IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,476,110
Granted Patent B2
US 12,476,110 · App. 18/644,661 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Substrate processing module

Inventors: Takashi Yamauchi (Kumamoto, JP); Shinichiro Kawakami (Kumamoto, JP); Masashi Enomoto (Kumamoto, JP)
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
H01L21/0337H01L21/0276H01L21/0332H01L21/0335H01L21/31144H01L21/6715
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,476,110
App. No.
18/644,661
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique for suppressing a metal component from remaining at a bottom of a mask pattern when the mask pattern is formed using a metal-containing resist film. A developable anti reflection film 103 is previously formed below a resist film 104 . Further, after exposing and developing the wafer W, TMAH is supplied to the wafer W to remove a surface of the anti-reflection film 103 facing a bottom of the recess pattern 110 of the resist film 104 . Therefore, the metal component 105 can be suppressed from remaining at the bottom of the recess pattern 110 . Therefore, when the SiO 2 film 102 is subsequently etched using the pattern of the resist film 104 , the etching is not hindered, so that defects such as bridges can be suppressed.

Claims (41)

1 . A substrate processing module comprising:

a housing;

a stage disposed within the housing;

lifter pins disposed within the stage;

a driving unit configured to vertically move the lifter pins;

a gas supply;

a heater;

an exhaust unit; and

a controller configured to:

control the lifter pins so as to mount a substrate on the stage, the substrate including an under layer, a metal-containing resist pattern disposed on the under layer, and remaining metal components attached to an exposed portion of the under layer;

control the gas supply so as to supply a gas into the housing;

control the heater so as to heat the substrate mounted on the stage in a state that the gas is supplied into the housing, to thereby remove the exposed portion of the under layer and the remaining metal components; and

control the exhaust unit so as to exhaust at least one of the removed under layer film and the removed remaining metal components.

2 . The substrate processing module of claim 1 , further comprising an activating source configured to activate the gas within the housing.

3 . The substrate processing module of claim 1 , further comprising a transmission window disposed above the stage and configured to transmit an electric wave for activating the gas within the housing.

4 . The substrate processing module of claim 3 , wherein the transmission window includes a quartz plate.

5 . The substrate processing module of claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing resist pattern is formed by:

exposing a resist on the under layer by extreme ultraviolet (EUV), the resist including organic components; and

developing the exposed resist.

6 . The substrate processing module of claim 5 , wherein the exposed resist is developed by a negative tone development.

7 . The substrate processing module of claim 5 , wherein the exposed resist is developed by a positive tone development.

8 . The substrate processing module of claim 1 , wherein the under layer includes an organic film.

9 . The substrate processing module of claim 1 , wherein the remaining metal components include ions.

10 . A substrate processing module comprising:

a housing;

a stage disposed within the housing;

lifter pins disposed within the stage;

a driving unit configured to vertically move the lifter pins so as to mount a substrate on the stage, the substrate including a under layer, a metal-containing resist pattern disposed on the under layer, and remaining metal components attached to an exposed portion of the under layer;

a gas supply configured to supply a gas into the housing;

a heater configured to heat the substrate mounted on the stage in a state that the gas is supplied into the housing, to thereby remove the exposed portion of the under layer and the remaining metal components; and

an exhaust unit configured to exhaust at least one of the removed under layer and the removed remaining metal components.

11 . The substrate processing module of claim 10 , further comprising an activating source configured to activate the gas within the housing.

12 . The substrate processing module of claim 10 , further comprising a transmission window disposed above the stage and configured to transmit an electric wave for activating the gas within the housing.

13 . The substrate processing module of claim 12 , wherein the transmission window includes a quartz plate.

14 . The substrate processing module of claim 10 , wherein the metal-containing resist pattern is formed by:

exposing a resist on the under layer by extreme ultraviolet (EUV), the resist including organic components; and

developing the exposed resist.

15 . The substrate processing module of claim 14 , wherein the exposed resist is developed by a negative tone development.

16 . The substrate processing module of claim 14 , wherein the exposed resist is developed by a positive tone development.

17 . The substrate processing module of claim 10 , wherein the under layer includes an organic film.

18 . The substrate processing module of claim 10 , wherein the remaining metal components include ions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2024
From: YAMAUCHI, TAKASHI; KAWAKAMI, SHINICHIRO; ENOMOTO, MASASHI
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067250/0921 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-208558 · Oct 27, 2017 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17969878 · Oct 20, 2022
Continuation 16759532
Related Publication 20240274438A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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