Photoresist layer outgassing prevention

1. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a metal-containing photoresist layer over a substrate,

wherein the metal-containing photoresist layer is formed from a first precursor and a second precursor,

wherein the first precursor is an organometallic having a formula:

M a R b X c

where M is at least one of Sn, Bi, Sb, In, Te, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Co, Mo, W, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, P, As, Y, La, Ce, or Lu,

R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or carboxylate group,

X is a halide or sulfonate group, and

1≤a≤2, b≥1, c≥1, and b+c≤5; and

the second precursor is at least one of an amine, a borane, a phosphine, or water;

forming a dehydrated film over the photoresist layer;

selectively exposing the photoresist layer to actinic radiation after forming the dehydrated film to form an exposed portion and an unexposed portion of the photoresist layer; and

developing the photoresist layer to remove the unexposed portion of the photoresist layer and a first portion of the dehydrated film over the unexposed portion of the photoresist layer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising etching the substrate by using the exposed portion of the photoresist layer as a mask.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising removing the exposed portion of the photoresist layer and a second portion of the dehydrated film over the exposed portion of the photoresist layer.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming a dehydrated film comprises heating a surface of the photoresist layer at a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 150° C.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming a dehydrated film comprises applying an oxidant to a surface of the photoresist layer.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming a dehydrated film comprises applying an organic solvent vapor to a surface of the photoresist layer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming a dehydrated film comprises exposing a surface of the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming a dehydrated film comprises at least two of heating a surface of the photoresist layer at a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 150° C., applying an oxidant to a surface of the photoresist layer, applying an organic solvent vapor to a surface of the photoresist layer, and exposing a surface of the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming a layer to be patterned over the substrate before the forming a photoresist layer, wherein the layer to be patterned is formed of a different material than the substrate.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the dehydrated film to an original thickness of the photoresist layer as formed ranges from 1/100 to 1/10.

11. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, comprising:

combining a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor state to form a photoresist material,

wherein the first precursor is an organometallic having a formula:

M a R b X c

where M is at least one of Sn, Bi, Sb, In, Te, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Co, Mo, W, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, P, As, Y, La, Ce, or Lu,

R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or carboxylate group,

X is a halide or sulfonate group, and

1≤a≤2, b≥1, c≥1, and b+c≤5; and

the second precursor is at least one of an amine, a borane, a phosphine, or water, and

depositing the photoresist material over the substrate,

wherein the photoresist layer has a first surface facing the substrate and an opposing second surface;

treating the second surface of the photoresist layer to form a dehydrated film overlying the photoresist layer;

selectively exposing the photoresist layer to actinic radiation to form a latent pattern in the photoresist layer;

developing the latent pattern by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern in the photoresist layer,

wherein a portion of the dehydrated film remains over the photoresist layer after the developing the latent pattern.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising extending the pattern in the photoresist layer into the substrate.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the photoresist material is deposited over the substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the treating the second surface of the photoresist layer to form a dehydrated film comprises at least one of: heating the second surface of the photoresist layer at a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 150° C., applying ozone to the second surface of the photoresist layer, applying an organic solvent vapor to the second surface of the photoresist layer, and exposing the second surface of the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation.

15. A method for preventing outgassing of a metal-containing photoresist, comprising:

forming a metal-containing photoresist layer over a substrate,

wherein the metal-containing photoresist layer has a first main surface facing the substrate and an opposing second main surface;

treating the second main surface of the photoresist layer to form a treated photoresist layer including a barrier film over the photoresist layer to prevent outgassing from the photoresist layer,

wherein the treating the second main surface of the photoresist layer includes one or more of: applying ozone to the second main surface of the photoresist layer and applying an organic solvent vapor to the second main surface of the photoresist layer;

patternwise exposing the treated photoresist layer to actinic radiation to form an exposed portion and an unexposed portion of the treated photoresist layer; and

removing the unexposed portion of the treated photoresist layer and a first portion of the barrier film over the unexposed portion of the treated photoresist layer.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising forming a layer to be patterned over the substrate before forming the photoresist layer, wherein the layer to be patterned comprises a different material composition than the substrate.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising etching the layer to be patterned by using the exposed portion of the treated photoresist layer and a second portion of the barrier film remaining over the exposed portion of the treated photoresist layer as a mask.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the barrier film has a thickness ranging from 0.1 nm to 5 nm.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the barrier film to an original thickness of the photoresist layer as formed ranges from 1/100 to 1/10.

20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the metal-containing photoresist layer is formed from a first precursor and a second precursor,

wherein the first precursor is an organometallic having a formula:

M a R b X c

where M is at least one of Sn, Bi, Sb, In, Te, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Co, Mo, W, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, P, As, Y, La, Ce, or Lu,

R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, or carboxylate group,

X is a halide or sulfonate group, and

1≤a≤2, b≥1, c≥1, and b+c≤5; and

the second precursor is at least one of an amine, a borane, a phosphine, or water.