IP Library Granted Patent US 8,993,221
Granted Patent B2
US 8,993,221 · App. 13/764,514 · Granted Mar 31, 2015

Block co-polymer photoresist

Inventors: Gregory D. Cooper (Fulton, MD); Brian L. Wehrenberg (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Pixelligent Technologies, LLC
G03F7/004G03F7/20H01L29/06G03F7/0002G03F7/039H01L21/0271B81C1/00031B82Y10/00B82Y40/00B81C2201/0149
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,993,221
App. No.
13/764,514
Granted
Mar 31, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit is made by depositing a pinning layer on a substrate. A block copolymer photoresist is formed on the pinning layer. The block copolymer has two blocks A and B that do not self-assemble under at least some annealing conditions. The exposed block copolymer photoresist is processed to cleave at least some block copolymer bonds in the exposed selected regions. The exposed pinning layer is processed to create a chemical epitaxial pattern to direct the local self assembly of the block copolymer.

Claims (34)

1. A method of making an integrated circuit comprising:

depositing a pinning layer on a substrate;

forming a block copolymer photoresist on the pinning layer;

wherein the formed block copolymer photoresist comprises first and second blocks A and B that do not self-assemble under at least some annealing conditions;

projecting a light pattern onto the block copolymer photoresist thereby exposing at least a selected region of the block copolymer photoresist and the pinning layer with actinic radiation, the actinic radiation inducing chemical changes in the pinning layer and the block copolymer;

the actinic radiation changing block A to a different block A′ in the block copolymer;

annealing the wafer under said at least some annealing conditions such that A′ and B self-assemble to thereby form regions of A′ in contact with the exposed region of the pinning layer;

developing the block copolymer photoresist; and

further processing said substrate to make an integrated circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said actinic radiation is 193 nm radiation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said actinic radiation is EUV radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 further including processing the exposed block copolymer photoresist to cleave at least some block copolymer bonds in the exposed selected region.

5. The method of claim 1 further including processing the exposed pinning layer to create a chemical epitaxial pattern to direct the local self assembly of the block copolymer.

6. An integrated circuit device made by a process including:

depositing a pinning layer on a substrate;

forming a block copolymer photoresist on the pinning layer;

wherein the block copolymer comprises first and second blocks A and B that do not self-assemble under at least some annealing conditions;

projecting a light pattern onto the block copolymer photoresist thereby exposing at least a selected region of the block copolymer photoresist and the pinning layer with actinic radiation, the actinic radiation inducing chemical changes in the pinning layer and the block copolymer, the actinic radiation changing block A to a different block A′ in the block copolymer;

annealing the wafer under said at least some annealing conditions such that A′ and B self-assemble to thereby form regions of A′ in contact with the exposed region of the pinning layer;

developing the block copolymer photoresist; and

further processing said substrate to form integrated circuitry thereon.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 wherein said actinic radiation is 193 nm radiation.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 6 wherein said actinic radiation is EUV radiation.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 6 wherein the process further includes processing the exposed block copolymer photoresist to cleave at least some block copolymer bonds in the exposed selected region.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 6 wherein the process further includes processing the exposed pinning layer to create a chemical epitaxial pattern to direct the local self assembly of the block copolymer.

11. A method of forming a pattern comprising:

depositing a pinning layer on a substrate;

forming a block copolymer photoresist on the pinning layer;

wherein the formed block copolymer photoresist comprises first and second blocks A and B that do not self-assemble under at least some annealing conditions;

projecting a light pattern onto the block copolymer photoresist thereby exposing at least a selected region of the block copolymer photoresist and the pinning layer with actinic radiation, the actinic radiation inducing chemical changes in the pinning layer and the block copolymer, the actinic radiation changing block A to a different block A′ in the block copolymer;

annealing the wafer under said at least some annealing conditions such that A′ and B self-assemble to thereby form regions of A′ in contact with the exposed region of the pinning layer; and

developing the block copolymer photoresist.

12. The method of claim 11 further including processing the exposed block copolymer photoresist to cleave at least some block copolymer bonds in the exposed selected region.

13. The method of claim 11 further including processing the exposed pinning layer to create a chemical epitaxial pattern to direct the local self assembly of the block copolymer.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2026
From: US BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PT SPE TOPCO LLC; PT SPE SUBCO LLC
Reel/Frame 075297/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: PT SPE TOPCO LLC
Reel/Frame 061609/0859 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: PT SPE TOPCO LLC
To: PT SPE SUBCO LLC
Reel/Frame 061610/0084 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PT SPE TOPCO LLC; PT SPE SUBCO LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061610/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2013
From: COOPER, GREGORY D.; WEHRENBERG, BRIAN L.
To: PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 029897/0817 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61597526 · Feb 10, 2012
Provisional Application 61597544 · Feb 10, 2012
Related Publication 20130207238A1 · Aug 15, 2013