IP Library Granted Patent US 8,421,995
Granted Patent B2
US 8,421,995 · App. 12/574,310 · Granted Apr 16, 2013

Anti-reflective coating for optical elements

Inventor: Parag Vinayak Kelkar (Danbury, CT)
Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,421,995
App. No.
12/574,310
Granted
Apr 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical element including an anti-reflective coating is provided. The optical element includes a silicon substrate and a reflective layer disposed onto a first portion of the surface of the silicon substrate. An anti-reflective layer is disposed onto a second portion of the surface of the silicon substrate such that destructive interference at the anti-reflective layer substantially reduces any reflection of radiation incident on the anti-reflective layer.

Claims (28)

1. An optical element, comprising:

a silicon substrate;

a reflective layer disposed onto a first portion of a surface of the silicon substrate; and

an anti-reflective layer disposed onto a second portion of the surface of the silicon substrate,

wherein the anti-reflective layer comprises hafnium oxide (HfOx),

wherein the thickness of the anti-reflective layer is approximately 10 nm, and

wherein the anti-reflective layer is configured to generate destructive interference between light reflected from the anti-reflective layer and light reflected from the silicon substrate in order to substantially eliminate reflection of radiation of a predetermined wavelength incident on the anti-reflective layer.

2. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the anti-reflective layer has a refractive index that is approximately equivalent to square root of a refractive index of the silicon substrate.

3. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the anti-reflective layer has a composition and a thickness configured to generate destructive interference of incident radiation at the predetermined wavelength of approximately 193 nm.

4. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the anti-reflective layer reflects less than approximately 0.2% of incident radiation at the predetermined wavelength of approximately 193 nm.

5. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the anti-reflective layer comprises an oxide of tantalum, an oxide of titanium, an oxide of niobium, or silicon nitride.

6. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer is substantially reflective to radiation at the predetermined wavelength of about 193 nm.

7. The optical element of claim 1 , wherein the reflective layer comprises one or more of aluminum, an oxide of aluminum, an oxide of silicon, or a fluorinated metallic compound.

8. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:

a support structure configured to support a patterning device that is configured to pattern a beam of radiation from an illumination system; and

a projection system configured to project the patterned beam towards an optical element support configured to support an optical element, the optical element comprising:

a silicon substrate;

an anti-reflective layer disposed onto the entire surface of the silicon substrate,

wherein the anti-reflective layer comprises hafnium oxide (HfOx),

wherein the thickness of the anti-reflective layer is approximately 10 nm, and

wherein the anti-reflective layer is configured to generate destructive interference between light reflected from the anti-reflective layer and light reflected from the silicon substrate in order to substantially eliminate reflection of radiation of a predetermined wavelength incident on the anti-reflective layer; and

a reflective layer disposed onto a portion of a surface of the anti-reflective layer.

9. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anti-reflective layer has a refractive index that is approximately equivalent to square root of a refractive index of the silicon substrate.

10. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anti-reflective layer has a composition and a thickness configured to generate destructive interference of incident radiation at the predetermined wavelength of about 193 nm.

11. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anti-reflective layer reflects less than approximately 0.2% of incident radiation at the predetermined wavelength of about 193 nm.

12. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the anti-reflective layer comprises an oxide of tantalum, an oxide of titanium, an oxide of niobium, or silicon nitride.

13. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the reflective layer is substantially reflective to radiation at the predetermined wavelength of about 193 nm.

14. The lithographic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the reflective layer comprises aluminum, an oxide of aluminum, an oxide of silicon, or a fluorinated metallic compound.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023664 FRAME 0183. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE ASML NETHERLANDS B.V. SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ASML HOLDING N.V.. Recorded Jan 14, 2013
From: KELKAR, PARAG VINAYAK
To: ASML HOLDING N.V.
Reel/Frame 029621/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2009
From: KELKAR, PARAG VINAYAK
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 023664/0183 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61108101 · Oct 24, 2008
Related Publication 20110080572A1 · Apr 7, 2011