially of, and/or consists of water. Typically, developing liquid is removed by applying a rinse liquid in substantially the same manner as was used to apply the liquid. For purposes of this disclosure, rinsing liquids can include the gas-fortified liquid of the present invention.
Referring to
Referring to
Following the application of gas-fortified liquid 47 to resist 15, gas-fortified liquid 47 can be removed. Exemplary methods of removal can include spinning followed by thermal processing (e.g. a “hard bake”).
Referring to
According to another embodiment of the invention, undissolved resist 60 (“scum”) is removed by allowing liquid 110 to effervesce during the liquid removal process. Liquid 110 may be applied to substrate 10 or resist 15 according to the methods described above. According to this embodiment, the liquid removed from the resist may be either fortified as described herein, or unfortified. To allow for sufficient effervescence during liquid removal it can be preferred to utilize a gas-fortified liquid, such as that described above. Upon removal of Liquid 110, bubbles 50 (only some of which are labeled) evolve from the liquid 110 and facilitate the migration of resist particles 75 (only some of which are labeled) to the upper portions of resist 15 for subsequent removal. In one embodiment, liquid 110 effervesces to such an extent that foam 70 containing particles 75 may be generated at the upper portions of resist 15. An exemplary technique for causing liquid 110 to effervesce is to utilize a vacuum chamber during application and/or removal of liquid 110 to reduce the gas pressure surrounding liquid 110, and thereby facilitate the emission of bubbles 50.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A process for treating a substrate comprising:
- providing a substrate having resist thereon;
- adjusting a pH of a liquid with a gas; and
- applying the pH-adjusted liquid to the resist.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein the pH-adjusted liquid has a pH less than that of the liquid prior to pH adjustment.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein the pH-adjusted liquid is applied to the resist subsequent to the removal of a portion of the resist.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein the liquid comprises water.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid consists of water.
9. The process of claim 1 wherein the gas consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein the gas consists of carbon dioxide.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein a concentration of the gas within the pH-adjusted liquid is greater than the concentration of the gas within the liquid prior to pH adjustment.
12. A process for treating a substrate comprising:
- providing a substrate having resist thereon;
- adjusting the surface tension of a liquid with a gas; and
- applying the surface-tension-adjusted liquid to the resist.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein the substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
14. The process of claim 13 wherein the surface tension of the surface-tension-adjusted liquid is less than that of the liquid prior to surface tension adjustment.
15. The process of claim 14 wherein the surface-tension-adjusted liquid is applied to the resist subsequent to the removal of a portion of the resist.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide.
17. The process of claim 16 wherein the liquid comprises water.
18. The process of claim 12 wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.
19. The process of claim 12 wherein the liquid consists of water.
20. The process of claim 12 wherein the gas consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
21. The process of claim 12 wherein the gas consists of carbon dioxide.
22. The process of claim 12 wherein the concentration of the gas within the surface-tension-adjusted liquid is greater than the gas concentration of the liquid prior to surface tension adjustment.
23. A process for treating a substrate comprising:
- providing a substrate having resist thereon; and
- applying a gas-fortified liquid to the resist.
24. The process of claim 23 wherein the substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
25. The process of claim 24 wherein the gas-fortified liquid is applied to the resist subsequent to removal of a portion of the resist.
26. The process of claim 25 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid comprises carbon dioxide.
27. The process of claim 26 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid comprises water.
28. The process of claim 23 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid consists essentially of water.
29. The process of claim 23 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid consists of water.
30. The process of claim 23 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
31. The process of claim 23 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid consists of carbon dioxide.
32. A process for rinsing a resist having channels therein, comprising:
- providing a resist supported by a substrate, wherein channels extend into the resist; and
- rinsing the resist with a gas-fortified liquid.
33. The process of claim 32 wherein the substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
34. The process of claim 33 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid comprises carbon dioxide.
35. The process of claim 32 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
36. The process of claim 32 wherein the gas of the gas-fortified liquid consists of carbon dioxide.
37. The process of claim 32 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid comprises water.
38. The process of claim 32 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid consists essentially of water.
39. The process of claim 32 wherein the liquid of the gas-fortified liquid consists of water.
40. A process for treating a substrate comprising:
- providing a substrate having resist thereon; and
- applying an effervescent liquid thereto.
41. The process of claim 40 wherein the substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
42. The process of claim 41 wherein the effervescent liquid is applied to the resist subsequent to the removal of at least a portion of the resist.
43. The process of claim 42 wherein the liquid of the effervescent liquid comprises water.
44. The process of claim 43 wherein the effervescent liquid emits a gas comprising carbon dioxide.
45. A process for treating a semiconductor substrate comprising;
- providing a semiconductor substrate having liquid thereon; and
- removing the liquid from the substrate as bubbles of a gas are emitted from the liquid.
46. The process of claim 45 wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
47. The process of claim 46 wherein the semiconductor substrate includes a layer of resist.
48. The process of claim 47 wherein the liquid comprises water.
49. The process of claim 48 wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide.
50. The process of claim 45 wherein the gas consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
51. The process of claim 45 wherein the gas consists of carbon dioxide.
52. The process of claim 45 wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.
53. The process of claim 45 wherein the liquid consists of water.
54. A process for treating a semiconductor substrate comprising:
- providing a semiconductor substrate;
- forming a resist layer on the semiconductor substrate;
- exposing a first portion of the resist layer to radiation while not exposing a second portion of the resist layer;
- selectively removing one of the first or the second portions relative to the other of the first and second portions with a solvent, thereby forming a patterned resist; and
- removing the solvent with a liquid, wherein the liquid has been fortified with a gas.
55. A process according to claim 54 wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises monocrystalline silicon.
56. A process according to claim 55 wherein the liquid comprises water.
57. A process according to claim 56 wherein the gas comprises carbon dioxide.
58. A process according to claim 54 wherein the gas consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
59. A process according to claim 54 wherein the gas consists of carbon dioxide.
60. A process according to claim 54 wherein the liquid consists essentially of water.
61. A process according to claim 54 wherein the liquid consists of water.
62. A process for treating a semiconductor substrate comprising:
- providing a semiconductor substrate comprising monocrystalline silicon;
- forming a resist layer on the semiconductor substrate;
- exposing a first portion of the resist layer to radiation while not exposing a second portion of the resist layer;
- selectively removing one of the first or the second portions relative to the other of the first and second portions with a solvent thereby forming a patterned resist; and
- removing the solvent with water, wherein the water has been fortified with carbon dioxide.
63. A process according to claim 62 wherein the water emits carbon dioxide while removing the solvent.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 9, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2005
Inventors: Trung Doan (Boise, ID), Terry Gilton (Boise, ID)
Application Number: 10/683,207