Method for preventing the etch transfer of sidelobes in contact hole patterns
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic structure comprising:
- providing a substrate having a positive tone photoresist layer formed thereon;
patterning said positive tone photoresist layer with a first patterned mask to form first holes or spaces penetrating said positive tone photoresist layer and an unwanted sidelobe therein;
coating a negative tone photoresist layer on said positive tone photoresist layer to fill the sidelobe;
patterning said negative tone photoresist layer with a second patterned mask to form second holes or spaces that are aligned above said first holes or spaces in said positive tone photoresist layer; and
transferring said first holes or spaces into said substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for removing sidelobes that are formed when patterning a positive photoresist layer with an Att. PSM, Alt. PSM or a binary mask with scattering bars. A water soluble negative tone photoresist is coated over the positive photoresist pattern and is exposed through a mask having small islands that correspond in shape, size and location to the small holes in the mask used to pattern the positive tone photoresist. After development, exposed negative tone photoresist covers sidelobes formed by the positive tone process. The negative tone photoresist functions as a mask for a subsequent etch transfer of the positive tone pattern into the substrate. A method of aligning openings in a positive tone pattern over the same openings in a negative tone pattern is also useful in preventing sidelobes in the positive tone photoresist from being transferred into the substrate.
64 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic structure comprising:
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providing a substrate having a positive tone photoresist layer formed thereon;
patterning said positive tone photoresist layer with a first patterned mask to form first holes or spaces penetrating said positive tone photoresist layer and an unwanted sidelobe therein;
coating a negative tone photoresist layer on said positive tone photoresist layer to fill the sidelobe;
patterning said negative tone photoresist layer with a second patterned mask to form second holes or spaces that are aligned above said first holes or spaces in said positive tone photoresist layer; and
transferring said first holes or spaces into said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 29)
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17. A method for manufacturing a microelectronic structure comprising:
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providing a substrate having a negative tone photoresist layer formed thereon;
patterning said negative tone photoresist layer with a first patterned mask to form first holes or spaces penetrating said negative tone photoresist layer;
thoroughly coating a positive tone photoresist layer on said negative tone photoresist layer to fill said first holes or spaces in said negative tone photoresist layer;
patterning said positive tone photoresist layer with a second patterned mask to remove a portion of said positive tone photoresist layer within said first holes or spaces and form second holes or spaces that are aligned above said first holes or spaces in said negative tone photoresist layer; and
transferring said first holes or spaces into said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31)
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32. A method of forming openings on a substrate, comprising:
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forming a first photoresist layer on the substrate, wherein the first photoresist layer comprises first holes exposing the substrate;
thoroughly forming a second photoresist layer on the first photoresist layer to fill the first holes, wherein a material of the first photoresist layer is different from a material of the second photoresist layer;
patterning the second photoresist layer to remove a portion of the first photoresist layer within the first holes and form second-holes aligned above the first holes; and
transferring the first holes into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification